Seriously want a Boxster GTS
Discussion
Hi everyone,
I'm going to buy a Boxster GTS with my dad to spread the risk if such an expensive car between the two of us. I spend a lot of time abroad (four weeks out four weeks back), so the idea of being the sole user of a car that could spend up to six months of the year sat at secure air-port parking is really silly. My dad gets use of it when I'm out of the uk, so it's a win-win as far as I am concerned
. He bought a brand new Boxster S in 2001 and put me in the insurance, and we had no problems back then. The reason I am posting is that the spec I've chosen is giving me some dilemmas.
Between the two of us we have chosen the following spec-
White coach work with a blue hood
Yachting blue interior
Automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors
Reversing camera with park assist front and rear
Porsche Torque Vectoring
PDK
20" turbo design alloys (they are 20" as standard)
Seat heating
Cruise control
2-zone auto air con
adaptive sports seats plus with 18 way electrical adjustment and memory
Elimination alcantara
Key pouch leather (matches interior colour)
Sport design steering wheel
Prep for mobile phone
Audio system CDR plus with sound package plus
I'm having a dilemma about specifying the PDK and not specifying the PCM. What do you guys and gals think? This will be a second car for both of us. PDK and PCM both come in at around the same option price.
Any comments greatly appreciated
Forgot to mention I'm also thinking of specifying Bose. Is it worth it?
Lots of people don't rate bose in a Boxster or 911. Personally I think its money well spent if you enjoy music in the car. The standard, laughable system cannot reproduce bass as it has no subwoofer. You can't fit any sort of reasonable system comprising amps and a sub (plus fitting) for near the cost of the factory option so I would spec it without a doubt.
I'd also have PCM. It's now a nice touch screen system and a £50k car needs factory nav. You don't want to be relying on some two bob bracket that holds your phone and using that instead, not do you want to be sticking a tom tom on your windscreen. It's a brand new Porsche.
PDK changes the driving experience completely. For better or worse is down to preference and exposure .
I'd lose some of the other options before Bose and PCM if cost becoming an issue. I'd also strongly advise against any sort of blue interior, especially with resale in view .
I'd also have PCM. It's now a nice touch screen system and a £50k car needs factory nav. You don't want to be relying on some two bob bracket that holds your phone and using that instead, not do you want to be sticking a tom tom on your windscreen. It's a brand new Porsche.
PDK changes the driving experience completely. For better or worse is down to preference and exposure .
I'd lose some of the other options before Bose and PCM if cost becoming an issue. I'd also strongly advise against any sort of blue interior, especially with resale in view .
Firstly, I think the 'GTS' has been conceived as the most sporting Boxster model, so most will be spec'd to be functional and lwt.
As such, I'd definitely ditch the PDK and go for the delectable manual. PDK is very clever, but a Boxster GTS should be all about involvement and driver in-put, IMO.
These days I would want the PCM and I really like the Alcantara. Bose is good, but 10kg is a lot of extra weight if correct.
A Rear Camera on a GTS seems excessive - front and rear Park Assist will be more than enough, it's not an SUV.
As such, I'd definitely ditch the PDK and go for the delectable manual. PDK is very clever, but a Boxster GTS should be all about involvement and driver in-put, IMO.
These days I would want the PCM and I really like the Alcantara. Bose is good, but 10kg is a lot of extra weight if correct.
A Rear Camera on a GTS seems excessive - front and rear Park Assist will be more than enough, it's not an SUV.
I agree with people who talk about a manual gearbox, the GTS is a sporting car so I'd want it. However that's a very personal choice for the both of you. Have you had any time with this gearbox? Try to get a car from Porsche for the weekend to test it. I drove a Boxster S when they first came out and initially I thought it was a revelation, loved it. However after a day driving it I started to suspect that over time the novelty would wear off but I never had the car long enough to know.
I knew I would be buying a Turbo in the next year (as I had a Carrera S Cab at the time). So I bought an Audi A3 3.2 V6 with DSG as a daily driver. I know it's not the same but the principle is and after a few months I decided it wasn't for me. I bought a manual Turbo and I don't regret it at all.
Like I said, nobody can tell you which is best, you need to try it long term. If you are about to buy a car I'm sure the OPC will be falling over themselves to loan you a car. It might just help you make that decision.
