Hi - new member soon to be Boxster owner - Page 3 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Hello everyone, my first post here - have lurked for a few months though! I am very very excited - never owned a Porsche before and now after retirement I can afford a Boxster, was looking at ex demo and nearly new but by carefully choosing options it wasn't that much more (using man maths!) to go for a new one. Order placed for October build, have until late August before lockdown. Thought I would post my spec for you to see what you think - please bear in mind I'm not after a track tool, just a fast roadster which my wife and I will drive as a second car for trips out and short breaks around the UK. I deliberately tried to keep the price under £60k and at the same time have as many comfort/convenience options as possible. Boxster S Guards Red Black top Black leather interior Sports seats (2 way electric) Roll over bars in body colour PDLS with dynamic high beam Park Assist F + R Electric folding mirrors Exterior package painted (body colour) PDK gearbox Power Steering Plus 19" Boxster S wheels (in standard colour) Full Colour wheel caps Seat heating Cruise control Auto Climate control Light Design package Auto dimming mirrors with rain sensor Guards red seat belts Sport Design Steering wheel Porsche Crest on headrests Mobile phone preparation Bose surround sound Digital radio PCM including Navigation module I'm hoping for some advice please - I'm sure there will be lots of differing opinions, but here goes: Sports Exhaust - is it really worth the £1500 they charge for it? I have driven a demo car with it and (to me at least) the exhaust was boomy at cruising speed 60-70. It did sound good when revved but I'm no boy racer (just turned 60) and wonder what you all think. Active Suspension (PASM) - I decided to stick with 19" wheels so is this any benefit for road use? It's difficult to decide on a test drive on roads you don't know, so again anyone with personal experience of this what do you think? Other views on my spec are welcome as I'm open to suggestions, I'm already at my budget of £60k but am prepared to add/remove things and if the price goes up a little I can cope with that. Thanks Gordon.

Congratulations on your purchase. Looks like a great car, but I can't help you with your queries unfortunately? Do you have the option of extended leather? Some on here wouldn't consider a car without it. It may be standard on the 981, I'm not sure as I've just got an old poverty spec 987.

Congrats and love the spec. I would add the Sports Exhaust, as I love the growl of it on my Cayman. If you are using the paddle shift on the motorway, you will hear the benefits very quickly, but even on slower roads, it makes a great sound when pulling away or speeding up. I had to wait a while for the right ex-demo/lightly used model to come along, it's more easy to get this on an S model than a non-S model (I got an S in the end).

Hi and welcome to the forum. I love the spec you are going for - Guards with black is one of my favourites and particularly suits the 981 imo. I personally would go for the PSE as it is something that you can use as the mood dictates.

Thanks for the replies There is an extended leather option, but it's confusing exactly what you get with it - the cost is £700 approx., the Leather Interior I have chose includes dashboard upper and lower, glovebox, door panels, centre console sides, seats and seat sides etc. I will be going back to the OPC before lockdown so will check it out but tbh I think what I have is enough. Two votes for the PSE - I will have another listen to this (as I said I didn't like it at cruise speed think it was switched off), but at £1500 if I added it something would have to go, and there is nothing in the options I would be happy dropping. Is there anyone out there who doesn't like it or is it unanimous? I'm also looking at PASM as it suggests the ride is better with it - does anyone with 19" wheels have first hand knowledge of this?

If you are an Android phone user I would choose the telephone module over the BT prep; if you are an Iphone user then there is no difference but for the extra £100 I would spec the proper Bluetooth kit.

Krobar said: If you are an Android phone user I would choose the telephone module over the BT prep; if you are an Iphone user then there is no difference but for the extra £100 I would spec the proper Bluetooth kit. Thanks, iPhone at the moment, but one thing I don't know is will it pair up to two phones at once? On our BMW my phone is the default, but wifes is also paired and if a call comes in the car will answer it.

