In the last 12 months the Porsche 987 Boxster sold for a median $26,500 (126 U.S.-dollar auction sales) and the Porsche 981 Boxster for $47,500 (77 sales), so the 981 Boxster costs $21,000 (79%) more. As of Nov 2, 2026, the 12-month trend is +33%/yr for the 987 Boxster and +13%/yr for the 981 Boxster. Below: ranges, trend, manual share, mileage and a like-for-like trim comparison, all from real sold auctions.
987 Boxster vs 981 Boxster side by side
| 987 Boxster | 981 Boxster | |
|---|---|---|
| Model years | 2005–2012 | 2013–2016 |
| Median sold price | $26,500 | $47,500 |
| Middle 50% range | $19,800–$36,700 | $38,000–$70,500 |
| Low – high | $10,500 – $117,000 | $20,500 – $142,000 |
| USD sales (12 months) | 126 | 77 |
| 12-month trend (mix-adjusted) | +33%/yr | +13%/yr |
| Last 3 months vs prior 3 | +11% adj. / +25% raw | +1% adj. / +2% raw |
| Market signal | SELL | HOLD |
| Manual share (known gearbox) | 89% of 115 | 71% of 56 |
| Manual / automatic median | $26,500 / $23,000 | $59,500 / $42,875 |
| Median mileage (where stated) | 33,500 mi of 68 | 24,000 mi of 38 |
| Median model year sold | 2008 | 2014 |
U.S.-dollar sold auctions in the last 12 months. Manual / automatic medians need 5+ sales of each; mileage is taken from the listing where stated. Not an appraisal.
987 Boxster vs 981 Boxster price chart
Quarterly median USD sold price at online auctions (quarters with 3+ sales; bigger dot = more sales). The latest quarter is to date. Hover a dot for the figures.
Like for like: 987 Boxster vs 981 Boxster by trim
| Trim | 987 Boxster | 981 Boxster | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boxster (base) | $22,000 59 sales | $36,000 28 sales | +64% |
| Boxster S | $30,550 51 sales | $49,266 26 sales | +61% |
| Boxster Spyder | $79,000 6 sales | $106,888 15 sales | +35% |
Trims read from listing titles, with at least 5 sales on each side. Difference = 981 Boxster median against the 987 Boxster median.
Which should you buy?
- Price. At the median, the Porsche 981 Boxster costs $21,000 (79%) more than the Porsche 987 Boxster.
- Little overlap. The cheapest quarter of 981 Boxster sales ends at $38,000, above the top of the 987 Boxster's middle half ($36,700): a typical 981 Boxster costs more than three in four 987 Boxsters.
- Trend. Over 12 months, 987 Boxster prices were rising, about +33% a year; 981 Boxster prices were rising, about +13% a year; the 987 Boxster has the firmer trend.
- Want a manual? 102 of 115 987 Boxster sales with a known gearbox were manual (89%), against 40 of 56 for the 981 Boxster (71%).
- Mileage. The median 987 Boxster sold with 33,500 miles and the median 981 Boxster with 24,000 (sales with a stated mileage).
- Trim matters. Like for like, the gap is widest for the Boxster (base) (+64%) and narrowest for the Boxster Spyder (+35%).
- Choice. The 987 Boxster had more sales in our sample (126 against 77), so there are more comparables to price a car against.
In short: on budget alone the Porsche 987 Boxster is the cheaper way in, and the Porsche 981 Boxster costs about 79% more at the median. The numbers can't tell you which car you'll enjoy more; a pre-purchase inspection and the individual car's history matter more than either median.
What to check before buying
Porsche Boxster: 986 and early 987 Boxsters share IMS bearing and bore-scoring concerns with the 996/997.1, so ask about an IMS upgrade. Check convertible-top operation, rear window, and coolant tank condition. Boxster S and later 981 cars carry clear premiums over base 986s.
Full price guides
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Method
Every figure on this page is computed from our sample of completed, sold public auctions after removing parts, replicas, restomods and other non-car lots. Medians use U.S.-dollar sales only; we don't convert currencies. The window is the last 12 months unless a row says otherwise. Sub-generations are assigned by model year (see the methodology). Trend and signal use online-auction sales only, adjusted for trim and model year. It is a sample, not every sale, and not an appraisal. Sold-price data from Old Cars Data auction records. Full methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Porsche 981 Boxster more expensive than the 987 Boxster?
Yes, in our sample: the 981 Boxster median was $47,500 against $26,500 for the 987 Boxster, a 79% difference, from 77 and 126 U.S.-dollar auction sales in the last 12 months.
Are 987 Boxster or 981 Boxster prices rising faster?
Adjusted for trim and model year, the 12-month trend is +33% a year for the 987 Boxster and +13% a year for the 981 Boxster. This describes recent sales, not a forecast.
Which has more manual cars, the 987 Boxster or the 981 Boxster?
Of sales with a known gearbox in the last 12 months, 89% of 987 Boxsters (102 of 115) and 71% of 981 Boxsters (40 of 56) were manual.
Published Nov 2, 2026. Figures as of Nov 2, 2026, rebuilt weekly from the latest sample.