New Arrival! White Boxster S with PSE
Discussion
Hello!
In case you've not read my previous threads, my wife and I have bought a 2012 Boxster S in white, with black leather interior, black roof, 20" Carrera S wheels, PASM, PCM, heated sports seats with memory, PDLS, Bose, some other bits and pieces and sports exhaust.
I'm posting this from North Wales. We've done over 400 miles since Friday night, starting from Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex and on to Winchester Friday night. Saturday was a leisurely start, through some great roads in the Cotswolds out into Herefordshire and finally South Wales, ending in Cardiff. Up to then, the roof was down about half of the time.
We woke up in Cardiff to bright blue sky, so it was no messing this morning. In the car, roof down. A4069 from Brynaman to Llangadog, up to Lampeter and on to Devil's Bridge for a sandwich and a look at the three bridges. The afternoon was a final blast up from Llanidloes and to our stop over just outside of Dolgellau in time for the tennis and the F1 highlights having had the roof down the whole day with no rain. We can't believe it either.
What’s the verdict? I'm delighted with the car and, honestly, I'm really trying to be objective. I know it'd be easy to gush given the amount of cash involved, but truly the car is excellent. I'm glad I've waited a little while before posting because the car has grown on me immensely since Friday night. I'm sat here honestly trying to think of a negative thing to say as some sort of pseudo-journalistic hook, but I can't actually think of one.
Clearly, we’re still running it in but the engine already feels a big improvement on my old 987 Gen1 3.4. It’s torquier and it sounds much, much better. The sports exhaust was initially a massive disappointment. On Friday night, I honestly could not tell the difference with the button pressed. Roll on 48 hours and what a change. It cracks, it pops and it burbles and just generally adds a layer of aural drama that is otherwise lacking. I love it. Yes, you could complain it’s a little over the top (lift off in third at 40 mph and it’s just rude) but it makes me laugh with childish delight. A final point on PSE - I’ve seen other posts commenting that the sports exhaust when switched off robs the car of noise. This isn’t true; subjectively I’d say it was louder than the PDK car I drove with a normal exhaust.
I don’t think I’m going to add any weight to the glowing reviews by saying the handling is incredibly assured (and, no, I’ve not “missed” Sport Chrono or PTV). The steering is absolutely fine. In the dry it is a fag-paper off the 987. If I had to make one negative comment, then that it is the wet handling with the 20” wheels is not as good as the 987 on 19”s. I’ve not worked out whether the drag through standing water confuses the steering system or that it simply pulls the wheels off, but this is one area I will be paying attention to in future.
Finally, the gearbox. Words cannot express how happy I am with the manual. In my opinion, and I hope SFO can back me up here, the shift action is much nicer than on the 987. The new position helps, but the action is much more precise than before and it is an absolute joy to use. The clutch weight is not over heavy for this type of car and, dare I contradict Chris Harris, the pedals are fine for heel-and-toe (that means braking and blipping the throttle simultaneously, there are a few people out there who I’m sure think H-T is just blipping on downshifts). No, the pedals are not 9x7 perfect, but they’re pretty close in my opinion.
We’ve got this week off on holiday and hopefully another 1,500-odd miles to do. I hope to keep you informed and, I promise, when the car is more run in I will post a video of PSE in action. Finally, here’s some pictures. Thanks for reading.
In case you've not read my previous threads, my wife and I have bought a 2012 Boxster S in white, with black leather interior, black roof, 20" Carrera S wheels, PASM, PCM, heated sports seats with memory, PDLS, Bose, some other bits and pieces and sports exhaust.
I'm posting this from North Wales. We've done over 400 miles since Friday night, starting from Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex and on to Winchester Friday night. Saturday was a leisurely start, through some great roads in the Cotswolds out into Herefordshire and finally South Wales, ending in Cardiff. Up to then, the roof was down about half of the time.
We woke up in Cardiff to bright blue sky, so it was no messing this morning. In the car, roof down. A4069 from Brynaman to Llangadog, up to Lampeter and on to Devil's Bridge for a sandwich and a look at the three bridges. The afternoon was a final blast up from Llanidloes and to our stop over just outside of Dolgellau in time for the tennis and the F1 highlights having had the roof down the whole day with no rain. We can't believe it either.
What’s the verdict? I'm delighted with the car and, honestly, I'm really trying to be objective. I know it'd be easy to gush given the amount of cash involved, but truly the car is excellent. I'm glad I've waited a little while before posting because the car has grown on me immensely since Friday night. I'm sat here honestly trying to think of a negative thing to say as some sort of pseudo-journalistic hook, but I can't actually think of one.
Clearly, we’re still running it in but the engine already feels a big improvement on my old 987 Gen1 3.4. It’s torquier and it sounds much, much better. The sports exhaust was initially a massive disappointment. On Friday night, I honestly could not tell the difference with the button pressed. Roll on 48 hours and what a change. It cracks, it pops and it burbles and just generally adds a layer of aural drama that is otherwise lacking. I love it. Yes, you could complain it’s a little over the top (lift off in third at 40 mph and it’s just rude) but it makes me laugh with childish delight. A final point on PSE - I’ve seen other posts commenting that the sports exhaust when switched off robs the car of noise. This isn’t true; subjectively I’d say it was louder than the PDK car I drove with a normal exhaust.