Gorsh said: Thanks for the replies There is an extended leather option, but it's confusing exactly what you get with it - the cost is £700 approx., the Leather Interior I have chose includes dashboard upper and lower, glovebox, door panels, centre console sides, seats and seat sides etc. I will be going back to the OPC before lockdown so will check it out but tbh I think what I have is enough. Two votes for the PSE - I will have another listen to this (as I said I didn't like it at cruise speed think it was switched off), but at £1500 if I added it something would have to go, and there is nothing in the options I would be happy dropping. Is there anyone out there who doesn't like it or is it unanimous? I'm also looking at PASM as it suggests the ride is better with it - does anyone with 19" wheels have first hand knowledge of this? Personally hate PSE - too Jeremy Clarkson for me, and pouring petrol down the exhaust to make said noises offends my technical sensibilities - but I know I'm in a minority, though certainly not alone, on this forum. The drone at motorway cruising speeds has been mentioned on this forum before - it's certainly not an issue with the standard exhaust and PDK gearing. Re PASM - I have it with 19" wheels and think it and they offer the best compromise between ride, handling and noise. In sport mode it's still gives a good ride on decent roads and taut handling, and in normal gives an outstanding ride for a sporty car with good handling under most conditions. Road noise on course surfaces is still a problem with 19" wheels - but is worse on 20s. Much less of a problem on continental roads, but easily the loudest noise on some course UK motorways. Re Bose - see recent Bose vs SPP thread. General consensus is that Bose is pretty naff and though changing the default settings and stuff the sub port improves matters, it still isn't that good (I think it's dreadful value on my Cayman). Whether you would be just as happy (or unhappy) with SPP is something you would have to listen to yourself. And even if as (I assume) you are a non-smoker, the smoker package is worth specifying - it replaces the useless open tray with a lidded box and an extra power socket - and it's FREE!

Gorsh said: PSE - I will have another listen to this (as I said I didn't like it at cruise speed think it was switched off), but at £1500 if I added it something would have to go, and there is nothing in the options I would be happy dropping. I wouldn't say I dislike PSE at all, but I think people who drive down the high street with a loud exhaust look equally daft whether driving a Lambo or a Corsa. When I stick my foot on the throttle I find the noise from the standard exhaust quite sufficient!

bcr5784 said: Personally hate PSE - too Jeremy Clarkson for me, and pouring petrol down the exhaust to make said noises offends my technical sensibilities - but I know I'm in a minority, though certainly not alone, on this forum. The drone at motorway cruising speeds has been mentioned on this forum before - it's certainly not an issue with the standard exhaust and PDK gearing. Re PASM - I have it with 19" wheels and think it and they offer the best compromise between ride, handling and noise. In sport mode it's still gives a good ride on decent roads and taut handling, and in normal gives an outstanding ride for a sporty car with good handling under most conditions. Road noise on course surfaces is still a problem with 19" wheels - but is worse on 20s. Much less of a problem on continental roads, but easily the loudest noise on some course UK motorways. Re Bose - see recent Bose vs SPP thread. General consensus is that Bose is pretty naff and though changing the default settings and stuff the sub port improves matters, it still isn't that good (I think it's dreadful value on my Cayman). Whether you would be just as happy (or unhappy) with SPP is something you would have to listen to yourself. And even if as (I assume) you are a non-smoker, the smoker package is worth specifying - it replaces the useless open tray with a lidded box and an extra power socket - and it's FREE! Thanks very much for your post. I certainly didn't like the PSE on the 'S' I test drove, yes it sounded good on full power but at cruise it boomed badly with the roof up and that put me off, I think it was switched off at the time too. So many here seem to love it I wonder if I have sensitive ears! It's expensive at £1500 too, so it's unlikely I will spec it. After a while if I want to add it the aftermarket OEM one is available. The PASM sounds good, the balance of decent ride and good handling will always be appreciated so worth the money. I need to listen to Bose and SPP, the difference is about £400, I don't mind paying that if it's better as will likely have the car for a good few years. Gordon. Had already decided on the SP, we don't smoke but the lid on the little tray looks better and is more useful, plus the bonus of power there.

Ozzie Osmond said: I wouldn't say I dislike PSE at all, but I think people who drive down the high street with a loud exhaust look equally daft whether driving a Lambo or a Corsa. When I stick my foot on the throttle I find the noise from the standard exhaust quite sufficient! Thanks for that - adds to my own view that I'm better off without it (literally!), if I change my mind later not the end of the world as it can be fitted by an OPC.

Re PASM. I've owned 2 987 Boxsters, both on 19" one without PASM, next one with it. Had both for 2 years. On the one hand you can feel it makes a difference on the other I think the non-PASM was so good anyway that I'm not sure it's vital. I appreciate you'll be getting into a 981 but I think the difference in feel between passive and adaptive will be similar

Firstly congrats on your new car, you will love it when you get it. On PSE, I would probably go for it as I would like to have some increased noise if required. PASM - I once ordered a 987 Boxster S from new and tried both passive and PASM setups. I found the latter more comfortable in normal mode and liked the option to stiffen things when required so this is what I chose with 19" wheels. I am not sure I would go with the Power Steering Plus. I drove a 991 with it and was not convinced there was any reason to order it over the standard steering. Whatever you go for I wish you many miles of happiness in it.

