Boxter as a everyday car

[racingmule]

How practical is a Porsche Boxster (981) as an everyday city car? Most of my driving are short trips between 3-30 miles in London. Occasionally, I do long drives into the country.

I average about 10,000 -15,000 miles a year.

Thanks

Edited by racingmule on Thursday 17th December 20:54

[Stunters]

I'd say it would be absolutely fine. My 987.1 Cayman S is a daily driver and I've done 88,000 miles in it - in town, country, motorway and trackdays.

If anything the 981 cars are even more everyday-usable as they are quieter and better appointed, and not appreciably bigger or lower.

[delays]

My 987.2 Cayman is my only car.

Certain things to be aware of: lots of parallel parking/manoeuvring and you'd be best with parking sensors. Doors are long so ingress/egress in tight spaces can be a nause. Obviously only one passenger at a time, but the front and rear boots make it surprisingly capacious if you have the right kind of luggage.

Oh, and you're driving a Porsche every day, which never fails to put a smile on your face.

[racingmule]

Thanks for the replies How comfortable are the rides for very long journeys ? I've planned a couple of long road trips which are 500+ miles ? And how low does heavy city traffic fuel economy drop too ?

[wdpor]

Absolutely fine as an every day car. Plenty of room for luggage. I owned a Cayman S and Boxster S both for two and a half years each. I averaged over 12000 mile per annum. Both were my everyday rides. I am also a golfer and both had no problem carrying all of my kit. If mostly town driving PDK is better also parking sensors a great help. Highly recommended

[delays]

racingmule said:

Thanks for the replies How comfortable are the rides for very long journeys ? I've planned a couple of long road trips which are 500+ miles ? And how low does heavy city traffic fuel economy drop too ?

Seats are great and the 981 is usefully bigger than the 987, which, with a passenger can feel a bit... cosy on a long journey.

981s are geared long, so suit a cruise.

[Stunters]

The ride is somewhat dependent on whether you have PASM (improves the ride) and/or smaller wheels (improves the ride). My car is on 18"s and has PASM. It rides really nicely, taut like a drumskin but not overly firm and certainly not harsh.

I think you'd probably get about 15-20mpg crawling through town in a 981, and 30-35mpg on a longer run.

[neilf]

Stunters said:

The ride is somewhat dependent on whether you have PASM (improves the ride) and/or smaller wheels (improves the ride). My car is on 18"s and has PASM. It rides really nicely, taut like a drumskin but not overly firm and certainly not harsh.

I think you'd probably get about 15-20mpg crawling through town in a 981, and 30-35mpg on a longer run.

I agree. Ride is very subject to wheel size. The 981 I test drove before ordering mine was on 20" wheels. I also spec'd 20" wheels and the ride is perfectly fine for me. I then drove a 981 on 18" wheels at the PEC, it felt like a Rolls Royce!

[racingmule]

wdpor said:

Absolutely fine as an every day car. Plenty of room for luggage. I owned a Cayman S and Boxster S both for two and a half years each. I averaged over 12000 mile per annum. Both were my everyday rides. I am also a golfer and both had no problem carrying all of my kit. If mostly town driving PDK is better also parking sensors a great help. Highly recommended

How did the Boxter compare with the Cayman ?

Thanks for the replies. Seems like the Porsche would be both practical & fun

[bcr5784]

racingmule said:

How did the Boxter compare with the Cayman ?

Thanks for the replies. Seems like the Porsche would be both practical & fun

Yes. General consensus (backed up by test results) is that Boxster is just as refined as the Cayman. Cayman has a bit more luggage space, better visibility (Boxster hood up) but either is fine as a DD. If you are short (especially) as has been mentioned, access can be compromised by the large doors and more so by sports + or bucket seats.

[Rockster]

racingmule said:

How practical is a Porsche Boxster (981) as an everyday city car? Most of my driving are short trips between 3-30 miles in London. Occasionally, I do long drives into the country.

I average about 10,000 -15,000 miles a year.

Thanks

Edited by racingmule on Thursday 17th December 20:54

My 2002 Boxster -- with over 296K miles -- has been and still is a great everyday car. 'bout the only thing that gets me out of my Boxster is my 996 Turbo.

Boxster rides softer/quieter than the Turbo -- 17" wheels vs. 18" wheels and the Turbo has stiffer suspension. Boxster gets better gas mileage.

