Box - 911 Has anyone done it and wanted the Boxster back?

[Ozzie Osmond]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Zyp said:

The Sport button in a manual car should just increase throttle response and let the PSM kick in a bit later.(if the same as the 987)

Thanks, I'd forgotten the PSM trigger points could be backed off a bit. I've got a large right shoe which deals with the throttle aspect!

I think I've finally got there after reading the sales booklet again, and it's just engine. Cars with Sport Plus seem to have more chassis adjustment.

"Sport mode is activated to provide greater response and enhanced driving pleasure."

Hmmm, how does that work?

• "Throttle response becomes even more direct"

• "The rev-limiter is adjusted to a harder setting"

• "Engine dynamics are tuned for performance driving."

I guess all of this just implies a bit more power, or at least more acessible power, at the expense of increased fuel consumption. The rev-limiter can wait, at least until there are some miles on my car.

[TryHarder]

• *UPDATE***

Before I start it's just my opinion I'm no expert I can only do what everyone should do try them, and buy the one YOU like the best.

Well i'm afraid I like the 991 the best, the 997.2 is lovely but I like the 991 more. The 981 is a superb car but after 7 miles in the 991 I had that funny tingly feeling and it hasn't gone away. It's left me still thinking about it and smiling, I could easily have taken the 991S PDK but I didn't, I wanted to try the one I have an outside chance of owning so I took the 991 Base (if there is such a thing) 7 speed manual. And am I glad I did I have honestly never had so much fun, with sport on and PSE and that gear stick just there where your hand is I now understand what you are all on about the manual is really involving and for the first time I found myself down shifting into corners with the most amazing sound track and coming out the other side thinking oh my god I've got it right and just smiling so much, I didn't miss my Boxsters PDK. Heaven knows what the 'S' is like but for me 345Bhp is just right, its not the speed for me its the effortless torquey pull 5th gear at keep your license speeds is just a joy and the sound as you gently wind it on, well you can't get tired of that.

I should say that I've had 2 Boxsters and a Cayman so I'm not coming from a GT3 and I'm no driving god I just like to have fun so I guess thats why this car feels more impressive to me than some of you who have all ready been there. I get the argument about the 981 being smaller lighter etc but I really liked the slightly heavier bigger feeling and the concentration required to get it right. One other thing for the first time all four of us got to enjoy 'Porsche' together and we all had fun the children are 9 and 11 (cool eh) and it was no problem, its tight I'm not going to lie but for a quick blast no problem they were both laughing (apparently it sounds even better in the back).

In summing up its left me with a feeling that I can't remember since I met my wife (I know, i know but accurate none the less), so it must be right all I have to do now is find the extra 30K which for me means more hours working but I'm going to do it, its going to take me till the spring I rekon but hey roll on spring !!

Thanks for your input, in summing up I got back in my 987.2 and its still a great car but that 991 has left its mark so at the moment I don't think I'll miss it, I think I'll just remember it fondly, time will tell, right then back to work I must 'TryHarder' !

[Ady128]

I've come from Boxster 987 2.9 PDK to 991 Cab PDK. I too, wondered whether I'd end up going back to Boxster. And I still do. Until I get in my 991 and hear the growl from behind, and the speed of the thing. But I suppose a Boxster S (981) would be just as quick. Decisions, decisions. I think I'll stick with the 911 for a bit. I've only seen one other on the road in the 3 months I've had mine, so that's good. Happy days.

[jakesmith]

Got a 987.1 2.7 and had a 986 2.5 before. Just bought a 997 C4S cab & pick it up next week, fancied a change & wanted a lot more power & didn't want a third Boxster in a row.

In my opinion the 2.7 Boxster 987 is a sweeter drive than the C4S, more of a drivers car. Better throttle response, loads more steering feel & nicer brakes, sounds better too with Carnewal exhaust. Before you comment the 997 C4S had sport mode and PSE, although I didn't hear it in a tunnel etc.

