Porsche Boxster/Cayman
981
Performance— 3 options
Adds Sport and Sport Plus driving modes, dynamic engine mounts (PADM), and a dashboard stopwatch on the 981. Standard on GTS. On PDK-equipped cars, Sport Plus enables launch control. As with the 991 911, this is the single most resale-critical option on the 981 — the car without Sport Chrono is a harder sell and typically trades at a discount.
Switchable sports exhaust with bypass valve, transforming the flat-six sound in open mode. Standard on GTS. The PSE is the primary acoustic experience differentiator on the 981 and is highly sought-after on the UK used market. Cars with PSE typically trade at a meaningful premium over non-PSE examples.
7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Enables launch control when paired with Sport Chrono. Standard equipment feel — the PDK/manual choice is personal preference on the 981, with both gearboxes being well-regarded.
Chassis— 4 options
Factory ceramic composite brakes with yellow calipers. Optional on all 981 variants. The same replacement cost warnings apply as on the 911 range. Note: PTV+ (electronic diff, 221) was not available on any Boxster/Cayman — only the mechanical PTV (220) is offered.
Electronically controlled adaptive dampers. Optional on base and S; standard on GTS, GT4, and Spyder. A meaningful chassis upgrade that visibly transforms the car's cornering composure in Sport mode.
Mechanical limited-slip differential with brake-based torque vectoring. Standard on the GT4. Optional on other variants. An important distinction: the electronically controlled PTV+ (221) was never available on Boxster or Cayman — this mechanical unit is the only differential upgrade across all 981 cars.
Lowered sport suspension with firmer spring rates over the standard PASM setup. Gives the car a more aggressive stance and sharper handling response.
Exterior— 1 options
Bi-xenon HID headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System cornering function. A meaningful upgrade over the base halogen units. The top headlight option on the 981 — no LED or LED matrix option was available on this generation.
Interior— 5 options
18-way electrically adjustable adaptive sport seats with automatic side bolster adjustment linked to driving mode when paired with Sport Chrono. Also referenced as codes 323/324. The most desirable standard-format seat on the 981.
Foldable-backrest lightweight sport bucket seats, wider and more road-comfortable than fixed-back units. Also referenced as codes 388/389. A popular track-day seat that retains genuine daily usability.
14-way electrically adjustable sport seats with memory. Also referenced as codes 321/322. The mid-tier electric seat choice on the 981, providing comprehensive adjustment and a sporting profile.
Extended leather coverage throughout the 981 interior. Note the code on the 981 is 980, distinct from the 796 code on the 997 and 981 code on the 991.
Alcantara headliner replacing the standard cloth roof lining. A popular inclusion on higher-specification 981 builds.
Technology— 4 options
Burmester high-end audio system — available on the 981 as the top-tier audio option. A step above the Bose system in audio quality. One of the few mid-engined Porsche generations to offer Burmester.
Bose 9-speaker surround sound system. The mid-tier audio upgrade on the 981, below Burmester.
Radar-based adaptive cruise control. A meaningful motorway comfort feature for UK buyers.
Passive keyless entry and push-button start. A popular convenience option on UK-market 981s.
Option availability varies by variant and model year. SA codes are factory order codes — verify against a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity (COA). Listing counts update in real time.
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