New Owner and first Porsche...what a week!
Discussion
1st post for ages, not had much reason for last few years, but having just collected a 981 Boxster GTS, after what was quite an epic week, I just felt the need to share!
From 1st introduction to a 981 to actually having one on the drive took 7 days, as I was just so taken with it. Past cars include a few TVRs and one Z4M Coupe, but the GTS just blew me away.
From the outside the car looks menacing, inside, the cabin is smart, and feels modern, but turn the key and the noise....
So, first test drive agreed to, and once out on the road you get to experience the handling, the car feels so agile and so easy to drive. It doesn't feel ferociously quick but you soon realise you are still pressing on. The first car I test drove was a PDK Boxster S which coming out of a year old S-tropic Audi S3 was familiar but this had more crackle and pop to every shift which I love. The S3 does it well but this is better. Later in the week I drove a PDK Cayman GTS, and with Sport Plus, the kick on the gear change just transforms the car into something else...and did I mention the noise! Couldn't drive it everyday like that, but to have the option to spice it, is definitely worth it.
To cover off some bases I also test drove a 997 C4S and then took a complete tangent and tried an F Type S.....neither hit the spot like the GTS!
So then the search began in earnest to find one, but soon I was starting to realise this could be more difficult than I first expected......more frustratingly it looked like I might have to get a car from a different dealership to the one who had invested all their time and energy. This didn't sit well with me.
However, sometimes fete plays it's hand. Late Thursday afternoon, a used GT Silver Manual GTS popped at a sister dealership in Bristol.
Having viewed a quick video tour of the car and checking the spec, I agreed to go take a look...
Apparently there was another interested party who had booked to see the car on the Saturday, so time was of the essence.
Rather than risk losing it, I left work early Friday night, and took on the Bank Holiday traffic....my Sales Guy, Me with my Debit Card plus a demo 991 as our weapon of attack, on a mission to go and bag ourselves a Boxster GTS.
Ten minutes after arrival, quick test drive (not easy in Rush Hour on a Bank Holiday Friday) and a few phone calls later the deal was done.
We made arrangements to drive the Boxster back that night, which my Sales Guy did. I followed in the 911, feeling very pleased with the afternoons work, whilst thoroughly enjoying a journey where two GTS (the 911 was a GTS too!) carved their way through even more holiday traffic, barking and crackling as they went.
Quite an epic journey, to end quite an epic week!
Even though it clearly is a busy weekend for any Car Dealership (new Reg cars out on Tuesday) my new car was prepped and ready for me to collect with my better half, yesterday afternoon.
So to end, a really big thank you to Porsche Centre Tewkesbury. In the end it took three members of their team to to arrange everything, Chris who did the initial leg work, Emma who played a blinder with VWFS putting the deal together, and my man Rhys Evans, who put up with me on the Test Drives, landed himself in trouble with a Bride and Groom who were expecting to have use of the 911 GTS that we nicked for our hunting mission, plus he worked with me all the way through the process keeping me fully informed of what was going on, all the time, and finally for just generally being a really nice guy to deal with.
I am really looking forward to how this story (and life) unfolds with Porsche and a fantastic Boxster GTS.
(Cheers Rhys, good job!)
From 1st introduction to a 981 to actually having one on the drive took 7 days, as I was just so taken with it. Past cars include a few TVRs and one Z4M Coupe, but the GTS just blew me away.
From the outside the car looks menacing, inside, the cabin is smart, and feels modern, but turn the key and the noise....
So, first test drive agreed to, and once out on the road you get to experience the handling, the car feels so agile and so easy to drive. It doesn't feel ferociously quick but you soon realise you are still pressing on. The first car I test drove was a PDK Boxster S which coming out of a year old S-tropic Audi S3 was familiar but this had more crackle and pop to every shift which I love. The S3 does it well but this is better. Later in the week I drove a PDK Cayman GTS, and with Sport Plus, the kick on the gear change just transforms the car into something else...and did I mention the noise! Couldn't drive it everyday like that, but to have the option to spice it, is definitely worth it.
To cover off some bases I also test drove a 997 C4S and then took a complete tangent and tried an F Type S.....neither hit the spot like the GTS!
So then the search began in earnest to find one, but soon I was starting to realise this could be more difficult than I first expected......more frustratingly it looked like I might have to get a car from a different dealership to the one who had invested all their time and energy. This didn't sit well with me.