Be aware that Porsche will try to make you get a PDK, they'll try to convince you that it's resale value will be less but that's bollix IMO as they will be rare in the future.
I knew I would be buying a Turbo in the next year (as I had a Carrera S Cab at the time). So I bought an Audi A3 3.2 V6 with DSG as a daily driver. I know it's not the same but the principle is and after a few months I decided it wasn't for me. I bought a manual Turbo and I don't regret it at all.
Like I said, nobody can tell you which is best, you need to try it long term. If you are about to buy a car I'm sure the OPC will be falling over themselves to loan you a car. It might just help you make that decision.
Be aware that Porsche will try to make you get a PDK, they'll try to convince you that it's resale value will be less but that's bollix IMO as they will be rare in the future.
Edited by Isysman on Sunday 1st June 16:24
Isysman said:
I agree with people who talk about a manual gearbox, the GTS is a sporting car so I'd want it. However that's a very personal choice for the both of you. Have you had any time with this gearbox? Try to get a car from Porsche for the weekend to test it. I drove a Boxster S when they first came out and initially I thought it was a revelation, loved it. However after a day driving it I started to suspect that over time the novelty would wear off but I never had the car long enough to know.
I knew I would be buying a Turbo in the next year (as I had a Carrera S Cab at the time). So I bought an Audi A3 3.2 V6 with DSG as a daily driver. I know it's not the same but the principle is and after a few months I decided it wasn't for me. I bought a manual Turbo and I don't regret it at all.
Like I said, nobody can tell you which is best, you need to try it long term. If you are about to buy a car I'm sure the OPC will be falling over themselves to loan you a car. It might just help you make that decision.
Be aware that Porsche will try to make you get a PDK, they'll try to convince you that it's resale value will be less but that's bollix IMO as they will be rare in the future.
The Audi DSG & Porsche PDK are chalk & cheese. I really can't stand driving the wife's TT with DSG, whereas I do like the PDK in my Cayman. However what does irritate me is that the PDK learns how you are driving and modifies its shift points to suit, but when you transition from a slow bit of road to a fast bit it takes a while to realise, and the same from fast to slow.I knew I would be buying a Turbo in the next year (as I had a Carrera S Cab at the time). So I bought an Audi A3 3.2 V6 with DSG as a daily driver. I know it's not the same but the principle is and after a few months I decided it wasn't for me. I bought a manual Turbo and I don't regret it at all.
Like I said, nobody can tell you which is best, you need to try it long term. If you are about to buy a car I'm sure the OPC will be falling over themselves to loan you a car. It might just help you make that decision.
Be aware that Porsche will try to make you get a PDK, they'll try to convince you that it's resale value will be less but that's bollix IMO as they will be rare in the future.
Edited by Isysman on Sunday 1st June 16:24
The one thing I wish I had is cruise control; the car just feels wrong pootling along a motorway at 70. Fortunately I don't do many motorway miles.
arcamalpha said:
I wouldn't bother with Bose. Road noise is relatively high in 911s and Boxsters so sound quality is never great. It's also another 10kg or so to carry around. I'd keep the normal sound option and enjoy the engine noise instead.
I don't know about the weight but Bose is well worth it. Only some sort of weirdo wants to listen to engine/induction noise all the time. Bose is more than adequate and fill the cabin with sound especially with the roof up. The sound package is dire and has no place in a £50k car.ianrb said:
The Audi DSG & Porsche PDK are chalk & cheese. I really can't stand driving the wife's TT with DSG, whereas I do like the PDK in my Cayman. However what does irritate me is that the PDK learns how you are driving and modifies its shift points to suit, but when you transition from a slow bit of road to a fast bit it takes a while to realise, and the same from fast to slow.
The one thing I wish I had is cruise control; the car just feels wrong pootling along a motorway at 70. Fortunately I don't do many motorway miles.
Right it's different but the principle is the same. The car was a sports car also and I found that I'd just leave it in auto most of the time. Anyway point being that the OP should get experience driving a car with PDK as he might save himself a couple of grand. The one thing I wish I had is cruise control; the car just feels wrong pootling along a motorway at 70. Fortunately I don't do many motorway miles.
