BEST SPEC FOR A BOXSTER PLEASE - Page 3 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

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I have a 2003 Boxster S build date week 50 on order. I went a little mad on the options list so its costing me over £45k but I think it was said somewhere else for resale you really need 3 things 1. Bigger wheels 2. Leather 3. Aircon Now for my money 1 and 2 are for show - many people say the ride quality on 17" wheels is superior on our crappy UK roads - the new Boxster S II wheels are a good compromise - i've gone for 18" carreras as i'm a masochist. However I won't buy another car without a/c after having a z3 without it back in 1997. In fact roadsters without a/c are worse than hard tops if you live in a climate like ours. Ventilation with the roof up in a roadster is usually far worse than in a tin top. So remember those humid summer days when its raining and you can't put the roof down or open a window - a soft top with no a/c is a nightmare. In addition winter or summer demisting is way superior if you have a/c as it not only cools or heats the air but also dehumidifies it. Also I haven't bothered with a hard top. I had one as standard with my 996 and never used it except when AFN made me come and pick it up ahead of their refurbishment when they had no space to store it. If you're worried about security then don't get a soft top. For me the joy of having a roadster is the ability to have the roof down as often as possible. If you don't enjoy that why are you going to live with the necessary compromises of owning an open top car? For me it doesn't matter if its December or July, if its not raining the roof is down. That's why for me heated seats are also high on my essentials list. Also the new soft top is even better than the old one with a heated glass rear window and very well insulated for noise and weather. If you don't like open top motoring and you want a Porsche for less money than you will spend on the lowliest spec Boxster (circa £30k) you can have a pretty good 993 coupe - air cooled, fantastic performance and bullet proof build quality. Anyway as they say "you pays your money you makes your choice" - afterall you're ordering in Speed Yellow so resale value is obviously not an issue to you.

Best spec for a Boxster: Fitted with TVR body,engine,interior, etc....

Oh and I just noticed you're going for tiptronic - dump the auto and the hard top and you save around £3500 - plenty for all the other toys you need.

I'm with Senator. A/C - vital. 18" rims look so good and leather - well it makes the car smell nice and as important for resale. If I were you I'd dump the Tiptronic (unless you have a bad leg/knee and need it) the saving will allow you to pick up lots of toys. The new model's clutch is much lighter and friendlier to use... On the new model YOU DO NOT NEED A HARDTOP. The glass rear window in the soft-top is just fine. If you like roof-off motoring (and why would you buy a Boxster if you don't...) then Heated Seats are really, really good. I had the roof down this morning (3 deg C) and was comfy.

Boxster S has climate standard - doesn't it ? Disagree with 18" wheels, but each to their own. They look good, but ruin the handling, IMHO. And I've driven all 3 iterations, before anyone asks.

Best spec : get a permanently fitted hard top, two small seats in the back and the engine pushed over to the rear... Now, THAT's a car!!

I must admit I thought they all came with climate, havent seen one without leather either?! As for the tiptronic, don't do it! When I lived in california I had one as a company car. Therefore I had little choice over the spec as they leased them. I was disapointed when I drove the car, it felt wrong. The gearchange was slow and eventually never even used the tiptronic function. But then mine was a 2000 spec, they may have made some improvements since then.

Tiptronic is fine if you want an automatic car and having had the last 996 with it I can say it is probably the best automatic gearbox i've ever used but it is an automatic and to my mind automatics don't suit sports cars. Also to be frank its ok in boxster S but it makes the 2.7 feel lively but not that rapid whereas the manual is.

A BOXSTER 2.7 DOESN'T HAVE LEATHER & A/C A BOXSTER S 3.2 DOES HAVE BOTH I NEED TIPTRONIC AS I HAVE A BAD LEFT KNEE AND CLUTCH WORK AGRIVATES IT

The Boxster S has partial leather - i.e. mainly the seats I think. Doesn't include leather door panels - which make a big difference in my view.

