2009 Porsche Boxster 3.4 Spyder PDK 987 Review and Performance Comparison

Porsche Boxster Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 2009 Porsche Boxster 3.4 Spyder PDK 987 is a powered by a Petrol Flat 6. This variant of the Porsche Boxster 3.4 Spyder PDK 987 is the 7 speed / Auto version and was first brought out around 2009. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2010 Hennessey Venom GT 6.2L V8 and the 2010 Bugatti Veyron 8.0 litre W16 Super Sport.

This particular Porsche Boxster has a 3436cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant driven by the Porsche Rear Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol Flat 6's include the 2017 Porsche 911 GT2 RS

The Boxster shares its Petrol Flat 6 engine configuration with the likes of the 2017 Porsche 911 GT2 RS and the 2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S 991 II.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the Boxster's Rear Wheel Drive, Cabriolet combination then how about the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce or the earlier 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1375 kgs (3031 lbs) places the Porsche Boxster 3.4 Spyder PDK 987 in a similar weight category as the 2024 Maserati GT2 Stradale and the excellent 2022 Koenigsegg CC850 4.9 V12 Twin Turbo, give or take 50kg.

The Porsche Boxster shares the same bhp with the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RC (300 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 3436cc 24 valve, Flat 6 engine produces around 316 bhp (235 kW) @ 7200 rpm which is comparable to the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RC (300 bhp) and also the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated Flat 6 throws out 273 lb-ft (370.1 Nm) @ 4750 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RZ High Performance Automatic (295 lb-ft) or the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR (288 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 2009 Porsche Boxster in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 2025 Maserati GranCabrio 490 (254.8 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Porsche Boxster.

The Porsche Boxster has a power to weight ratio of 229.8 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 2009 Boxster 3.4 Spyder PDK 987 means you're competing with the 2025 Maserati GranCabrio 490 (254.8 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 2012 Maserati GranTurismo Sport 4.8 V8 Automatic (254.4 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The Porsche Boxster 3.4 Spyder PDK 987 generates around 198.5 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 2023 Porsche Boxster Spyder RS 4.0 982 (223.5 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 2008 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed 6.0 W12 (223.4 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The Porsche Boxster 3.4 Spyder PDK 987 can accelerate 0–60mph in 4.80 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 5.0 secs. Acceleration rivals to the Porsche Boxster 3.4 Spyder PDK 987 include the 2022 Maserati Quattroporte Modena (4.80 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 2022 Maybach S 580 4MATIC (4.80 secs).

The Flat 6 engine of the Porsche Boxster 3.4 Spyder PDK 987 ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (4.90 secs) and the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo (4.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Porsche Boxster 3.4 Spyder PDK 987 and the Volkswagen-VW Golf R 4Motion DSG 2.0 Turbo

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 2009 Porsche Boxster can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.46 secs with a trap speed around 101.2 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the Volkswagen-VW Golf R 4Motion DSG 2.0 Turbo (13.47 seconds @ 101.1 mph) and a close race between the Jaguar F-Pace 3.0 V6 Supercharged (13.47 seconds @ 101.1 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 2009 version of the Porsche Boxster 3.4 Spyder PDK 987 has a maximum speed of 165mph.

Top Speed of the 2009 Boxster equals the Lamborghini Countach LP400S (164 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 2009 Porsche Boxster 3.4 Spyder PDK 987 then there's the slightly slower the Lamborghini Countach LP400S (164 mph) or how about the impressive Ford GT 40 (164 mph).

— AutoSnout

Figures & Specs Summary:

Related Links:

• 2009 Boxster Rivals List.
• 2009 Boxster: Full Review and Comparisons.
• A Brief History of Porsche
• Compare the 2009 Porsche Boxster