Hi - new member soon to be Boxster owner

[Gorsh]

Hello everyone, my first post here - have lurked for a few months though!

I am very very excited - never owned a Porsche before and now after retirement I can afford a Boxster, was looking at ex demo and nearly new but by carefully choosing options it wasn't that much more (using man maths!) to go for a new one. Order placed for October build, have until late August before lockdown.

Thought I would post my spec for you to see what you think - please bear in mind I'm not after a track tool, just a fast roadster which my wife and I will drive as a second car for trips out and short breaks around the UK. I deliberately tried to keep the price under £60k and at the same time have as many comfort/convenience options as possible.

Boxster S
Guards Red
Black top
Black leather interior
Sports seats (2 way electric)
Roll over bars in body colour
PDLS with dynamic high beam
Park Assist F + R
Electric folding mirrors
Exterior package painted (body colour)
PDK gearbox
Power Steering Plus
19" Boxster S wheels (in standard colour)
Full Colour wheel caps
Seat heating
Cruise control
Auto Climate control
Light Design package
Auto dimming mirrors with rain sensor
Guards red seat belts
Sport Design Steering wheel
Porsche Crest on headrests
Mobile phone preparation
Bose surround sound
Digital radio
PCM including Navigation module

I'm hoping for some advice please - I'm sure there will be lots of differing opinions, but here goes:

Sports Exhaust - is it really worth the £1500 they charge for it? I have driven a demo car with it and (to me at least) the exhaust was boomy at cruising speed 60-70. It did sound good when revved but I'm no boy racer (just turned 60) and wonder what you all think.

Active Suspension (PASM) - I decided to stick with 19" wheels so is this any benefit for road use? It's difficult to decide on a test drive on roads you don't know, so again anyone with personal experience of this what do you think?

Other views on my spec are welcome as I'm open to suggestions, I'm already at my budget of £60k but am prepared to add/remove things and if the price goes up a little I can cope with that.

Thanks
Gordon.

[VladD]

Congratulations on your purchase. Looks like a great car, but I can't help you with your queries unfortunately?

Do you have the option of extended leather? Some on here wouldn't consider a car without it. It may be standard on the 981, I'm not sure as I've just got an old poverty spec 987.

[FarzyB]

Congrats and love the spec. I would add the Sports Exhaust, as I love the growl of it on my Cayman. If you are using the paddle shift on the motorway, you will hear the benefits very quickly, but even on slower roads, it makes a great sound when pulling away or speeding up. I had to wait a while for the right ex-demo/lightly used model to come along, it's more easy to get this on an S model than a non-S model (I got an S in the end).

[Trev450]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I love the spec you are going for - Guards with black is one of my favourites and particularly suits the 981 imo. I personally would go for the PSE as it is something that you can use as the mood dictates.

[Gorsh]

Thanks for the replies

There is an extended leather option, but it's confusing exactly what you get with it - the cost is £700 approx., the Leather Interior I have chose includes dashboard upper and lower, glovebox, door panels, centre console sides, seats and seat sides etc. I will be going back to the OPC before lockdown so will check it out but tbh I think what I have is enough.

Two votes for the PSE - I will have another listen to this (as I said I didn't like it at cruise speed think it was switched off), but at £1500 if I added it something would have to go, and there is nothing in the options I would be happy dropping. Is there anyone out there who doesn't like it or is it unanimous?

I'm also looking at PASM as it suggests the ride is better with it - does anyone with 19" wheels have first hand knowledge of this?

[Krobar]

If you are an Android phone user I would choose the telephone module over the BT prep; if you are an Iphone user then there is no difference but for the extra £100 I would spec the proper Bluetooth kit.

[Gorsh]

Krobar said:

If you are an Android phone user I would choose the telephone module over the BT prep; if you are an Iphone user then there is no difference but for the extra £100 I would spec the proper Bluetooth kit.

Thanks, iPhone at the moment, but one thing I don't know is will it pair up to two phones at once? On our BMW my phone is the default, but wifes is also paired and if a call comes in the car will answer it.

[bcr5784]

Gorsh said:

Thanks for the replies

There is an extended leather option, but it's confusing exactly what you get with it - the cost is £700 approx., the Leather Interior I have chose includes dashboard upper and lower, glovebox, door panels, centre console sides, seats and seat sides etc. I will be going back to the OPC before lockdown so will check it out but tbh I think what I have is enough.

Two votes for the PSE - I will have another listen to this (as I said I didn't like it at cruise speed think it was switched off), but at £1500 if I added it something would have to go, and there is nothing in the options I would be happy dropping. Is there anyone out there who doesn't like it or is it unanimous?