Will keep the C4S for a few years & then if it's not for me will buy a 981S, but like I say for now I wanted a change, more toys, full leather & the cachet of the 911 badge etc

[Raitzi]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Just wait for 981 Cayman At least I will. My car decision will will be one of following: Cayman R, 981 Cayman S, F-type, Alfa 4C, and 991 S(or even non S).
I now got about 80% of the money ready, but if I really want 991, it won't be enough. In worst case that would mean one year more saving. For me 991 non-S is very hard to justify over used Cayman R for the price. That is the main reason why I wait for 981 Cayman with so high hopes. At maximum Porsche might allow the new Cayman S have 340 HP which would be only 5 down from the 991 base car. I would not kill the market for 991 base car as it is still the icon and has back seats. Porsche made a too fast "cayman" before. It was called a 968 Turbo, performance of which was very close to 911 turbo at the time. The result was that nobody wanted 968 turbo and they sold like under 20 cars. A quick cayman would not hurt the brand, it would lift it above the rest.

[MadMark911]

In the last 3 years, I've gone from a late Boxster 987.1 "S", to a 997.1 C2S and 4 months ago I bought a 997.1 GT3.

I loved my Boxster (it was my first Porsche and something of a milestone for me) as it was amazingly dynamic to drive and very easy to access 90% of it's cornering performance, but I always found I was wanting more power for overtaking etc.

The 997 C2S was 50% more money for the same age car as my Boxster (with similar miles on the clock). However, the increase in performance was very discernable and although it took a lot more effort to drive at more than 75%, I enjoyed the challenge.

The 997 GT3 was (gulp) twice the trade in value of my C2S, but it's in a different league from both of my previous Porsches in terms of it's performance. What feels like a huge jump in straight line speed is matched by the most amazing noise, braking performance and cornering power (at least in the dry on the Michelin Pilot Sport Cups). However, even though this is not my daily driver, it's as extreme as I would go for the road! In fact the girlfriend has complained that it's uncomfortable and thinks it's a retrograde step over my Carerra!

So next year - will it be a 981 or a 991? At the moment I've only driven the 3.4 991 and it wasn't fast enough and was short on steering feel - so I'll probably try to find a 991 S with the SPASM and see how that drives.

[Dblue]

MadMark911 said:

In the last 3 years, I've gone from a late Boxster 987.1 "S", to a 997.1 C2S and 4 months ago I bought a 997.1 GT3.

I loved my Boxster (it was my first Porsche and something of a milestone for me) as it was amazingly dynamic to drive and very easy to access 90% of it's cornering performance, but I always found I was wanting more power for overtaking etc.

The 997 C2S was 50% more money for the same age car as my Boxster (with similar miles on the clock). However, the increase in performance was very discernable and although it took a lot more effort to drive at more than 75%, I enjoyed the challenge.

The 997 GT3 was (gulp) twice the trade in value of my C2S, but it's in a different league from both of my previous Porsches in terms of it's performance. What feels like a huge jump in straight line speed is matched by the most amazing noise, braking performance and cornering power (at least in the dry on the Michelin Pilot Sport Cups). However, even though this is not my daily driver, it's as extreme as I would go for the road! In fact the girlfriend has complained that it's uncomfortable and thinks it's a retrograde step over my Carerra!

So next year - will it be a 981 or a 991? At the moment I've only driven the 3.4 991 and it wasn't fast enough and was short on steering feel - so I'll probably try to find a 991 S with the SPASM and see how that drives.

Or get an RS instead and really p..s her off :-)

[Raitzi]

MadMark911 said:

So next year - will it be a 981 or a 991? At the moment I've only driven the 3.4 991 and it wasn't fast enough and was short on steering feel - so I'll probably try to find a 991 S with the SPASM and see how that drives.

If fast means mostly handling on tight tracks, 981 has a good shot. 981 S PDK was actually significantly faster than 991 S manual on twisty track in Scandinavian sports car of the year competition. They commented 991 S to lack power. I actually believe that there was something wrong in 991 S but still 981 S was fast(faster than V8 R8). When track has a lot of high speed turns like Nordscheife, Power will win and 991 has very neutral "bias" with no real understeer. It would be interesting if someone tested if new passive damper sports setup offered for 981 S makes any difference on times. Pistonheads wrote that it is useless on road if I remember right.

