Box 2.7 pdk. wtf?
Discussion
Ok, so I have happened upon the use of a 2014 2.7 Pdk Boxster, in silver with 20" wheels, for a few days. I should add that I don't get out much and my newest Porsche is 14.
I have driven a 986 in the past, and enjoyed it. I thought this latest poor man's Porsche - with the small engine - would be a pleasant enough steer, if a little underpowered and over wheeled. A trinket for those who want the badge and the roof. However, I appear to have picked the keys up to The Wrong Car.
Firstly very exotic to look at, and very pleasant to sit in - although I am not sure which of the 6 protuberances from behind the wheel to tug first..And then we are off. What the funk! Indeed..this is sharp, wonderfully growly, eager, exceptionally happy to shake its tail all over the place. So many revs, so fast, so snarly on the matched downshifts..and thats BEFORE I found the naughty buttons. I can't believe they make a mainstream car so aggressive..but the ride is fine and supple on the 20s. No cringing on the potholes like in my 6T. And although the shifts are perhaps a bit too easy, and although I consider myself a heel and toe titan…I could jolly well get used to this.
Gentlemen, is this what Boxsters have become? Some kind of mini CGT, howling, perfect riding, straining at its leash, techno-peach? Hell's teeth, yes please. Just the short matter of 50 grand. I consider myself well paid but who buys these cars new? And can I have some of your money to buy one for myself, please?
Come on in then, you naughty, naughty boy...
I have driven a 986 in the past, and enjoyed it. I thought this latest poor man's Porsche - with the small engine - would be a pleasant enough steer, if a little underpowered and over wheeled. A trinket for those who want the badge and the roof. However, I appear to have picked the keys up to The Wrong Car.
Firstly very exotic to look at, and very pleasant to sit in - although I am not sure which of the 6 protuberances from behind the wheel to tug first..And then we are off. What the funk! Indeed..this is sharp, wonderfully growly, eager, exceptionally happy to shake its tail all over the place. So many revs, so fast, so snarly on the matched downshifts..and thats BEFORE I found the naughty buttons. I can't believe they make a mainstream car so aggressive..but the ride is fine and supple on the 20s. No cringing on the potholes like in my 6T. And although the shifts are perhaps a bit too easy, and although I consider myself a heel and toe titan…I could jolly well get used to this.
Gentlemen, is this what Boxsters have become? Some kind of mini CGT, howling, perfect riding, straining at its leash, techno-peach? Hell's teeth, yes please. Just the short matter of 50 grand. I consider myself well paid but who buys these cars new? And can I have some of your money to buy one for myself, please?
Come on in then, you naughty, naughty boy...
Hmm, I think you have something..piling on the speed up through the gears (how many..?) does have the faintest whiff of the playstation about it. I didn't mind it matching the upshifts as much as I thought I would though. And in the cut and thrust of town it still made me feel like Steve Mcqueen.
Is the 2.7 better regarded than the 3.4 then? I could google it but my fingers are tired :-)
Is the 2.7 better regarded than the 3.4 then? I could google it but my fingers are tired :-)
Edited by Johnny G Pipe on Monday 15th December 20:40
I recently traded my 4 year old 987 2.9 for a new 2.7 PDK and I love it. It's ostensibly my wife's car but I take it on every opportunity. I make no apologies for liking the PDK, as I get older I quite like to leave it shift automatically when I'm not in a hurry and in any case I still have the Griff. Likewise my wife badly sprained her ankle last summer and could only drive the auto Volvo for many weeks so getting the PDK made sense.
As for the car itself, it's a step ahead from the 987 in every respect, looks, interior, quality and performance. Had it about 3 months now and the novelty's not worn off yet. Yes I could have selected the 3.4 but that would have defeated the point. We wanted a replacement for the 987 that will be used every day and enjoyed. Perhaps if I didn't have the TVR in the garage I would have done that.
p.s. you said wtf and yes when I first drove it and planted my foot down I thought, "Wow, baby Boxsters aren't meant to go and sound like this!"
In hindsight I love the fact that the gear shift will detect if you're driving it in lazy style or pushing hard changing at higher or lower revs accordingly, then of course you've get S mode too.
As for the car itself, it's a step ahead from the 987 in every respect, looks, interior, quality and performance. Had it about 3 months now and the novelty's not worn off yet. Yes I could have selected the 3.4 but that would have defeated the point. We wanted a replacement for the 987 that will be used every day and enjoyed. Perhaps if I didn't have the TVR in the garage I would have done that.
p.s. you said wtf and yes when I first drove it and planted my foot down I thought, "Wow, baby Boxsters aren't meant to go and sound like this!"
In hindsight I love the fact that the gear shift will detect if you're driving it in lazy style or pushing hard changing at higher or lower revs accordingly, then of course you've get S mode too.
