Cayman GTS

[robj4]

Blimey, good news and nice for others to use this as an example, nice one.

[PastaSource]

Mario149 said:

Thanks all Colour choice was a bit of a gamble as I only had the configurator to go on, but it's a winner and I'm so chuffed with it. Factory collection was def worth it.

Has been an awesome 2.5 days and 600 miles so far. We've just arrived in Davos from Salzburg having done 300+ miles inc the Stelvio and Fluela Passes today. I'm shattered and a bit sunburnt, but all good Car has been amazing: PDK with paddles and PSE with the roof down on alpine roads might be driving nirvana....and I haven't even gone above 6k rpm yet

Stunning looking Boxster Mario! And from one Mario to another, hope you had a great trip - I must have been driving around Stelvio the day before you (I'm a slow reader on these forums, and had a nice week ignoring the internet), have just got back from a 2500 mile round trip driving around the passes - crossed paths (flash and wave only) with Evo's Henry Catchpole driving a yellow 981 Spyder going the other way, couldn't have asked for anything more from a car (perhaps a touch of torque lower down the rev range, hairpins needing 1st gear) - PDK a stunning thing, and what an utter child-like joy that exhaust is in the mountains, had so many +ve comments on it (both up and down, run off, and the tunnels - O M G)!!

Mario

[Mario149]

PastaSource said:

Mario149 said:

Thanks all Colour choice was a bit of a gamble as I only had the configurator to go on, but it's a winner and I'm so chuffed with it. Factory collection was def worth it.

Has been an awesome 2.5 days and 600 miles so far. We've just arrived in Davos from Salzburg having done 300+ miles inc the Stelvio and Fluela Passes today. I'm shattered and a bit sunburnt, but all good Car has been amazing: PDK with paddles and PSE with the roof down on alpine roads might be driving nirvana....and I haven't even gone above 6k rpm yet

Stunning looking Boxster Mario! And from one Mario to another, hope you had a great trip - I must have been driving around Stelvio the day before you (I'm a slow reader on these forums, and had a nice week ignoring the internet), have just got back from a 2500 mile round trip driving around the passes - crossed paths (flash and wave only) with Evo's Henry Catchpole driving a yellow 981 Spyder going the other way, couldn't have asked for anything more from a car (perhaps a touch of torque lower down the rev range, hairpins needing 1st gear) - PDK a stunning thing, and what an utter child-like joy that exhaust is in the mountains, had so many +ve comments on it (both up and down, run off, and the tunnels - O M G)!!

Mario

Thanks We just got back yesterday, tired but very happy! The dealer has the car now putting UK plates on it so I'm without for a few days, as a result it feels a little like it was a dream that didn't really happen

Funny you mention about the 1st gear hairpins, it may not be the torquiest motor, but being able to drop it into first with PDK to fire out of them was rather fun

[Mario149]

Chap(esses), who do you have you GTSs insured with? I'm struggling slightly with my usual insurers but I don't want to have to revert to Admiral etc unless I absolutely have to. Ideally looking for someone who covers track days as well but not essential.

[PastaSource]

Mario149 said:

Thanks We just got back yesterday, tired but very happy! The dealer has the car now putting UK plates on it so I'm without for a few days, as a result it feels a little like it was a dream that didn't really happen

Funny you mention about the 1st gear hairpins, it may not be the torquiest motor, but being able to drop it into first with PDK to fire out of them was rather fun

Small world - I stopped by Guildford OPC this afternoon to book my car in (cupholder release stuck closed). Somewhat surprised to see a lovely looking '15 plate BGTS parked outside that bore an uncanny resemblance to yours ...looks even better in the flesh! Would have grabbed a pic if I had my phone with me at the time so you could see it with the plates on.

[Mario149]

PastaSource said:

Mario149 said:

Thanks We just got back yesterday, tired but very happy! The dealer has the car now putting UK plates on it so I'm without for a few days, as a result it feels a little like it was a dream that didn't really happen

Funny you mention about the 1st gear hairpins, it may not be the torquiest motor, but being able to drop it into first with PDK to fire out of them was rather fun

Small world - I stopped by Guildford OPC this afternoon to book my car in (cupholder release stuck closed). Somewhat surprised to see a lovely looking '15 plate BGTS parked outside that bore an uncanny resemblance to yours ...looks even better in the flesh! Would have grabbed a pic if I had my phone with me at the time so you could see it with the plates on.

