Aerokit for Boxster S - worth it?
Discussion
Hi All,
Looking to buy a Boxster S soon and was wondering what people think about the Aerokit option.
Does anyone have it and are they happy with it?
Is there much difference in handling or is it more cosmetic? Was also thinking of getting PSM and the lowered sports suspension.
But read in another forum that you have to be very careful of speed bumps if aerokit and sports suspension are added to a 911.
Looking to buy a Boxster S soon and was wondering what people think about the Aerokit option.
Does anyone have it and are they happy with it?
Is there much difference in handling or is it more cosmetic? Was also thinking of getting PSM and the lowered sports suspension.
But read in another forum that you have to be very careful of speed bumps if aerokit and sports suspension are added to a 911.
To be honest I wouldn't disturb the....erm......'lines' of the boxster with the aerokit, IMO it looks better as is than with the kit on.
And PSM
Already been said - you can turn it off when you want but handy if you do get out of shape for some reason when you really don't want to be out of shape.
And PSM
Already been said - you can turn it off when you want but handy if you do get out of shape for some reason when you really don't want to be out of shape.
John Prior said: I'd definitely recommend PSM. Could save your life one day, but you can deactivate it whenever you feel the need. I'm also looking forward to playing with it on and off at the Castle Coombe track day!
Which Combe day, John? I'm going to the one on the 19th...see you there?
IMO: Options worth the bother on an S:
PSM - no brainer
Full leather - resale value...and interior ambiance
Heated seats - godsend for winter roof down motoring
Gearstick and Handbrake in Leather/Aluminium - nice
Worth Considering:
18" wheels (do not combine with Sport Suspension)
Sports Suspension - (do not combine with 18" wheels)
Litronic Headlights
If you must have it for work:
PCM (Satnav and Phone)
Why would anyone?
Aerokit.
Speedster rear
All IMHO and beauty in the eye of the beholder etc etc
PSM - no brainer
Full leather - resale value...and interior ambiance
Heated seats - godsend for winter roof down motoring
Gearstick and Handbrake in Leather/Aluminium - nice
Worth Considering:
18" wheels (do not combine with Sport Suspension)
Sports Suspension - (do not combine with 18" wheels)
Litronic Headlights
If you must have it for work:
PCM (Satnav and Phone)
Why would anyone?
Aerokit.
Speedster rear
All IMHO and beauty in the eye of the beholder etc etc
Well, I'll dare to be different (no change there then)
In the 13 months that Emmas had her Boxster (sans PSM), not once has she got it out of shape. And she does drive it rather, er, enthusiastically!
When we were looking, the good Mr Hughes recommended PSM, but an ex work colleague who also has an S said it wasn't worth it.
Now I don't drive ours everyday but:
- with the plethora of safety devices already fitted as standard;
- the fact you can drive the car on the throttle
- respect is due in the rain anyway given the power going through the rear wheels;
is it *really* so necessary?
Discuss!
Greg
In the 13 months that Emmas had her Boxster (sans PSM), not once has she got it out of shape. And she does drive it rather, er, enthusiastically!
When we were looking, the good Mr Hughes recommended PSM, but an ex work colleague who also has an S said it wasn't worth it.
Now I don't drive ours everyday but:
- with the plethora of safety devices already fitted as standard;
- the fact you can drive the car on the throttle
- respect is due in the rain anyway given the power going through the rear wheels;
is it *really* so necessary?
Discuss!
Greg
PSM for what it costs is definitely worth it...Every thing I have read on the subject of PSM.
Those who don't have it say it is not worth it,but they have no experience of it in practice.
Those who have it think it is fantastic.
I specified it on my car as I thought it would help re-sale..After previous more raw Porsche I assumed I would turn it off every time I got in the car.
It has helped....note helped rather than saved me on a couple of occasions.It is a very good addition,you can learn the limits of the car & when you are close it gives you a nudge rather than totally shutting down the fun..If you want to explore beyond these limits then you can switch it off & play.
You will get the big talkers telling you about the purity of 911 lift off oversteer & what it is like to drive a Porsche other than a Cayenne offroad,but it is a genuine Performance aid which has more than exceeded my expectations.
Those who don't have it say it is not worth it,but they have no experience of it in practice.
Those who have it think it is fantastic.
I specified it on my car as I thought it would help re-sale..After previous more raw Porsche I assumed I would turn it off every time I got in the car.
It has helped....note helped rather than saved me on a couple of occasions.It is a very good addition,you can learn the limits of the car & when you are close it gives you a nudge rather than totally shutting down the fun..If you want to explore beyond these limits then you can switch it off & play.
You will get the big talkers telling you about the purity of 911 lift off oversteer & what it is like to drive a Porsche other than a Cayenne offroad,but it is a genuine Performance aid which has more than exceeded my expectations.
i agree with e240, its bad practice to depend on PSM as a safety net, its better to drive within your capabilities and the very high limits of the car.
besides with only 240bhp in a car weighing 1 3/4 tons, especially one with wide rear tyres and the engine on top of them it takes some doing to get it out of shape.
advice a porsche dealer buyer gave me was, avoid light grey or savanna interior, add a windbreak, metallic paint and a CD. As it already has air con and leather he said any more just means a bigger loss at resale time.
Bennno
>> Edited by bennno on Thursday 13th March 16:02
Benno mate....I agree it is not good practice to depend on PSM...but what I was trying to say in my post is that it can help you drive the car better...
No dis respect meant,,but it really is difficult to have an opinion on the system until you have done a fair few miles with it...
