RE: Driven: Porsche Boxster and Boxster S

[kambites]

I wonder if, with the Boxster getting bigger and softer, they'll slot another sports car in below it at some point? Maybe as a joint venture with VW.

[dom180]

Did the author drive the car? - Is there a link to the review anywhere.... Pretty much all I see is descriptive text on the car.

[Asterix]

aston addict said:

Always liked that car but found it lacked headroom, especially the Cayman.

Lack of headroom in a Cayman! Really?

I'm a six footer and could wear a top hat if I so wished. Admittedly I drive with the seat as low as possible, where it should be.

[kambites]

I had the opposite problem - plenty of head-room, not enough leg-room.

I find that in most cars, though, so it's not really Porsche's fault.

[Donatello]

How long do we think it will be before these are sub £20k?

Lovely looking cars, really well proportioned. Best looking Boxster IMO.

[thewheelman]

Wow, Porsche have really made the new Poxster damn ugly. Pity.

[kambites]

Donatello said:

How long do we think it will be before these are sub £20k?

Lovely looking cars, really well proportioned. Best looking Boxster IMO.

Judging by previous Boxsters, probably about three years for the bottom end of the market.

[Johnboy Mac]

Mr. Potato Head said:

What he actually means is that electric steering is cheaper and easier to install at the point of manufacture, but when you have a fault at 8 years old it costs 3 times as much to repair.

Ahm oot.

That's exactly why elec.steering is fitted, no other reason no matter what PR statements state.

Still, this new Boxster seems rather bloody nice. Great buy for someone a few years down the line too.

[kambites]

Johnboy Mac said:

Mr. Potato Head said:

What he actually means is that electric steering is cheaper and easier to install at the point of manufacture, but when you have a fault at 8 years old it costs 3 times as much to repair.

Ahm oot.

That's exactly why elec.steering is fitted, no other reason no matter what PR statements state.

Emissions is the other reason - it uses no power when going in a straight line, which is of course all that the car does during the official economy test.

[VladD]

kambites said:

Johnboy Mac said:

Mr. Potato Head said:

What he actually means is that electric steering is cheaper and easier to install at the point of manufacture, but when you have a fault at 8 years old it costs 3 times as much to repair.

Ahm oot.

That's exactly why elec.steering is fitted, no other reason no matter what PR statements state.

Emissions is the other reason - it uses no power when going in a straight line, which is of course all that the car does during the official economy test.

Since electric power steering is simpler, would it be reasonably easy for someone who knew what the were doing to modify it to give a little more weight/feel?

[otolith]

Better looking than previous models. Pricing looks fair - though no doubt if it had a Japanese or British badge on it, this thread would be full of complaints about how overpriced it is.

Having read AutoCar's Boxster - vs - Z4 - vs - Elise S test, I'd take the Lotus, but I think I'd be in a minority, especially given that many people would want to commute in it.

[kambites]

VladD said:

Since electric power steering is simpler, would it be reasonably easy for someone who knew what the were doing to modify it to give a little more weight/feel?

I've not read anything that implies that it's too light? Adding feel is something that seems to have eluded all manufacturers in electric set-ups so far, although I don't really understand why it should be hard. If Porsche can't manage it, I doubt anyone else is going to find it easy.

[SFO]

pics of the Boxster is the S with the red calipers

[billzeebub]

hornetrider said:

billzeebub said:

Finally has the looks to match the drive. Stunning car and a bit of a bargain at £38k. I would leave all the options boxes unticked and just revel in the lack of gadgets

Thing is, you just can't.

Must go for leather to avoid resale death (preferably extended, preferably heated and preferably sports), wind deflector, xenons, PSE..... etc

Dancing the old car salesman two step..granted the majority of people are now so anaesthetised by their safe, suburban lives that they can't do without the things you mentioned- but I would like to think that in a few years time there may be some member of the SAS looking for a Boxster who could put up with the discomfort of a non- hide interior..

..mate of mine has had an 02 plate from new, shock horror he went for the standard spec with hide bolsters and has kept it meticulously. I know for a fact that if and when he sells, there are at least 4 names in the frame to buy it..

[Johnboy Mac]

kambites said:

Emissions is the other reason - it uses no power when going in a straight line, which is of course all that the car does during the official economy test.

I'd say the effect of fluid PAS has on emissions is very little, certainly emissions is not the main reason for elec.P.A.S..

[dom180]

Johnboy Mac said:

kambites said:

Emissions is the other reason - it uses no power when going in a straight line, which is of course all that the car does during the official economy test.

I'd say the effect of fluid PAS has on emissions is very little, certainly emissions is not the main reason for elec.P.A.S..

Indeed, it's likely cost plus flexibility.

On the optional power steering plus I believe the car adjusts the steering to correct oversteer /also allows steering to be tuned for women/US markets - both easier with electric steering.

Also the electric steering filters out noise to make the car more stable /helps sales in Germany wrt the Autobahns where feedback was the old steering was too nervous...

[otolith]

Johnboy Mac said:

I'd say the effect of fluid PAS has on emissions is very little, certainly emissions is not the main reason for elec.P.A.S..

It's one reason amongst others, though - one benefit of moving auxillary systems to electrical power is that you can then do the kind of thing BMW do with intelligent alternator control to effectively power them for free.

Bosch make some bold claims for the efficiency advantage of electromechanical PAS here.

[Cheib]

kambites said:

hornetrider said:

Thing is, you just can't.

Must go for leather to avoid resale death (preferably extended, preferably heated and preferably sports), wind deflector, xenons, PSE..... etc

Is there such a thing as an option that actually improves the residuals (in absolute, not % terms) in any car? I've certainly not come across one.

I don't know enough about Porkers but it definitely used to be the case with BMW's back in the 90's that you HAD to have a sunroof. I remember my old 320i Coupe that was a company/lease car had to be fitted with a sunroof which the lease company paid for because of the impact on residuals. After that it was A/C and then SatNav on higher end cars.

[Otispunkmeyer]

hornetrider said:

kambites said:

Is there such a thing as an option that actually improves the residuals (in absolute, not % terms) in any car? I've certainly not come across one.

I don't know about absolute terms, but if you don't spec leather you'll need the patience of a saint come resale time. The market for cars lacking it is teeny tiny.

sad really... I hate leather in cars. Infact hate leather seats full stop. Wouldnt have a leather sofa in my house... not going to have one in my car. Its one of those things people just want because of the percieved image, not because its better.

[Hellbound]

Otispunkmeyer said:

sad really... I hate leather in cars. Infact hate leather seats full stop. Wouldnt have a leather sofa in my house... not going to have one in my car. Its one of those things people just want because of the percieved image, not because its better.

I have leather sofas. They're wipe clean, and don't retain any odours apart from the leather smell when new or after its been treated. I find fabric sofas and carpets tend to retain household smells (cooking, children spilling things etc) and are difficult to get rid of.

Also good quality leather is hard to beat and ages well. Leather driving gloves, a tightly weaved leather steering wheel, leather brogues....


...leather hot pants, gimp mask etc. etc.