Boxster 2.9 to 997 Turbo - Notes log
Discussion
Camera Roll-334 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
Over 24 hours on from picking up the new car and I have been able to sample some of the Turbo's talents.
Here are some scratch notes on going from a sports car to a GT.
The Turbo's turning circle is much more limited than the Boxster, i noticed this the moment I pulled out of the car park to do a hard left.
No problems getting in and out of Tesco car park ramps, car just about fits through road width restrictors.
Car is fun to drive at legal speeds. Took the car down my favourite stretch of road around Sevenoaks last night. No need to drive quicker than the Boxster to get the fun factor.
The brakes, my word the brakes. I thought the Boxsters standard stoppers were good but these are on a different level. That said, they are grabby and nowhere near as progressive as the Boxsters. Will take some getting used to. Not having to clean the wheels once a week will not.
MPG gauge on the Turbo reads 25MPG average, do not know when it was last reset. Fuel gauge does drop visually under heavy right foot but so did the Boxsters.
PDK box is smoother, down to the adjusted ratios and massive increase in torque. Nowhere near the 991's version of PDK but it feels a more natural choice here than in the 2.9.
Car emits a weird clicking sound from the rear left hand side when cold.
Noise signature between the cars is worlds apart. I would not say that the Turbo is a disappointment like some have written just, different. Horses for courses, it depends what floats your boat.
Suspension is not happy over cobble stones. Not happy at all. Setup is more pleasing at other times though, I would say that it was halfway between the Boxsters comfort and sport setups.
Bucket seats, read they were uncomfortable, was worried. I call BS on this, yes getting in and out can be a major hassle depending on your build, once in them they trump the sports seats. Took a view from my dad who has severe arthritis - who said they were perfect.
Rear space (with seats folded down) gives the car an added versatility over the Boxster. The front boot is not as bad as on the 996, Boxster trumps it with a huge front boot and decent space at rear. Turbo also has the option of a roof box for family trips.
Steering feel. The Boxsters feel remains peerless although, the smoother GT feel from the Turbo is welcome on the motorway.
Bluetooth pairing on the PCM does not work with my Iphone 4S, need to investigate.
Armourfend, it is visible but have decided to leave it on for this winter at least.
Tyres fitted are Bridgestone Potenzas. Boxster had PS2s, need to do some digging to confirm differences.
The sunroof was in use today, very useful when you have kids and can't take the windows down without screams from the back.
Most cars you have behind you become small dots.
The dynamic cornering lights are a massive upgrade from the non-xenons on the Boxster. Still need to use full beam down country lanes though.
The sport design steering wheel is thinner than the carbon fibre PDK wheel, it could do with being just a touch thicker. No volume control on the wheel is a pain.
Whale tail makes it look like a GTx car from drivers seat.
Edited by Carl_Docklands on Sunday 18th November 16:44
Edited by Carl_Docklands on Saturday 1st June 16:47
Done over 1,000 miles in the car now. A few family trips done and a couple of spirited runs
Ceramics are a liability when cold and wet, I understand what people mean when they talk about the predictability of standard discs
The 2.9>turbo jump requires complete re-calibration between what your brain is telling you and your right foot. Brain is telling you the car cannot go any quicker (surely), then right foot realises the throttle is only depressed 25%
Flooring the throttle in 2nd must be one of lifes great fair ground rides. Close your eyes and hold on for dear life.
The car is harder to live with than a Carrera, it is wider and you can feel the extra weight. Going to take some getting use to. Parking the beast can be a real pain in the back side in older car parks.
Not really sure of the Bridgestone tyres, they not really that great in the wet. Need some warmer dryer weather to make a full assessment. Longing for my PS2s back.
Can't imagine this car with a manual box, it is just too fast. Have not touched the paddles once
Car is a bit too docile in standard mode, you need sport mode to wake it up
Sport buckets have a design fault, putting them into the forward position in the "wrong" place makes them hit the sun-visor, preventing them from going fully forward
Iphone pcm/bluetooth does not work due to the phonebook not being on the SIM card. No work around
Radio reception remains gash (whats new huh?)
Purchased two Britax adventure seats for the rear (from mothercare £49 each), they fit perfectly
Avg MPG is currently better than my 2.9 Boxster
Ceramics are a liability when cold and wet, I understand what people mean when they talk about the predictability of standard discs
The 2.9>turbo jump requires complete re-calibration between what your brain is telling you and your right foot. Brain is telling you the car cannot go any quicker (surely), then right foot realises the throttle is only depressed 25%
Flooring the throttle in 2nd must be one of lifes great fair ground rides. Close your eyes and hold on for dear life.
The car is harder to live with than a Carrera, it is wider and you can feel the extra weight. Going to take some getting use to. Parking the beast can be a real pain in the back side in older car parks.
Not really sure of the Bridgestone tyres, they not really that great in the wet. Need some warmer dryer weather to make a full assessment. Longing for my PS2s back.
Can't imagine this car with a manual box, it is just too fast. Have not touched the paddles once
Car is a bit too docile in standard mode, you need sport mode to wake it up
Sport buckets have a design fault, putting them into the forward position in the "wrong" place makes them hit the sun-visor, preventing them from going fully forward
Iphone pcm/bluetooth does not work due to the phonebook not being on the SIM card. No work around
Radio reception remains gash (whats new huh?)
Purchased two Britax adventure seats for the rear (from mothercare £49 each), they fit perfectly
Avg MPG is currently better than my 2.9 Boxster
NBTBRV8 said:
That must be one of the most heavily optioned cars' I've seen. What was its history?
The car was specced and ordered by a fellow Porsche enthusiast and PH member. It is a one owner car.My boxster was up for its 3 year deal expiry and I acquired the Turbo through OPC Cambridge.
At the last Sunday Service two Porsche nuts got into the car and just sat in it reading the manual, it is that type of car.
shoestring7 said:
Carl_Docklands said:
Can't imagine this car with a manual box, it is just too fast.
However did they cope before automatic gearboxes in fast 911s became common?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRL1fAbu3N0
SS7
I can hear George Follmer as I drive: "stick it into D, drop your right foot and try not to crash into anything"
Panthro said:
Gret write up and good pictures on Flickr.
You don't happen to live/work around Hampton Court/Kingston do you? I've seen a 997.2 Turbo with ceramics, in white with the same wheels several times in the area.
Thanks. No, that will be another Turbo. I am South East London/Bromley way.You don't happen to live/work around Hampton Court/Kingston do you? I've seen a 997.2 Turbo with ceramics, in white with the same wheels several times in the area.
I love Pistonheads. The first owner of the car has kindly sent me this photo from the factory collection at Stuttgart.
IMG_7397_2 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
Here is one taken from Sunday Service just over two weeks ago at Goodwood.
30543346622229675807218 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
IMG_7397_2 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
Here is one taken from Sunday Service just over two weeks ago at Goodwood.
30543346622229675807218 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
Thanks for the offers of assistance with the PCM.
Having read up a little more it seems that the problem with the PCM is in relation to the SIM card option. If this SIM slot option is present on the PCM, the handset will need to be "SIM Access Profile" compatible.
Apple use a different standard to "SIM Access Profile" and thus, the Iphone is not compatible with PCM systems fitted with this option.
As Steve suggested, as a workaround I might just buy a SIM card, copy my phonebook over to it and keep it plugged in.
Having read up a little more it seems that the problem with the PCM is in relation to the SIM card option. If this SIM slot option is present on the PCM, the handset will need to be "SIM Access Profile" compatible.
Apple use a different standard to "SIM Access Profile" and thus, the Iphone is not compatible with PCM systems fitted with this option.
As Steve suggested, as a workaround I might just buy a SIM card, copy my phonebook over to it and keep it plugged in.
Edited by Carl_Docklands on Thursday 3rd January 22:34
drpep said:
Carl_Docklands said:
Dammit- you've got me looking at Turbos now. May I ask, do you find the power delivery at all laggy with respect to the turbo spool-up?
NBTBRV8 said:
Carl_Docklands said:
Thanks for the offers of assistance with the PCM.
Having read up a little more it seems that the problem with the PCM is in relation to the SIM card option. If this SIM slot option is present on the PCM, the handset will need to be "SIM Access Profile" compatible.
Apple use a different standard to "SIM Access Profile" and thus, the Iphone is not compatible with PCM systems fitted with this option.
As Steve suggested, as a workaround I might just buy a SIM card, copy my phonebook over to it and keep it plugged in.