Hi,
Thanks for the replies. I really like the PDK with the sports plus and the sports exhaust. Had a great time playing tunes with the exhaust changing down the gears and listening to the flare of revs, followed by the fusillade of pops and bangs on the over run also specifying the PDK drops the co2 from 211 to 190 and that brings it down from band K which is £635 to band J, which is £485. I'm not too bothered about resale as we intend on keeping the car for around 5 years and even the very best sat nav's will be out of date by the time the car might be sold.
Regarding the blue leather I might stick with the black leather and alcantara
Thanks for the replies. I really like the PDK with the sports plus and the sports exhaust. Had a great time playing tunes with the exhaust changing down the gears and listening to the flare of revs, followed by the fusillade of pops and bangs on the over run
also specifying the PDK drops the co2 from 211 to 190 and that brings it down from band K which is £635 to band J, which is £485. I'm not too bothered about resale as we intend on keeping the car for around 5 years and even the very best sat nav's will be out of date by the time the car might be sold. Regarding the blue leather I might stick with the black leather and alcantara
I have not driven the manual, all the 981 models I've tried have been loan cars from a Porsche centre
The PDK is fantastic! Better than any auto I've ever tried before - well worth a try if you haven't had the chance yet
The basic sound system is poor, barely good enough to listen to the weather report. One Boxster S I borrowed for a couple of weeks had the sound package plus - it was perfectly adequate. A decent sound with plenty of power
I didn't know you could specify Bluetooth and sound plus without the PCM. If the PCM will only add sat-nav, perhaps that's not worth the cost
The PDK is fantastic! Better than any auto I've ever tried before - well worth a try if you haven't had the chance yet
The basic sound system is poor, barely good enough to listen to the weather report. One Boxster S I borrowed for a couple of weeks had the sound package plus - it was perfectly adequate. A decent sound with plenty of power
I didn't know you could specify Bluetooth and sound plus without the PCM. If the PCM will only add sat-nav, perhaps that's not worth the cost
Lovely car
all subjective of course but IMHO:
why on earth do people want a reversing CAMERA? Sensors are useful, camera picture adds nothing
get BOSE
personally i would get PCM
get the USB universal audio
thank god you specced the key pouch
save some money by getting paint rather than coachwork
black over blue interior every day
all subjective of course but IMHO:
why on earth do people want a reversing CAMERA? Sensors are useful, camera picture adds nothing
get BOSE
personally i would get PCM
get the USB universal audio
thank god you specced the key pouch
save some money by getting paint rather than coachwork
black over blue interior every day
I would avoid the blue leather and stick with black. For the little resale value you will have after 5yrs, the blue will just destroy it.
I would for the same reason and to have good spec car spec the nav with phone. I had it in my 991 and it's not that bad, I actually found it quite ok. Spec the DAB and the Bose could be passed on if you change the speakers of the Porsche Sound System.. I think that might be the best thing to do to achieve better sound.
Foldable mirrors are useful in town and so are the parking sensors.. if camera is necessary spec it.. I dont think it is.. I would spend the money elsewhere.
For a Boxster GTS and given the manual is so good.. I would stick with manual.
I would for the same reason and to have good spec car spec the nav with phone. I had it in my 991 and it's not that bad, I actually found it quite ok. Spec the DAB and the Bose could be passed on if you change the speakers of the Porsche Sound System.. I think that might be the best thing to do to achieve better sound.
Foldable mirrors are useful in town and so are the parking sensors.. if camera is necessary spec it.. I dont think it is.. I would spend the money elsewhere.
For a Boxster GTS and given the manual is so good.. I would stick with manual.
Adam B said:
Lovely car
all subjective of course but IMHO:
why on earth do people want a reversing CAMERA? Sensors are useful, camera picture adds nothing
get BOSE
personally i would get PCM
get the USB universal audio
thank god you specced the key pouch
save some money by getting paint rather than coachwork
black over blue interior every day
THIS is why they need a reversing camera; all subjective of course but IMHO:
why on earth do people want a reversing CAMERA? Sensors are useful, camera picture adds nothing
get BOSE
personally i would get PCM
get the USB universal audio
thank god you specced the key pouch
save some money by getting paint rather than coachwork
black over blue interior every day
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