I'm also looking at PASM as it suggests the ride is better with it - does anyone with 19" wheels have first hand knowledge of this?

Personally hate PSE - too Jeremy Clarkson for me, and pouring petrol down the exhaust to make said noises offends my technical sensibilities - but I know I'm in a minority, though certainly not alone, on this forum. The drone at motorway cruising speeds has been mentioned on this forum before - it's certainly not an issue with the standard exhaust and PDK gearing.

Re PASM - I have it with 19" wheels and think it and they offer the best compromise between ride, handling and noise. In sport mode it's still gives a good ride on decent roads and taut handling, and in normal gives an outstanding ride for a sporty car with good handling under most conditions. Road noise on course surfaces is still a problem with 19" wheels - but is worse on 20s. Much less of a problem on continental roads, but easily the loudest noise on some course UK motorways.

Re Bose - see recent Bose vs SPP thread. General consensus is that Bose is pretty naff and though changing the default settings and stuff the sub port improves matters, it still isn't that good (I think it's dreadful value on my Cayman). Whether you would be just as happy (or unhappy) with SPP is something you would have to listen to yourself.

And even if as (I assume) you are a non-smoker, the smoker package is worth specifying - it replaces the useless open tray with a lidded box and an extra power socket - and it's FREE!

[Ozzie Osmond]

Gorsh said:

PSE - I will have another listen to this (as I said I didn't like it at cruise speed think it was switched off), but at £1500 if I added it something would have to go, and there is nothing in the options I would be happy dropping.

I wouldn't say I dislike PSE at all, but I think people who drive down the high street with a loud exhaust look equally daft whether driving a Lambo or a Corsa.

When I stick my foot on the throttle I find the noise from the standard exhaust quite sufficient!

[Gorsh]

bcr5784 said:

Personally hate PSE - too Jeremy Clarkson for me, and pouring petrol down the exhaust to make said noises offends my technical sensibilities - but I know I'm in a minority, though certainly not alone, on this forum. The drone at motorway cruising speeds has been mentioned on this forum before - it's certainly not an issue with the standard exhaust and PDK gearing.

Re PASM - I have it with 19" wheels and think it and they offer the best compromise between ride, handling and noise. In sport mode it's still gives a good ride on decent roads and taut handling, and in normal gives an outstanding ride for a sporty car with good handling under most conditions. Road noise on course surfaces is still a problem with 19" wheels - but is worse on 20s. Much less of a problem on continental roads, but easily the loudest noise on some course UK motorways.

Re Bose - see recent Bose vs SPP thread. General consensus is that Bose is pretty naff and though changing the default settings and stuff the sub port improves matters, it still isn't that good (I think it's dreadful value on my Cayman). Whether you would be just as happy (or unhappy) with SPP is something you would have to listen to yourself.

And even if as (I assume) you are a non-smoker, the smoker package is worth specifying - it replaces the useless open tray with a lidded box and an extra power socket - and it's FREE!

Thanks very much for your post.

I certainly didn't like the PSE on the 'S' I test drove, yes it sounded good on full power but at cruise it boomed badly with the roof up and that put me off, I think it was switched off at the time too. So many here seem to love it I wonder if I have sensitive ears! It's expensive at £1500 too, so it's unlikely I will spec it. After a while if I want to add it the aftermarket OEM one is available.

The PASM sounds good, the balance of decent ride and good handling will always be appreciated so worth the money.

I need to listen to Bose and SPP, the difference is about £400, I don't mind paying that if it's better as will likely have the car for a good few years.
Gordon.

Had already decided on the SP, we don't smoke but the lid on the little tray looks better and is more useful, plus the bonus of power there.

[Gorsh]

Ozzie Osmond said:

I wouldn't say I dislike PSE at all, but I think people who drive down the high street with a loud exhaust look equally daft whether driving a Lambo or a Corsa.

When I stick my foot on the throttle I find the noise from the standard exhaust quite sufficient!

Thanks for that - adds to my own view that I'm better off without it (literally!), if I change my mind later not the end of the world as it can be fitted by an OPC.

[gl20]

Re PASM. I've owned 2 987 Boxsters, both on 19" one without PASM, next one with it. Had both for 2 years. On the one hand you can feel it makes a difference on the other I think the non-PASM was so good anyway that I'm not sure it's vital.

I appreciate you'll be getting into a 981 but I think the difference in feel between passive and adaptive will be similar

[HamidQ]

Firstly congrats on your new car, you will love it when you get it.

On PSE, I would probably go for it as I would like to have some increased noise if required.

