981 Boxster/Cayman

Last year, wanting to try something new, I launched a YouTube channel.

So far, I’ve introduced engine sounds and driving scenes, but filming and recording are tough, and editing takes a lot of time, so it’s been hard to update casually, and I haven’t posted anything recently.

Despite that, it seems people still watch regularly, and I occasionally get comments on the videos. Just the other day, I received this comment on a video of the Boxster GTS engine sound:

‘I deeply regret letting go of my 981… Porsche will never make a car with this sound again (due to EU environmental regulations).’

When I told my husband about this comment, he said,

That makes sense… I’ve also seen several tweets on Twitter saying things like, “I regret selling my 981 Cayman or Boxster” or “I just can’t let this one go.” So maybe quite a few people out there feel the same way.

He then found some actual tweets to show me (below are from public accounts):

981ケイマンGTS降りたのめちゃくちゃ後悔してる…

あの車より楽しい車ってそうそう無いのでは…？ pic.twitter.com/sO1SilPmei

— ナツメ (@falilv2324RCZ) April 10, 2021

https://twitter.com/KazzU991/status/1255029406654922752

なぜ981GTSだけをなぜここまで快音にしたのか当時の作り手に聞いてみたいw

— ガバ村 デベ郎©︎ (@S_Developer6) May 28, 2021

I see…!

I also love the engine sound of our 981 Boxster GTS. While some say it’s not purely mechanical but rather staged, opinions vary, but it feels incredibly good to me, and I like it a lot.

I was so moved that I once said, “If anyone tries to sell this, I’ll buy it back on the spot—I will never let it leave our home!” and my husband laughed at me. But that’s how amazing this car is to me.

And in fact, my husband says,

“I’m not selling this Boxster GTS. It’s truly a classic, and above all, this engine sound is incredible. I don’t think there are many cars that make me this happy to drive.”

Last year, even though the loan had been paid off long ago, he realized the car wasn’t registered under his name, so he changed the registration from the loan company to his name and said with deep satisfaction, “Now I feel relieved….”

Why We Didn’t Let Go of the 981 Boxster GTS

My husband checks Car Sensor almost daily, gathering info on cars he’s interested in or wants in the future. About the 981 Boxster GTS, he said:

Until around 2020, there were quite a few well-maintained 981 Boxster and Cayman models on the used market, but recently they’ve really become scarce. When it comes to the 981 GTS, they’re almost nonexistent. Right now, there are fewer of them than even the 981 Spyder.
After the 718 came out, many people upgraded to the higher-performance 718, but more and more voices started saying, “The engine sound of the 981 was better,” which led to more people buying 981s, and now we’re seeing this situation.
Also, mine is a “left-hand drive manual,” so if I let it go now, I might never find one in good condition again.
Actually, an acquaintance contacted Porsche dealers nationwide about used 981 GTS cars, but they said there really aren’t any. Even if one comes up, there are so many people waiting that it sells before it even appears on used car sites.
When I bought mine, it wasn’t so popular and was easy to get, but I never imagined it would become this sought-after.

We love the 981 Boxster GTS so much, but there was a time when we thought, “Maybe we don’t need the Boxster anymore.” That was when the 911 GT3 (991 model) was delivered and when the 911 Cabriolet (992 model) was delivered.

The 911 GT3’s performance is incredible, and its handling is that of a true race car, far beyond a regular 911. My husband said,

GT3 is amazing! Its performance is on a whole different level. This thrill is addictive! After driving the GT3 for a while, the Boxster feels a bit lacking… Maybe we don’t need the Boxster anymore.

Also, when the 911 Cabriolet arrived, its latest Porsche performance was truly outstanding, and since it’s a convertible, after driving it, we thought, “The 992’s performance is better, and with the roof open, the Boxster doesn’t impress me as much anymore.”

However, about six months later, both of us started to feel differently.

Although the GT3 and 911 have firmer suspensions that left a good impression, we began to rediscover the charm of the Boxster’s supple suspension. Its handling in corners is different from the sharp, aggressive turn-in of the 911, but the Boxster’s light, rhythmic, and smooth cornering felt very pleasant.

The engine’s lively sound even at low speeds, the comfortable ride and ease of driving in town, the unique joy of a manual transmission, and the wonderful feeling of escaping the everyday by opening the roof in the city…

We came to appreciate the Boxster’s appeal in every situation all over again. So my husband said,

I’m glad we didn’t rush to sell it back then. When you test drive a new Porsche, its performance surpasses what you currently own, and you might briefly think, “Maybe I don’t need my current car anymore,” but it’s important not to panic and sell right away—waiting about six months is key.
After six months, you might discover new charms and think, “I’m glad I didn’t sell it.”

The legendary 981 Boxster GTS. When I used to drive my manual car every day, I could handle the manual Boxster well, but lately, I’ve had fewer chances to drive manuals, and when I do drive the Boxster, I often think, “My driving skills have gotten worse.”

I hope my manual car gets delivered soon (though production is still uncertain due to parts shortages), so I can drive it daily again, practice, and enjoy driving the Boxster GTS like an extension of my own body.