Get Air con, it's well worth it. Get a speaker upgrade, the originals are awful. Keep £200 in you procket to replace the equally poor head unit. I'm happy with the 17" wheels on mine, the 18s available at the time (2000) were all a bit maxpowerish. I'd leave the hard top for now. If you find you need it, you can always get one from the dealer later. I've got the half alcantara and half (fake?) leather seats, and they're well good enough. The one trouble with having full leather is it heats up more if left in the sun. You mentioned in another thread that you were considering 16" wheels. Get someone to give you a good hard slap. 16s just scream "IT'S ON FINANCE AND I'M STUGLING WITH THE PAYMENTS" Not having a garage isn't a problem from a wear point of view. It may be different from an insurance/damage view however. Edited to say it'll be very tricky to sell covered in yellow vomit err.. i mean paint. >> Edited by agent006 on Wednesday 20th November 19:10

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Going to Arlington Saturday to spec a Feb build car (2.7). The options I have definatly decided on are:- 1) Air Con 2) 18" Carrara Wheels 3) Cruise Control - Loads of cameras here!!!! 4) OCB 5) Heated Seats 6) BOSE & Wind Deflector 7) CD Storage 8) Tracker However, I can not decide between the following:- 1) Partial Leather with some Aluminium bits OR Sport Design Pack (Arlington say that this cheapens the look of the interior) OR full leather with sports seats (Black). 2) Basalt Black OR Midnight Blue I know that I have missed Litronics and Traction, but I am working to a budget of £39,000. Any words of advice on above would be appreciated.

Midnight Blue is the best colour. John Midnight Blue Boxster S

isnt a tracker std as thats what i was told at NEC on the stand it sound like £39000 is hard to keep to is cruise any good? on my old omega it didnt work at 30 mph isnt cd storage std fit aswell whats an On Computer Board !!! is the OBC use full as I want that aswell keep me posted

WHATS A TVR

You guys asking questions about the best spec for a Boxster should join the Porsche Club GB and enjoy sensible conversations with present owners. Nic and yes, I am the Club Boxster Register Secretary

I'd save your money on the BOSE thing. I have the Porsche sound pack upgrade and its perfectly good enough. I've never understood why anyone would bother with upgraded ICE when the point of the car is to get the roof off and enjoy the sound of the flat six - that's in car entertainment! The sports seats are great. "Full Leather" ( I have this ) is nice too. Covers the dash and doors...and the lid of the storage area at the rear of the squab. I didn't bother with the "Large Leather Pack" which positvely coats the interior of the car in leather and is very expensive...since the platics in the car are black anyway as standard this looks really good. I did get the gearstick in aluminium and leather - which works really well. I'd agree with your dealer and avoid putting too much alumninum in there. Here's a pic of mine to give you an idea. Interior Interior Side View >> Edited by Don on Thursday 21st November 08:11

LOL, but the rest of us enjoy conversation with all manner of Porschephiles. Asking for Boxster specs on a more general forum can be illuminating, even if the Boxster chaps/chapesses ultimately have more of a clue. PetrolTed discussed breaking this forum up into different model sections, but this forum has such a great mix of cars and banter that everyone decided to leave it how it is. I'm a member of PCGB and Rennlist, and quite like a wider audience than just my model group. Even if RSs are the only Porsches worth having

When they make my Boxster RS Turbo with 340bhp I'll join you in this opinion. In the meantime....

I'm looking forward to the Boxster RS Turbo, too Don That would be an awesome machine. We're a friendly bunch here. We *may* even talk to Cayenne owners. Before letting their tyres down and nicking their labrador >> Edited by domster on Thursday 21st November 10:24

Hey Domster. At £46k for a Cayenne "S" with 350bhp I think Porsche are onto a winner, especially when compared to the cost of equivalent SUVs (ML55, X5 4.6i etc). DAZ :duckingforcover: PS - when's the meccano kit turning up then? >> Edited by Dazren on Thursday 21st November 10:32

Yes. But could you eat a whole one. Sorry...but the old ones are the best...

