Boxster 981 wheel advice please

[555D]

Good morning

New to this forum

Just wondering if anyone can offer advice please on wheel size. I am an older enthusiast and have run a 986 Boxster on standard wheels for many years. I am now considering treating myself to a 981 Boxster S but most of them come with 20" wheels and I would be interested to know how hard this makes the ride. I am not looking for out and out grip/handling etc and a bit of comfort is important. Does anyone have any advice please
Many thanks

[Twinfan]

Make sure it has PASM and you'll be fine. My Cayman GTS has 20" wheels and PASM and in the 'normal' chassis setting the ride is fabulous.

I believe the stock suspension can be a little crashy, so definitely hunt out one with PASM. Good luck!

[gstev]

I have 981 with 20" wheels but no PASM and consider ride to be comfortable in normal mode, done number of 500+ mile journeys with no discomfort

[bcr5784]

Twinfan said:

Make sure it has PASM and you'll be fine. My Cayman GTS has 20" wheels and PASM and in the 'normal' chassis setting the ride is fabulous.

I believe the stock suspension can be a little crashy, so definitely hunt out one with PASM. Good luck!

+1 The ride of a normal S on 20" isn't bad, but it's definately better on 19" and better still with PASM. That said if you do get one with 20" wheels you'll find there are plenty of people on ebay who want to up(down?) grade to 20" wheels so you will easily be able to swap and probably make a profit in the process.

[Sparkyhd]

I hated the ride of my Cayman 981 on 20" no PASM. I think it may be age related. I'm 58 but younger folk seem to be more forgiving.

It's jiggly, noisy and makes nasty crunching sounds during parking manoeuvres. I had 18" winter wheels and it transformed the car and only put the original wheels back on because I traded it in.

New Boxster arrives in two weeks on 19" wheels with PASM.

[bcr5784]

Sparkyhd said:

I hated the ride of my Cayman 981 on 20" no PASM. I think it may be age related. I'm 58 but younger folk seem to be more forgiving.

It's jiggly, noisy and makes nasty crunching sounds during parking manoeuvres. I had 18" winter wheels and it transformed the car and only put the original wheels back on because I traded it in.

New Boxster arrives in two weeks on 19" wheels with PASM.

18" wheels seem to divide opinion - I have a set of winter wheels with Dunlops winter tyres on. Much prefer my car on my 19" Pirellis (I've had both N0 and N1 versions). On 18s with both summer (Eagle F1s) and (much more so) winter tyres the car is looser and less precise with more initial understeer. True the winter tyres don't scrub like the summer tyres do - but that, to me is their only advantage in the summer (and tyre scrub is much less of an issue in the summer than winter) 19" and PASM is, to me, easily the best combination.

[mr pg]

My 981 Cayman S has 20's and PASM, and the ride is amazingly good for the wheel size. Much better than my 996T was even when in sport mode.

[RichB]

555D said:

...a 981 Boxster S but most of them come with 20" wheels and I would be interested to know how hard this makes the ride.

Gone from a 2.9 987 to a 2.7 981 PDC, 20" wheels, no PASM - ride is excellent. Indeed the whole car is improvement on the 987. Just go for it - Richard, age 60.

[Sparkyhd]

Opinion seems to vary depending on what you're migrating from. Maybe hire a steam roller for a week in advance of your new car?

[RichB]

I drive so many different cars, from a Volvo V70 to a pre-war Lagonda and various in between, and I find the 981 to be a lovely comfortable car to drive. But then maybe the variety makes me appreciate the differences between them all?

[DJMC]

Before I bought my 981 with 20s and PASM I tried three others with 20s and standard suspension. I consciously thought the ride crashy but coming from a TTS it was a little better and I could have lived with it.

Having stumbled across the PASM car I would say that if you like a comfier ride, as I do, you MUST go for PASM 100%.

But don't forget it also has a sublimely good Sport mode for when you're pressing on.

[HighwayStar]

DJMC said:

Before I bought my 981 with 20s and PASM I tried three others with 20s and standard suspension. I consciously thought the ride crashy but coming from a TTS it was a little better and I could have lived with it.

Having stumbled across the PASM car I would say that if you like a comfier ride, as I do, you MUST go for PASM 100%.

But don't forget it also has a sublimely good Sport mode for when you're pressing on.

I made the same transition from TTS to Cayman S on 20s and PASM. The TTS Mag Ride is promoted by Audi as a thing sophistication but it never felt like it. I'd read on here how good the 20s with PASM combo is on the Cayman S. My first test drive was on a country road and I was stunned that a car on 20s and liquorice tyres road so well. It is that good. You won't be disappointed.

[555D]

Thank you everyone for your comments which are most helpful

[Maxym]

I've never driven a 981 and thought the ride bad but the two I've owned have had/have PASM and I think it's very good indeed. Much better than my mk7 Golf GTI on 18s. My advice would be to look out for a car so fitted. You won't be disappointed - in fact it'll give you a lot of pleasure.

Edited by Maxym on Monday 19th September 01:46

[Ozzie Osmond]

My 981 is on standard suspension and 19" wheels. The ride is absolutely fine although it can feel somewhat firm on very rough roads.

For my use of the car I wouldn't risk going firmer with 20" wheels.