981 vs 981s + PDK vs Manual
Discussion
Hi,
I am thinking to upgrade my good old manual Boxster 987 to 981.
Am not really keen on 4 cylinders hence no 718.
Is there any noticeable difference between 981 and 981s in terms of engine sound? Is it purely power difference, or more?
Also, I know there are numerous resources and opinions on this, but does PDK really ruin the Boxster experience? I like my manual but it’s quite annoying in heavy traffic which is present even during these covid days.
Any good advice appreciated, thanks.
I am thinking to upgrade my good old manual Boxster 987 to 981.
Am not really keen on 4 cylinders hence no 718.
Is there any noticeable difference between 981 and 981s in terms of engine sound? Is it purely power difference, or more?
Also, I know there are numerous resources and opinions on this, but does PDK really ruin the Boxster experience? I like my manual but it’s quite annoying in heavy traffic which is present even during these covid days.
Any good advice appreciated, thanks.
Hello,
Had 981 with PDK , non-PSE for 3,5 years.
Perfectly powerful and fast car, never felt I need S.
If you really drive it spiritely you already outlaw in 2nd gear.
If was buying again now would go manual. PDK is greate but somewhat disconnect you from real engagement as it's very rational. And changing gears by paddles is not the same as manual.
As to PSE, would not bother - if you revv the engine noise is very good while in daily mode still gives nice tone on a comfortable level.
For more noise I personally would go for Borla or similar, not PSE.
Had 981 with PDK , non-PSE for 3,5 years.
Perfectly powerful and fast car, never felt I need S.
If you really drive it spiritely you already outlaw in 2nd gear.
If was buying again now would go manual. PDK is greate but somewhat disconnect you from real engagement as it's very rational. And changing gears by paddles is not the same as manual.
As to PSE, would not bother - if you revv the engine noise is very good while in daily mode still gives nice tone on a comfortable level.
For more noise I personally would go for Borla or similar, not PSE.
Get a manual, the novelty of the PDK soon wears off....especially when driving around town....clonking old things.
Non S or S....well, the S is a lot quicker. The Non needs lots of gear changing to keep it going....but is great fun and sounds gorgeous....and keeps you on the right side of the law most of the time.
Some would say the 2.7 is slow.....but it just takes time to get to know how it works, if that makes sense. I love mine, but can understand how others may say it's gutless.
Non S or S....well, the S is a lot quicker. The Non needs lots of gear changing to keep it going....but is great fun and sounds gorgeous....and keeps you on the right side of the law most of the time.
Some would say the 2.7 is slow.....but it just takes time to get to know how it works, if that makes sense. I love mine, but can understand how others may say it's gutless.
5 years in with my 981CS PDK and the novelty hasn't worn off. Test drove 3 with PDK to make sure and bought the 3rd one. Make sure you have a proper drove of both variants and make your mind up. If you're getting old and ankle joints giving up to the extent you can't always drive a manual, PDK is a god send!
If I was buying a 981, the gearbox probably wouldn’t be my main priority - both 6 spd manual and PDK have their merits and I could live with either.
PDK is the easy option, but the manual is one of the sweetest gearboxes and far more involving for sporting enjoyment. Even in commuter traffic it’s very pleasant.
PDK is the easy option, but the manual is one of the sweetest gearboxes and far more involving for sporting enjoyment. Even in commuter traffic it’s very pleasant.
FrankCayman said:
Get a manual, the novelty of the PDK soon wears off....especially when driving around town....clonking old things.
Some would say the 2.7 is slow.....but it just takes time to get to know how it works, if that makes sense. I love mine, but can understand how others may say it's gutless.
Agree, PDK if you spend a lot of time in traffic otherwise manual is far, far more involving.Some would say the 2.7 is slow.....but it just takes time to get to know how it works, if that makes sense. I love mine, but can understand how others may say it's gutless.
I found my old 2.7 a bit sluggish.
981 non-S sounds a little sweeter than the S, make sure you get PSE on either.
S obviously has more grunt, but I found the base model to be just fine for the road, never wanted for me, or felt underwhelmed. I came from an Exige and I enjoyed that it was less rampant!
I went for manual as I think that extra pedal is an integral part of the driving experience for me, but everyone differs so if you prefer PDK then go for it, as autos go they're wonderful.
Also, nice perk is non-S models are a little cheaper, but also generally tend to be slightly less optioned out, so be careful.
S obviously has more grunt, but I found the base model to be just fine for the road, never wanted for me, or felt underwhelmed. I came from an Exige and I enjoyed that it was less rampant!
I went for manual as I think that extra pedal is an integral part of the driving experience for me, but everyone differs so if you prefer PDK then go for it, as autos go they're wonderful.
Also, nice perk is non-S models are a little cheaper, but also generally tend to be slightly less optioned out, so be careful.
I like my manual S.
From the demonstrators and courtesy cars I've driven,
PSE - I wouldn't bother. If you want the car to make more noise just press the loud pedal.
Sport Chrono - I wouldn't bother. Suspect you'll play with it twice and never touch it again.
Fancy suspension - I wouldn't bother. On 19" standard wheels the ordinary suspension is good.
LSD (PTV) - I wouldn't bother. I think I've only once spun a rear wheel at a T-junction.
Stereo - the base setup is pretty feeble and it's not easy to upgrade. If you want decent music buy a car that's got a decent setup alreday.
USB etc - some cars will have it and some cars won't. Check carefully if it's important to you.
I'd focus primarily on overall condition of the car, including service history. IMO you can be flexible as to which options may or may not be fitted so long as the basics are right.
From the demonstrators and courtesy cars I've driven,
- Base car with manual is a bit short of "go" unless you rev it, but never a problem in everyday driving.
- Base car with PDK moves along nicely, the 8-speed auto keeping gears and revs just right. You'll be amazed how often and how fast it shifts gears.
- S with manual is a nice drive if you want to change gears yourself. In everyday driving you'll be skipping the intermediate gears.
- S with PDK is properly quick, given the relatively modest power, with PDK maximising the benefit of extra torque.
PSE - I wouldn't bother. If you want the car to make more noise just press the loud pedal.
Sport Chrono - I wouldn't bother. Suspect you'll play with it twice and never touch it again.
Fancy suspension - I wouldn't bother. On 19" standard wheels the ordinary suspension is good.
LSD (PTV) - I wouldn't bother. I think I've only once spun a rear wheel at a T-junction.
Stereo - the base setup is pretty feeble and it's not easy to upgrade. If you want decent music buy a car that's got a decent setup alreday.
USB etc - some cars will have it and some cars won't. Check carefully if it's important to you.
I'd focus primarily on overall condition of the car, including service history. IMO you can be flexible as to which options may or may not be fitted so long as the basics are right.
rockin said:
I like my manual S.
From the demonstrators and courtesy cars I've driven,
PSE - I wouldn't bother. If you want the car to make more noise just press the loud pedal.
Sport Chrono - I wouldn't bother. Suspect you'll play with it twice and never touch it again.
Fancy suspension - I wouldn't bother. On 19" standard wheels the ordinary suspension is good.
LSD (PTV) - I wouldn't bother. I think I've only once spun a rear wheel at a T-junction.
Stereo - the base setup is pretty feeble and it's not easy to upgrade. If you want decent music buy a car that's got a decent setup alreday.
USB etc - some cars will have it and some cars won't. Check carefully if it's important to you.
I'd focus primarily on overall condition of the car, including service history. IMO you can be flexible as to which options may or may not be fitted so long as the basics are right.
Given PSE on a 981 makes the car sound absolutely mental, pops and bangs, burbling galore I don't understand the comments regarding it. With the standard exhaust it's rather lacklustre regardless of how hard you press the pedal.From the demonstrators and courtesy cars I've driven,
- Base car with manual is a bit short of "go" unless you rev it, but never a problem in everyday driving.
- Base car with PDK moves along nicely, the 8-speed auto keeping gears and revs just right. You'll be amazed how often and how fast it shifts gears.
- S with manual is a nice drive if you want to change gears yourself. In everyday driving you'll be skipping the intermediate gears.
- S with PDK is properly quick, given the relatively modest power, with PDK maximising the benefit of extra torque.
PSE - I wouldn't bother. If you want the car to make more noise just press the loud pedal.
Sport Chrono - I wouldn't bother. Suspect you'll play with it twice and never touch it again.
Fancy suspension - I wouldn't bother. On 19" standard wheels the ordinary suspension is good.
LSD (PTV) - I wouldn't bother. I think I've only once spun a rear wheel at a T-junction.
Stereo - the base setup is pretty feeble and it's not easy to upgrade. If you want decent music buy a car that's got a decent setup alreday.
USB etc - some cars will have it and some cars won't. Check carefully if it's important to you.
I'd focus primarily on overall condition of the car, including service history. IMO you can be flexible as to which options may or may not be fitted so long as the basics are right.
