Boxster GTS air intakes...
Discussion
I've been playing with specs for a Boxster GTS. Is it just me or are the revised front air intakes just plain ugly....? They are larger than those on the Boxster and S, and appear to be made of black plastic with no option to colour code.
Ditto the rest of the black plastic around the front...
It's putting me off!
Ditto the rest of the black plastic around the front...
It's putting me off!
It is not just you.
Completely subjective of course, but I don't like any of the so called exterior "improvements". Not a fan of the front splitter and air intakes. Not a fan of the rear splitter and blacked exhaust. Even the Carmine Red - or whatever it is called - I would pass on. Much prefer guards red. GTS stickers on the side? Pass. The original 981 design was just right in my opinion, and with the Cayman 981 I really like the round spot driving lights.
About the only thing I like about the GTS - as a specific improvement - is the extra top end engine power that was deliberately neutered from the car in the first place. By the time my S is out of warranty... we'll see.
Overall the parts bin special (most of which you pay big bucks for) does nothing for me. It certainly isn't the kind of honing that a 987 R took over a 987 S. Although admittedly if you were going to specify most of the GTS options on an S model anyways then the GTS would probably retain more of the value of these options when you come to sell the car.
Completely subjective of course, but I don't like any of the so called exterior "improvements". Not a fan of the front splitter and air intakes. Not a fan of the rear splitter and blacked exhaust. Even the Carmine Red - or whatever it is called - I would pass on. Much prefer guards red. GTS stickers on the side? Pass. The original 981 design was just right in my opinion, and with the Cayman 981 I really like the round spot driving lights.
About the only thing I like about the GTS - as a specific improvement - is the extra top end engine power that was deliberately neutered from the car in the first place. By the time my S is out of warranty... we'll see.
Overall the parts bin special (most of which you pay big bucks for) does nothing for me. It certainly isn't the kind of honing that a 987 R took over a 987 S. Although admittedly if you were going to specify most of the GTS options on an S model anyways then the GTS would probably retain more of the value of these options when you come to sell the car.
Originally having planned to go with Racing Yellow, I ended up switching to White once all the blacked-out details (headlamps, tail lamps, washer nozzles, lower front fascia, badging, exhaust finisher) were revealed. I've found that the Carrera S wheels in Platinum Satin is probably your best bet if you're going White -- it's what I've done.
http://imgur.com/a/Re3ge
I felt Racing Yellow looked best with the normally painted wheels and other normal details, and made for a happy looking car in S trim. When things were revealed to be more aggressive for the GTS, I embraced it instead of trying to fight it. If they're partially aping the 911 GT3's look, you might as well roll with it.
http://imgur.com/a/Re3ge
I felt Racing Yellow looked best with the normally painted wheels and other normal details, and made for a happy looking car in S trim. When things were revealed to be more aggressive for the GTS, I embraced it instead of trying to fight it. If they're partially aping the 911 GT3's look, you might as well roll with it.
Thank you! It's not just me then...
Am going to spec-up an S (with everything painted white) and a GTS "embracing the spirit of GTS" and see which I prefer. If I have time, I'll post some pics for comparison later.
In the meantime - as there are obviously some knowledgeable enthusiasts here - I'm going to subtly divert this thread into a "help me with my spec/build" discussion...
Three questions if I may:
1. I quite like the look of the sports bucket seats. Will they be a liability when it's time to trade in the car?
2. I quite like driving manual cars. Will a manual gearbox be a liability when it's time to trade in the car?
3. My current "weekend" car (a 997.2 Turbo S) has PTV. I don't do track days but do sometimes drive enthusiastically. If I spec/buy a car without PTV will I notice its absence?
Thoughts opinions welcomed! Thank you in advance.
Am going to spec-up an S (with everything painted white) and a GTS "embracing the spirit of GTS" and see which I prefer. If I have time, I'll post some pics for comparison later.
In the meantime - as there are obviously some knowledgeable enthusiasts here - I'm going to subtly divert this thread into a "help me with my spec/build" discussion...
Three questions if I may:
1. I quite like the look of the sports bucket seats. Will they be a liability when it's time to trade in the car?
2. I quite like driving manual cars. Will a manual gearbox be a liability when it's time to trade in the car?
3. My current "weekend" car (a 997.2 Turbo S) has PTV. I don't do track days but do sometimes drive enthusiastically. If I spec/buy a car without PTV will I notice its absence?
Thoughts opinions welcomed! Thank you in advance.
iantr said:
Thank you! It's not just me then...