Can you get it to work if the dealer turns the SAP off and turns on the bluetooth prep? This was the system is just the basic bluetooth headset arranegment. The main difference is you can send and receive SMSs then through the PCM.Having read up a little more it seems that the problem with the PCM is in relation to the SIM card option. If this SIM slot option is present on the PCM, the handset will need to be "SIM Access Profile" compatible.
Apple use a different standard to "SIM Access Profile" and thus, the Iphone is not compatible with PCM systems fitted with this option.
As Steve suggested, as a workaround I might just buy a SIM card, copy my phonebook over to it and keep it plugged in.
Edited by Carl_Docklands on Thursday 3rd January 22:34
2000 miles completed now, ecstatic with the car over-all, perfect in a quirky-911-kinda-way. Waking up to the car and opening the door to see it puts me in dream-land.
Remain not convinced by the Bridgestones or the Ceramics in cold weather. The Ceramics are especially bad when there is standing water involved. Pulling out of the car wash and braking onto the main road is especially trecherous and requires you to pump the brakes.
Been in a few hairy situations with the ceramics and they can also be a liability on long fast runs in the cold where the brakes are rarely touched, steels are definatley more predictable in this sense and I now understand why they are an option and not standard.
I will need to wait a while to give a definative like/dislike on either as when both are warm they are excellent and the weight benefits of the ceramics are noticable to me in terms of increased lightness of foot.
Where the car and boots were a revelation was in the snow, only going up a decent gradient forced the PSM system to intervene, overall I was very impressed with the Turbo's traction in snow in comparison to the Boxster and completed family duties with little drama.
While the rear wiper on the 911 gets some stick, on my car the body-kit helps hide the lines that would have otherwise been affected by this option. No complaints from me, it has been dead useful in the weather we have had but I can understand why it is not desirable on a Carrera.
The bucket seats continue to gain plaudits from the most unlikely sources namely, my passengers. Most comment that they expected the seats to be uncomfortable and to be very surprised to discover the opposite. Going back to the sport seats of the Boxster would be tough although, having them heated and ventilated in a convertible would swing it. No contest in a coupe, buckets everytime.
The Xenon lights are also very impressive and draw gasps when I point out that they rotate as you corner. woooo.
The MPG gauge is reading 23.8MPG and I completed a run to Birmingham city centre and back to Bromley on one full tank. Not bad and re-inforces that my driving style in the turbo is more laid back and calm whereas the driving style in my boxster was to rag it, with the corresponding loss in motorway MPG.
Car is registered for the Silverstone Classis 911 parade and will hopefully also making an appearance at the next sunday service.
Remain not convinced by the Bridgestones or the Ceramics in cold weather. The Ceramics are especially bad when there is standing water involved. Pulling out of the car wash and braking onto the main road is especially trecherous and requires you to pump the brakes.
Been in a few hairy situations with the ceramics and they can also be a liability on long fast runs in the cold where the brakes are rarely touched, steels are definatley more predictable in this sense and I now understand why they are an option and not standard.
I will need to wait a while to give a definative like/dislike on either as when both are warm they are excellent and the weight benefits of the ceramics are noticable to me in terms of increased lightness of foot.
Where the car and boots were a revelation was in the snow, only going up a decent gradient forced the PSM system to intervene, overall I was very impressed with the Turbo's traction in snow in comparison to the Boxster and completed family duties with little drama.
While the rear wiper on the 911 gets some stick, on my car the body-kit helps hide the lines that would have otherwise been affected by this option. No complaints from me, it has been dead useful in the weather we have had but I can understand why it is not desirable on a Carrera.
The bucket seats continue to gain plaudits from the most unlikely sources namely, my passengers. Most comment that they expected the seats to be uncomfortable and to be very surprised to discover the opposite. Going back to the sport seats of the Boxster would be tough although, having them heated and ventilated in a convertible would swing it. No contest in a coupe, buckets everytime.
The Xenon lights are also very impressive and draw gasps when I point out that they rotate as you corner. woooo.
The MPG gauge is reading 23.8MPG and I completed a run to Birmingham city centre and back to Bromley on one full tank. Not bad and re-inforces that my driving style in the turbo is more laid back and calm whereas the driving style in my boxster was to rag it, with the corresponding loss in motorway MPG.
Car is registered for the Silverstone Classis 911 parade and will hopefully also making an appearance at the next sunday service.
3black said:
Carl_Docklands said:
3black said:
what road in sevenoaks was it? i live just outside sevenoaks so would like to find this road if i haven't already!
