Have to give final spec on Boxster GTS

[dreamcar]

Cyb1967 said:

I have to give my final spec for Januray 2016 build next week for my Boxster GTS, have I left any essential items out?

Boxster GTS
Carmine Red
PDK
Satin Grey Wheels
GTS Exterior Pack
Front and Rear Parking Sensors
Heated Seats
Red Seatbelts
Dual Zone Climate
PCM with Sound Package Plus
Phone Module
ONLINE Services
Smokers Package

Good spec - the smokers package excellent value 'cos it's free and it nicely finishes the centre console with a smart lid rather than a cheap nasty looking open box. I'd recommend the auto dim mirrors & rain sensor wipers as well. I love the feel of the alcantara steering wheel to me a huge improvement in feel over the leather wheel, but each to their own on that one. Personally I would go with the Carrera S wheel painted in black (partially) as the gloss black finishes matches the GTS exterior pack perfectly, otherwise you're introducing another shade which doesn't go-ordinate with any of the other colours you have chosen.

[DJMC]

bcr5784 said:

Is this query really addressed to Andy? It wouldn't surprise me if one of the "tests" that PASM software uses for sporty driving is selection of PDK sport mode - and as a software designer in the past it interests me - however I don't like and never use PDK Sport mode (I'd always be in manual instead) so I can't say.

No, I looked up and saw Andy's name, rather than up and left to yours.

Apologies, I must have had a sPASM.

[DJMC]

Surely the smooth leather wheel is easier to clean?

I'd think alcantara would never give up all the muck from hands that accumulates on the wheel over time?

[fossilfuelled]

DJMC said:

Surely the smooth leather wheel is easier to clean?

I'd think alcantara would never give up all the muck from hands that accumulates on the wheel over time?

13k miles on the alcantara wheel - Still fresh as a daisy and looks great. Was constantly worried at the start that it would look horrid, but it's still lovely,clean and good looking and I've only cleaned it once. Surprisingly hard wearing stuff! The leather in the car looks more aged than the alcantara.

[wdpor]

fossilfuelled said:

13k miles on the alcantara wheel - Still fresh as a daisy and looks great. Was constantly worried at the start that it would look horrid, but it's still lovely,clean and good looking and I've only cleaned it once. Surprisingly hard wearing stuff! The leather in the car looks more aged than the alcantara.

The question is though how many fish suppers have you had whilst driving ? No seriously if your hands get a bit grubby such as after refilling I suspect it will be harder to clean than leather.

Edited by wdpor on Thursday 26th November 23:05

[Cyb1967]

Thank you for all the feedback so far, nobody has mentioned PTV so not worth having?

On some of the points suggested

Cruise Control....don't use it much on our Cayenne because of the traffic on theroads, only in average speed check!
PDLS + what does that really give you worth having?
X73 Too stiff for crappy roads
Ceramics just cost a mate a fortune at OPC to replace Discs on 911
Interior Light Package....what does it give you extra?
Rain Sensor wipers and Auto dimming mirrors back on list
Wheels each day changing my mind between platinum and gloss black!!!
love the look of Alcantra wheel but feel the leather wheel will keep clean better

Cheers everyone lets keep talking on this one

[Boggle73]

Morning.

I messed about for ages on the configurator, was waiting for an allocation to arrive. I ended up with about 4 different specs, got myself in a bit of a fix to be honest.
One day all I wanted was a weekend drivers car, next I wanted it for touring Europe. I worried about depreciation on such an expensive spec ( ceramics, PTV etc ) At the end of the day I just want it to look awesome everytime I open the garage door.
My spec is :-

White with Exterior GTS pack
GTS interior pack
PASM not X73
PDK
Partially painted Gloss Black alloys
Smoking Pack
Auto Lights and Wipers
Folding Mirrors
Heated Seats
Interior Light Pack
Nav
Bose
Dual Climate
PDLS +
DAB
Cruise Control

Probably a lot in there that I don't need, but it's locked now and I'm happy with it.
I will keep the car 4 years, so wanted the extras I felt I would use on occasion. I know it's quite a lot of money, but I never owned a car from new. I wanted it just right.

Didn't bother with 18 way seats or buckets as the standard were very comfortable, but we are all different shapes and sizes.
Didn't want the hassle of cleaning the Turbo alloys, using a toothbrush became a ball ache on the last Audi.
Ceramics are good, but didn't notice £4K difference at PEC day.
I liked X73 sport suspension, but some of the roads in Sheffield are terrible, so are some in the Alps. Having the options on PASM made more sense.
I really wanted a manual, but I loved PDK on all three test drives and PEC day. I may live to regret that choice when blasting through the French/Italian mountains, but I will soon get over it when back in England stuck in heavy traffic.

