Considering buying a boggo 981, anything I'd miss?
Discussion
AlexNJ89 said:
Thanks, appreciate the input. I think you've convinced me in one post.
I've just sold my car, cash is in the bank, but I'm in no rush and happy to buy a shed for 6 months while I save up for a 718.
If its a toss up between a 981 or 718 you might find this interesting:I've just sold my car, cash is in the bank, but I'm in no rush and happy to buy a shed for 6 months while I save up for a 718.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
MitchW12 said:
Now you’ve put the PSE on the 2.7 does it pop and burble like the 3.4S does?
Yup an absolute tonne. FWIW it’s louder and ‘cracklier’ than my friends 981 GT4 with PSE. My experience with these DFI engines is the smaller the displacement the higher frequency the sound. Which is why I went for the 2.7 over the 3.4.If sport is off then all 95% of crackling stops which is great for driving through towns
Also OP, I just had a 718 2.0 for a week whilst mine was in for its service, and it feels like such a different car. It’s accomplished, smoother and comfy. If you need to commute go for 718 but it left me completely flat (no pun intended) and found the engine extremely effective but emotionless and rather agricultural. Interior tech is a step on, as is the general feeling of it.
From the second I started the 981 upon picking it up it wiped out any consideration of moving to a 718 for anything short of a 4.0.
My fiancé summed it up well, both are great cars, but the 718 2.0 is the one she would drive and the 981 is the one I’d drive as more of a spirited driver.
From the second I started the 981 upon picking it up it wiped out any consideration of moving to a 718 for anything short of a 4.0.
My fiancé summed it up well, both are great cars, but the 718 2.0 is the one she would drive and the 981 is the one I’d drive as more of a spirited driver.
28k seems about the entry point to 981S models. Higher mileage with lower spec, but they’re fantastic things, regardless.
Low 30’s gets you into higher spec models. Not sure how closely the 2.7 correlates, but I’d expect 28k to be getting you a fairly specced version.
I put sport chrono, PSE and PASM (on 20s) as essential, although it depends on how you plan to use it.
Look up my thread about 981 prices from August. I ended up with a very well optioned S. Later on I updated the thread (October time?) about my experience of the options. Feel free to PM me with any questions.
The long and short of it, though, is that they’re brilliant things and you can’t go wrong.
Low 30’s gets you into higher spec models. Not sure how closely the 2.7 correlates, but I’d expect 28k to be getting you a fairly specced version.
I put sport chrono, PSE and PASM (on 20s) as essential, although it depends on how you plan to use it.
Look up my thread about 981 prices from August. I ended up with a very well optioned S. Later on I updated the thread (October time?) about my experience of the options. Feel free to PM me with any questions.
The long and short of it, though, is that they’re brilliant things and you can’t go wrong.
Over over under steer said:
Yup an absolute tonne. FWIW it’s louder and ‘cracklier’ than my friends 981 GT4 with PSE. My experience with these DFI engines is the smaller the displacement the higher frequency the sound. Which is why I went for the 2.7 over the 3.4.
If sport is off then all 95% of crackling stops which is great for driving through towns
Thanks for coming back on this and that’s great to know. Especially turning sport mode off in town. Unfortunately you’ve know opened up the scope of options even further! If sport is off then all 95% of crackling stops which is great for driving through towns
Had a T with PASM last service, my normal car is on passive, with 18"s.
I found the Sport PASM setting to be quite similar to mine, i.e. quite firm.
The comfort PASM setting seemed much softer, and actually worked rather well for terrible roads.
That said I've also had a loaner on 20"s without PASM and that was fine.
Some good advice in this thread also: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I found the Sport PASM setting to be quite similar to mine, i.e. quite firm.
The comfort PASM setting seemed much softer, and actually worked rather well for terrible roads.
That said I've also had a loaner on 20"s without PASM and that was fine.
Some good advice in this thread also: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Edited by jimbo761 on Monday 8th February 17:52
Jeez, some love the manual some swear by PDK.