Three questions if I may:
1. I quite like the look of the sports bucket seats. Will they be a liability when it's time to trade in the car?
2. I quite like driving manual cars. Will a manual gearbox be a liability when it's time to trade in the car?
3. My current "weekend" car (a 997.2 Turbo S) has PTV. I don't do track days but do sometimes drive enthusiastically. If I spec/buy a car without PTV will I notice its absence?
Thoughts opinions welcomed! Thank you in advance.
My views:Three questions if I may:
1. I quite like the look of the sports bucket seats. Will they be a liability when it's time to trade in the car?
2. I quite like driving manual cars. Will a manual gearbox be a liability when it's time to trade in the car?
3. My current "weekend" car (a 997.2 Turbo S) has PTV. I don't do track days but do sometimes drive enthusiastically. If I spec/buy a car without PTV will I notice its absence?
Thoughts opinions welcomed! Thank you in advance.
1. No. A premium. Maybe some people put off, but plenty of people will like and hardly any 981 cars have them. So supply will be more restricted than demand. My 981 S has 2 way sports seats and it would be c.GBP8k to retrofit sport buckets. So much cheaper as a new build option. (Some things - like cruise control - can be retrofitted relatively inexpensively but the cost of seat retrofits is insane... it would be better value for me to just order a new car).
2. No. Neither a premium or liability in my view. I think you should just get want you want in this regard. Only caveat, if you go PDK make sure you get the sport steering wheel with the paddles not the buttons. On the manual this does not matter.
3. Hard to say. If you have PTV already on the 997, then maybe yes. My S has PTV and I do notice the difference to 981s without it.
Best of luck. Let us know what you decide.
I was put off by the black plastic air vents behind the doors when ordering my first 981 in 2012, the dealer offered to paint them white or wrap them, in the end i didnt bother but you could consider wrapping around the front. My new silver one has black wheels and now the black bits all work well together...to my surprise!
Slightly off topic, but WTF is going on with the manual gearing the the Cayman/Boxster S/GTS? Second gear runs to 80mph, and 3rd to 115mph! This utterly curtails acceleration when compared to say 20mph a gear lower. In effect you have a 5 speed box + overdrive. Oh well may as well buy a PDK.
I have a new CS in White with Satin wheels and black interior so I fully endorse your colour choice and wheels!
I have PDK (my first ever auto car) but skipped the PTV option... PDK is very good, it creeps forward like a traditional auto, teamed up with ACC its a doddle to drive in central London traffic and on congested motorways. Spec the sports steering wheel and paddles allow you override the transmission instantly.
I didn't bother with PTV as the car i drove at the silverstone Porsche experience didn't have it and I was happy with that. If i was going for track days I may have considered it. I also chose to skip sport chrono option for the same reason.
I have PDK (my first ever auto car) but skipped the PTV option... PDK is very good, it creeps forward like a traditional auto, teamed up with ACC its a doddle to drive in central London traffic and on congested motorways. Spec the sports steering wheel and paddles allow you override the transmission instantly.
I didn't bother with PTV as the car i drove at the silverstone Porsche experience didn't have it and I was happy with that. If i was going for track days I may have considered it. I also chose to skip sport chrono option for the same reason.
mollytherocker said:
Where is this real world? I have 3 manual cars and they are fine.
Didn't suggest they wouldn't be, MTR, just that PDK is equally fine and probably easier on the M62 at 5 o'clock on a Friday which is one of the places you can find the real world, along with the M6 on a Bank Holiday and the Lake District on any sunny day. 
Manuals are great, as are unsynchronised gear boxes, drum brakes, pull chokes, steam trains, No 6 cigarettes, Ford Capri 3.0S and hand pulled Boddingtons bitter at the Grapes, Wrea Green circa 1974
but some things just suit modern life more......but are not necessarily "better". mollytherocker said:
Where is this real world? I have 3 manual cars and they are fine.
Didn't suggest they wouldn't be, MTR, just that PDK is equally fine and probably easier on the M62 at 5 o'clock on a Friday which is one of the places you can find the real world, along with the M6 on a Bank Holiday and the Lake District on any sunny day. Manuals are great, as are unsynchronised gear boxes, drum brakes, pull chokes, steam trains, No 6 cigarettes, Ford Capri 3.0S and hand pulled Boddingtons bitter at the Grapes, Wrea Green circa 1974
but some things just suit modern life more......but are not necessarily "better". Gassing Station | Boxster/Cayman | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff