SLK55 to 981 Boxster S?
Discussion
Has anyone changed from an SLK 55 to a Boxster S PDK and if so, are you pleased with the move?
I'm a bit concerned that after two '55s I'm going to miss the torque and power of the V8 (426 bhp) and find the Boxster a tad gutless in comparison.
I realise that the handling and roadholding of the Boxster will be like night and day in comparison with the SLK and thats the real appeal but will it be enough?
I know the obvious answer is go and try one but its a 150mile round trip for me to the nearest Porsche dealer, so I'd be interested in others experiences.
Russ
I'm a bit concerned that after two '55s I'm going to miss the torque and power of the V8 (426 bhp) and find the Boxster a tad gutless in comparison.
I realise that the handling and roadholding of the Boxster will be like night and day in comparison with the SLK and thats the real appeal but will it be enough?
I know the obvious answer is go and try one but its a 150mile round trip for me to the nearest Porsche dealer, so I'd be interested in others experiences.
Russ
It’s no substitute for an opinion from an SLK55 owner but for what it’s worth...
I had a friend with an SLK55, and found it was a pretty good match for my 996 turbo in a straight drag. I also owned a Westfield Seight and AMG C43 before that (so I like a V8). I swapped to a 981 GTS (340BHP) and haven’t looked back once yet, it’s got just enough power/torque not to think about it/crave more (unlike non-S 981s I’ve driven and my 350Z, with 280BHP). It also sounds as good as a V8 to my ears, as it’s better at high revs. Plus, it’s SUCH great fun, and a special place to be. Definitely worth a drive to try one I reckon.
I had a friend with an SLK55, and found it was a pretty good match for my 996 turbo in a straight drag. I also owned a Westfield Seight and AMG C43 before that (so I like a V8). I swapped to a 981 GTS (340BHP) and haven’t looked back once yet, it’s got just enough power/torque not to think about it/crave more (unlike non-S 981s I’ve driven and my 350Z, with 280BHP). It also sounds as good as a V8 to my ears, as it’s better at high revs. Plus, it’s SUCH great fun, and a special place to be. Definitely worth a drive to try one I reckon.
Edited by bo duke on Monday 26th March 21:50
Edited by bo duke on Monday 26th March 21:51
I went from an SLK55 (the latest model) to a 981 Boxster gts.
I was worried about the drop in power (420 down to 330) but it really doesn’t feel any slower, it’s a lighter car.
I did miss the torque though, you have to work the Porsche engine a lot more, but PDK is 1million percentage better than the merc auto, I found with that I could make a cup of tea in between pulling the paddle to it changing gear.
The Boxster imo sounds better too, but it is a gts, so is louder and has more pops and bangs than an S. Not sure I’d have felt the same going for an S, can’t you stretch to a GTS?
The handling is on another level too!
No regrets, but I am just about to take delivery of a 991.2 911 GTS and I’m looking forward to getting all that torque back....
I was worried about the drop in power (420 down to 330) but it really doesn’t feel any slower, it’s a lighter car.
I did miss the torque though, you have to work the Porsche engine a lot more, but PDK is 1million percentage better than the merc auto, I found with that I could make a cup of tea in between pulling the paddle to it changing gear.
The Boxster imo sounds better too, but it is a gts, so is louder and has more pops and bangs than an S. Not sure I’d have felt the same going for an S, can’t you stretch to a GTS?
The handling is on another level too!
No regrets, but I am just about to take delivery of a 991.2 911 GTS and I’m looking forward to getting all that torque back....
We had 2 Kleeman SLK55s ( 600 brake ). They were obviously mental, but if you value things like responsive steering and a car for twisty roads, the Porsche is better. They are obviously shorter on torque, but in my experience the rewards are generally better, and revving them is where the fun's at. I've had 3 Boxsters, my mate has my old 2010 3.4 PDK, it's a quick and capable car and he's very taken with it. I now run an older 3.2S from 2005, so about the same era as when the first of our Mercs was from originally, I've kept it much longer than I expected, it's really grown on me.
Maybe a modified SLK55 is just too much of a good thing...........our first one was standard initially, it was bloody quick even then. I remember them being very reliable, even when modified.
Maybe a modified SLK55 is just too much of a good thing...........our first one was standard initially, it was bloody quick even then. I remember them being very reliable, even when modified.
There are essentially two types of sports car, "power" cars and "chassis" cars. You are driving one type and looking at the other type. They will be very different so you need to make up your mind which type you prefer and the only way to do that is by having a drive.
For what it's worth PDK does an impressive job of utilising the available power. It shuffles 7 gears very effectively to stay right in the power band.
981 is a sublime drive.
For what it's worth PDK does an impressive job of utilising the available power. It shuffles 7 gears very effectively to stay right in the power band.
981 is a sublime drive.
I test drove the SLK55 (latest shape), R8 and V8V before buying my 997 4S. Didn't think there was much in it power wise to be honest, none of them are 'fast' in today's terms, they're 'quick'. Mod for mod you'll never get a Boxster sounding as good as a V8 but that doesn't mean you can't get one to sound great with an aftermarket exhaust
I went from an SLK55 to pdk Boxster S (via a 997)
The SLK was a brilliant car in so many ways - Bags of grunt, beautiful sound and one of the best open top cars for top down driving in cold weather thanks to the airscarf heated headrests and lack of draughts at speed. For european road trips it ate up the high speed miles and was relaxing to drive if you hit heavy traffic.
