New Boxster S (981)
Discussion
Just about to buy myself a new Boxster 981 - I've read through the long long thread on here which started before the cars were delivered and some interesting comments on there ...
In a nutshell...... what are the "essential" elements within the spec' which I should be going for ?
I've read a few reports/test drives on the car in "Evo" and "Car"magazines who both raved about the car ... interestingly both of the cars the magazines drove were manual and the "Evo" car had a sports exhaust, the writer suggesting that both of these were "essential components" of a "true drivers car" - I've been debating manual V PDK ( this car will probably replace my Lotus Elise Supercharged which is manual with a Larnini sports exhaust) so my thinking is a manual Boxster is pretty close but with a bit more comfort for driving down to Italy, I have an everyday Mercedes SL which I feel is more suited to automatic/paddle shift than a more out and out sports car and I'm fortunate enough to have a 911 ( 993 4S) again in manual, to get my 911 fix that way !
I'm told that manual cars have a lower residual value than a PDK - I don't care about that - I want one which is best to drive - just what to make sure I'm making the right decision with a manual Boxster and I'm not dismissing the PDK too quickly !
I've driven paddle shift Ferrari 458 - 430 and Mercedes SLS and "quite" enjoyed them however have always been pleased to get back into a manual car where I enjoyed being "part of the process" by actually changing gear and "being involved"
I appreciate the other requirements as in Sat/nav heated seats etc, my dilema is primarily Manual or PDK and do I need a sports exhaust ?
Any opinions welcome !!!
In a nutshell...... what are the "essential" elements within the spec' which I should be going for ?
I've read a few reports/test drives on the car in "Evo" and "Car"magazines who both raved about the car ... interestingly both of the cars the magazines drove were manual and the "Evo" car had a sports exhaust, the writer suggesting that both of these were "essential components" of a "true drivers car" - I've been debating manual V PDK ( this car will probably replace my Lotus Elise Supercharged which is manual with a Larnini sports exhaust) so my thinking is a manual Boxster is pretty close but with a bit more comfort for driving down to Italy, I have an everyday Mercedes SL which I feel is more suited to automatic/paddle shift than a more out and out sports car and I'm fortunate enough to have a 911 ( 993 4S) again in manual, to get my 911 fix that way !
I'm told that manual cars have a lower residual value than a PDK - I don't care about that - I want one which is best to drive - just what to make sure I'm making the right decision with a manual Boxster and I'm not dismissing the PDK too quickly !
I've driven paddle shift Ferrari 458 - 430 and Mercedes SLS and "quite" enjoyed them however have always been pleased to get back into a manual car where I enjoyed being "part of the process" by actually changing gear and "being involved"
I appreciate the other requirements as in Sat/nav heated seats etc, my dilema is primarily Manual or PDK and do I need a sports exhaust ?
Any opinions welcome !!!
Mine is a manual with pse and 19 inch wheels - the combo works great, didn't bother with pasm or other fancy suspension gizmos - the nav is pretty good as is the full auto aircon but the rest of my spec aren't that important, leather sports heated seats, cruise.
As has been stated the pse is great fun and brings a big smile every time I use it..
As has been stated the pse is great fun and brings a big smile every time I use it..
Mine is a manual with pse and 19 inch wheels - the combo works great, didn't bother with pasm or other fancy suspension gizmos - the nav is pretty good as is the full auto aircon but the rest of my spec aren't that important, leather sports heated seats, cruise.
As has been stated the pse is great fun and brings a big smile every time I use it..
As has been stated the pse is great fun and brings a big smile every time I use it..
Edited by huytonman on Tuesday 4th December 22:27
Leather interior is a must as teh cockpit is just a pleasure to sit in.
Sports exhaust I could not live without that is why I waited an extra few months for delivery (It sounds well and that has been said by a few Fezza owners aswell..
Heated seats - Its nice and cosy even in winter to have the top down and the heating on.
PASM as it is great to switch from comfort too outright stiffness.
PTV certainly puts the handling up another echelon.
All other options are very personal and if you can live without the gadgets then so be it - However I love the gadgets aswell.
The 981 S is an absolute fantastic car that if anyone knocks how it performs then they dont know what they are talking about - I went in for a 991s initially and then put my deposit down on the 981S and all the way up to the point of delivery as I had ordered before the car was released I was very nervous at the though of have I made the right choice - When the car turned up i was totally in awe of it - Why anyone would choose a 991 over the boxster is a no brainer unless a: they had to own a 911 for kudos reasons or as in my case b: they need the 4 seats .
1 thing you really need to spec is Sports exhaust PSE as it really is the business.
Good luck and happy speccing.