Some say options are necessary some say they aren't.
I'm also torn on whether the 981 is underpowered vs the 981S.
Some say PASM is a must, others think the standard ride is just fine.
Problem is I can't go out test driving at the moment.
As much as I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond, I'm not sure I'm any wiser
Some say options are necessary some say they aren't.
I'm also torn on whether the 981 is underpowered vs the 981S.
Some say PASM is a must, others think the standard ride is just fine.
Problem is I can't go out test driving at the moment.
As much as I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond, I'm not sure I'm any wiser
Edited by AlexNJ89 on Monday 8th February 23:19
AlexNJ89 said:
Jeez, some love the manual some swear by PDK.
Some say options are necessary some say they aren't.
I'm also torn on whether the 981 is underpowered vs the 981S.
Some say PASM is a must, others think the standard ride is just fine.
Problem is I can't go out test driving at the moment.
As much as I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond, I'm not sure I'm any wiser
I would’ve put a fiver on that being the case!Some say options are necessary some say they aren't.
I'm also torn on whether the 981 is underpowered vs the 981S.
Some say PASM is a must, others think the standard ride is just fine.
Problem is I can't go out test driving at the moment.
As much as I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond, I'm not sure I'm any wiser
Edited by AlexNJ89 on Monday 8th February 23:19
You’ll certainly be delighted either way. All I would say is that 28k+ puts you in the realm of a reasonably well-specced base 981..
Apologies if you’ve already mentioned it, but how are you planning on using it? If it’s a weekend toy, I’d wager the SC/PSE options are more worthwhile, as they do add a lot of theatre to the car, in a way you’d probably happily do without on a dayily driver.
Royal Jelly said:
I would’ve put a fiver on that being the case!
You’ll certainly be delighted either way. All I would say is that 28k+ puts you in the realm of a reasonably well-specced base 981..
Apologies if you’ve already mentioned it, but how are you planning on using it? If it’s a weekend toy, I’d wager the SC/PSE options are more worthwhile, as they do add a lot of theatre to the car, in a way you’d probably happily do without on a dayily driver.
It will be a daily driver. Due to covid and working from home, I just want a car where nipping to Sainsbury's (about 20mins away) it's a lot more fun. I had a Mazda RX8 231bhp when I was 23 (8 years ago) and I wanted an excuse to drive everywhere. I've just got out of an SLK55, and even though it was a great car and fast, I just didn't feel very connected to it.You’ll certainly be delighted either way. All I would say is that 28k+ puts you in the realm of a reasonably well-specced base 981..
Apologies if you’ve already mentioned it, but how are you planning on using it? If it’s a weekend toy, I’d wager the SC/PSE options are more worthwhile, as they do add a lot of theatre to the car, in a way you’d probably happily do without on a dayily driver.
So I have £20k cash, plan on doing a little finance to get me in to a Cayman. My job seems stable and has been throughout covid, I could finance £5k or £15k. Hence why the lower the better. I also believe that the further you stretch yourself the harder it is to upgrade your car as your personal wealth can't keep up with the depreciation, where as a £25k 981 base will financially be upgradable in 12 months and could go for a well specced 718S instead of having sort-of well specced 718 base now.
I hope this helps shed light on where I'm at.
Interesting that you've come out of an SLK55, from experience I would say a 2.7 981 Cayman probably isn't for you.
I came out of an SLK55 and replaced it with an Elise S3, I then replaced the Elise with a 2016 981 PDK Boxster Black Edition which was a good car and great for 10% of the time when on it, but tbh I never got on particularly well with the whole Porsche thing. The final straw for me was an upcoming £3k+ bill for the 4 year service and warranty renewal....I also lost £13k on the car in just over 2 years.
To cut a long story short, I'm back in an SLK55 and love it, and have a GR Yaris coming for manual and B road thrills.
