Porsche Boxster Spyder (987.2, 2011-2012): what makes it different
The 987.2 Boxster Spyder is a niche Porsche: lighter and more purposeful than the Boxster S, with a manual canvas roof. If you are looking for one (especially with the six-speed manual), it helps to know what you are giving up, what was optional, and what to check.
In this guide
What it is
The Boxster Spyder made its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on 2 December 2009 and went on sale in February 2010 as a 2011 model-year car, positioned above the Boxster S.12
| Boxster Spyder (987.2) | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3.4 L flat-six with direct fuel injection |
| Power | 320 PS (316 hp); Porsche's US release said 10 hp more than the Boxster S |
| Weight | 1,275 kg (2,811 lb); Porsche said 176 lb lighter than the Boxster S |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual standard, 7-speed PDK optional |
| Differential | Limited-slip differential standard |
| Suspension | New sport suspension, 20 mm lower than the Boxster |
| Roof | Manually operated lightweight soft top "meant for protection only" |
| Claimed performance | 0-60 mph in 4.6 s with PDK and Sport Chrono; 166 mph with the roof open |
Sources: Porsche's US launch press release as reproduced by Auto123, and Wikipedia.12
Design details from the same release: aluminium door skins with lightweight interior panels taken from the 911 GT3 RS, extra-low side windows, and two humps on a single-piece rear lid.1 Wikipedia says the 987 generation, including this model, ran through 2012.2
What are you giving up?
To save weight, the Spyder is sold without items that came on a Boxster S. Wikipedia lists the power soft-top mechanism, radio, door handles, air conditioning and cup holders as omitted, and says it uses carbon-fibre bucket seats.2 A Cars.com review adds some detail: the door handles are replaced by pull straps, the removable canvas top saves about 46 lb against a power top, the bucket seats about 26 lb, air conditioning was an option (saving 26 lb when left off) and a CD stereo was a no-cost option (saving 7 lb).3 So a Spyder with air conditioning or a radio is not necessarily "re-equipped" after the fact: those could be ordered from the factory. Check the car's original specification with a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity (or in the US the Porsche Production Specifications), which lists the factory options and production date, and be clear about what is original.45
Manual or PDK
The six-speed manual is standard, with PDK optional. Enthusiasts often seek the manual, so expect PDK cars to be easier to find. Both are valid; test drive the one you want. On PDK servicing, a Porsche Club of America technical adviser says to follow the owner's manual schedule (120,000 miles or 12 years, for the 2013 Boxster S he was asked about) unless there are symptoms, though some independent specialists recommend earlier fluid changes; read the service booklet for the specific car.6
Roof, weather and a documented recall
A manual canvas roof needs more care than a power one. Check:
- That it fits properly, is not stretched or torn, and latches correctly.
- Whether there are signs of water ingress in the cabin, and whether the roof drains are clear (a general 987 buyer's guide lists blocked drains and tired fabric as items to inspect).7
- Whether the seller's garage storage matched how the roof is meant to be used.
NHTSA records a recall (10V125000, March 2010) for certain 2011 Boxster Spyders in which the locking hook on the sun shield (the temporary soft top) might not engage correctly into the lock catch on the windscreen frame, so the top could open at higher speeds and create a crash risk. The remedy was replacement of the hook and catch with redesigned parts. Ask for evidence this was done and make sure the roof latches firmly.8
A second campaign, 11V409000 (August 2011), covers 2012 Boxsters including the S and Spyder built from 31 May to 10 June 2011, for seat-belt anchor plates with mounting holes that could leave the belt incorrectly routed or loose over time.8 Both campaigns are VIN-specific; run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or ask a Porsche Centre.
Engine and what to expect from a 987.2
The 987.2 introduced direct fuel injection to the Boxster range and new engines (MA1.20 and MA1.21 in Wikipedia's naming).2 The intermediate shaft that gave the earlier M96 and M97 engines their IMS-bearing reputation was eliminated from 2009, according to The Drive's IMS history (sponsored content from an IMS parts maker) and Sports Car Market, so that concern does not apply to a 2011-2012 car.910 Bore scoring, a known issue on earlier 3.4-litre 987.1 engines, is described by owners on Rennlist as very rare on 2009-on engines (one owner points to a different cylinder coating); that is owner opinion, with several reporting years of problem-free use.11 A general 987 guide from Goodwood lists rear main seal leaks, water pump and coolant-pipe failures, radiator corrosion from debris and air-oil separator failures among the engine items to inspect across the model, so treat those as checks rather than expected faults on a given Spyder.7
Ask for service history from a Porsche Center or specialist, an inspection report and an accident-history report. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent Porsche specialist is the standard safeguard. Any work on brakes, suspension or the roof latching system is safety-relevant and should be done by a qualified professional.
Authenticity and choosing one
The Spyder's identifying features (aluminium door skins, door-release straps, the humped rear lid, the lower sport suspension and the manual top) should all be present. Porsche Classic's Technical Certificate, available for models out of production for ten years or more (the Boxster is on its list), documents original data and engine and transmission numbers alongside an inspection.12 The later 981-generation Boxster Spyder is a different car and does not share these details.
- Most purist: the manual car in original specification, with the roof recall done and the options matched to the certificate.
- Easier to live with: a car with air conditioning and a radio, or the PDK, if you will use it on the road. Check live listings for availability; this page does not track the market.
What to request before viewing a manual 987 Spyder
Search "987 Spyder", "987.2 Boxster Spyder" and the intended model year with "manual" or "six speed". Generic Spyder searches can include later Porsche generations, while a listing labelled manual may refer only to the roof. Confirm the gearbox from the factory record and interior photographs.
The roof needs an inventory as well as a condition check. Ask the seller to lay out every component, demonstrate fitting and removal, and confirm that the included items match the owner's instructions. Photographs of a car with the top folded away do not establish that all the pieces are present or that the recall-related work was completed.
Does air conditioning make a Spyder less genuine?
No: equipment should be judged against the factory specification. Ask whether air conditioning, audio and the particular seats were ordered with the car or added later. If stripped specification is the goal, state those preferences separately from the manual-gearbox requirement rather than assuming every Spyder was configured alike.
Arrange a seat-fit and roof demonstration before purchase. A car intended for regular outdoor parking presents different practical questions from one stored in a garage and driven only in fair weather. The inspection should also cover radiator areas, tyres, brake condition and the current service record, so the lightweight special-edition details do not displace ordinary used-car checks.
Video demonstrations
The new Boxster Spyder: official launch trailer
Sources and further reading
- 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder to be introduced at Los Angeles Auto Show, Auto123: Porsche US press release as reproduced by Auto123.
- Porsche Boxster and Cayman (987), Wikipedia: launch, weight, omitted equipment, engines.
- 2011 Porsche Boxster, Cars.com: press review describing the Spyder's weight-saving choices.
- What is a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity?, Flatsixes: contents of the certificate; its ordering instructions are dated.
- Vehicle information, Porsche USA
- What is the current recommended interval for PDK transmission fluid change?, Porsche Club of America Tech Q&A
- Porsche Boxster (987) buyer's guide, Goodwood Classic Solutions: an insurance provider's general guide to the 987 range.
- NHTSA recalls lookup and its recall API for Porsche Boxster, model years 2011-2012 (campaigns 10V125000 and 11V409000).
- The IMS Solution and IMS Retrofit: a complete history, The Drive: sponsored content from an IMS parts maker.
- Lawsuit has a bearing on Porsche owners, Sports Car Market
- 987.2 Boxster Spyder safe buy?, Rennlist forum: owner discussion; opinion, not an official statement.
- Porsche Classic Technical Certificate, Porsche USA