PASM - I once ordered a 987 Boxster S from new and tried both passive and PASM setups. I found the latter more comfortable in normal mode and liked the option to stiffen things when required so this is what I chose with 19" wheels.

I am not sure I would go with the Power Steering Plus. I drove a 991 with it and was not convinced there was any reason to order it over the standard steering.

Whatever you go for I wish you many miles of happiness in it.

[Heathrow]

bcr5784 said:

Personally hate PSE - too Jeremy Clarkson for me, and pouring petrol down the exhaust to make said noises offends my technical sensibilities - but I know I'm in a minority, though certainly not alone, on this forum. The drone at motorway cruising speeds has been mentioned on this forum before - it's certainly not an issue with the standard exhaust and PDK gearing.

Re PASM - I have it with 19" wheels and think it and they offer the best compromise between ride, handling and noise. In sport mode it's still gives a good ride on decent roads and taut handling, and in normal gives an outstanding ride for a sporty car with good handling under most conditions. Road noise on course surfaces is still a problem with 19" wheels - but is worse on 20s. Much less of a problem on continental roads, but easily the loudest noise on some course UK motorways.

Re Bose - see recent Bose vs SPP thread. General consensus is that Bose is pretty naff and though changing the default settings and stuff the sub port improves matters, it still isn't that good (I think it's dreadful value on my Cayman). Whether you would be just as happy (or unhappy) with SPP is something you would have to listen to yourself.

And even if as (I assume) you are a non-smoker, the smoker package is worth specifying - it replaces the useless open tray with a lidded box and an extra power socket - and it's FREE!

I'd echo much of the above. I have a 981 Cayman S manual with PSE, PASM and 19" wheels. I'd say if you're likely to never use the harder damper setting with PASM it might just be worth sticking with the standard passive dampers. I've driven a Cayman with passive dampers and 20" wheels and aside from the tyre roar from a ride/handling perspective it was an good compromise on our terribly surfaced UK roads (particularly around my way in Herts).

PSE - when activated it is quite loud. If you don't like the attention then do without it e.g. I turn it off through town centres and so on as it can be a bit "look at me" loud, particularly if you have Sports Chrono activated with associated throttle blips! It does get boomy at motorway speeds but I've never seen the point of activating it when cruising on the motorway on light throttle openings anyway - but each to their own. You really need to test one for yourself as it's quite a personal thing I think. My 65 year old father borrowed the car for a week and he loved PSE which surprised me!

I would also add that having spent a morning thrashing a boggo Cayman 2.7 without PSE at the Porsche Experience Centre, it was a perfectly adequate set up (standard dampers, no PSE) and plenty loud enough to enjoy the engine note particularly when revved up to the red line.

Bose - I have this option but my main issue is the inadequacy of the speakers rather than the head unit. I could probably live with SPP.

[Oso]

Happy days Gorsh, it's great fun to get to spec your car from the factory and what a lovely car to enjoy for your retirement.

I'd ask your dealer for an invitation to the Porsche Experience Centre before you have to finalise your spec. That way you can go and try out a few things back to back and see how you like them. They usually have a few cars there with the different options to try out. All part of the fun of the process.

For £60k have you considered a GTS? They start at £54k before options. Not sure what availability is like, you might have to wait a bit longer for one.

Did you know there is a new Boxster out next year? They are shifting to smaller turbo engines which is likely to be a big change but worth bearing in mind.

[Gorsh]

Thanks for all the posts since my last reply.

First - it's O/T but I find this forum annoying as when I'm typing a reply I can't scroll to remind myself what others have said - I have to open it on two tabs and switch between them, is there anything in settings that changes this?

PASM, PSE and Bose seem to be the three things that I'm a bit stuck on. There are lots of opinions as to their merits or otherwise and in the end I have to decide what I want so I will be checking all three out at the OPC before lockdown, my present feeling is I will get Bose - it's probably just about worth the £400 extra over SPP and I'd be surprised if a session experimenting with settings doesn't get a sound I would be happy with - systems like these are rarely best left at default. PSE is something I can't get excited about, I will compare with and without again and if I leave it off I can always get it fitted afterwards at not much more cost than factory fit. PASM I am interested in as it gives a slightly better ride with the option of firming things up when in the mood, I won't do that often but just now and again on a decent road with sweeping bends I think I would use it, but in truth it's in use all the time anyway in normal mode so I feel I would get value from it.