A small world it is! From yesterday, end of our road trip:



I know I keep banging on about it, but I am so pleased with the colour combo I chose Really makes the car feel special to me in a way I didn't think possible

Edited by Mario149 on Monday 20th July 20:43

[AndyCGTS]

Mario149 said:

Chap(esses), who do you have you GTSs insured with? I'm struggling slightly with my usual insurers but I don't want to have to revert to Admiral etc unless I absolutely have to. Ideally looking for someone who covers track days as well but not essential.

I'm insured with A-Plan, who I can really recommend.

[RBT0]

Nice colour combo, great choice, a bit of luxury appeal, it feels special.

[rob.kellock]

Mario149 said:

Chap(esses), who do you have you GTSs insured with? I'm struggling slightly with my usual insurers but I don't want to have to revert to Admiral etc unless I absolutely have to. Ideally looking for someone who covers track days as well but not essential.

Porsche insurance were remarkably competitive for me for the last 5 years. 2 track days a year only though.

Just switched to PCGB policy with Locktons. Unlimited track days included. Also very comprehensive cover, agreed value and no silly small print - ie Porsche repairers OK etc.

[london_v]

Hi all. First post so go easy! I've ordered my gts but still deciding on whether to stick with pasm or go with x73. The dealer has recommended pasm as he mentioned there are reports of x73 being too harsh which becomes tiresome. Also, most of the gts' they've sold have had pasm.

I live in greater London, which has its fair share of speed bumps, pot holes and generally roughish roads. I have driven a car with pasm and felt it was very comfortable, but yet to try the sports suspension.

I know this topic has been done to death but I'd appreciate how those guys who selected x73 are getting on? Are there any regrets?

[SFO]

london_v said:

I have driven a car with pasm and felt it was very comfortable, but yet to try the sports suspension.

did you try PASM on sport?

[bcr5784]

SFO said:

did you try PASM on sport?

I find PASM on Sport firmer but still comfortable (I use it most of the time) and I doubt my wife notices, though it does sharpen the steering a tad and remove the occasional tendency on Normal to float (which can happen after a period of sedate driving). On very broken surfaces I'd switch to normal, but it's not necessary that often. From what I've read the 981 Sport setting is far more useable than Sport on the 987, but I have no personal experience.

[london_v]

SFO said:

did you try PASM on sport?

I did, and could definitely feel the improvement in handling with a firmer ride.

[fossilfuelled]

london_v said:

Hi all. First post so go easy! I've ordered my gts but still deciding on whether to stick with pasm or go with x73. The dealer has recommended pasm as he mentioned there are reports of x73 being too harsh which becomes tiresome. Also, most of the gts' they've sold have had pasm.

I live in greater London, which has its fair share of speed bumps, pot holes and generally roughish roads. I have driven a car with pasm and felt it was very comfortable, but yet to try the sports suspension.

I know this topic has been done to death but I'd appreciate how those guys who selected x73 are getting on? Are there any regrets?

I've got a CGTS with x73 and am based in N1 if you want to see how impractical it is in Islington. I'm tempted to say I'd suck it up and go PASM if I did it again for the extra 10mm in clearance.

I do the majority of my milage in Europe on trips to the 'ring/SoF etc so I felt x73 would be better suited. It's fantastic when you hit smooth tarmac but bloody hell. Around London's awful roads, its crashy and way too low. I'm very careful and take everything at an angle and have discovered around 8mph is optimal to take speed bumps. I've attached a photo of the underside of my bumper for your consideration. This is despite my careful approach to the bumps/ramps/bullst roads.
For example, I had to plead with the motorists behind me so I could reverse down a one way street in Camden on Sunday because it had a speed ramp at the end of it and the camber of the road meant my bumper was on the floor before the wheels had left the top of the speed bump. Had I not approached with caution, stopped, inched forward and gotten out to check, I'd be needing a new front end. It really is THAT low. My friends 997 Turbo or 458 can clear stuff my GTS can't.

Get the PASM if you live in London.

[DC20]

PEC tomorrow before my CGTS locks down. Hope there is a good range of colours this time, other decision to make is on the stereo Bose Vs Burmester.

Anybody been recently is there yellow, metallic white, carmine red and grey 981s at PEC, and is there any PEC cars to compare both stereo options?

Will be good to get on the track again, after the early flight down from Edinburgh.

[Mario149]

london_v said:

Hi all. First post so go easy! I've ordered my gts but still deciding on whether to stick with pasm or go with x73. The dealer has recommended pasm as he mentioned there are reports of x73 being too harsh which becomes tiresome. Also, most of the gts' they've sold have had pasm.