Good luck with your final spec, it's not easy is it ?

Jay.

[AndyCGTS]

Cyb1967 said:

Thank you for all the feedback so far, nobody has mentioned PTV so not worth having?

Yes, I have the PTV on mine. Then again I do have the X73, PDK, PCCB's and Buckets to go along with it too add to the experance plus about pretty much everything else on the options list.

[bcr5784]

AndyCGTS said:

Yes, I have the PTV on mine. Then again I do have the X73, PDK, PCCB's and Buckets to go along with it too add to the experance plus about pretty much everything else on the options list.

I fancied PTV too but someone on here suggested PTV could be noisy and intrusive, so I'm not so sure now. I got the impression it made the sort of racket that PSM makes when operating. Is that the case? Rear brake wear has been suggested as a problem too. Any evidence of that?

[Dreds]

I'm finding the process of specifying my CGTS a mixture of fun and compromise. It's great to spec a new car up to your requirements, but the cost is making my eyes water. I'm purchasing on a PCP and the cost of a basic spec is over £200/month cheaper than my current wish list.
The top spec appeals to my 'you only live once mentality', whilst the 'White, PDK, CD-R spec' appeals to my worries of high depreciation.
The dealers all seem to want you to buy PCM and mobile phone prep for resale, but I'm sure the PCM would probably be well out of date in 3 years time.

I personally love the Carmine Red and GTS interior. These things are all subjective but I'm not a great lover of the brushed aliminium trim pieces.

[DJMC]

Cyb1967 said:

Thank you for all the feedback so far, nobody has mentioned PTV so not worth having?

On some of the points suggested

Cruise Control....don't use it much on our Cayenne because of the traffic on theroads, only in average speed check!
PDLS + what does that really give you worth having?
X73 Too stiff for crappy roads
Ceramics just cost a mate a fortune at OPC to replace Discs on 911
Interior Light Package....what does it give you extra?
Rain Sensor wipers and Auto dimming mirrors back on list
Wheels each day changing my mind between platinum and gloss black!!!
love the look of Alcantra wheel but feel the leather wheel will keep clean better

Cheers everyone lets keep talking on this one

Useful thread on Alcantara here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=109...
Consensus seems to be it will wear faster and get dirtier. Smooth leather must be easier than rough, non-leather, material?
I recall a BMW leather wheel feeling a little sticky years ago. When I looked closely it had a covering of thick dirt which became really visible when I started to clean it off with washing up liquid. This was very easy to do and it came up as new.
From what I read, you have to use specialist cleaning methods to do the same with Alcantara. It is nice to touch though, when sitting in the showroom with a nice clean wheel in front of you.

I thought ceramic discs lasted forever?

Not sure if PDLS+ does the same, but I had turning headlights in a Merc E350 last year. They were OK but the other thing they did was dip automatically when sensing approaching headlamps. This was OK too, if a little unnecessary, BUT they also did this when coming up to reflective bend arrows, just when you needed full beam the most! Fortunately I could turn this function off independently of the turning function... which I did, permanently!
NB. Just found that PDLS+ DOES dip your lights - I'd avoid, as I think it's likely it will be the same tech as my Merc. Useless!
Just go for PDLS without the "+" if you must have turning lights.

I think either platinum or gloss black wheels will look good with the Carmine. Gloss more of a striking contrast, but the platinum is really good for hiding brake dust. Are mine clean or dirty?...

Edited by DJMC on Friday 27th November 10:43

Edited by DJMC on Friday 27th November 10:44

[AndyCGTS]

bcr5784 said:

I fancied PTV too but someone on here suggested PTV could be noisy and intrusive, so I'm not so sure now. I got the impression it made the sort of racket that PSM makes when operating. Is that the case? Rear brake wear has been suggested as a problem too. Any evidence of that?

Nope, its totally seemless in its operation. As far as I can tell there has been minmal pad wear as well, as that was one of the options I backed to backed the PEC. Its the addition of the LSD was the reason behind going for the PTV and when the PSM is off the braking aspect of the PTV is disabled so I have been informed.

If anything the most noticable thing is the rear engine mounts working, as thats caught me out before thinking the car siding when it was loaded it up for a corner.

[AndyCGTS]

DJMC said:

I thought ceramic discs lasted forever?

Unless you are tracking the car hard, they should last the lifetime of the car. Also a company called Sicom who are active on PH offer a referb service for PCCBs which makes them very reasonable to use. http://www.carbonceramicbrake.com/refurbishment-se...