[MadMark911]

Dblue said:

Or get an RS instead and really p..s her off :-)

LOL! That might be interpreted as an act of war!

[MadMark911]

Raitzi said:

MadMark911 said:

So next year - will it be a 981 or a 991? At the moment I've only driven the 3.4 991 and it wasn't fast enough and was short on steering feel - so I'll probably try to find a 991 S with the SPASM and see how that drives.

If fast means mostly handling on tight tracks, 981 has a good shot. 981 S PDK was actually significantly faster than 991 S manual on twisty track in Scandinavian sports car of the year competition. They commented 991 S to lack power. I actually believe that there was something wrong in 991 S but still 981 S was fast(faster than V8 R8). When track has a lot of high speed turns like Nordscheife, Power will win and 991 has very neutral "bias" with no real understeer. It would be interesting if someone tested if new passive damper sports setup offered for 981 S makes any difference on times. Pistonheads wrote that it is useless on road if I remember right.

And on something like the PEC, the Boxster S can certainly keep up with a 991 3.4 (I know as I was drving the 3.4 hard enough to be melting tyres) and my mate in a 991 "S" was actually overtaken by said Boxster! However, for me it's straight line pace (more for overtaking than anything) and it's here where I'm worried that going back to a Boxster will leave me feeling short changed .... We'll see as I haven't driven one yet, but with only 15bhp and a little less weight than my last Boxster, I can't see it as being "enough" after the GT3 ....

[BnB]

MadMark911 said:

So next year - will it be a 981 or a 991? At the moment I've only driven the 3.4 991 and it wasn't fast enough and was short on steering feel - so I'll probably try to find a 991 S with the SPASM and see how that drives.

Of all the 991s I've driven (about 5 different versions) the SPASM equipped S provided the best package for pure driving pleasure. Utterly brilliant handling, no understeer and decidedly better steering feel. Good choice.

[fioran0]

Raitzi said:

If fast means mostly handling on tight tracks,

It never means this.....

[SFO]

MadMark911 said:

but with only 15bhp and a little less weight than my last Boxster, I can't see it as being "enough" after the GT3 ....

981's DFi engine is much much more responsive, free revving and urgent the non DFi units .. drive one and you will see what I mean.

I took my RS60 to the Alps in 2011 and my 981S in 2012. The 981 flew up the mountains at the hairpins and corners .. it would have left my RS60 standing.

[Raitzi]

Yes. This is what community wants:
http://www.bimmerboost.com/images/Cayman-Rear-silv...

This is how actual spy-shots compare to current model:

http://www.ausmotive.com/pics/2012/Porsche-Cayman-...

[itsybitsy]

we will just have to wait and see what the finished article looks like.my concern apart from looks is it will have less power than a cr 325hp and not 330hp

[gl20]

Got the chance today to try a few modes back to back today as my boxster needed its first service and I am thinking about a change in 6 months. Silverstone opc were very obliging so some initial impressions..

997 C4 GTS for most of the day
Engine sounds immense. Loved that sound
More steering feel than Box
Noticeably quicker of course
Handling less predictable. I get the 'challenge' bit but did feel a bit intimidating at times.
Pdk with paddles made all the difference. On a ar with manual for me whereas when. Have tried without paddles I hated it.

Cayman R for an hour or so
Much easier to drive. Felt more comfortable pushing it along.
Smaller size probably made it easier too.
Really felt this would be my preference as a replacement fr current car but... Ride very firm when riding typical countryside uneven roads. Could tire of this

Back into my 987.2S (with PASM)
obviously felt a little soft for the first few miles but on the other hand makes it feel very fluid by comparison to R

So now more confused than before! Don't really want a third boxster but perhaps should try 981. The roads I tried the R on may not have been the best so may need another go. Would also have liked to try 911in C2 form and if I can be convinced that it isn't going to bite unless I do something really dumb, then I think it might be first choice. Definitely want PSE though!