bcr5784 said: Personally hate PSE - too Jeremy Clarkson for me, and pouring petrol down the exhaust to make said noises offends my technical sensibilities - but I know I'm in a minority, though certainly not alone, on this forum. The drone at motorway cruising speeds has been mentioned on this forum before - it's certainly not an issue with the standard exhaust and PDK gearing. Re PASM - I have it with 19" wheels and think it and they offer the best compromise between ride, handling and noise. In sport mode it's still gives a good ride on decent roads and taut handling, and in normal gives an outstanding ride for a sporty car with good handling under most conditions. Road noise on course surfaces is still a problem with 19" wheels - but is worse on 20s. Much less of a problem on continental roads, but easily the loudest noise on some course UK motorways. Re Bose - see recent Bose vs SPP thread. General consensus is that Bose is pretty naff and though changing the default settings and stuff the sub port improves matters, it still isn't that good (I think it's dreadful value on my Cayman). Whether you would be just as happy (or unhappy) with SPP is something you would have to listen to yourself. And even if as (I assume) you are a non-smoker, the smoker package is worth specifying - it replaces the useless open tray with a lidded box and an extra power socket - and it's FREE! I'd echo much of the above. I have a 981 Cayman S manual with PSE, PASM and 19" wheels. I'd say if you're likely to never use the harder damper setting with PASM it might just be worth sticking with the standard passive dampers. I've driven a Cayman with passive dampers and 20" wheels and aside from the tyre roar from a ride/handling perspective it was an good compromise on our terribly surfaced UK roads (particularly around my way in Herts). PSE - when activated it is quite loud. If you don't like the attention then do without it e.g. I turn it off through town centres and so on as it can be a bit "look at me" loud, particularly if you have Sports Chrono activated with associated throttle blips! It does get boomy at motorway speeds but I've never seen the point of activating it when cruising on the motorway on light throttle openings anyway - but each to their own. You really need to test one for yourself as it's quite a personal thing I think. My 65 year old father borrowed the car for a week and he loved PSE which surprised me! I would also add that having spent a morning thrashing a boggo Cayman 2.7 without PSE at the Porsche Experience Centre, it was a perfectly adequate set up (standard dampers, no PSE) and plenty loud enough to enjoy the engine note particularly when revved up to the red line. Bose - I have this option but my main issue is the inadequacy of the speakers rather than the head unit. I could probably live with SPP.

Happy days Gorsh, it's great fun to get to spec your car from the factory and what a lovely car to enjoy for your retirement. I'd ask your dealer for an invitation to the Porsche Experience Centre before you have to finalise your spec. That way you can go and try out a few things back to back and see how you like them. They usually have a few cars there with the different options to try out. All part of the fun of the process. For £60k have you considered a GTS? They start at £54k before options. Not sure what availability is like, you might have to wait a bit longer for one. Did you know there is a new Boxster out next year? They are shifting to smaller turbo engines which is likely to be a big change but worth bearing in mind.

Thanks for all the posts since my last reply. First - it's O/T but I find this forum annoying as when I'm typing a reply I can't scroll to remind myself what others have said - I have to open it on two tabs and switch between them, is there anything in settings that changes this? PASM, PSE and Bose seem to be the three things that I'm a bit stuck on. There are lots of opinions as to their merits or otherwise and in the end I have to decide what I want so I will be checking all three out at the OPC before lockdown, my present feeling is I will get Bose - it's probably just about worth the £400 extra over SPP and I'd be surprised if a session experimenting with settings doesn't get a sound I would be happy with - systems like these are rarely best left at default. PSE is something I can't get excited about, I will compare with and without again and if I leave it off I can always get it fitted afterwards at not much more cost than factory fit. PASM I am interested in as it gives a slightly better ride with the option of firming things up when in the mood, I won't do that often but just now and again on a decent road with sweeping bends I think I would use it, but in truth it's in use all the time anyway in normal mode so I feel I would get value from it. I'm not one to necessarily follow the crowd but I think the benefits of PDK outweigh the more involved driving of the manual. On the popularity of these options I decided to take a look at the AUC 981's currently for sale at Porsche Centres, by using the detailed search I was able to get the following figures: Total cars for sale - 84. PASM - fitted to 15 cars PSE - fitted to 11 cars Bose - fitted to 45 cars Sport Chrono - fitted to 33 cars PDK - fitted to 67 cars Cars with PASM and PSE - 3. This shows that only a small percentage of owners go for PASM, PSE, or Manual - and not one car on the list has all three. The interesting one is Sport Chrono, I wonder if this is sales patter, the extra dial on the dash, or the headline 2 tenths off the 0-60 time? Gordon.

I did look at the GTS and thought it would be beyond my budget, but a check on the configurator with the options I want shows it is only a little more expensive than my S at £64115 including the GTS black exterior pack. It also has lots of other options which if added to the S would make the S more expensive - plus it has more power. So definitely worth taking a look at when I go back to the OPC - as I have paid deposit on the S do you think they would mind scrapping that for a GTS ? Also, are there discounts available on the GTS please? Gordon.

