981 Boxster, auto or manual?

[TTmonkey]

Ive rather decided that my mid 50’s should feature a Boxster 981. What’s the pros and cons of the gearbox choices on 981 Boxsters? I have no experience driving either but would like to know what people who have driven and or owned both think?
Will be buying the non S version I think.

I want a long term car that should see me to retirement as a weekend car. I’m not really interested in saving .3 of a second between gear changes as mostly the car will be driven with a lot of sensibility and maturity but equally on occasions will see some fun.

Thanks in advance for replies.

[Twinfan]

Manual 981 cars are much less common, so be prepared for a wait if you're picky on spec.

In use, the PDK is excellent at what it is.

I have a manual car and the gearbox is the best I've ever used. Rifle bolt action is the best way to describe it.

The choice is yours. Neither is right or wrong, choose what's right for you.

[Bone Rat]

In mid 50s, had 981 Cayman, we were directed away from the manual as both of us had some OA of hip and ankle. Bought PDK which was great.
We were loaned a manual boxster as I presume they wanted to seed me for replacing the TT. I've never driven such a heavy clutch, period. This includes ancient series land rovers, Ladas and all manner of shopping type cars. Caused pain to both of us.

It was totally unacceptable as a daily use car and both of us felt it would suck any enjoyment out of ownership. She has just swapped it for 718S, manual wasn't considered.

Would strongly suggest borrowing one for prolonged test drive before stumping up

[jimmy p]

981 manual is superb, try it

[TTmonkey]

jimmy p said:

981 manual is superb, try it

Manual appears to be at least a couple of grand cheaper second hand.... is that because people don’t want them or because the auto is significantly more expensive to buy? Or is it a resale issue, less market for the manual?

Is there a service cost advantage over either? Does the auto mean it is less susceptible to clutch issues..... does the manual have a reliability advantage or disadvantage?

Any car I buy will likely have up to 50k miles on it, and I’d want to keep it until it’s seeing triple that.

So resale is not a big consideration. But I’d be interested in opinion as to how either box affects long term value and resale.

Neither me or wife has any issue with health and are pretty fit.

[Flyferrari]

I have a manual 981 GTS that I use as a daily driver. I absolutely love it. I have been loaned, both before and after my purchase, PDK cars and just couldn’t get along with them (to be fair the cars in question had the bloody awful non paddle steering wheel!). I don’t find the clutch heavy at all. In fact it’s considerably lighter than most of my previous cars. As has already been said, the shift action is fantastic. The flexibility of the engine is such that you can approach a town doing 60/6th gear, slow to 30, still in 6th, and then accelerate back up to 60 when the limit allows. Not the fastest way to make progress for sure but it’s an option if you’re feeling lazy! Who needs PDK with its added complexity, weight and cost? And of course there’s the added sense of connection you get with a manual. All IMHO obviously.

[Si-3PO]

The PDK in my 987 Spyder was decent but there were no blips on downshifts which was annoying. In the three 981’s I’ve owned I’ve had PDK and never wished I’d opted for manual.

I drive mine on the paddles 95% of the time and in contrast to most here I find it involving with a (modern) racecar like feel, and I really enjoy the lighting quick changes in Sport Plus. I only use auto for fuel saving and traffic jams

Conversely in the 718 I just sold I occasionally wondered whether a manual box instead of the PDK I optioned might have breathed a bit of character or life into it. It also had smaller paddles with hardly any throw which I didn’t like as much as the 981 PDK.

But you’re really going to have to try both for yourself, nobody can make this decision for you!

[James McScotty]

I've owned a 981 Cayman 2.7 manual (having tried the PDK version) and now have the 981 CGTS also manual. I had an extended test drive for a half-day with a Porsche Experience instructor on an airfield and on public roads with a CGTS/PDK. PDK is the best auto box I've ever driven, I just don't especially enjoy driving autos.

The manual gearbox is a delight to use, and the clutch is not heavy, I'd say it's perfectly-weighted, just like all other major controls on the 981.

At high mileage, I would anticipate possible PDK maintenance issues, and I would expect fewer potential problems with a manual gearbox.

Edited by James McScotty on Sunday 24th June 23:59

[Twinfan]

TTmonkey said:

Manual appears to be at least a couple of grand cheaper second hand.... is that because people don’t want them or because the auto is significantly more expensive to buy? Or is it a resale issue, less market for the manual?

Is there a service cost advantage over either? Does the auto mean it is less susceptible to clutch issues..... does the manual have a reliability advantage or disadvantage?

No servicing issue diffreences between either, although I think the PDK clutch life is rated for the life of the car. If it goes wrong though, it's new gearbox time.

PDKs are priced a little higher than manuals as they're more popular (demand and supply) and alos as they can be slightly higher optioned. Several manual cars I've seen have been quite poverty spec to keep the cost of the car down. A well optioned manual is a rare thing.

[Porsche911R]

987.2 manual

981 PDK

[TTmonkey]

Twinfan said:

TTmonkey said:

Manual appears to be at least a couple of grand cheaper second hand.... is that because people don’t want them or because the auto is significantly more expensive to buy? Or is it a resale issue, less market for the manual?