I'm not one to necessarily follow the crowd but I think the benefits of PDK outweigh the more involved driving of the manual.
On the popularity of these options I decided to take a look at the AUC 981's currently for sale at Porsche Centres, by using the detailed search I was able to get the following figures:
Total cars for sale - 84.
PASM - fitted to 15 cars
PSE - fitted to 11 cars
Bose - fitted to 45 cars
Sport Chrono - fitted to 33 cars
PDK - fitted to 67 cars
Cars with PASM and PSE - 3.

This shows that only a small percentage of owners go for PASM, PSE, or Manual - and not one car on the list has all three. The interesting one is Sport Chrono, I wonder if this is sales patter, the extra dial on the dash, or the headline 2 tenths off the 0-60 time?

Gordon.

[Gorsh]

I did look at the GTS and thought it would be beyond my budget, but a check on the configurator with the options I want shows it is only a little more expensive than my S at £64115 including the GTS black exterior pack. It also has lots of other options which if added to the S would make the S more expensive - plus it has more power.

So definitely worth taking a look at when I go back to the OPC - as I have paid deposit on the S do you think they would mind scrapping that for a GTS ?
Also, are there discounts available on the GTS please?
Gordon.

[Oso]

On the three things you're stuck on:

PASM - the thing IMHO about PASM is that the normal PASM setting is slightly more comfortable in ordinary driving than the non-PASM setup; I almost never use the sport PASM setting on the road. PASM is active so it is changing the damping during normal driving which gives a slightly lusher feel than the fixed rate dampers. The trade off is the fixed rate damper (non-PASM) set up feels a bit more direct. My favourite option is actually the 'sports chassis - 20mm lower'. This is a non-PASM option - really wakens up the car and it corners beautifully. It may be a bit aggressive for you if you want a more GT thing as you said in your original post.

PSE - on the 981 it sounds superb when you're in the mood for it with the roof down. Equally I think it can be OTT in certain situations. It's certainly something I think you can live without.

Bose/ SPP - I think Bose on the 9x1 cars is not as good as on the 9x7 cars. The Burmester is now the top end system. The best thing is to take a selection of your favourite music down there and try them all out Bring CDs - the sound quality is much higher than MP3s/ AAC. If you like your music you want to be able to hear it properly on the motorway with the roof down - this is really where the upgraded audio makes the difference.

No need to feel bashful about PDK - it is an incredible gearbox. Both the manual and PDK are great.

Sport Chrono gets you dynamic transmission mounts (these help stabilise the weight of the gearbox which sits out behind the rear axle and helps with handling/ comfort). You also get launch control if you have PDK )) and a 'sportier' throttle map (not everyone's cup of tea) and later intervention on PSM, plus more aggressive tuning on the other systems. It is worth it for that in my view although the extra dial itself I don't particularly like.

[Oso]

Gorsh said:

I did look at the GTS and thought it would be beyond my budget, but a check on the configurator with the options I want shows it is only a little more expensive than my S at £64115 including the GTS black exterior pack. It also has lots of other options which if added to the S would make the S more expensive - plus it has more power.

So definitely worth taking a look at when I go back to the OPC - as I have paid deposit on the S do you think they would mind scrapping that for a GTS ?
Also, are there discounts available on the GTS please?
Gordon.

In my experience with OPCs they are always happy to help - it's your dream and if you want a GTS I'd expect they'll try to get you one. You can always ask about a discount, but what I've heard is that there are not many GTS build slots left so you might be more likely to get a 'deal' on an S. A lot of folks who wanted and couldn't get a GT4 have ordered Cayman GTS instead. Boxster GTS I think there may be more availability. The GTS will hold its value better which may be a consideration - although I'd always say buy the car you want rather than worry too much about resale - particularly if you're speccing the build - the main thing is that you use it and enjoy it )

The GTS is a special car - in that peculiarly Porsche way it's somehow better than the sum of its extra parts suggests it should be. Personally, I'd compromise on a few options for that or find the extra money with some man maths... (!)

[TB303]

Oso said:

On the three things you're stuck on:

PASM - the thing IMHO about PASM is that the normal PASM setting is slightly more comfortable in ordinary driving than the non-PASM setup; I almost never use the sport PASM setting on the road. PASM is active so it is changing the damping during normal driving which gives a slightly lusher feel than the fixed rate dampers. The trade off is the fixed rate damper (non-PASM) set up feels a bit more direct. My favourite option is actually the 'sports chassis - 20mm lower'. This is a non-PASM option - really wakens up the car and it corners beautifully. It may be a bit aggressive for you if you want a more GT thing as you said in your original post.

I think this is on point. Having owned a PASM 987, I'd go passive (preferably sports chassis) every time. By the end of the ownership I noticed the electronic nature of the suspension - it's yet another thing to get in the way of the direct feel of the car. Takes it a step more to GT territory.