On the three things you're stuck on: PASM - the thing IMHO about PASM is that the normal PASM setting is slightly more comfortable in ordinary driving than the non-PASM setup; I almost never use the sport PASM setting on the road. PASM is active so it is changing the damping during normal driving which gives a slightly lusher feel than the fixed rate dampers. The trade off is the fixed rate damper (non-PASM) set up feels a bit more direct. My favourite option is actually the 'sports chassis - 20mm lower'. This is a non-PASM option - really wakens up the car and it corners beautifully. It may be a bit aggressive for you if you want a more GT thing as you said in your original post. PSE - on the 981 it sounds superb when you're in the mood for it with the roof down. Equally I think it can be OTT in certain situations. It's certainly something I think you can live without. Bose/ SPP - I think Bose on the 9x1 cars is not as good as on the 9x7 cars. The Burmester is now the top end system. The best thing is to take a selection of your favourite music down there and try them all out Bring CDs - the sound quality is much higher than MP3s/ AAC. If you like your music you want to be able to hear it properly on the motorway with the roof down - this is really where the upgraded audio makes the difference. No need to feel bashful about PDK - it is an incredible gearbox. Both the manual and PDK are great. Sport Chrono gets you dynamic transmission mounts (these help stabilise the weight of the gearbox which sits out behind the rear axle and helps with handling/ comfort). You also get launch control if you have PDK )) and a 'sportier' throttle map (not everyone's cup of tea) and later intervention on PSM, plus more aggressive tuning on the other systems. It is worth it for that in my view although the extra dial itself I don't particularly like.

Gorsh said: I did look at the GTS and thought it would be beyond my budget, but a check on the configurator with the options I want shows it is only a little more expensive than my S at £64115 including the GTS black exterior pack. It also has lots of other options which if added to the S would make the S more expensive - plus it has more power. So definitely worth taking a look at when I go back to the OPC - as I have paid deposit on the S do you think they would mind scrapping that for a GTS ? Also, are there discounts available on the GTS please? Gordon. In my experience with OPCs they are always happy to help - it's your dream and if you want a GTS I'd expect they'll try to get you one. You can always ask about a discount, but what I've heard is that there are not many GTS build slots left so you might be more likely to get a 'deal' on an S. A lot of folks who wanted and couldn't get a GT4 have ordered Cayman GTS instead. Boxster GTS I think there may be more availability. The GTS will hold its value better which may be a consideration - although I'd always say buy the car you want rather than worry too much about resale - particularly if you're speccing the build - the main thing is that you use it and enjoy it ) The GTS is a special car - in that peculiarly Porsche way it's somehow better than the sum of its extra parts suggests it should be. Personally, I'd compromise on a few options for that or find the extra money with some man maths... (!)

Oso said: On the three things you're stuck on: PASM - the thing IMHO about PASM is that the normal PASM setting is slightly more comfortable in ordinary driving than the non-PASM setup; I almost never use the sport PASM setting on the road. PASM is active so it is changing the damping during normal driving which gives a slightly lusher feel than the fixed rate dampers. The trade off is the fixed rate damper (non-PASM) set up feels a bit more direct. My favourite option is actually the 'sports chassis - 20mm lower'. This is a non-PASM option - really wakens up the car and it corners beautifully. It may be a bit aggressive for you if you want a more GT thing as you said in your original post. I think this is on point. Having owned a PASM 987, I'd go passive (preferably sports chassis) every time. By the end of the ownership I noticed the electronic nature of the suspension - it's yet another thing to get in the way of the direct feel of the car. Takes it a step more to GT territory.

Thanks, Re my last post about the GTS - if I chose PSE, PASM and Sport Chrono and 20" wheels it would be cheaper getting a GTS! It would be more than I want to spend though, but a decent discount would solve that - IF the OPC would change my contract and re-negotiate. What are my chances?

TB303 said: I think this is on point. Having owned a PASM 987, I'd go passive (preferably sports chassis) every time. By the end of the ownership I noticed the electronic nature of the suspension - it's yet another thing to get in the way of the direct feel of the car. Takes it a step more to GT territory. Thanks, a good point - the standard 'passive' suspension is undoubtedly excellent it certainly felt fine on my test drives but of course I didn't notice the finer points you talk about.

Gorsh said: Thanks, a good point - the standard 'passive' suspension is undoubtedly excellent it certainly felt fine on my test drives but of course I didn't notice the finer points you talk about. I have no doubt that I'm a tight-fisted wuss but for my needs the standard wheels and suspension on the S work absolutely fine. My speed round corners is limited by visibility/law rather than any chassis/handling issues.