Is there a service cost advantage over either? Does the auto mean it is less susceptible to clutch issues..... does the manual have a reliability advantage or disadvantage?

No servicing issue diffreences between either, although I think the PDK clutch life is rated for the life of the car. If it goes wrong though, it's new gearbox time.

PDKs are priced a little higher than manuals as they're more popular (demand and supply) and alos as they can be slightly higher optioned. Several manual cars I've seen have been quite poverty spec to keep the cost of the car down. A well optioned manual is a rare thing.

the options question is quite a good discussion point to. I generally have no need for satnav for this kind of car, but Bluetooth phone and streaming is quite important. As I'm a bit clueless as to what the car comes with and what really is a must have I'd also like opinions on this. I wont be buying a car with options that 'need to be there for resale' so 'poverty' spec might be more appealing than something with all bells and whistles.

I'm also not a wealthy guy, so this will be a stretch for me, and with my desire to keep the car long term i'll buy a car that others might discount from their search because of a perceived need for a particular set of options.

So with that criteria in mind, what should I be looking for?

Another (perhaps stupid question) does the standard 'S' come with any options that really have to be speced at additional cost to the non S car? Obviously it has more power but does it come with anything that really must be added to a base Boxster?

[Porsche911R]

basics in a boxster are heated seats and wind deflector

all the rest is nice to have if you want to spend more money, ie Bluetooth so you can answer a phone in the car, BOSE if you listen to the radio etc.
Xenons if you drive at night a lot and have poor eyes at 50 in the dark. the options list is endless.

[Twinfan]

From memory, the S cars got the bigger engine but little else in the way of optional extras. Extras included:

• Climate control (dual zone) - standard fitment was manual aircon
• Sat nav
• Parking sensors
• Auto wipers
• Electric folding mirrors
• Xenon headlights
• Sports seats/bucket seats
• Heated seats
• Phone prep
• Digital radio
• Bose audio
• Passive lowered sports or active PASM suspension
• Leather seats/dash/trim
• Various paint colours
• Sports Chrono (dynamic engine mounts. Sports+ mode, faster PDK gear changes, PDK launch control)

etc

If you're new to Porsche, you'd be surprised what ISN'T standard on the 981 Boxster!

[TTmonkey]

Twinfan said:

From memory, the S cars got the bigger engine but little else in the way of optional extras. Extras included:

• Climate control (dual zone) - standard fitment was manual aircon
• Sat nav
• Parking sensors
• Auto wipers
• Electric folding mirrors
• Xenon headlights
• Sports seats/bucket seats
• Heated seats
• Phone prep
• Digital radio
• Bose audio
• Passive lowered sports or active PASM suspension
• Leather seats/dash/trim
• Various paint colours
• Sports Chrono (dynamic engine mounts. Sports+ mode, faster PDK gear changes, PDK launch control)

etc

If you're new to Porsche, you'd be surprised what ISN'T standard on the 981 Boxster!

yes new to Porsche, and now you mention it yes surprised that a premium brand needs so much more spent on it, but then when you stop and think for even a minute, not at all surprised either... just used to a different approach after being mainstream. Its like a trip back to the 1990's and having to stare at an options list all again!

Hard to believe stuff like xenons was optional though on such a modern car. food for thought thanks.


If I go to the PDK, some cars have steering wheel buttons, some have paddles, was this an option or a design change during production?

[Twinfan]

I think the wheel difference is due to the multi-function steering wheel which had controls for the audio/phone etc.

If you're going PDK you want paddles for sure.

[Porsche911R]

Twinfan said:

I think the wheel difference is due to the multi-function steering wheel which had controls for the audio/phone etc.

If you're going PDK you want paddles for sure.

you then also want Sports chrono :-)

[Twinfan]

Sports Chrono on a base car will be super rare I suspect, more likely to find it on an S but still pretty rare on that!

[bcr5784]

Porsche911R said:

you then also want Sports chrono :-)

Why? The dynamic engine mounts (the only useful bit) are troublesome and of little value unless you track the car. And the gearchange, which is super smooth in Normal and very good in Sport, becomes jerky in Sport+.. I forgot - you get an ugly wart on the dashboard.

Edited by bcr5784 on Monday 25th June 10:30

[Porsche911R]

bcr5784 said:

Why? The dynamic engine mounts (the only useful bit) are troublesome and of little value unless you track the car. And the gearchange, which is super smooth in Normal and very good in Sport, becomes jerky in Sport+.. I forgot - you get an ugly wart on the dashboard.

because in manual mode it changes gear faster.

[DJMC]

bcr5784 said:

Why? The dynamic engine mounts (the only useful bit) are troublesome and of little value unless you track the car. And the gearchange, which is super smooth in Normal and very good in Sport, becomes jerky in Sport+.. I forgot - you get an ugly wart on the dashboard.

Edited by bcr5784 on Monday 25th June 10:30

My pre-purchase extended test drive (1 1/2 days) was in a SC equipped Boxster 981. I found SC superfluous. Sport mode is standard on all 981 models and allows for a sportier drive than the standard setting.



Bi-Xenon standard on Cayman S by the way. 981 options...