Buying boxster: doubts about options

[alien_ado]

I will buy a boxster in the next 2/3 weeks. It’s great to join the Porsche owners club, I had been wishing that for a long time.

I’ve been struggling with two options. I don’t like so much the original wheels, and I m considering upgrading them to the 18 inches of boxster S. I have no doubts about the aesthetic gains, however I’m convinced that the ride will be considerably worse.

The second doubt concerns the stereo. I like a good sound, that allows me to hear music loud without distortion, but I do not need the top notch. The question is that the Bose should exceed my requirements, but I m afraid that the sound package plus does not be enough.

I will be grateful for any comments that help me make my mind,
Thanks

[elitedetailer]

Get a 911 mate of if you cant afford it go for a 968.

[Don]

elitedetailer said:

Get a 911 mate of if you cant afford it go for a 968.

[jac-in-a-box]

None of the sound options available ae worth the money - even the Bose.

Standard system gives you a head unit a some cheap and nasty dash speakers,

The Sound package, next step up gives you a weedy fag packet sized amp and a couple oequally nasty paper door speakers.

And the Bose - sounds marginally better but is very poor.

The head unit is worth keeping and the rest is fit for the bin...here's what I did for the wifes Boxster:

www.boxa.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=11878

18" Wheels - with standard suspension there is a little loss of ride comfort, nothing significant and it's worth the change for the aesthetic improvement.

[Don]

alien_ado said:

I will buy a boxster in the next 2/3 weeks. It’s great to join the Porsche owners club, I had been wishing that for a long time. I’ve been struggling with two options. I don’t like so much the original wheels, and I m considering upgrading them to the 18 inches of boxster S. I have no doubts about the aesthetic gains, however I’m convinced that the ride will be considerably worse. The second doubt concerns the stereo. I like a good sound, that allows me to hear music loud without distortion, but I do not need the top notch. The question is that the Bose should exceed my requirements, but I m afraid that the sound package plus does not be enough. I will be grateful for any comments that help me make my mind, Thanks

I have the 18s. They DO NOT make the ride appreciably worse. You may be more likely to kerb them. They will also cost you a mint of money to buy if the car currently has 17s on it and the rubber is a lot more expensive. To be honest if you are a driver not a poser I'd stick with whatever is on the car. If it happens to be 17s revel in the knowledge that each time you visit the tyre place you will be saving £££s. If it happens to be 18s be happy that the handling is unaffected and the wheel arches look full.

Bose, Porsche Sound Pack. The regular stereo in the Box is fairly pants. The Sound Pack improves it with door speakers, and slightly better bass. Bose is supposed to be pretty good. BUT I wouldn't have a car with it on. The central rear speaker goes where the wind-deflector storage box normally goes - can't have both. You need the wind-deflector and its nice to have somewhere to put it in winter. In summer its an important area for storing all those things you need to have with you in a car.

[DucatiGary]

elitedetailer said:

Get a 911 mate of if you cant afford it go for a 968.

this was my route to porsche ownership, 968 is a very capable car and the prices of 996's are very reasonable for the amount of car you get for your money.

I nearly bought a 968CS that had 140K miles on the clock but after thinking that I really wanted a 911 I got a loan to cover the rest of the purchase and aint looked back since.

with regards to the stereo the upgraded sound pack is good quality, sounds like it is 8ohm rather than 4ohm so the soudstage is very well projected and give a rich detailed sound, if you want to go blasting round with your tunes full whack its not that type of soundsystem, yes it can go loud but the idea for it is quality not loudness.

[Don]

Another thing to think about is that by far the bets music can be heard by switching *off* the stereo and putting your foot down!

An open car doesn't make for a good environment in which to listen to music either. Personally I feel an expensive sound system is wasted...but that's just my view. Your view may well be very different.

[jac-in-a-box]

And there was I thinking the fellow who asked the question had his mind made up on the Boxster and was asking questions relating to the sound system and bigger wheels!

The "upgraded" sound system has met with universal derision - bar one it seems It's tiresome, thin and grating at any volume...when you look at the speakers - paper coned, flimsy Nokia efforts which must be worth all 10p it's easy to understand why.

Go listen before you buy!