981 Boxster Options

[omniflow]

Hi - I need some help with options and acronyms for a 981 Boxster. If there's a website out there somewhere with it all explained, that would be brilliant. I've searched this forum and haven't found what I need.

I've just started looking for a Boxster and I am struggling to work out what all the available options are and which ones are essential / desirable / a waste of time.

So far I've figured out:

Full Leather - lifts the interior considerably
PDK - Sequential gearbox
PASM - Adjustable suspension
PSE - switchable exhaust
Sports Chrono - not really figured this one out, apart from it comes with a clock
Wheels - subjective - haven't figured out my preference yet
Sat Nav - has an acronym, but can't remember what it is - not really bothered about the sound system.
Multi-functional wheel - which seems to have about 4 buttons on it - not sure what you lose out on if you don't have this
Paddles instead of buttons for the PDK

What about:

Brakes
Seats
Anything else I might have missed

Thanks

[Twinfan]

Take a look at the configurator for the 718 - it'll have and explain most of the options a 981 had

[Porsche911R]

X73
PDSL
Buckets seats
PCCB
GTS pack

done

[bcr5784]

Porsche911R said:

X73
PDSL
Buckets seats
PCCB
GTS pack

done

Or not as the case may be....

[alan718s]

Nothing was standard.
Auto mirrors
Climate control
Interior lighting
dimming mirrors
cruise controls
everything is an option
sound upgrade

good luck finding one with all the option you like!

I think Sport exhuast is a must on the 981 , just makes the sound even better!

[mr pg]

omniflow said:

Hi - I need some help with options and acronyms for a 981 Boxster. If there's a website out there somewhere with it all explained, that would be brilliant. I've searched this forum and haven't found what I need.

I've just started looking for a Boxster and I am struggling to work out what all the available options are and which ones are essential / desirable / a waste of time.

So far I've figured out:

Full Leather - lifts the interior considerably
PDK - Sequential gearbox - It's a dual clutch.
PASM - Adjustable suspension
PSE - switchable exhaust
Sports Chrono - not really figured this one out, apart from it comes with a clock - Apart from the clock you get launch control, and adjustable gearbox mounts. The gear changes are quicker, and if left in auto, changes at red line. I only use mine in manual mode.
Wheels - subjective - haven't figured out my preference yet - With 20's, PASM is often recommended for a better ride.
Sat Nav - has an acronym, but can't remember what it is - not really bothered about the sound system.
Multi-functional wheel - which seems to have about 4 buttons on it - not sure what you lose out on if you don't have this
Paddles instead of buttons for the PDK - Paddles are way better, but then you don't get the multi-function.

What about:

Brakes - S has larger (red) brakes.
Seats - You get standard sports, sports plus, or buckets. Standard seats don't provide much support.
Anything else I might have missed - Lots.

Thanks

See comments I've added above.
Just to add that a google should find you the 981 brochure online.

Edited by mr pg on Tuesday 3rd October 10:02

[981Greg]

There must have been over £30,000 of options, and I don't think anyone here will remember all of them! It also changed a little over the life of the 981 - Tyre Pressure Monitoring springs to mind. The only way to fully answer the question is to find the brochure.

[bcr5784]

Twinfan said:

Take a look at the configurator for the 718 - it'll have and explain most of the options a 981 had

Good advice.

Note that there are some differences from the 781 that are significant

You can't get the multi-function wheel AND paddles on the 981. Paddles are a must imo.
781 now has Sat Nav (PCM), bluetooth and an upgraded sound system - they are all extras on the 981 (yes, even mobile phone preparation!)

Note that standard aircon is NOT climate - and big wheels spoil the ride for no handling benefit. Sports chrono is only of real benefit on track (dynamic engine mounts) - but some on here have had those mounts fail, though I don't know if those cars were heavily tracked. I'd avoid buckets if the car is daily transport, access is an issue.

Edited by bcr5784 on Tuesday 3rd October 08:44

[zed4]

Here are all the options available, although some are just country specific codes:

https://www.stuttcars.com/technical/option-codes/b...

I would be looking for...

PDK
Sport Chrono
PASM
PSE
Full leather
Memory seats
Heated seats
PCM (the sat nav)
Phone prep - doesn't come with PCM, you have to spec this separately!
BOSE stereo
20" wheels

Then there's the individual taste items, like:

Wind deflector
Colour coded exterior (rear diffuser, front grille slats, side air intakes)
Colour coded roll bars
Interior trim (aluminium, wood, carbon etc)
etc...

Lots to choose from! Difficult to find a car in the right spec. I noticed with BMW you have an option for say, Professional media. That is bundled with everything from sat nav, to USB, iPod, HDD, traffic, bluetooth audio, bluetooth phone etc. It does make things a lot easier. With Porsche you have to check and double check a car has everything you want ticked.

[omniflow]

zed4 said:

Here are all the options available, although some are just country specific codes:

https://www.stuttcars.com/technical/option-codes/b...

That is awesome - thanks for that

[jonttt]

Yep good idea to get familiar with them.

Then get a list together of all the ones you want......

Then realise you won't find that car for sale.....