The Boxster is a bit smaller and thus easier to get into and out tight places. A bit lower and "harder" to get into and out of than the Turbo. That Boxster seat bottom is pretty close to the pavement.

The only negative is the view out the Turbo is a bit better. I never drive the Boxster with the top down. The Boxster works for long drives too. I've covered easy 4K to 5K miles to once 8K miles in a week or 9 or 10 driving. Lots of cargo space too.

Pretty quick too. I use a radar detector and a hand held CB radio out on the open road to watch for traffic enforcement "traps". Around town I just cool my jets.

[racingmule]

Rockster said:

I've covered easy 4K to 5K miles to once 8K miles in a week or 9 or 10 driving. Lots of cargo space too.

Pretty quick too. I use a radar detector and a hand held CB radio out on the open road to watch for traffic enforcement "traps". Around town I just cool my jets.

8k miles In a week ! Thats impressive. I'm getting sold on the Boxster,

[Mogul]

I have used mine more or less daily for 14 years. Never anything less than a pleasure whether on long hoons (750 miles in 24hrs was the record including 4 laps of the Nurburgring), Alpine touring or on the daily schlep (although it helps when you have access to a garage at both ends).

Rockster - 300k miles must be in sight now? Can you give us some more info on your recent repairs and maintenance burden?

I have done 110k miles (175k kms) in mine and do a fair bit of my own work but I'm about to get a specialist to look at a few niggles...

I have some judder in the transmission and suspect that it will be down to the engine mount(s). I had the front mount replaced 5 years ago but the feeling is slightly different this time (and worse). Perhaps all three mounts could do with being replaced this time and these are done, it should be good as new and I won't get a nasty surprise and find out that its clutch/flywheel related.

I also have a bad smell on cold start and suspect a vacuum leak somewhere, possibly oil filler tube.

I'm still on my original suspension which seems perfectly up to the job and the original clutch, which (engine mount judder aside), shows no slippage but I *think* I can sense that the friction plate material is not as thick as it once was as the feeling through the pedal is similar to the feeling you get from brake pads that are nearing end of life (less resilience).

[zed4]

My Cayman S is my daily, my TVR is my sunny weekend car. The Cayman is a nice car to drive every day, easy to drive, nice stereo, mod cons and usual luxuries found in any other modern car (and lacking in my TVR!). My only gripe is I find it a bit hard, both the seats and the suspension. But then again, the roads round my way aren't great!

[DJMC]

My 981 Cayman is a 15k DD.

I test drove a Boxster for a day and a bit before deciding which to get. Sideways over the shoulder glance vision was one of the main reasons I preferred the Cayman.

Others were the better overall "look" of the Cayman, and I'd had convertibles for 15 years so had "been there, done that".

I test drove five Boxster/Cayman all with standard suspension and found them crashy at low speed around town. Happened on a used one with PASM and it is superb even on 20" wheels.

[TB303]

racingmule said:

How practical is a Porsche Boxster (981) as an everyday city car? Most of my driving are short trips between 3-30 miles in London. Occasionally, I do long drives into the country.

I average about 10,000 -15,000 miles a year.

Thanks

Edited by racingmule on Thursday 17th December 20:54

Hi racing mule, I ran a manual 987S as my only car in London for 4 or so years and about 30k miles. I loved it, and it's amazing what you can get in the boots of these cars. I missed it when it went.

My car had PASM which probably softens the ride a touch, at the expense of disconnecting the driver a few percent from the experience compared to passive dampers. I would try both PASM and passive if you can, to see which you prefer.

The sports chassis on the 981 with passive dampers is amazing and the one to go for if you're a keen driver, but it may be a bit much for high miles depending on your tastes. I have a 981 Spyder which only comes with the X73 suspension and I love the feel.

The 981 is more refined than the 987 ever was so you'll be fine on long trips. Cracking cars.

[racingmule]

Rough idea on maintenance and servicing costs over three years ?

[tracydeedance]

I use my 981 Boxster everyday for work shopping fun and touring.
Tracy

[flow99]

my wife has had a Boxster S in all variants as a daily driver for last 15 years. Early days, she was doing 30k miles pa, but now doing only 3k miles pa. Always been very reliable and extremely cheap to run, so would have no hesitation in recommending one as a dd.

[truck71]

Ran a 981 daily for ten months and 24,000 miles. It works really well, into the 40's mpg on a run, spacious, blah blah. Only downside is tyre roar from the rears.