I live in greater London, which has its fair share of speed bumps, pot holes and generally roughish roads. I have driven a car with pasm and felt it was very comfortable, but yet to try the sports suspension.

I know this topic has been done to death but I'd appreciate how those guys who selected x73 are getting on? Are there any regrets?

I test drove both an X73 (around Chiswick area) and PASM (around Guildford area) Cayman GTSs. X73 felt absolutely fine, firm but never harsh or too much. I could happily live with it. PASM in Normal was a bit softer and in Sport was a bit firmer - Sport still being perfectly acceptable for decent UK roads and Normal still giving enough body control while maintaining decent sportiness. To be honest, I don't think you can go wrong with either. On technical driving level the X73 probably rates higher as the dampers/springs are optimised for one point, whereas PASM is always going to be some sort of compromise until they introduce continuously variable spring rates as well as the variable damping rates they have now.

All that said, I chose PASM (and thinking about it would have even paid extra for it even if it wasn't a no cost either/or) for my (in the end Boxster GTS) as I like the dual character available: when driving normally, a bit of extra comfort is nice, but when on it, I do want it to feel firmer than X73 even if ultimately it's sub-optimal in theory. It should be noted that both X73 and PASM in Sport are waaaay more compliant than my 7.1 GT3 in PASM Normal which is itself still drivable on the road (in PASM Sport it is manifestly not) providing you have a mild masochistic streak or are my gf who weirdly seems to find cares more comfortable the firmer they are sprung

[bcr5784]

london_v said:

Hi all. First post so go easy! I've ordered my gts but still deciding on whether to stick with pasm or go with x73. The dealer has recommended pasm as he mentioned there are reports of x73 being too harsh which becomes tiresome. Also, most of the gts' they've sold have had pasm.

I live in greater London, which has its fair share of speed bumps, pot holes and generally roughish roads. I have driven a car with pasm and felt it was very comfortable, but yet to try the sports suspension.

I know this topic has been done to death but I'd appreciate how those guys who selected x73 are getting on? Are there any regrets?

I think you also need to be aware that it's not just the ride height that is the issue. The lower and longer nose of the GTS (relative to the S) means the approach angle to any slope/ramp/etc is less (more limiting) . Sorry to reiterate this if you've read my previous postings, but even the S with PASM is only just "OK" and does occasionally ground - though I've had no problem on Speed humps, some drives are a problem.

[london_v]

fossilfuelled said:

I've got a CGTS with x73 and am based in N1 if you want to see how impractical it is in Islington. I'm tempted to say I'd suck it up and go PASM if I did it again for the extra 10mm in clearance.

I do the majority of my milage in Europe on trips to the 'ring/SoF etc so I felt x73 would be better suited. It's fantastic when you hit smooth tarmac but bloody hell. Around London's awful roads, its crashy and way too low. I'm very careful and take everything at an angle and have discovered around 8mph is optimal to take speed bumps. I've attached a photo of the underside of my bumper for your consideration. This is despite my careful approach to the bumps/ramps/bullst roads.
For example, I had to plead with the motorists behind me so I could reverse down a one way street in Camden on Sunday because it had a speed ramp at the end of it and the camber of the road meant my bumper was on the floor before the wheels had left the top of the speed bump. Had I not approached with caution, stopped, inched forward and gotten out to check, I'd be needing a new front end. It really is THAT low. My friends 997 Turbo or 458 can clear stuff my GTS can't.

Get the PASM if you live in London.

Thank you for this. It's great to hear real life examples of how X73 performs in real life on London roads! You've pretty much sealed the deal for me, as the roads you describe are ones I counter almost everyday. And although I can imagine on smooth roads the sports suspension is far superior, the majority of my driving will be done in and around town, meaning PASM would be preferable.

Appreciate the advice and continue to drive your car in good health bud!

[london_v]

Thanks for the feedback all - much appreciated and confirms my need for PASM on these beautiful roads of London.

For your information, the spec of my car, which is due for delivery in the coming months:

White
Park assist front + rear
Electric folding mirrors
PDK
20" Carrera S Alloys
Wheels painted in satin platinum
Cruise control
Smoking package
Auto dimming mirror
Mobile phone prep
Bose
Dab
PCM incl Navigation
Seat heating

I can't wait for it to arrive! Has there been any GTS meets? Would be great to join the next one!

[RBT0]

Looking for a GTS meeting here in west midlands too.

I've proposed Silverstone, PEC?, but it seems not many interested.