Gorsh said: Thanks, Re my last post about the GTS - if I chose PSE, PASM and Sport Chrono and 20" wheels it would be cheaper getting a GTS! It would be more than I want to spend though, but a decent discount would solve that - IF the OPC would change my contract and re-negotiate. What are my chances? I think it's worth giving them a call and asking for sure I think they should be able to change the order at this stage since you said it wasn't locked for build yet.

The ride comfort on 19's should be fine without PASM and the handling is also fine without. No doubt the ride comfort is better with PASM and the handling is probably better with it in Sport mode. I have been happy with the ride/handling balance of my Cayman S on standard suspension and 20's. I guess the point I'm making is that PASM probably isn't something you will miss if you decide not to get it. People always praise the passive sports suspension that's lower and stiffer, I think its worth noting the standard suspension is also passive so some of the points that people bang on about regarding X73 also apply (to a lesser extent) to the standard setup, things like consistency and predictability. If you are gong to keep the car a good while I bet a replacement standard shock absorber is significantly cheaper than a PASM one as well. Get Bose, its only £400. I got the standard exhaust because I was unable to test drive anything with PSE at the time I placed my order and have since had PSE fitted by the OPC for about £500 more than it would have cost to get from new. I like it, I think it differentiates the car from more mundane cars and it somehow feels more special because of it. I could easily live without it though.

Oso said: I think it's worth giving them a call and asking for sure I think they should be able to change the order at this stage since you said it wasn't locked for build yet. Be aware though that the nose on the GTS is significantly more likely to ground on speed humps and the like even with the same suspension (PASM or X73) than an S, as new owners are now finding out. But, if you do want all the bits the GTS offers then it is certainly a better deal than speccing the same things on an S.

Gorsh said: The interesting one is Sport Chrono, I wonder if this is sales patter, the extra dial on the dash, or the headline 2 tenths off the 0-60 time? The main benefit of Sports Chrono for me is the Sports Plus mode which also brings the sublime throttle blip on downshifts in both manual and PDK equipped cars. Clearly if I had the requisite skills I could rev match and heel 'n toe myself (obviously not an issue for you as you're opting for PDK) but whilst I'm learning to improve those skills, it really adds another dimension to the car when you're on a spirited run, more so with PSE engaged. In fact I would go so far as to say, only bother with Sports Chrono if you're also going for PSE. It's all down to personal preference though so try to get your session at the PEC and experience as many combinations as you can. Although be warned, you'll come back convincing yourself you need the carbon ceramics!

Thanks The GTS is something I may ask about - don't really think it's the ideal car for me but if it's about the same price as an S with my chosen options then I need to explore it. There has been little mention of Sports Chrono in this thread, I had decided I had little need for it as the Sport button (with PDK) gives the throttle blip on downshifts and alters the gear changes to higher revs for a sportier drive. I assume the Sports Chrono turns things up a notch in this regard as well as all the other things it does - it's more suited to those who regularly do track days by the sound of it. I think the Boxster S will be plenty sporty enough for me without it! The PSE needs exploring again so I can be sure if I want it or not - I liked the sound it made under acceleration but the boominess was unpleasant so I need to hear it on and off at different speeds - if the booming does stop with it switched off then I might be inclined to go for it as with the roof down and switched on I did like it.

Ozzie Osmond said: I have no doubt that I'm a tight-fisted wuss but for my needs the standard wheels and suspension on the S work absolutely fine. My speed round corners is limited by visibility/law rather than any chassis/handling issues. I would agree - the Boxster handles so well that very few drivers will get anywhere near it's limits at legal speeds. It's foolish to go tearing into blind corners too as sooner or later you will come unstuck.

Hi Gorsh, I would try cars with and without the various options and decide for yourself, you are more likely to side with the majority of people but its all down to opinion. A month ago I tried various combination of cars and for what is worth here are my thoughts: PSE - Plain too loud for me although mine will be a daily driver, might reconsider for a weekend car Bose - Far too boomy for my liking even after fiddling with the settings. 5.1 effect is nice though if you have plenty of DVD music discs. Wheels - I found the 20s a but noisy and to be honest have killed higher profile alloys before so 18s in my case were cheapest, most comfortable and less of a worry. Interior - I like the leather dash but actually preferred the basic alcantara seats and after sitting in a basic spec interior in the dealer decided the expensive cosmetic options were not for me. PCM/CDR - I wasn't that impressed by the Nav but the CDR was so short of audio sources and features I felt I had to have the CDR+. PASM - Tried with and without and in end went for the extra 10mm of clearance offered by standard suspension but again my car is a daily drive. PTV - Wish I could have tried one with it.