Edited by RichB on Monday 15th December 23:20
Johnny G Pipe said:
981 Boxster Praise
Interesting read that, I had a 987 2.9 with PDK as a courtesy car a few years (5 now, god time flies!) ago and gave it mixed reviews: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=788...Interesting how I was quite negative about the PDK, but with hindsight those buttons really ruined it, paddles would have made a big difference. I think my appetite for power and a bit of luxury has probably increased somewhat, if I was to buy a Boxster it'd now be the GTS or bust. I'd be interested to try a 981 2.7 now to see how it compares to the Cayman GTS I drove the other week though and the 987 I mentioned before
Bit harsh, a Boxster or Cayman on the big wheels and sports suspension have concept car looks - they are impossibly low with a great stance. Unbelievable that they ride so well!
Other than the slightly naff steering, the new model is a big step up from the earlier ones. The new 911 is the same story; the issue is you would really pay a significant amount more for the 911 as the Boxster/Cayaman is so incredibly competent.
Other than the slightly naff steering, the new model is a big step up from the earlier ones. The new 911 is the same story; the issue is you would really pay a significant amount more for the 911 as the Boxster/Cayaman is so incredibly competent.
Still loving it. Still thinking about not giving it back, changing my name and leaving the country in the dead of night and living with it in a post modern house with lots of glass in Southern Spain.
I've no idea where I would use extra horses from a 3.4, although I think I am having such a laugh as there is no grip to be had anywhere in the UK currently.
Nothing wrong with looking like a Mark 2 Mister 2, all time design classic if you ask me. Shame they drove way worse than they looked..
Actually, in my OP I said CGT-like, but realise I meant 918-like. It is even an anagram of 981...
£750k vs £50k. Shurely shome mishtake.
I've no idea where I would use extra horses from a 3.4, although I think I am having such a laugh as there is no grip to be had anywhere in the UK currently.
Nothing wrong with looking like a Mark 2 Mister 2, all time design classic if you ask me. Shame they drove way worse than they looked..
Actually, in my OP I said CGT-like, but realise I meant 918-like. It is even an anagram of 981...
£750k vs £50k. Shurely shome mishtake.
Edited by Johnny G Pipe on Tuesday 16th December 17:02
hondansx said:
The issue is you would really pay a significant amount more for the 911 as the Boxster/Cayaman is so incredibly competent.
Nail, head. A Cayman GTS specced to how I like is ~£67k (~£65k for the Boxster GTS), a similarly optioned 991 S is over £100k (forget the GTS) and I even got a boggo non-S 991 to about £94k the other day as I had to throw so many interior options at it to make it look as good as a Boxster/Cayman GTS. That's £27k for basically 2 half size seats and 10bhp more....madness.I was chatting to my mechanic the other day and basically he thinks that they're trying to make the 911 a rarer premium product as they've got too common over recent years, and I can see where he's coming from with it.
Mario149 said:
... £27k for basically 2 half size seats and 10bhp more....madness.
Indeed, I had the use of a 911 Carrera PDK for a week before selecting the Boxster. For our use we don't need the rear seats but like the rear boot. So, not only better value but also more practical/suited to our needs. If only I could get over thinking I've got an MR2 parked on my drive
Appreciate the 918 is of course uber exotic in real life, yes yes. But still..you can get a whole boxster specced to the hilt plus change, for the price of a weissach package alone!
At heart though I'm still loving the '911 thing' like I always have. Who knows what it is, 911s just are so 'right', all of em. Curious isnt it. Maybe I'd hate a 991 if I drove one, hope not. Would be great if they tried to maintain some specialness for the ole' 911, if entry level is as fab as this here 981.
Also I need the back seats most days, although both kids were quite happy on the boxsters passenger seat on the (short) journey to school this morning. (Sorry, plod).
At heart though I'm still loving the '911 thing' like I always have. Who knows what it is, 911s just are so 'right', all of em. Curious isnt it. Maybe I'd hate a 991 if I drove one, hope not. Would be great if they tried to maintain some specialness for the ole' 911, if entry level is as fab as this here 981.
Also I need the back seats most days, although both kids were quite happy on the boxsters passenger seat on the (short) journey to school this morning. (Sorry, plod).
anonymous said:
[redacted]
It's funny, my 987 Boxster looked wide and low from behind, yet my Cayman 987 always looked taller and less attractive. It has really been sorted with the 981...both Boxster and Cayman look so much wider and lower on the road, especially when you see them approaching from the front.Obviously looks and what is and isn't 'Porsche like' are purely down to opinion, which I of course respect. The picture used to compare the 981 to 987 confirms in my eyes the opinion that the 981 'looks' to sit lower and wider!! Just goes to show we all view things differently!!
My take...the Porsche 981 Boxster and Cayman are the best looking Porsches in the current range....though pretty much the same size as the 987's, they look much more of an exotic sports car (as opposed to leaning the other way towards MX5/Z4)....the fact they're amazing value is the icing on the cake!
My take...the Porsche 981 Boxster and Cayman are the best looking Porsches in the current range....though pretty much the same size as the 987's, they look much more of an exotic sports car (as opposed to leaning the other way towards MX5/Z4)....the fact they're amazing value is the icing on the cake!
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