few questions, switching from a 987 S to a 981 S

[JeffC]

I have owned a gen 2 3.4 pdk Boxster for the last 10 months and its been a fantastic car and I have really enjoyed it and had no intention of changing it but I have been seeing more and more 981 s kicking about and I think they look fantastic so the last few weeks I have been thinking more and more about getting one, anyway I bit the bullet and went out and bought a 981 3.4s manual on Saturday, was very surprised how different the 2 cars are, the newer car feels a lot more grown up and certainly a lot bigger, although it has the 20" wheels the ride actually feels a touch more comfortable than the previous model on 19s , the newer car appears to have more road noise which seems to come from behind, both cars have the switchable sports exhausts but the later car has a much deeper exhaust note and pops nicely on over run, I have also noticed new car revs higher ?

I've been very taken with the 981 however I jumped back into my 987 on Tuesday to get the car detailed ready for sale and was surprised how much more of an involving drive it was, It immediately felt smaller, sportier , nimbler and actually quicker ! I think the feeling of it being quicker is mainly due to the pdk shorter gears, the box on the manual is very long in comparison, I almost think If I put the car on track I would only use 2 gears of my local circuit , not sure at the moment that I have made a mistake getting a manual, I found the Pdk was fantastic for 80% of the time but was the odd time that I really wished it was a manual, from getting into the manual I thought yes this is the answer and enjoyed toeing and heeling on downshifts but jumping back into the Pdk made me question that, the PDK in sport mode is so good ! I will see how that one pans out over the next few months.

anyway a few questions if anyone can help, with not buying new the car although very nicely specced it has a few things missing that I would have wanted in an ideal world.

It doesn't have Cruise control which I really like for the average speed cameras, I noticed there is a cut out on the column trim where the cruise stalk would have gone, Is it just a case of buying the stalk and activating the function in the ecu like it is in VAG cars?

It doesnt have multi function steering wheel, If I replace with a MFW would this be plug and play?

The car has bluetooth in the menu of the PCM which connects to my phone for music but for some reason the phone function does not appear to be installed so I cant take calls through the pcm ? can this be activated or would it need to be specced from new ?

Finally the car is on 20" wheels which look great but I cant help thinking they sit inside the arches a touch too far and would look better spaced out, has anyone fitted spacers front and rear if so what size and where from ?

[PorscheGT4]

"and was surprised how much more of an involving drive it was, It immediately felt smaller, sportier , nimbler and actually quicker "

this ;-) newer is NOT always better. I'll stick with involving, smaller, sportier , nimbler and actually quicker :-)

[wizard263789]

Cruise and telephone options are both available as dealer retrofits. Both need coding.

The Multi-function steering wheel option can be retrofitted but it's not (that I'm aware) an official retrfit; again it needs coding.

[wizard263789]

Cruise and telephone options are both available as dealer retrofits. Both need coding.

The Multi-function steering wheel option can be retrofitted but it's not (that I'm aware) an official retrfit; again it needs coding.

Edited by wizard263789 on Thursday 16th April 03:02

[JeffC]

PorscheGT4 said:

this ;-) newer is NOT always better.

I can agree with that , there is a bit of a pattern with that in my house, had an E90 335d M sport Bmw as a daily and changed that for a new one last year and that is a step backwards in terms of driving and build quality,what makes the new one good also makes it bad, main gripe is the lighter steering just doesnt seem to have the same connected feel, its a shame as Engine and 8 speed auto box are a big improvement .

I do like the 981 just cant help feeling something has been lost along the way and not sure why all manufacturers are making the new models bigger either, 981 feels a lump bigger than its predecessor as does the later 3 series and the new minis are getting more like a Maxi (remember those) !

[JeffC]

wizard263789 said:

Cruise and telephone options are both available as dealer retrofits. Both need coding.

The Multi-function steering wheel option can be retrofitted but it's not (that I'm aware) an official retrfit; again it needs coding.

Thanks will look into both and see if can be done via the likes of Auto logic rather than being bent over by the main dealer.

[Trev450]

JeffC said:

Finally the car is on 20" wheels which look great but I cant help thinking they sit inside the arches a touch too far and would look better spaced out, has anyone fitted spacers front and rear if so what size and where from ?