Krobar said: Hi Gorsh, I would try cars with and without the various options and decide for yourself, you are more likely to side with the majority of people but its all down to opinion. A month ago I tried various combination of cars and for what is worth here are my thoughts: PSE - Plain too loud for me although mine will be a daily driver, might reconsider for a weekend car Bose - Far too boomy for my liking even after fiddling with the settings. 5.1 effect is nice though if you have plenty of DVD music discs. Wheels - I found the 20s a but noisy and to be honest have killed higher profile alloys before so 18s in my case were cheapest, most comfortable and less of a worry. Interior - I like the leather dash but actually preferred the basic alcantara seats and after sitting in a basic spec interior in the dealer decided the expensive cosmetic options were not for me. PCM/CDR - I wasn't that impressed by the Nav but the CDR was so short of audio sources and features I felt I had to have the CDR+. PASM - Tried with and without and in end went for the extra 10mm of clearance offered by standard suspension but again my car is a daily drive. PTV - Wish I could have tried one with it. Thanks Krobar I want to take another look at the interior options (including Bose)and try out PSE and PSM. I also have a question mark over the auto climate - useless with the roof down, but may well err on keeping it as likely to keep the car long term. It won't ever be a daily drive though - if it was I'd be getting a second set of wheels with winter tyres. Already decided to stick with the 19" S wheels, best combination of looks noise and ride and tbh doubt very much if PASM would benefit me. PTV is fitted to very few cars, I think it's only place is on the track. Planning on taking a trip to the OPC next week, after which I hope to make my choices and put all the indecision to bed!

Gorsh said: PTV is fitted to very few cars, I think it's only place is on the track. I chose it purely for the LSD. I would tend to agree that the benefits would generally be felt on track, although there are a few occasions on the road where it really shines - the traction out of tighter bends is seriously impressive, but you can definitely detect some electronic interference with PTV at times which will not be for everyone. You can definitely live without it.

I've arranged to visit the OPC next week to discuss an look at/try out some of the options mentioned, but I have a question on PASM if someone can help please. If PASM is fitted, does it work independently to the sport button? In other words can you have the drivetrain in sport mode and the suspension in normal mode? Likewise if the Sport Chrono and PASM are on the car is there a setting which gives the option to leave the suspension on normal when sport+ is on? On my BMW with adaptive suspension has the option for sport mode to be drivetrain and suspension or drivetrain only and I find the option useful. My reasoning is that in some cases the suspension may be best left on normal when using sport or sport+. Thanks.

I'm not sure about the 981, but with the 987 the PASM and Sport Chrono can be either switched independently or together by pressing the SC button first.

From memory if you switch to sport mode the suspension gets switched to the stiffer mode by default but you can then press the suspension button to revert suspension to normal whilst the rest of the car stays in sport mode.

I think in 981 the Sport button changes everything at once (engine/PDK/suspension) whereas the PASM button changes only the suspension. Thus you would be able to have hard suspension and calm engine but wouldn't be able to have frenzied engine with calm suspension. Someone who actually lives with these options will be in a better position to advise. PS On my base car I think all the sport button does is illuminate a little red light...

Thanks folks, hopefully that is how it works - the suspension will switch modes regardless of Sport/Sport+ settings. Ozzie - your sport button must do something - unless you have a manual, I suppose it may be less noticeable then?

If you have PASM, when you press sport it automatically puts the PASM in sport mode but if you then press the PASM button you can put the suspension back in normal. Sport mode in manual cars turns on the downshift throttle blipper.

Gorsh said: I've arranged to visit the OPC next week to discuss an look at/try out some of the options mentioned, but I have a question on PASM if someone can help please. If PASM is fitted, does it work independently to the sport button? In other words can you have the drivetrain in sport mode and the suspension in normal mode? Likewise if the Sport Chrono and PASM are on the car is there a setting which gives the option to leave the suspension on normal when sport+ is on? On my BMW with adaptive suspension has the option for sport mode to be drivetrain and suspension or drivetrain only and I find the option useful. My reasoning is that in some cases the suspension may be best left on normal when using sport or sport+. Thanks. PASM is completely independent of the Sport button. You can have the PDK in sport and the suspension in normal or any other combination. As a number of us have said on here neither the normal or Sport settings on transmission are entirely satisfactory - normal too keen to change up and Sport, on occasion too reluctant, so for best control you may find yourself either overriding quite a lot or driving in manual.