With the relatively huge tyres fitted to modern cars,it is very difficult to actually work out where the limits are....they grip & hold until they don't,...then you learn the limits & this may be an expensive lesson to learn..
Having said that and not wishing to get totally flamed,there are quite a few Boxsters driven which will never even attempt to find any limits,,,clearly not somebody enthusiastic enough to be on this forum.
>> Edited by clubsport on Thursday 13th March 16:15
No dis respect meant,,but it really is difficult to have an opinion on the system until you have done a fair few miles with it...
With the relatively huge tyres fitted to modern cars,it is very difficult to actually work out where the limits are....they grip & hold until they don't,...then you learn the limits & this may be an expensive lesson to learn..
Having said that and not wishing to get totally flamed,there are quite a few Boxsters driven which will never even attempt to find any limits,,,clearly not somebody enthusiastic enough to be on this forum.
>> Edited by clubsport on Thursday 13th March 16:15
Cheers for your views so far. I think most of you are right when you say the aerokit does spoil the lines of the Boxster, so having second thoughts about it. My original reason for rhis option was just to make my Boxster look that more exclusive, as there are quite a few of them about in Frankfurt (where I work). 
Currently my preferred German options (some of these might be standard on the UK spec):
Lapis Blue Metallic,
PSM (as I hired a Boxster S in England last year and managed to spin it 180 degrees after hitting some 'water' on the way back to the airport),
Climate control,
Heated seats (nice in my current SLK),
Sports suspension,
17" sport classic wheels - read somewhere the handling is not so good with 18",
Wind deflector,
Porsche sound package and CD autochanger,
Gearstick and Handbrake in Leather/Aluminium.
Considering (depending on budget):
Full Leather,
Sports seats (depending on comfort),
Litronic,
BOSE sound system (probably would prefer to listen to the engine),
On-board computer,
Cruise control.
I was considering ParkAssist but read it does not work so well and spoils the rear.
Currently my preferred German options (some of these might be standard on the UK spec):
Lapis Blue Metallic,
PSM (as I hired a Boxster S in England last year and managed to spin it 180 degrees after hitting some 'water' on the way back to the airport),
Climate control,
Heated seats (nice in my current SLK),
Sports suspension,
17" sport classic wheels - read somewhere the handling is not so good with 18",
Wind deflector,
Porsche sound package and CD autochanger,
Gearstick and Handbrake in Leather/Aluminium.
Considering (depending on budget): Full Leather,
Sports seats (depending on comfort),
Litronic,
BOSE sound system (probably would prefer to listen to the engine),
On-board computer,
Cruise control.
I was considering ParkAssist but read it does not work so well and spoils the rear.
sahota said:
Lapis Blue Metallic,
Lovely colour. My last one was Lapis...before I got all traditional and needed a red one.
PSM (as I hired a Boxster S in England last year and managed to spin it 180 degrees after hitting some 'water' on the way back to the airport),
Ouch! But a good choice IMO.
Climate control,
Standard on UK 'S' cars. Why anyone would have Air and not Climate I have no idea....
Heated seats (nice in my current SLK),
Wonderful for roof down winter motoring.
Sports suspension,
I have never bothered with this personally but since in Germany your roads are so much better this may be a good option. Here I prefer the extra compliance in the ride. I also have 18" wheels.
17" sport classic wheels - read somewhere the handling is not so good with 18",
I do not believe this to be true. And I have test driven both 17" and 18" rims. Apocryphally the 18" rims provide additional grip but coupled with a less progressive breakaway at the limit.
Wind deflector,
Yep. I cannot believe this isn't standard as I have seen only one car without it. You simply MUST have this for resale...and it does help too...
Porsche sound package and CD autochanger,
Its very good. I have this. Don't bother with the uprated stereo though. The sound quality is no better and its too complicated to use. I had it on my last one but opted for the simpler system coupled with the better speakers and amplifier of the Porsche sound pack.
Gearstick and Handbrake in Leather/Aluminium.
Good man..."lifts" the interior nicely I think. Again - I did not have this on my last one and opted for it on my newer car.
Full Leather,
If you can afford it. Get it. Helps resale and really is very nice indeed. Makes the car smell lovely too. If you go for a black interior the black full leather blends in beautifully (the ally gearstick looks great with it too.). If you go for a lighter leather you may want consider other options like the "Large Leather Pack" - which is blisteringly expensive - to get it all to match nicely...
Sports seats (depending on comfort),
I have these and they are BETTER than the standard seats for comfort. My wife, who has a bad back, prefers them. The sports seats are NOT the bucket seats with harness, mind. Personally I would not get bucket seats for road use as its hard to lean forward for a better view around a corner. The sports seats are a nice compromise with added lateral support for harder cornering on track - whilst still being a good "road" seat. The buckets, of course, are great on track...
Litronic,
I have this. They're nice. Are they essential....? Err...no.
BOSE sound system (probably would prefer to listen to the engine),
If you are a stereo buff get the full system upgrade to the "DSP" system - don't just settle for BOSE. Personally I just got the Porsche pack and left it at that.
On-board computer,
I have this. Its fun. I recommend it for resale value.
Cruise control.
I didn't get this as I could not conceive of an occasion when I would be able to use it in the UK's busy roads. However - I can see how it could be handy in the right environment. Will you really do long, long journeys in it though?
I was considering ParkAssist but read it does not work so well and spoils the rear.
Funny. I've heard it does work well. I have also heard that the sensors are butt-ugly. I haven't seen it on any cars myself...
Hope the above comments are useful....
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