981 Boxster S - Bingo
Discussion
Lucky to be on my third car as part of my Porsche ownership journey. Not even 12 hours in and it is truly excellent.
Previously, I've owned a 911 (early lightweight 996, 3.4 Manual Cable throttle) and I've just handed on my cayman (987.1 3.4 S Manual with some choice modifications).
I considered a few different things and saw a couple of nice 997 C4S PDK Coupes. One particular car had all sorts of fantastic options including PCCB, however the seller seemed somewhat reticent to actually answer any questions.
There were several Cayman 981 GTS cars that looked good, and then I found a 981 Boxster S with some fantastic options that - in my mind - made it unjustifiable to spend another 10k to get a 981 Boxster GTS. The car was at Ashgood - who incidentally were absolutely excellent. Really lovely set of cars there and everything felt very competitively priced. Initially dealt with Michael and then had Tim help me today. Both are clearly huge Porsche fans, which makes the whole experience feel great.
Summary of the spec is:
PDK
Sport Chrono (Sport Plus Mode)
Sport Design Steering Wheel
Power Steering Plus
20” Carrera Classic Wheels
Adaptive Sport Seats Plus (18 Way Electrically Adjustable)
Heated Seats
Porsche Crested Seats
Bose & PCM
Auto Dimming Interior and exterior mirrors with rain sensing & electrical folding
Front and Rear Park Assist
PDLS Lights
PASM (Active Suspension)
PADM (Dynamic Engine Mounts)
PSE (Porsche Sports Exhaust)
PTV+ (LSD)
I mainly went PDK as I've got a dodgy left knee that as it stands I'm not having surgery on, and it was spoiling my drives. I also wanted my wife to have a chance to be part of Porsche ownership, and all our other cars are autos.
First impressions? Its wildly different to the other two Porsche vehicles I've owned. Not better or worse really, just very (very) different. It feels far more capable, possibly, at the cost of needed less input from me. I imagine the two things are linked, but its no bad thing that it can float along quietly.... or press sport plus and everything gets turned up to 11 - the PSE is absolutely outrageous on over run.
So - first post complete - behold, my 981 Boxster S PDK, my first Soft top since my S2000 went 15 years ago. I'll get some better pictures and throw together a video on youtube in the next week or so.
Previously, I've owned a 911 (early lightweight 996, 3.4 Manual Cable throttle) and I've just handed on my cayman (987.1 3.4 S Manual with some choice modifications).
I considered a few different things and saw a couple of nice 997 C4S PDK Coupes. One particular car had all sorts of fantastic options including PCCB, however the seller seemed somewhat reticent to actually answer any questions.
There were several Cayman 981 GTS cars that looked good, and then I found a 981 Boxster S with some fantastic options that - in my mind - made it unjustifiable to spend another 10k to get a 981 Boxster GTS. The car was at Ashgood - who incidentally were absolutely excellent. Really lovely set of cars there and everything felt very competitively priced. Initially dealt with Michael and then had Tim help me today. Both are clearly huge Porsche fans, which makes the whole experience feel great.
Summary of the spec is:
PDK
Sport Chrono (Sport Plus Mode)
Sport Design Steering Wheel
Power Steering Plus
20” Carrera Classic Wheels
Adaptive Sport Seats Plus (18 Way Electrically Adjustable)
Heated Seats
Porsche Crested Seats
Bose & PCM
Auto Dimming Interior and exterior mirrors with rain sensing & electrical folding
Front and Rear Park Assist
PDLS Lights
PASM (Active Suspension)
PADM (Dynamic Engine Mounts)
PSE (Porsche Sports Exhaust)
PTV+ (LSD)
I mainly went PDK as I've got a dodgy left knee that as it stands I'm not having surgery on, and it was spoiling my drives. I also wanted my wife to have a chance to be part of Porsche ownership, and all our other cars are autos.
First impressions? Its wildly different to the other two Porsche vehicles I've owned. Not better or worse really, just very (very) different. It feels far more capable, possibly, at the cost of needed less input from me. I imagine the two things are linked, but its no bad thing that it can float along quietly.... or press sport plus and everything gets turned up to 11 - the PSE is absolutely outrageous on over run.
So - first post complete - behold, my 981 Boxster S PDK, my first Soft top since my S2000 went 15 years ago. I'll get some better pictures and throw together a video on youtube in the next week or so.
Looks a good options list. I follow ashgood on IG and am always surprised by some of their prices tbf, they always look very competitive and clearly like to just turnover cars rather than asking mental prices like some - seems to be the case as every week they advertise a huge list of new stock. Would love to buy from there one day.