Sports exhaust I could not live without that is why I waited an extra few months for delivery (It sounds well and that has been said by a few Fezza owners aswell..
Heated seats - Its nice and cosy even in winter to have the top down and the heating on.
PASM as it is great to switch from comfort too outright stiffness.
PTV certainly puts the handling up another echelon.
All other options are very personal and if you can live without the gadgets then so be it - However I love the gadgets aswell.
The 981 S is an absolute fantastic car that if anyone knocks how it performs then they dont know what they are talking about - I went in for a 991s initially and then put my deposit down on the 981S and all the way up to the point of delivery as I had ordered before the car was released I was very nervous at the though of have I made the right choice - When the car turned up i was totally in awe of it - Why anyone would choose a 991 over the boxster is a no brainer unless a: they had to own a 911 for kudos reasons or as in my case b: they need the 4 seats .
1 thing you really need to spec is Sports exhaust PSE as it really is the business.
Good luck and happy speccing.
Oh forgot to mention is that is wickedly fast and I have PDK with the sports chrono - I still like to use the gear knob for shifting most of the time but in my opinion something as fast as this around the twisties the PDK lets you get the most out of the car as sometimes you find yourself holding on for dear life.
If you do go PDK tho - spec the sports design steering wheel as it has good flappy paddles that are very useable - the standard wheel with the buttons for auto shifting are absolutely bloody unuseable to change gears.
20" wheels with PASM rides sublime.
If you do go PDK tho - spec the sports design steering wheel as it has good flappy paddles that are very useable - the standard wheel with the buttons for auto shifting are absolutely bloody unuseable to change gears.
20" wheels with PASM rides sublime.
SonnyM said:
Oh and don't forget -20mm Sport Suspension is now available as an alternative to PASM, though I've not heard of a real life owner's review of it yet, as the press one suggests it could be too harsh for roads but doesn't give a lot of detail.
If it is the same as the 991 it is way too harsh for our UK roads - Unless you like the feel of speedboats on choppy watersAgree with most comments, mines an "S" and after a long test drive over many miles with PDK and all the gizzmos settled for manual with 19" wheels no PASM/SC but PSE essential. Don't bother with any sound system you'll never want it on! Park assist F&R is handy. Heated seats/climate just not necessary in an open top even in the winter.( I might be hardened by MG's in the 60's) put simply, the car is just BRILLIANT!
you'll get 10 different answers on whats "essential" from 10 different people, for me it was PDK, SD steering wheel, heated seats and PASM... i also added a load of other stuff £12k of options ouch - and that doesn't include the nav! could bring myself to pay £3k for a integrated Tom Tom 
PSE - depends on what the car is for,
weekend toy - no brainer
daily/mile muncher - poss too much??
Agree with all other comments, only thing not mentioned yet (and I know it's hardly essential) is how good the interior light option is. Makes the interior (mine's pebble/agate) look amazing at night with LED lights everywhere in the cockpit and well worth the small(ish) outlay.
weekend toy - no brainer
daily/mile muncher - poss too much??
Agree with all other comments, only thing not mentioned yet (and I know it's hardly essential) is how good the interior light option is. Makes the interior (mine's pebble/agate) look amazing at night with LED lights everywhere in the cockpit and well worth the small(ish) outlay.
breadvan said:
PSE - depends on what the car is for,
weekend toy - no brainer
daily/mile muncher - poss too much??
Agree with all other comments, only thing not mentioned yet (and I know it's hardly essential) is how good the interior light option is. Makes the interior (mine's pebble/agate) look amazing at night with LED lights everywhere in the cockpit and well worth the small(ish) outlay.
Plus it adds beautiful white lights under the door mirrors. weekend toy - no brainer
daily/mile muncher - poss too much??
Agree with all other comments, only thing not mentioned yet (and I know it's hardly essential) is how good the interior light option is. Makes the interior (mine's pebble/agate) look amazing at night with LED lights everywhere in the cockpit and well worth the small(ish) outlay.
Heated seats just slow a car down and you can always put an extra layer on if you're a Jesse.
Nav is good for the first year but history shows us that they are massively outclassed by after market nav systems after a while. Certainly inbuilt nav would never be part of the decision making criteria when I buy a car.
Decent wheels (subjective I know), Sports Suspension, Full Leather (doors, dash, etc) and PSE are about the only things I would bother to look for in a pre-used example.
That's just me though.
Nav is good for the first year but history shows us that they are massively outclassed by after market nav systems after a while. Certainly inbuilt nav would never be part of the decision making criteria when I buy a car.
Decent wheels (subjective I know), Sports Suspension, Full Leather (doors, dash, etc) and PSE are about the only things I would bother to look for in a pre-used example.
That's just me though.
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