The only drawback was on the slower speed twisty stuff the car lacked the handling and feel of say a Porsche or a Lotus and felt a liitle bit dead and playstationish to drive with little steering feel or feedback.
The trouble is on a road trip to Spain with two other friends in Porsches, I realised that whilst the SLK was massively capable car i felt I was missing that feeling of the car being alive in your hands and changed the SLK for a 997.
Eventually I went out in a pdk Boxster S and this appeared to me to be a better car than a 911 so I bought one. My thread on why is here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=88...
That was in 2010 and I've had the Boxster S ever since. Hanging on to it as a future classic as the later Boxsters with electric steering and 4 cylinder engines don't do it for me no matter how pretty they look.
The SLK was a brilliant car in so many ways - Bags of grunt, beautiful sound and one of the best open top cars for top down driving in cold weather thanks to the airscarf heated headrests and lack of draughts at speed. For european road trips it ate up the high speed miles and was relaxing to drive if you hit heavy traffic.
The only drawback was on the slower speed twisty stuff the car lacked the handling and feel of say a Porsche or a Lotus and felt a liitle bit dead and playstationish to drive with little steering feel or feedback.
The trouble is on a road trip to Spain with two other friends in Porsches, I realised that whilst the SLK was massively capable car i felt I was missing that feeling of the car being alive in your hands and changed the SLK for a 997.
Eventually I went out in a pdk Boxster S and this appeared to me to be a better car than a 911 so I bought one. My thread on why is here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=88...
That was in 2010 and I've had the Boxster S ever since. Hanging on to it as a future classic as the later Boxsters with electric steering and 4 cylinder engines don't do it for me no matter how pretty they look.
rockin said:
There are essentially two types of sports car, "power" cars and "chassis" cars. You are driving one type and looking at the other type. They will be very different so you need to make up your mind which type you prefer and the only way to do that is by having a drive.
For what it's worth PDK does an impressive job of utilising the available power. It shuffles 7 gears very effectively to stay right in the power band.
981 is a sublime drive.
I prefer my 981 2.7 PDK Cayman to my Aston DB7, another "power" car but with an awful chassis. After the Aston I went back to BMW and then test drove an SLK before buying (mistake) an E350 cab. The SLK seemed too much of a girlie car, and the boot had a roof in it! The 981 Boxster seems a little more unisex and I would have considered one were I not fed up after 15 years of convertibles "ordering" me to have the roof down on blisteringly hot days where my head would go red and blister (I will NOT wear a stupid cap!).For what it's worth PDK does an impressive job of utilising the available power. It shuffles 7 gears very effectively to stay right in the power band.
981 is a sublime drive.
Plus, as Clarkson (who had an SLK55AMG iirc) said, you have to be under 27 to drive a convertible if you're male. Anyway, if you HAVE to go topless, get the 981S.
Pinball said:
Only SLK I've driven was a pedestrian 250, so my thoughts are worthless on that compared to the Porsche. Worth bearing in mind that the 718 has more torque and power than a 981. Not sure which one you're considering, though.
There's a clue in the thread title.Edited by Pinball on Tuesday 27th March 18:22
Pinball said:
Only SLK I've driven was a pedestrian 250, so my thoughts are worthless on that compared to the Porsche. Worth bearing in mind that the 718 has more torque and power than a 981. Not sure which one you're considering, though.
The 718 engine noise is a deal-breaker, sadly. Otherwise, a great car which makes it all the more tragic.Edited by Pinball on Tuesday 27th March 18:22
Thanks all for the interesting comments.
They largely confirm what I thought - I'll have to get used to exploring the rev range rather than relying on torque.
I guess the 718 power delivery is probably more akin to the '55 but I'm not sure I could put up with the flat four racket.
Next step is a call to the dealers to see if I can get an extended test drive and hear the bad news about how little my car is worth in part exchange.
Amazing how all those expensive options are valued at nothing when you are selling but yet seem to justify higher prices when buying!
Russ
They largely confirm what I thought - I'll have to get used to exploring the rev range rather than relying on torque.
I guess the 718 power delivery is probably more akin to the '55 but I'm not sure I could put up with the flat four racket.
Next step is a call to the dealers to see if I can get an extended test drive and hear the bad news about how little my car is worth in part exchange.
Amazing how all those expensive options are valued at nothing when you are selling but yet seem to justify higher prices when buying!
Russ
Hi Russ, I left behind an R171 SLK55 AMG in Canada, and I still miss that engine and the roof. I very nearly got another one when I came back to the UK. However, I concur with all the comments on this thread, and have no regrets about getting my 981 Boxster S. It feels somehow a little bit more special than the R171, and the drive is night and day. In an ideal world I'd have both but having had to pick one over the other, I still think I made the right choice! Good luck!
Edited by spooooook on Wednesday 28th March 21:11
Gassing Station | Boxster/Cayman | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff