Considering 981 to 987.2. Am I crazy?
Currently own a 981 Boxster S PDK that I bought in early 2022. Well optioned (PSE, Sport Chrono, Infotainment w/ Bose, PASM) and lightly modded (GT3 EPS calibration, PTV activation, and custom alignment -1.7 front/-2 rear). This is my only car; I work from home (live in CA) and use the car for daily driving and occasional backroads blasting.
I enjoy driving the car and think it is one of the best all-around sports cars for the money. Over time, though, I've begun to feel like it's a bit too refined and too fast for street driving. The steering, even with the GT3 calibration, doesn't have the feedback I felt with the 987s I've test driven and their hydraulic rack. And 315hp with a transmission as quick as the PDK honestly does feel like too much for street driving; I can't push the car more than a couple seconds before I start breaking speed limits.
As a bit of context, I was born in the late 90's and grew up driving 2000's cars. My first Porsche experiences were also with cars from around that age (987.1 and 987.2). I chose the 981 because it was a blend of analog and modern, looked like an exotic, felt more premium inside, and was more planted in the corners than the 987s that I drove. That's all true, but I miss the raw feeling of the older cars, I really want a manual, and I want to be able to properly push my car without going extra legal speeds.
So I'm considering swapping my 981 S for a 987.2 Boxster base 6spd with the non-DFI engine, then doing some mods (suspension, exhaust, brakes, alignment, short shifter, wheels) to get it to handle better, so I have the handling capabilities of the 981 but the feel of a 987.2 with more road-friendly hp. Am I crazy to consider this?