Meccano prospects look interesting. Recce with Guy soon. Would be a shame to see the Red Baron go, tho'. Cayenne does look good value, and looks competent, despite its marketing-led heritage. It would be a toss up between that, X5, Touareg and new Range Rover, if I needed something like that. Cheers D

Well, the old ones are certainly the oldest... >> Edited by whatever on Thursday 21st November 12:40

Domster, Ok, fine for the sentiment, its good to get a wide variey of opinions, if you dont mind ignoring some. Re the RS being the only Porsche worth having, only party true. I had a 73' 2.7RS for 12 years and while enjoyed driving and racing what some say is the "best" ever Porsche, I much prefer my current 03 Boxster S. Of course, I would like more power - I had an order for an RS Boxster for several years before giving up, actually, I have just placed a deposit for a Boxster Turbo and have one for the new GT3, but on real world roads here in the UK, I am pretty pleased with the S Nic

Have you indeed. Excellent. Is this a deposit placed with AFN in the hopes that one day Porsche will make it or is it based on something you know....please do tell. I told the chap at AFN that if Porsche promise 340bhp in the morning he'll have my deposit that afternoon...

I had tongue firmly in cheek when I made the 'RS is the only Porsche worth having' comment Everyone here knows that I like Porsches of all denominations, but I'm more of a nutcase for lightweights than most

I thank you for all this RS banter and cayene stuff My wife wont have a porsche 4X4 so that will have to stay a TOYOTA 8 seater. That is why I am havin a BOXSTER my target price is £36000 so I can't have everything as much as i want to As to the comment 16s meen its on finance I better get 15s only jokin i'm gettin 17s but i am still doctoring the options list part leather ,tip box,bose speakers,A/C, OBC and its in"SPEED YELLOW" just for those who missed that bit

I was told: "Don't be afraid of YELLOW. Although there are many who would never have a yellow car...there's a group who simply wouldn't have anything else." So go for it, mate. Whatever spec you get...enjoy your car. And if you're in the S.E. and can get along to one of the PH meets then I'll look forward to making everyone think of smarties by parking my bright red one next to your yellow beastie. Enjoy....

I think they look great in yellow as well! Steve

AFN Guildford had a customers Boxster S,when I popped in yesterday, in Speed Yellow.......in my opinion it looks stunning! Steve

they are still few and far between most are silver but I like to be differant hence YELLOW

I've got a 2001 2.7, options: met (lapis) blue, wind def, cd, 17", partial leather. I've just put down a deposit for a march build and will probably keep the same spec. I really can't see the point in climate control at £1500, not in the UK, if it was manual aircon for £500 might be worth it as a demister. I might go for heated seats (although even typing this makes me feel a bit soft and southern). I've a keen interest in residual values so speed yellow is out for me, midnight blue looks stunning in the showrooms under halogen lighting but not so sure with a bit of muck on a cloudy day, Lapis vs midnight anyone? Someone commented 18" wheels screw up the handling , I'd read ultimately they grip more, but let go quickly, so harder to drive near the limit - so you need PSM at £700 - is this any good - should I get it? am I missing a must have !! mark

how have you got a march build so quickly i ordered mine in august and have to wait till june july 03. The popular opinion is to get A/C for resale values aswell as demisting. Is your car worth less now without A/C than one with Heated seats are just the job in winter so I'm told You should know if you need PSM as I'm told 2.7s don't need it Have you done a lot of miles in it and used it in the winter

>> Edited by sb930turbo on Saturday 30th November 22:15

Well I have the 18" rims and in my opinion they DO NOT stuff the handling - as yes I have driven 17" and 18" cars. PSM - This is not a lot of money for something that could save your life. IMHO I'd rather dump a cosmetic option and get the PSM. What sort of idiot will you feel as sitting in a field you stare at the wrecked full-leather interior? PSM has *never* got in the way of anything I've wanted to do with the car on the road. It is designed to step in if things really get out of hand..for example if you are in a tank slapper (as they say) it should be working overtime to sort it out for you. If you are playing on a track and don't want it you can switch it off. £700 well spent IMO. Yes...I drive a TVR which doesn't have ABS or Traction or Stability assistance and I haven't pranged that either but when its available why take the risk? My last car was Lapis blue. Its absolutely gorgeous. Should look even better with the clear lenses everywhere. In a choice between Lapis (metallic - £700) and a non-metallic colour but getting PSM - I'd get PSM! I got Guards Red on my new 'S' - but I didn't do it to stick to a budget..I just love Guards Red. I didn't have heated seats on my last Boxster. Got 'em on this one....why? Because I like having the roof off in winter..that's not being a soft southerner now is it? Climate. If you're interested in resale values I'd get this. I haven't seen a Boxster without it myself. Although I've really only been looking at 'S' cars on which it is standard .. so I could be mistaken. Ah well. You pays your money you takes your choice. Enjoy your car whatever...