I don’t think I’m going to add any weight to the glowing reviews by saying the handling is incredibly assured (and, no, I’ve not “missed” Sport Chrono or PTV). The steering is absolutely fine. In the dry it is a fag-paper off the 987. If I had to make one negative comment, then that it is the wet handling with the 20” wheels is not as good as the 987 on 19”s. I’ve not worked out whether the drag through standing water confuses the steering system or that it simply pulls the wheels off, but this is one area I will be paying attention to in future.
Finally, the gearbox. Words cannot express how happy I am with the manual. In my opinion, and I hope SFO can back me up here, the shift action is much nicer than on the 987. The new position helps, but the action is much more precise than before and it is an absolute joy to use. The clutch weight is not over heavy for this type of car and, dare I contradict Chris Harris, the pedals are fine for heel-and-toe (that means braking and blipping the throttle simultaneously, there are a few people out there who I’m sure think H-T is just blipping on downshifts). No, the pedals are not 9x7 perfect, but they’re pretty close in my opinion.
We’ve got this week off on holiday and hopefully another 1,500-odd miles to do. I hope to keep you informed and, I promise, when the car is more run in I will post a video of PSE in action. Finally, here’s some pictures. Thanks for reading.
Good start to your ownership and its whetted my appetite for when I get home from holiday later in July to hopefully my own similar spec car but sans 20" and PASM, I stuck with 19". I like your driving route too, best way to run the car in. Good luck and keep enjoying it!
cheers Keith
cheers Keith
Excellent write up Mutt. There have been some adverse comments re 20" wheels in wet.You are of course driving the Auto Express "Best Roadster" of 2012! and if you are heading back south from Dollgelau take the road from Devil's Bridge to Rhayader through the Elan Valley just stunning scenery and a brilliant drive. Looking forward to sound of PSE, have a great week.
Great write up!
Now that's really wet'd my appetite, we've been told our car should be here in July!
I know what you mean about black wheels, I find they look great in the flesh but in photo's they just become a disk like you say. We've gone for the black wheels on our white car.
Have a great week, and don't forget the video
Now that's really wet'd my appetite, we've been told our car should be here in July!
I know what you mean about black wheels, I find they look great in the flesh but in photo's they just become a disk like you say. We've gone for the black wheels on our white car.
Have a great week, and don't forget the video
Just seen one in the flesh at Wilmslow OPC, white like yours and wow they are stunning cars in the flesh. Was half tempted to request a test drive, but decided not to bother.
Had a Cayman R a while back and though it was damn good, I preferred my 911 over it, the new Boxster I feel could be superior to the Cayman R in handling/dampening as I found it too firm, especially in the wet it just hindered the ability to progress on the road.
Yeah Boxster S does look amazing with roof down, I just hate such cars with roof up, which in this country is 90% of the time.
Had a Cayman R a while back and though it was damn good, I preferred my 911 over it, the new Boxster I feel could be superior to the Cayman R in handling/dampening as I found it too firm, especially in the wet it just hindered the ability to progress on the road.
Yeah Boxster S does look amazing with roof down, I just hate such cars with roof up, which in this country is 90% of the time.
Gibbo205 said:
Just seen one in the flesh at Wilmslow OPC, white like yours and wow they are stunning cars in the flesh. Was half tempted to request a test drive, but decided not to bother.
Had a Cayman R a while back and though it was damn good, I preferred my 911 over it, the new Boxster I feel could be superior to the Cayman R in handling/dampening as I found it too firm, especially in the wet it just hindered the ability to progress on the road.
Yeah Boxster S does look amazing with roof down, I just hate such cars with roof up, which in this country is 90% of the time.
I think the boxster looks fantastic with the new profile with the roof up. Had a Cayman R a while back and though it was damn good, I preferred my 911 over it, the new Boxster I feel could be superior to the Cayman R in handling/dampening as I found it too firm, especially in the wet it just hindered the ability to progress on the road.
Yeah Boxster S does look amazing with roof down, I just hate such cars with roof up, which in this country is 90% of the time.
Porsche have done a fantastic job with both the boxster and the 991.
Credit where credit is due this is An area where I think they have exceeded most with both cars.
Gibbo205 said:
Just seen one in the flesh at Wilmslow OPC, white like yours and wow they are stunning cars in the flesh. Was half tempted to request a test drive, but decided not to bother.
Had a Cayman R a while back and though it was damn good, I preferred my 911 over it, the new Boxster I feel could be superior to the Cayman R in handling/dampening as I found it too firm, especially in the wet it just hindered the ability to progress on the road.
Yeah Boxster S does look amazing with roof down, I just hate such cars with roof up, which in this country is 90% of the time.
If you'd have looked left at a turning in Kidsgrove on the A34 at about 4pm this afternoon you'd have seen my actual car! I saw you drive past heading south. Nice 911, very yellow!Had a Cayman R a while back and though it was damn good, I preferred my 911 over it, the new Boxster I feel could be superior to the Cayman R in handling/dampening as I found it too firm, especially in the wet it just hindered the ability to progress on the road.
Yeah Boxster S does look amazing with roof down, I just hate such cars with roof up, which in this country is 90% of the time.
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