981 options you wish you had (not) specced and why?

[FrankCayman]

bcr5784 said:

Absolutely, but pretty much the same argument could be applied to telephone prep, parking sensors, climate control and some would argue quite a lot more. Like others have said it's not going to upset many people by charging through the nose to personalise the car with fancy trim options, chrome petrol fillers or gear knobs - but it does upset them to be charged £400+ to connect a phone or (when you add everything you have to spec up) £3000 if you want sat nav as well. And you still don't get DAB!

I did spec the PCM and phone connectivity on my 981, but when I bought my first 987 gen 1, I didn't want, nor need those things, so was glad I was able to spec. my Boxster for £39,000. I could not have afford or justify one at £45,000 at the time.

I am happy with how Porsche don't force you to buy options you don't need.

A completely base Cayman without ANY options would still be a nice car and better value than any Z4 with 'all the bits'.....in my opinion.

[Mario149]

bcr5784 said:

Mario149 said:

I actually think it would! No one realistically is going to not buy a car over some £80 floor mats, but having to spec them onto base price because a Porsche of all vehicles doesn't come with them just simply pisses people off. So either way Porsche get their £80, it's just with the suggested method they have happier clients. It's almost like they enjoy giving their dealership staff a hard time.

Absolutely, but pretty much the same argument could be applied to telephone prep, parking sensors, climate control and some would argue quite a lot more. Like others have said it's not going to upset many people by charging through the nose to personalise the car with fancy trim options, chrome petrol fillers or gear knobs - but it does upset them to be charged £400+ to connect a phone or (when you add everything you have to spec up) £3000 if you want sat nav as well. And you still don't get DAB!

It is a question of where to draw the line obviously. And the line's location will change as years go by. I mean, heaters used to be an optional extra on cars! However, in terms of Porsche in 2015, I would expect a *bare* minimum of floor mats, extended leather and climate control, it's hardly asking for much.

[ilduce]

Mario149 said:

bcr5784 said:

Mario149 said:

I actually think it would! No one realistically is going to not buy a car over some £80 floor mats, but having to spec them onto base price because a Porsche of all vehicles doesn't come with them just simply pisses people off. So either way Porsche get their £80, it's just with the suggested method they have happier clients. It's almost like they enjoy giving their dealership staff a hard time.

Absolutely, but pretty much the same argument could be applied to telephone prep, parking sensors, climate control and some would argue quite a lot more. Like others have said it's not going to upset many people by charging through the nose to personalise the car with fancy trim options, chrome petrol fillers or gear knobs - but it does upset them to be charged £400+ to connect a phone or (when you add everything you have to spec up) £3000 if you want sat nav as well. And you still don't get DAB!

It is a question of where to draw the line obviously. And the line's location will change as years go by. I mean, heaters used to be an optional extra on cars! However, in terms of Porsche in 2015, I would expect a *bare* minimum of floor mats, extended leather and climate control, it's hardly asking for much.

Ha! It'll never happen. Remember these are the same people that MAKE you buy a battery (if you want their warranty) for £250 when a better one would cost you only £80.

[bcr5784]

FrankCayman said:

A completely base Cayman without ANY options would still be a nice car and better value than any Z4 with 'all the bits'.....in my opinion.

You don't have to convince me of that - but you (and me) value driving over bling. But many Porsche's (most?) and their competitors are bought by people for whom the image and looks are at least as important as the dynamics. And while the Z4 doesn't sell that well because it ticks too few boxes, SLKs massively outsell (7:1) Caymans, despite being dynamically inferior. You have to ask why?

[FrankCayman]

bcr5784 said:

And while the Z4 doesn't sell that well because it ticks too few boxes, SLKs massively outsell (7:1) Caymans, despite being dynamically inferior. You have to ask why?

Because the majority of SLK drivers are not interested in the dynamics. They want a comfortable, automatic cruiser that looks 'sporty' and can be bought for £299 per month with a small deposit. A female client of mine tried a Boxster and went for the SLK because she said the Porsche was 'too unrefined'.

Without wishing to offend anybody, they tend to be bought by Merc E class driving semi retired business men for their wives to roll about in during the week, with the idea that he can pop on a baseball cap at the weekend and drive it himself for something 'sporty'....

SLK's cater for a completely different demographic to the Porsche 981's in my view.

Edited by FrankCayman on Thursday 8th January 13:45

[bcr5784]

FrankCayman said:

Without wishing to offend anybody, they tend to be bought by Merc SL driving semi retired business men for their wives to roll about in during the week, with the idea that he can pop on a baseball cap at the weekend and drive it himself for something 'sporty'....

Bought 2 Porsches (one 911 C4 and my 981) both from women who fall into something like that demographic. Not statistically significant perhaps... The only 2 other Porsche drivers I would say I know well are not, I would venture to say, dynamically focussed - more the sort whose wives would like to be seen in a Porsche. All very much the sort who might well have bought an SLK.

And didn't you have a Z4? If so have you changed your demographic?

[FrankCayman]

bcr5784 said:

And didn't you have a Z4? If so have you changed your demographic?

No...I've never owned a Z4 before. Where did you get that idea from?

[cibble10]

FrankCayman said:

No...I've never owned a Z4 before. Where did you get that idea from?

Intriguing.... I looked at a Z4 and test drove one, and then the same with the SLK55.... and have to suggest that they fall into the 'hairdressers car' category, whereas I consider the Porsche a sports car enthusiasts car. All broad brush of course. My neighbour has a SLK55, is not a haidresser,and in fact has no hair at all...

Maybe it is as simple as more GT (Merc and Z4) than Sportscar ... Porsche...

[bcr5784]

FrankCayman said:

No...I've never owned a Z4 before. Where did you get that idea from?

Forgive me if I got it wrong - someone posting on another forum with your handle apparently did. Sorry

[Ed from Cyprus]

Porsche easily could sell as much Boxsters as SLK if 981.2 (or 718 as rumours has it) will be 2 litres turbo of around 210-220 bhp and slightly lower servicing costs than for current 981.

Though, I hope they never do it and will hold their word and never sell any car cheaper than Euro 50k as their boss said several years ago in one interview.

I also hope they understand it's a 1 way road for brand dilution as they can see it from MB and BMW examples now... I hope current profits are not everything for them yet...

[FrankCayman]

bcr5784 said:

Forgive me if I got it wrong - someone posting on another forum with your handle apparently did. Sorry

No probs, sir! I was worried I'd owned a car and forgotten about it...I've just got in to my 40's and my memory isn't what is used to be!!

[FrankCayman]

Ed from Cyprus said:

Porsche easily could sell as much Boxsters as SLK if 981.2 (or 718 as rumours has it) will be 2 litres turbo of around 210-220 bhp and slightly lower servicing costs than for current 981.

Though, I hope they never do it and will hold their word and never sell any car cheaper than Euro 50k as their boss said several years ago in one interview.

I also hope they understand it's a 1 way road for brand dilution as they can see it from MB and BMW examples now... I hope current profits are not everything for them yet...

Agree

[BIRMA]

I suggest this thread is stopped/locked because I want people to specify PCCB's and other goodies on their new cars because people like me buy them when they are four years old from new for half price and things like PCCB's bear very little increase in the secondhand value.

[Adam B]

cibble10 said:

Intriguing.... I looked at a Z4 and test drove one, and then the same with the SLK55.... and have to suggest that they fall into the 'hairdressers car' category, whereas I consider the Porsche a sports car enthusiasts car. All broad brush of course.

I agree, most Porsches are bought by people who want to give off the image they are a sports car enthusiast rather than a hairdresser

[bcr5784]

BIRMA said:

I suggest this thread is stopped/locked because I want people to specify PCCB's and other goodies on their new cars because people like me buy them when they are four years old from new for half price and things like PCCB's bear very little increase in the secondhand value.

That's true of some options - like PCCBs which some might want and others might consciously avoid. But there are options which are in demand and which hold much of their value for quite a while - like PDK, and others (like PCM, climate, parking sensors) which the market expects(and the absence of which make a car hard to sell) and also hold their value well. If you subscribe to Parkers guide prices (the paid for option) the uplift in secondhand value which various options command is very interesting.

[Budweiser]

When I specified my CGTS I knew it was going to cost. Had exactly what I wanted without a thought for what others might think.

Result, I have e CGTS that is perfect for me. If you don't like what Porsche do buy a different car.

I don't miss the multi function steering wheel and much prefer the look and feel of the sports wheel.

I love the full leather etc etc. etc.

I've owned a Porsche since the early 80s, this is the best ever.






















For me

[FrankCayman]

Budweiser said:

When I specified my CGTS I knew it was going to cost. Had exactly what I wanted without a thought for what others might think.

Result, I have e CGTS that is perfect for me. If you don't like what Porsche do buy a different car.

I don't miss the multi function steering wheel and much prefer the look and feel of the sports wheel.

I love the full leather etc etc. etc.

I've owned a Porsche since the early 80s, this is the best ever.

Exactly. It's great specc'ing a complete bespoke car to your own needs and budget. I've never given a monkeys about what options need to be selected for resale. To be honest, I usually keep them for 3 years and have about 90K, so I know my car will lose money...but I get the use out of it and still manage to lose less than any BMW/Audi I've owned in the past.

Back to options...soemthing else I didn't spec which I had done on previous 987's was partial leather seats. I've just gone for the standard alcantara. I was really worried about this, but am delighted as to how well they are wearing. I've covered 40K and the seats look brand new. I see pictures of used 981 with leather and notice the drivers seats look saggy on the seat base after 8,000.

One last point.It has been mentioned that OPC salesmen are upset if you don't load your car up with options. My chap didn't care. He just wanted me to have the car I wanted. I seem to remember a previous salesmen telling me he didn't get any more commission from seeling a 911 turbo over a base Boxster.

The only thing the sales guys do get a kick back from are things like Autoglym paint protection, GAP insurance and Alloy Wheel/spot repair protection.

May Porsche continue to give us the options as individual selections.....I hate those 'Luxury Pack' and 'Communication Pack' kind of bundles.....you always end up with stuff you don't need!

[koorby]

Why Porsche don't offer the Macan steering wheel in the 981 is beyond me. It combines the Sports steering wheel with the multimedia niceties of the basic wheel. I believe the 918 has this too. Maybe this will be in the 981.2 update?

I really miss being able to twiddle the speaker volume and answer calls from the steering wheel.

[m999psw]

That wheel would have been perfect.

[cibble10]

koorby said:

Why Porsche don't offer the Macan steering wheel in the 981 is beyond me. It combines the Sports steering wheel with the multimedia niceties of the basic wheel. I believe the 918 has this too. Maybe this will be in the 981.2 update?

I really miss being able to twiddle the speaker volume and answer calls from the steering wheel.

#

Yup! That is exactly what I wanted in my BGTS and was not able to spec it. As mentioned previously I consider the sports steering wheel looks a bit cheap and basic (my view) and why should it lack all useful buttons because it is a sports wheel, or conversely, why can't the MF wheel be specced with paddles (per your picture)? My BGTS is fully specced for track use (occasional only but the SS and PTV are there) so why can't I have paddles!!!!!!! For £800 I can have them retrofitted and the buttons replaced with blanks...