Thanks for the opinions when I say "just", I put the deposit down about six weeks ago, AFN estimated a March build, I will check again with them, perhaps you were given a pessimistic date - my last car came 2 months before expected. Your waiting time ties in with I was told for the boxster S. My car will be worth less without aircon but I but I would expect this to be around a third of the £1800 it would have cost me. I use the car every day in the winter (top down as long as it's not raining), I haven't had much misting problem. Having driven the 2.7 for the last 18 months I don't think it really needs the PSM, whenever I've been beyond my driving ability it has still sorted itself out quite well (careful in first on wet roundabouts), But as mentioned - you only need it once, so it is still on my perhaps list. If I was doing a track day, previous experience would suggest me having it switched on. Colour - AFN told me they would currently pay top dolloar for blue black and silver, however said for a private sale people would be more willing to travel for rare colour if this was what they wanted, also he said they wouldn't want a car in the showroom without 17" wheels or leather seats. Thanks for the info on 18" but I think I'll stick with the 17", the tyres have more overhang so harder to kerb (I park on the street every day, bound to get it wrong a few times). Parking sensors - can I get ones that alert ANOTHER CAR parking next to me !

Don, I know it is a bit late now for you - but if I wanted aircon leather big wheels, and had a 39K budget - this is starting to sound like a boxster S, do you really need a bose sound system, the one noise next to my left ear sounds pretty good as it is. Boxster S (with 17"/leather/aircon) + metallic + tracker = about 39K - 40K if you want the 18" wheels. I'm guess a cheap "S" will hold it's value better than an expensive 2.7, but you pays you money........ I must admit I do to focus my attentions on a 2/3 year replacement, if you are planning on keeping it 5 years plus you should just buy what you fancy.

I can not change to an S but i now can't put my spec in now I have to wait till jan! so i can change my spec again

I would go for Traction control. I just wrote-off my new boxster (only owned it for two weeks) a couple of weeks back. Basically the back end came out and I span into a tree .... Ouch indeed !!!!!!!!

How did you manage to do that? Was it wet? You must have been givin it sum stick

Trying to stick to £34 k means tip box OBC heated seats wind def

I really wanted to like the Cayenne in the flesh, but when I picked up my TT from Zuffenhausen a few weeks ago, there were many sitting around. They are truly ugly cars, they look so dated it's quite unbelievable. I was seriously considering one until I saw it. I would advise anyone who has ordered one without seeing it, to beware!

Whats this got to do with a boxster

specs gone in tip s OBC cd storage heated seats

Excuse my ignorance chaps: OBC DAZ

OBC= On Board Computer.....as we have on 996 is option on Boxsters. All cars have it you pay for lever to get to see what is there...Some fit a switch after market to access it

Lots of things which are standard on a 996 are options on a Boxster - just as lots of things which are standard on a Boxster S are options on a Boxster. Oh the power of marketing!

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£34000 is all i I have for a budget I HAVE TO PUT MY SPEC TOGETHER FOR A NEW 2.7 TIP IN YELLOW BUT I DONT WANT TO HIPE THE PRICE WHERE DO I START HAS ANYONE GOT A CHEAP HARD TOP THIS IS MY FIRST PORSCHE SO ANY ADVICE PLEASE my target price is £34000 >>> Edited by mightydquinn on Saturday 14th December 20:56 >>> Edited by mightydquinn on Friday 3rd January 22:25