So fine tune your list to "must haves"

Then realsie you won't find that car for sale......

Then compromise.........and justify to yourself why you didn't really need xxxxx that's the Porsche buying game lol

But be comforted by the fact that there are even new owners, who specced the car themselves, who still don't get all the options they wanted, go through the same process and still feel compromised ;-)

[bcr5784]

zed4 said:

Here are all the options available, although some are just country specific codes:

https://www.stuttcars.com/technical/option-codes/b...

I would be looking for...

PDK
Sport Chrono
PASM
PSE
Full leather
Memory seats
Heated seats
PCM (the sat nav)
Phone prep - doesn't come with PCM, you have to spec this separately!
BOSE stereo
20" wheels

Then there's the individual taste items, like:

Wind deflector
Colour coded exterior (rear diffuser, front grille slats, side air intakes)
Colour coded roll bars
Interior trim (aluminium, wood, carbon etc)
etc...

Lots to choose from! Difficult to find a car in the right spec. I noticed with BMW you have an option for say, Professional media. That is bundled with everything from sat nav, to USB, iPod, HDD, traffic, bluetooth audio, bluetooth phone etc. It does make things a lot easier. With Porsche you have to check and double check a car has everything you want ticked.

I've made comments about 20" wheels, and Sport Chrono - try before making up your mind. I have Bose - to say it's crap would only be a slight exaggeration (but spot on at the £800 charged) - note that, in any case, except in traffic, noise - tyres in particular - will make any decent sound system irrelevant. If you go for PCM you will have at least Sound Package + in any case.

[kev.RS]

My top options would be
20” Carrera classics
Sports exhaust
PASM
Sports plus seats
Nav
Heated seats
Sport design steering wheel
The standard wheel or multi function steering wheel gives you back to front gearshift buttons which is annoying so stick with the Sport design wheel as gives you nice paddles.

Full leather is nice and makes the dashboard look a lot nicer but wouldn’t be a deal breaker.

Only worry about sports chrono if you are after PDK as changes gearing and quite nice to be able to switch to different modes.

Lots of small bits like which will vary between cars parking sensors, climate control, cruise control ( which can be retrofitted) etc.

http://photos.stuttcars.info/upload/2012/06/27/Box...

[n4aat]

Still surprised people want the Nav. It's pretty poor. Google is so much better. And as the car gets older it will date so badly.

I managed to get everything I wanted.

Boxster S
Black
Full leather (black)
Sports design wheel
PASM
20" satin Carreras
Full Climate
Sports Chrono
Sports seats plus
Heated seats
Auto wipers
Rear parkers
PDK
PTV
Phone prep
PSE
Wind deflector

Will be a great car for the next owner when I sell in the Spring.

Edited by n4aat on Wednesday 4th October 17:19

[jonttt]

But no nav :-(

[n4aat]

On purpose.

[bcr5784]

jonttt said:

But no nav :-(

Accepting that the Nav isn't great (and was a vastlly overpriced option) using a phone (however good) looks awfully low rent and functionally is much less satisfactory on a number of grounds.

1) If it's (fairly) neatly installed by, say, a Brodit you need to divert your eyes from the road far too far to be satisfactory.
2) If it's on the screen the dangling wires look a mess - and you can't really rely on the phones battery unless you are on a short journey.
3) the auxiliary multifunction screen of the built in system (and how it automatically changes to show the next junction as you get near) is far more satisfactory.
4) It takes a bit of time to install your phone every time you want to use it as a Sat Nav and remove it when you arrive - and you can't really leave a "spare" phone in the car for fear of getting your car broken into (and having had that happen to me - for a radio - it's not something I would risk)

So although I really hate being ripped off, I'd bite the bullet and always have it. Of course if you only use a Sat Nav occasionally then perhaps the advantages aren't significant.

[Cabsi]

Thought I'd list the options on my 981 Boxster S and put them in order of what I think are the most important. Others will no doubt have their own personal preferences...

- PSE
- PASM
- 14 way electric sports seats
- Manual transmission
- Heated seats
- PCM3 and Bluetooth
- Rear parking sensors
- Electric folding door mirrors
- Sports design steering wheel
- 20'' Satin Carreras
- PDLS
- Front parking sensors
- Bose

I don't have climate, leather dash or Sports Chrono. Of those the only thing I would have liked is the leather dash (probably above the Satin Carreras).

Hope this helps someone.

[STMM]

PSE, definitely. Don't believe the threads about it droning, it's not the case. Sounds awesome turned on, I just wish the car would remember the setting each time it turned off so I didn't have to double throw each start. Turn key, engines starts, press exhaust button. Should all happen at the turn of the key then engage drive. Boom.

Oh, PDK was another 'must' for me.

[bcr5784]

STMM said:

PSE, definitely. Don't believe the threads about it droning, it's not the case. Sounds awesome turned on, I just wish the car would remember the setting each time it turned off so I didn't have to double throw each start. Turn key, engines starts, press exhaust button. Should all happen at the turn of the key then engage drive. Boom.

Oh, PDK was another 'must' for me.

You'll find PSE divides opinion. Personally hate it, but lots love it - one to try before you buy.