Depends so much on how you intend to use the car and what your priorities are in terms of driver enjoyment. And being subjective and entirely down to individual requirements and expectations, there's no 'right or wrong.'
I currently have both a manual 981 CS and 981 GT4. At the time I bought the GT4 I couldn't bring myself to sell or trade the S as it had taken me 18 months to find a low mileage one with all of the options I wanted and it's a bloody fun car in manual guise. However I did swap out the standard stick to the shorter, GT4 variant, which improves the gear change experience and makes it more comfortable. (OEM it's a tad tall) The S is of course a different animal to the GT car but is no less enjoyable in the right circumstances, sounds even better IMO (am a fan of the sports exhaust) and is easier to live with. The gearing issue has never been a concern to me either, as it is for so many, although I completely get why it might be.
I recently changed my daily from a sensibly tuned, manual Golf R to an AMG A45S with flappy paddles, my first ever auto. The Merc is an absolute weapon with lightening quick gear changes but after almost three months of ownership, the lack of using my left arm and leg, even in traffic, leaves me feeling really disengaged from the whole experience, (even in paddle-shift mode) and that's not improved, or put to the back of my mind, by the utterly ballistic pace of the thing. I miss the R as a result, albeit it has stayed in the family and my lad has it now! Could simply be down to muscle memory of course, having spent 30 odd years shifting a stick but as soon as I get in to either of the Caymans, (not really possible much at the mo), I immediately appreciate what makes the act of driving fun for me, which is the more direct involvement.
So manual all the way for me although I did read, with interest, what AJB88 has achieved by having his PDK re-mapped and reversing the default change direction so that it works like a sequential. That's certainly a really interesting 'half-way house' in terms of improving driver engagement and involvement and at least the Boxter / Cayman still has a proper 'auto stick' to be able to do that.
I currently have both a manual 981 CS and 981 GT4. At the time I bought the GT4 I couldn't bring myself to sell or trade the S as it had taken me 18 months to find a low mileage one with all of the options I wanted and it's a bloody fun car in manual guise. However I did swap out the standard stick to the shorter, GT4 variant, which improves the gear change experience and makes it more comfortable. (OEM it's a tad tall) The S is of course a different animal to the GT car but is no less enjoyable in the right circumstances, sounds even better IMO (am a fan of the sports exhaust) and is easier to live with. The gearing issue has never been a concern to me either, as it is for so many, although I completely get why it might be.
I recently changed my daily from a sensibly tuned, manual Golf R to an AMG A45S with flappy paddles, my first ever auto. The Merc is an absolute weapon with lightening quick gear changes but after almost three months of ownership, the lack of using my left arm and leg, even in traffic, leaves me feeling really disengaged from the whole experience, (even in paddle-shift mode) and that's not improved, or put to the back of my mind, by the utterly ballistic pace of the thing. I miss the R as a result, albeit it has stayed in the family and my lad has it now! Could simply be down to muscle memory of course, having spent 30 odd years shifting a stick but as soon as I get in to either of the Caymans, (not really possible much at the mo), I immediately appreciate what makes the act of driving fun for me, which is the more direct involvement.
So manual all the way for me although I did read, with interest, what AJB88 has achieved by having his PDK re-mapped and reversing the default change direction so that it works like a sequential. That's certainly a really interesting 'half-way house' in terms of improving driver engagement and involvement and at least the Boxter / Cayman still has a proper 'auto stick' to be able to do that.
Edited by JustCallMeMac on Thursday 28th May 15:33
ryanchan said:
Agreed on the gear stick being tall.. I went for the cheaper solution of putting a shorter aftermarket knob on. How much did you pay for the Gt4 shifter if you don't mind me asking?
I got mine shipped to the UK from Suncoast Parts in the States as it worked out cheaper at the time, shipping and taxes included, on the basis that it was on offer and I was ordering other parts as well, which i couldn't source over here. https://www.suncoastparts.com/product/PK9X1SSU.htm...
However it's also possible to shorten and modify the existing OEM part and there's an obscure thread on here somewhere.
I am not a 981 expert but I found the 981 S PDK I test drove a little...dull. It sounded amazing and had more than enough grunt but felt more like a daily-driver than a weekend-toy car, which is what I was looking for. I've not driven a manual version but that might make the difference.
As usual, test driving a few is the key (and of course very difficult at the moment).
(my googling efforts suggested that Sports Chrono is a "must have" if you get the PDK because of the "better" shifting)
As usual, test driving a few is the key (and of course very difficult at the moment).
(my googling efforts suggested that Sports Chrono is a "must have" if you get the PDK because of the "better" shifting)
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