In regards to PDLS and PDLS+ the only difference is that the PDLS+ has automatic main beam dipping other than that it’s the same. It’s a nice to have option but not essential.

[engineermk]

I have both active cruise and active wipers/dimming mirrors. The latter is essential IMO, the former is most useful 'new' option I've had on a car for years.

I drive a lot in congested motorway traffic; the ACC takes up a lot of annoying stress of the ebb and flow of traffic. It also works well in city traffic (I'm often in central London).

[DJMC]

AndyCGTS said:

Nope, its totally seemless in its operation. As far as I can tell there has been minmal pad wear as well, as that was one of the options I backed to backed the PEC. Its the addition of the LSD was the reason behind going for the PTV and when the PSM is off the braking aspect of the PTV is disabled so I have been informed.

If anything the most noticable thing is the rear engine mounts working, as thats caught me out before thinking the car siding when it was loaded it up for a corner.

I don't recall dynamic engine mounts with PTV from the brochure, only Dynamic Transmission Mounts with Sport Chrono.
Have I missed something (not that I was really looking!)?

From what I read a while ago PTV for road use isn't needed, but nice to have if it were free! For a competitive driver PTV would be a good option.

[PhilLL]

Dreds said:

I'm finding the process of specifying my CGTS a mixture of fun and compromise. It's great to spec a new car up to your requirements, but the cost is making my eyes water. I'm purchasing on a PCP and the cost of a basic spec is over £200/month cheaper than my current wish list.
The top spec appeals to my 'you only live once mentality', whilst the 'White, PDK, CD-R spec' appeals to my worries of high depreciation.
The dealers all seem to want you to buy PCM and mobile phone prep for resale, but I'm sure the PCM would probably be well out of date in 3 years time.

I personally love the Carmine Red and GTS interior. These things are all subjective but I'm not a great lover of the brushed aliminium trim pieces.

If you don't like the brushed ali trim how about getting the trim painted in external colour and leaving out the GTS interior pack? Would save about 1500 quid and still brighten up the inside a bit..

[AndyCGTS]

DJMC said:

I don't recall dynamic engine mounts with PTV from the brochure, only Dynamic Transmission Mounts with Sport Chrono.
Have I missed something (not that I was really looking!)?

From what I read a while ago PTV for road use isn't needed, but nice to have if it were free! For a competitive driver PTV would be a good option.

Yes, you are correct I was just saying that was more noticable in its operation than the PTV.

[dreamcar]

bcr5784 said:

I fancied PTV too but someone on here suggested PTV could be noisy and intrusive, so I'm not so sure now. I got the impression it made the sort of racket that PSM makes when operating. Is that the case? Rear brake wear has been suggested as a problem too. Any evidence of that?

I have PTV on mine - discussed it at length with the knowledgable driver consultants at Silverstone Driver Experience Centre, in summary their view (spoke to several, all agreed) PTV is not essential but icing on the cake, more for the limited slip differential that improves traction out of tight bends that comes with it. It certainly is neither noisy or intrusive. No evidence of rear brake wear but I'm relieved about that as I have PCCB

[dreamcar]

PhilLL said:

If you don't like the brushed ali trim how about getting the trim painted in external colour and leaving out the GTS interior pack? Would save about 1500 quid and still brighten up the inside a bit..

Exactly what I did. It's entirely a personal view of course but in the quite confined Boxster cockpit the carbon trim adds to the coal cellar experience. Mines Carrara white metallic so it's nice and bright, not sure it would look as good in the darker colours though. The interior pack at £2k is crazy money IMO though unless you really want carbon trim and deviated stitching.

[nsm3]

dreamcar said:

bcr5784 said:

I fancied PTV too but someone on here suggested PTV could be noisy and intrusive, so I'm not so sure now. I got the impression it made the sort of racket that PSM makes when operating. Is that the case? Rear brake wear has been suggested as a problem too. Any evidence of that?

I have PTV on mine - discussed it at length with the knowledgable driver consultants at Silverstone Driver Experience Centre, in summary their view (spoke to several, all agreed) PTV is not essential but icing on the cake, more for the limited slip differential that improves traction out of tight bends that comes with it. It certainly is neither noisy or intrusive. No evidence of rear brake wear but I'm relieved about that as I have PCCB

Same here, almost forgot I had ptv until reading this, not intrusive at all. There is a particular S-bend locally that I feel comfortable going through 5mph faster than I ever managed in my GT3 and you can 'just' detect the chassis 'flip' at the transition point, so I guess it works?