However, sometimes fete plays it's hand. Late Thursday afternoon, a used GT Silver Manual GTS popped at a sister dealership in Bristol.
Having viewed a quick video tour of the car and checking the spec, I agreed to go take a look...
Apparently there was another interested party who had booked to see the car on the Saturday, so time was of the essence.
Rather than risk losing it, I left work early Friday night, and took on the Bank Holiday traffic....my Sales Guy, Me with my Debit Card plus a demo 991 as our weapon of attack, on a mission to go and bag ourselves a Boxster GTS.
Ten minutes after arrival, quick test drive (not easy in Rush Hour on a Bank Holiday Friday) and a few phone calls later the deal was done.
We made arrangements to drive the Boxster back that night, which my Sales Guy did. I followed in the 911, feeling very pleased with the afternoons work, whilst thoroughly enjoying a journey where two GTS (the 911 was a GTS too!) carved their way through even more holiday traffic, barking and crackling as they went.
Quite an epic journey, to end quite an epic week!
Even though it clearly is a busy weekend for any Car Dealership (new Reg cars out on Tuesday) my new car was prepped and ready for me to collect with my better half, yesterday afternoon.
So to end, a really big thank you to Porsche Centre Tewkesbury. In the end it took three members of their team to to arrange everything, Chris who did the initial leg work, Emma who played a blinder with VWFS putting the deal together, and my man Rhys Evans, who put up with me on the Test Drives, landed himself in trouble with a Bride and Groom who were expecting to have use of the 911 GTS that we nicked for our hunting mission, plus he worked with me all the way through the process keeping me fully informed of what was going on, all the time, and finally for just generally being a really nice guy to deal with.
I am really looking forward to how this story (and life) unfolds with Porsche and a fantastic Boxster GTS.
(Cheers Rhys, good job!)
BISHY said:
Apparently it does work!
As the whole Porsche thing is totally new to me, would welcome any suggestions regarding the car, forums, owners club etc etc.
Generally speaking just post on here once a week asking what it's worth and you'll do just fine.As the whole Porsche thing is totally new to me, would welcome any suggestions regarding the car, forums, owners club etc etc.
On a more serious note, enjoy it
Had my Boxster from new for 5 wonderful years and even now I kick myself every once in a while for getting rid of it.BISHY said:
As the whole Porsche thing is totally new to me, would welcome any suggestions regarding the car, forums, owners club etc etc.
Newish to me too; there seem to be two main contenders in UK clubs - Porsche Club GB and The Independent Porsche Enthusiasts Club. I think that PCGB are the older, perhaps more traditional, club from whom TIPEC span off some years ago. Both have active forums.
d.Thanks for your comments, appreciate the welcome.
Interestingly, the car looked really special sat on my drive, whilst in the dealership, looked quite subdued next to the other exotica they had on show.
God knows what a bright yellow Cayman GTS looks like on your drive!
Unfortunately I have been covered in builders dust since getting the car home so not even been able to sit inside it, let alone drive it. Cannot wait to get cleaned up so I can go for a blast.
One thing I have noticed walking around the car for last two days (see previous comment re builders dust). The underside of this car looks imaculate. The car has done 3000 miles and yet there isn't a spec of dirt on the car. Is this normal? Do they easily clean up this well. When I first saw the car it had plenty of road grime on it, but now it looks like it's been steam cleaned. I would love to be able to keep it this clean without being too precious about when it's being driven.
Love to hear what experience you guys have had about keeping on top of the cleaning.
Also. If there are any Porsche meets in the Midlands / South West in September I would love to know.
Cheers for now.
Bishy
Interestingly, the car looked really special sat on my drive, whilst in the dealership, looked quite subdued next to the other exotica they had on show.
God knows what a bright yellow Cayman GTS looks like on your drive!
Unfortunately I have been covered in builders dust since getting the car home so not even been able to sit inside it, let alone drive it. Cannot wait to get cleaned up so I can go for a blast.
One thing I have noticed walking around the car for last two days (see previous comment re builders dust). The underside of this car looks imaculate. The car has done 3000 miles and yet there isn't a spec of dirt on the car. Is this normal? Do they easily clean up this well. When I first saw the car it had plenty of road grime on it, but now it looks like it's been steam cleaned. I would love to be able to keep it this clean without being too precious about when it's being driven.
Love to hear what experience you guys have had about keeping on top of the cleaning.
Also. If there are any Porsche meets in the Midlands / South West in September I would love to know.
Cheers for now.
Bishy
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