The mid-engine Porsches are the best-balanced sports cars of their eras, and the aftermarket agrees on what improves them: let the flat-six breathe and sing, drop the ride height a touch, and firm up the brakes. Nothing exotic — just the right parts. Here's what we stock and install for 987 (2005–2012) and 981 (2013–2016) cars, plus their 718 successors where fitment carries over.
1. Exhaust — the single biggest character change
The 981's 2.7 and 3.4 flat-sixes sound restrained from the factory. The Borla dual center-exit cat-back for the 981 Cayman/Boxster wakes the car up with the classic Borla note — aggressive at throttle, civil at cruise — with a 4-inch center tip setup that looks factory-plus.
2. Springs — kill the wheel gap, keep the ride
H&R sport springs for the 981 (PASM cars included) lower the car modestly and progressively — the factory dampers keep working as designed, and per the fitment table the application carries into 718 (982) cars through 2020. This is the "why didn't it come this way" mod.
3. Brake lines — the cheap pedal transformation
Rubber lines flex; 10–20-year-old rubber lines flex a lot. Goodridge stainless kits give the pedal a hard, consistent bite point:
Pair with fresh high-temp fluid and the brakes feel new.
4. Pads — GT4 and track-day cars
Running a Cayman GT4 or chasing lap times? The Hawk PC street front pads for GT3/GT4 cover the 2016 Cayman GT4's big front calipers with low-dust street manners.
Symptoms/specs quick reference
- 987.2 / 981 direct-injection engines avoided the 987.1's IMS-adjacent worries — the 981 is the "just drive it" generation
- Typical spring drop: ~20–25mm front/rear (varies by engine and PASM)
- Brake line + fluid refresh: the best under-$400 brake upgrade there is
FAQ
Do I lose daily usability with springs?
H&R's progressive rate is designed around factory or PASM dampers. Lower and firmer, yes; harsh, no.
Will the Borla exhaust drone?
Borla's tuning avoids constant-throttle drone on the 981; it's loudest on cold start and full throttle. Sound is subjective — listen to clips first.
My car is a 718 (982) — does any of this fit?
The H&R spring listing and some brake parts carry 718 fitment per the manufacturer tables. Verify your exact model year before ordering.
Cayman vs Boxster fitment differences?
For these parts, coupes and roadsters share fitment within the same generation. Always confirm against the listed years.
Shop Porsche parts: Porsche collection
In Miami? We'll install it. Exhaust, springs and alignment in a day — book service or call (305) 847-9935.
Verify fitment to your exact chassis (987.1/987.2/981/982) before purchase. Suspension and brake work is safety-critical — when in doubt, see a specialist.