Having just returned from the Porsche factory & museum in Stuttgart,what a place if your a Porsche fan!!! I can confirm the Boxster & Cayman GTS are bloody lovely in the flesh

A few thoughts... they're all pretty personal but that's the fun of going through the options... some more opinions to throw into the mix... PSE - PSE 'off' is not the same as the standard exhaust. It's not great around 65-75 on the motorway as the boom is around 1800-2100rpm. Very popular option, but I prefer the sound of the engine without it. This is one that you can add later though if you want it. Bose - Takes care to set up but can sound OK. It's slightly better than SPP to my ears, but there's not much in it in my opinion, unless you listen to music that takes advantage of the sub. Interior - leather interior is nice and it also upgrades the leather quality on the seats, even in standard colours, as well as trims on the doors. PASM - More comfortable in a way but less road feel, and takes away some of the sense of speed - which can be a good thing or not depending on how you look at it. I think the steering / feel might be a touch lighter on PASM cars. PSP - for me, avoid at all costs. No difference at speed, and it just lightens the steering at low speed. But it can do that at speeds which are still say mini-roundabout speeds, and the sudden lightening while driving is super weird. Climate - seems to polarise opinion but I wouldn't want to be without it when the roof's up, just as I wouldn't want to be without heated seats when it's down. PDSL - is great. S

Thanks stevod A welcome contribution with valid points - gives me things to look out for when trying some of the options. I will report back in a few days. Gordon.

stevod said: A PASM - More comfortable in a way but less road feel, and takes away some of the sense of speed - which can be a good thing or not depending on how you look at it. I think the steering / feel might be a touch lighter on PASM cars. While that's certainly true sometimes in Normal mode - the damping ranges from significantly softer than standard to a bit stiffer - and when it "decides" to soften the damping the car can feel a bit floaty. In sport mode even at their softest setting the damping is only a little softer than standard (the springs and anti roll bars are about 10% stiffer than standard) so that floatyness completely disappears and steering feel improves. Personally I use sport much of the time (pretty much always on motorways) and the ride remains perfectly reasonable. My wife never notices the difference, though she probably would if I didn't make it on very broken surfaces.

I have a Cayman S, with most of the options you have selected and a few others PASM... I rate it and would choose again. The car is harsh on 20" rims and summer tyres, running 19" rims and winter tyres its closer to comfortable and PASM sharpens things up when you want some fun. The full leather interior adds some perceived quality to the interior and adds the matching silver blades to the door interiors. The Bose is good but not excellent, try to check it out back to back with a cheaper alternative before buying. I must be one of the few drivers of a 981 with ACC. I drive a lot on congested motorways, the ACC is well worth having if you do you, it takes the stress out of 'ebb and flow' traffic on the M25, M1 and M6 and works great in city traffic as well. I rejected PSE... too noisy for me. Its hard to go wrong with a Boxster/Cayman, what ever options you choose you'll love it.

engineermk said: PASM... I rate it and would choose again. The car is harsh on 20" rims and summer tyres, running 19" rims and winter tyres its closer to comfortable and PASM sharpens things up when you want some fun. . Interesting - I'm on 19s with Pzeros, what tyres are you on? (I've also tried 18" with Goodyears Eagles, the handling wasn't to my taste, but the ride was little different). Also tried 20s with the standard suspension (unfortunately didn't check on the brand) - definitely worse than PASM in normal with 19s - but by no means unacceptable.

Hi all First post on this forum as it's 13 years since I last had a Boxster! In that time, I have owned a 3.0 Z4, TVR Chimaera, TVR Griffith and a TVR Tuscan. (and non of them ever broke down!!!) Just bought a 2 year old 981 2.7 Boxster, 14K miles, one owner and a massive spec. Listed at north of £52,000 but managed to get it for £35,750 with balance of warranty. Not from a Porsche dealer I might add....they would have wanted £42,000 plus. Hope OP finds my comments useful regarding my options. I am also retired and a long term Pistonhead guy and Petrolhead with over 1 million miles under my belt!! I am indeed that old! My thoughts on certain options that I have are as follows:- PDK..... After looking for a manual box, tried a PDK...totally changed my mind and absolutely love it. (I do somehow get the blip on the downshift at revs over 2500rpm or so) This is my first non manual box on a sports car but I have been converted. I have noticed that 981s with manual boxes seem to stick on dealers' shelves a lot longer. 20" Carrera S wheels with P Zeros...... With the lousy roads here in Kent, I was concerned about this and tyre noise. However, after 500 miles with said combination, I must say that my concerns were totally unfounded and the 20" wheels rides the lousy roads better and sound quieter than my Merc C Class AMG Estate!!! My wheels are painted Platinum satin matt. Looks superb with the car's white body colour and has the added bonus of hiding brake dust! Audio Sound Plus.....very impressed with the sound and is better than the Bose in my wife's MX5. Not sure I would spent an extra £400 on Bose. Black leather interior....classy finish, looks superb and again, a good selling point for any future sale. Full electric seats with memory....expensive option but very very useful when you are 6'2" and SWMBO is 5'2". Saves lots of aggro! Heated seats.....imperative on leather. Front/rear Parking aid....worthwhile peace of mind. Heated steering wheel.....yes, I know. Really don't see the point but hey ho. Roll bars in body colour.... looks superb and really sets off the looks of the car from the back with the lid down.(mine is white) PCM/Sat Nav.....works well . An expensive option but again quite a "must have" for buyers at resale time. Mobile phone module......works very well with my Samsung S5 and address book was downloaded with no dramas. Bluetooth good and picks up my phone every time. Haven't tried my wife's Android phone yet so cannot comment re second phone recognition. Electric folding mirrors.....essential as this car is wider than you think. Cruise control.....for some reason, this was not specced by the original owner. With the plethora of average speed cameras around, I am having it retro fitted by my local OPC for £480 incl VAT. Multi function steering wheel....very useful, looks OK and keeps your hands where they should be. Apologies for waffling on a bit but thought I would throw in my twopennorth's worth. I really am very impressed with my 981 and with the exception of the heated steering wheel, would spec the car the same if I was buying new. By the way, think about the option of collecting the car from Stuttgart. I did in 2000 and had a fabulous tour of the factory and the museum including the Le Mans winning cars. The drive back was awesome. Enjoy your car when it arrives.