I came out of an SLK55 and replaced it with an Elise S3, I then replaced the Elise with a 2016 981 PDK Boxster Black Edition which was a good car and great for 10% of the time when on it, but tbh I never got on particularly well with the whole Porsche thing. The final straw for me was an upcoming £3k+ bill for the 4 year service and warranty renewal....I also lost £13k on the car in just over 2 years.
To cut a long story short, I'm back in an SLK55 and love it, and have a GR Yaris coming for manual and B road thrills.
Holgate86 said:
Interesting that you've come out of an SLK55, from experience I would say a 2.7 981 Cayman probably isn't for you.
I came out of an SLK55 and replaced it with an Elise S3, I then replaced the Elise with a 2016 981 PDK Boxster Black Edition which was a good car and great for 10% of the time when on it, but tbh I never got on particularly well with the whole Porsche thing. The final straw for me was an upcoming £3k+ bill for the 4 year service and warranty renewal....I also lost £13k on the car in just over 2 years.
To cut a long story short, I'm back in an SLK55 and love it, and have a GR Yaris coming for manual and B road thrills.
Hmm, I did think this was a great looking car at the same price as a 981:I came out of an SLK55 and replaced it with an Elise S3, I then replaced the Elise with a 2016 981 PDK Boxster Black Edition which was a good car and great for 10% of the time when on it, but tbh I never got on particularly well with the whole Porsche thing. The final straw for me was an upcoming £3k+ bill for the 4 year service and warranty renewal....I also lost £13k on the car in just over 2 years.
To cut a long story short, I'm back in an SLK55 and love it, and have a GR Yaris coming for manual and B road thrills.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101308...
But I've just come out of an r171, just feels like I'd be getting the same car with comfier seats.
I felt the SLK55 was more of a muscle car, I'm looking for a car where I can approach a roundabout and pretend I'm Michael Schumacher, the SLK55 wasn't as agile as it looked and the gearbox was so slow to drop down that the moment had gone by the time it had woken up.
Agree totally that test drives really necessary, which kind of scuppers you at the moment.
My manual 981 Cayman is pretty boggo (only options are colour, wheels, leatherette seat inserts) and frankly there’s not a lot I’d change if I was to spec it myself.
Sound system is s
te, but I’ve never been in a Porsche with Bose (Bose in my old TT I thought was good though). But to be honest, it’s kind of good enough so long as you just want to listen to podcasts and aren’t a mega audiophile or anything.
My manual 981 Cayman is pretty boggo (only options are colour, wheels, leatherette seat inserts) and frankly there’s not a lot I’d change if I was to spec it myself.
Sound system is s
te, but I’ve never been in a Porsche with Bose (Bose in my old TT I thought was good though). But to be honest, it’s kind of good enough so long as you just want to listen to podcasts and aren’t a mega audiophile or anything. 
AlexNJ89 said:
Jeez, some love the manual some swear by PDK.
Some say options are necessary some say they aren't.
I'm also torn on whether the 981 is underpowered vs the 981S.
Some say PASM is a must, others think the standard ride is just fine.
Problem is I can't go out test driving at the moment.
As much as I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond, I'm not sure I'm any wiser
Threads like this always go the same way. A load of opinions from others based on what sort of driver they are and what stuff they like on their cars.Some say options are necessary some say they aren't.
I'm also torn on whether the 981 is underpowered vs the 981S.
Some say PASM is a must, others think the standard ride is just fine.
Problem is I can't go out test driving at the moment.
As much as I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond, I'm not sure I'm any wiser
Edited by AlexNJ89 on Monday 8th February 23:19
Here are a couple of my opinions:
2.7 v 3.4 - the 2.7 is definitely not under powered and has more that enough performance for UK road driving. Context - I've had more powerful cars and for me they are wasted on the road. Plus I'm happy to cruise along at 3/10 a lot of the time
PSE - a droning PITA on the motorway even when switched off. Probably a minority opinion
I'd guess you'll already know where you are on such things, or at least have an opinion. Which may or may not concur with mine...
Good luck with your short list. They are great cars.
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