Coldplaya said:
Looks a good options list. I follow ashgood on IG and am always surprised by some of their prices tbf, they always look very competitive and clearly like to just turnover cars rather than asking mental prices like some - seems to be the case as every week they advertise a huge list of new stock. Would love to buy from there one day.
Yes, I noticed this. Their part ex prices are unsurprisingly related (they offered me 5.5k less than another dealer offered me for my Cayman) Bright Halo said:
Very nice!
Got me looking at Ashgood now, very nice black 981 GTS……mmmmmmmm
Yes - and to me, this was the benchmark I was playing against. In my mind with the options I've got, a remap gives me the same outcome. Got me looking at Ashgood now, very nice black 981 GTS……mmmmmmmm
well, I'm a week into the 981 S, my thoughts:
- Ignore the madness about steering. Its absolutely fine. Sure, it has a different feel to the hydraulic setup in the 987, but mine feels fantastic, and that is with old Eagle F1s on the front and an unknown alignment. I'm rectifying both as soon as our house completes and I expect a step change in improvement.
- PASM is excellent. I will almost certainly fit the X74 springs and anti roll bars to this setup to sharpen it up a bit though at some point. I'll see how the alignment goes and review in the summer next year.
- PSE is a riot. Its obviously a bit fake, but it sounds glorious when thundering through a section of road that has got tree coverage. The 981 sounds a lot more... exotic... than the 987.1 M97 engines.
- PTV... can I feel the diff? I don't know yet, I've not pushed it hard enough. However, it feels *so much more* composed than my 987 did, and that was a very well maintained car.
- Power. I will definitely be doing the remap to remove the limitations of the standard map. The decision is do I just go map and BMC filters... or do I get 200 Cell cats too - 350 vs 370 bhp there. I think that will absolutely transform the car.
- PDK - excellent. With the sport design wheel it feels really involving. I'm not missing manual at all.
- Seats. I went from 14 way Hardback Sports Seats to the 18 way Sports Plus seats. They are incredibly comfortable and hold me really well. Definitely worth seeking these out.
- Brakes. I've gone from a GT3 Master Cylinder, Braided Hoses and posh fluid on my 987 to the stock setup on the 981. The feel is excellent. No dead zone at the top. I will probably do braided hoses when the next fluid change is due, and swap into some Brembo HP2000 pads.
The short version? the 981 S is an *excellent* car.
So about 700 miles into the car now, did my first proper drive in it today at a PCGB first Sunday of the month drive.
House exchange finally done and completion is next week - so once that is out of the way and things calm down I'll start doing a few things to the car.
Priority list for now will be.
- Replacing the front tyres for PS4S and an alignment
- Retrofit of cruise control at the local OPC.
- Something with the headunit to get carplay... I keep hearing rumours of a Porsche PCCM for the 981/991 generation, but nothing has been forthcoming.
I've already spoken to Genome Design about tuning as it seems rude to leave easy power on the table. I think I'll likely go for BMC air filters, their 200 Cell sports cat manifolds, and a remap. They can do a before and after dyno, which will be useful to see precisely what gains I've achieved.
House exchange finally done and completion is next week - so once that is out of the way and things calm down I'll start doing a few things to the car.
Priority list for now will be.
- Replacing the front tyres for PS4S and an alignment
- Retrofit of cruise control at the local OPC.
- Something with the headunit to get carplay... I keep hearing rumours of a Porsche PCCM for the 981/991 generation, but nothing has been forthcoming.
I've already spoken to Genome Design about tuning as it seems rude to leave easy power on the table. I think I'll likely go for BMC air filters, their 200 Cell sports cat manifolds, and a remap. They can do a before and after dyno, which will be useful to see precisely what gains I've achieved.
Be interested to hear more about the mapping. I have a Cayman 981 with filters, but standard PSE exhaust. I’ve no real interest in changing cats having a couple of issues with aftermarket sports cars before. What have Gnome quoted as uplift figures and any indication of what they are charging? I may drop them an email
the-norseman said:
very nice I had a very similar spec 981 Cayman S a few years ago my car was basically a GTS without the power, I then added race headers and COBB tune (Engine and PDK) to the car, it was amazing.
Hah, that is exactly what I need to hear. I think I'll go to Genome Design and get 200 Cell Sports Cats, BMC air filter and the engine and PDK tune.... I don't suppose you had yours on the dyno?
Done a youchoob video of the car. Will do a better one
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