The guys over on Planet9 are fitting 7mm front and 15mm rear. You will also need longer lug nuts to accomodate the extra width. Somewhere like this will be able to supply: http://www.design911.co.uk/fu/cma81-prev0/Porsche/

[PorscheGT4]

Trev450 said:

The guys over on Planet9 are fitting 7mm front and 15mm rear. You will also need longer lug nuts to accomodate the extra width. Somewhere like this will be able to supply: http://www.design911.co.uk/fu/cma81-prev0/Porsche/

they do it for looks and the car will push more In the corners like that, depends what some one is after, but to put 15mm spacer on the back on a under steering car would feel even worse.

[bcr5784]

PorscheGT4 said:

they do it for looks and the car will push more In the corners like that, depends what some one is after, but to put 15mm spacer on the back on a under steering car would feel even worse.

While that is true - you are, in effect, softening the car at the back more than the front - the difference it will make is likely to be quite small.

To put it in context X73 rear anti roll bar is 46% STIFFER than standard and the front 22% stiffer (the rear spring rate is increased relative to the front too) ie the car is made STIFFER at the rear relative to the front. So an X73 car will understeer less than one with standard suspension. Conversely if you soften the rear relative to the front it will understeer more - as in this case.

But, that said, increasing the track at the back by just over 2% vs 1% at the front will produce a much lower relative difference in roll stiffness and hence effect on understeer than X73 would.

[Trev450]

PorscheGT4 said:

Trev450 said:

The guys over on Planet9 are fitting 7mm front and 15mm rear. You will also need longer lug nuts to accomodate the extra width. Somewhere like this will be able to supply: http://www.design911.co.uk/fu/cma81-prev0/Porsche/

they do it for looks and the car will push more In the corners like that, depends what some one is after, but to put 15mm spacer on the back on a under steering car would feel even worse.

What you are saying is perfectly correct, however the OP appears to be more concerened with the appearance than outright handing.

[sootyvrs]

JeffC said:

although it has the 20" wheels the ride actually feels a touch more comfortable than the previous model on 19s ,

Porsche decided to go with bigger wheels for the 981 compared to 987 but they retained the same aspect ratio tyres in the switch e.g. 235/35 & 265/35 so that is why the ride does not suffer as you might expect between the 987 on 19's compared to 981 on 20's.

[wizard263789]

Autologic should be ok for cruise/multifunction steering wheel coding, however telephone needs a VIN specific enabling code so I suspect it's a PIWIS II only for coding.

JeffC said:

wizard263789 said:

Cruise and telephone options are both available as dealer retrofits. Both need coding.

The Multi-function steering wheel option can be retrofitted but it's not (that I'm aware) an official retrfit; again it needs coding.

Thanks will look into both and see if can be done via the likes of Auto logic rather than being bent over by the main dealer.

[JeffC]

£900 to activate the bluetooth and £500 for cruise , they are not shy in asking !!

edited to say guy at Newcastle Porsche said Multi function wheel cant be retro fit would have had to be done from new.

Edited by JeffC on Friday 17th April 16:58

[mr pg]

The multi function and design sport wheels are listed in the Tequipment brochure, and I've just been quoted for having the design sport wheel fitted on a car I was interested in, so was the sales guy correct?

[Wollemi]

PorscheGT4 said:

"and was surprised how much more of an involving drive it was, It immediately felt smaller, sportier , nimbler and actually quicker "

this ;-) newer is NOT always better. I'll stick with involving, smaller, sportier , nimbler and actually quicker :-)

I agree. I found that the 981 was certainly more luxurious, more refined, better ride and bigger. For many people this will be exactly what they want.
I prefer the smaller more compact feel of the 987, and the steering on the 987 is very definitely a lot more communicative and I think that this leads it to feeling sportier, nimbler etc..

I am the only one here who is not that sold on the looks of the 981 either? I especially don't like the shape of the front wings from the drivers seat, that double crease annoyed me.

[JeffC]

Thats my take on the drive of the two cars but I love the look of the 981 , for me the lines are just right in particular the rear, I was sold the first time I saw one and it was just a matter of time and wine to loosen my wallet

Wollemi said:

PorscheGT4 said:

"and was surprised how much more of an involving drive it was, It immediately felt smaller, sportier , nimbler and actually quicker "

this ;-) newer is NOT always better. I'll stick with involving, smaller, sportier , nimbler and actually quicker :-)

I agree. I found that the 981 was certainly more luxurious, more refined, better ride and bigger. For many people this will be exactly what they want.
I prefer the smaller more compact feel of the 987, and the steering on the 987 is very definitely a lot more communicative and I think that this leads it to feeling sportier, nimbler etc..

I am the only one here who is not that sold on the looks of the 981 either? I especially don't like the shape of the front wings from the drivers seat, that double crease annoyed me.