Hi mate, hope you got the PM i sent you a while back with the route.Maybe you guys don't brake as hard as me
Now the temperatures have risen a little, the issues with the PCCB's are gone, apart from dead pedal immediatley after going into a car wash. Takes about 5 pedal pumps to get the brakes back.
Anyone know what this is on the lower rear? It looks like damage from driving over gravel, is it normal ?
It is worse on the right hand side than on the left.
Camera Roll-325 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
Camera Roll-326 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
Camera Roll-327 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
Camera Roll-328 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
Busy times for White buffalo, before the car was due to go in for the rear bumper re-spray, it was time for Sunday Service at Mercedes World. The event was very impressive, unfortunatley I was just pulling in when the 911 Sports Classic was driving out, a friendly wave goodbye and she was gone.
That said, there were plenty of cars which took my eye including this epic beastie:
Camera Roll-345 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
So, with SS out of the way, the Turbo was low-loaded away to be fixed by Tonbridge coachworks for £600exc. The conensus is that it was either a fox or a pack of stray cats which caused the damage.
Being without a car for a few days always gives you pause to reflect on how much you miss not having the car on your driveway and if the amount of money it costs is worth it. No mean feat for a mini-supercar.
The Turbo passed this test of concience and I was relieved when the call came back to collect the car.
I decided to pick the car up myself and walked from Tonbridge station, I was not expecting much from the walk, as TCW are located on an industrial estate, to my surprise came I across an aladdins cave of cars which included some nice pork; a Gen 2 3.8 RS wearing OZ wheels, a 993 Turbo, a 997 Turbo S and 997 Turbo.
That aside, there were some serious classics in there including, this dodge charger 440R:
Camera Roll-393 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
And some assorted E-types (you can see the RS in the background):
Camera Roll-392 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
Camera Roll-387 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
Camera Roll-388 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
With the rear bumper work completed, it was time to fix a few other niggles....
That said, there were plenty of cars which took my eye including this epic beastie:
Camera Roll-345 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
So, with SS out of the way, the Turbo was low-loaded away to be fixed by Tonbridge coachworks for £600exc. The conensus is that it was either a fox or a pack of stray cats which caused the damage.
Being without a car for a few days always gives you pause to reflect on how much you miss not having the car on your driveway and if the amount of money it costs is worth it. No mean feat for a mini-supercar.
The Turbo passed this test of concience and I was relieved when the call came back to collect the car.
I decided to pick the car up myself and walked from Tonbridge station, I was not expecting much from the walk, as TCW are located on an industrial estate, to my surprise came I across an aladdins cave of cars which included some nice pork; a Gen 2 3.8 RS wearing OZ wheels, a 993 Turbo, a 997 Turbo S and 997 Turbo.
That aside, there were some serious classics in there including, this dodge charger 440R:
Camera Roll-393 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
And some assorted E-types (you can see the RS in the background):
Camera Roll-392 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
Camera Roll-387 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
Camera Roll-388 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
With the rear bumper work completed, it was time to fix a few other niggles....
The PCM on the Turbo and its in-ability to communicate with my IPhone 4S has been a source of angst since the get go. Now, I specced my Boxster specifically without bluetooth and PCM as there is nothing worse than spoiling a decent drive with a damn telephone call.
Having a young daughter now, things are not so simple and the PCM needed to play ball.
I am thankful to other forum posters who pointed out that there is a bug in the PCM software which stops the bluetooth pairing from succeeding if you have the optional SIM card slot installed in the PCM.
OPC Tonbridge helpfully pointed out that this was a recall job and upgraded the PCM software to V2.23....
Camera Roll-434 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
and then this works...
Camera Roll-433 by bestofbritish96, on Flickr
So, if you own a PCM3 car and have problems with bluetooth pairing your iphone, make sure your PCM software is upgraded to wipe out the bug.
After the PCM was sorted, it was time to resolve a ceramic brake squeal from the rear drivers side. The squeal was evident at low speeds. One of the technicians needed to remove the wheel and clean down the ceramic brake pad.
I was also informed that looking at my current wear pattern I should not need new pads until I hit at least 50k miles(!).
I was charged for two hours labour.
I was also informed that looking at my current wear pattern I should not need new pads until I hit at least 50k miles(!).
I was charged for two hours labour.
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