Thanks folks, the more opinions the merrier. Went back to the OPC last week and it helped a lot to decide on the final few options - annoyingly they didn't have a car with PSE I could try, all the salesmen like it they say but that's not to say I will be happy with the one aspect (boomy at cruise speed) I'm concerned about. Switching to a GTS isn't an option as no more build slots this year and no guarantee if they would get one next year. I'm not really bothered as I'm not sure if the GTS is the car for me anyway - it's just good value if you want all the options it has plus the bonus of better residual value. So, I still have a few days to make changes before lockdown. I like PASM and will probably go for that, it is noticeably softer but gives good control on bumpier roads - I was almost going for 20" wheels too but it adds too much to the cost and the car looks fine on the 19" 'S' wheels. The Sport Chrono impressed me - the car is manic in sport+, it's not something I will use all the time but good fun now and again. PSE - my jury is still out, I thought the standard exhaust was fine - I wish the sports exhaust switched off properly then PSE would give the best of both worlds. Probably safest to leave it standard - can always get it fitted later on. Leather interior is very nice as are the Sports Plus seats, wider across the shoulders and more supportive, the side bolsters are deeper but are nice and soft so felt comfortable against the outside of my thighs. Bose vs SPP is a tough one, hard to tell much difference in the brief time I listened so I think SPP would be fine but if budget allows will probably still go for the Bose. The standard steering felt fine even with the 20" wheels, not difficult to park I thought, so PSP isn't needed. Would have liked to try a car with it though just to be sure but they didn't have one. I didn't get to drive one in the dark at this time of year, but one option to save a bit of money is to drop the dynamic main beam and have the 'standard' PDLS. All in all I'm nearly there, just a few final decisions and a play on the configurator to juggle options so the price doesn't move up too much.

Gorsh said: the car is manic in sport+, it's not something I will use all the time.... Having driven one of those I have to say that "manic" is right on target!

We bought a Jan 2014 981 Boxster S about 3 weeks ago as I have just retired and we consolidated ours cars from 3 to 2 (V8 Vantage, SLK200 and Golf 1.4 to Boxster and BMW 330d). We found there isn't a lot of choice on the second hand market so I did not get all the options I wanted PDK - Essential as it is primarily the bosses car but I do like it. I had a 911 997 C4S PDK before the Aston (Sportshift) and it is amazing. The Aston felt like a tractor in comparison as it is only single clutch. 20" Carrera Classic wheels - Have these. In my opinion they really enhance the look of the car and I do not find them a problem in terms of comfort. I would choose Sound Package Plus.....agree with previous comment - very impressed and would choose Black leather interior....agree with previous comment Full electric seats with memory.... I wish I did have these as we share the car but there was only one available at the time of looking with this option and it was two years older and only £2k less. I do have the Sports Seats Plus but not sure what benefits these are over standard Heated seats.....yes I have these and I would choose Front/rear Parking aid....I don't have this but would choose. You have to reverse using mirrors which isn't really a problem Heated steering wheel.....do not have and wouldn't bother Roll bars in body colour.... do not have and depends on colour. PCM/Sat Nav.....Have it - agree with previous comments Mobile phone module......Have it and works very well with both iPhone 6's. I would choose it Electric folding mirrors.....do not have and do not miss. Sport Chrono Package Plus... Wanted this function and I get three cars in one - normal sports car, fast and absolute nuts. I recommend Sports Exhaust... I think a sports car should be noisy. I had this on both 911s - on the 997.1 it was great, really made a difference but on the 997.2 it was hardly noticable. On the Boxster you notice when it is on or off. When it is on it (with Sport or Sport Plus on too) it sounds fantastic. Not only does it sound like a mini F1 car changing up but you get the pops and crackles when lifting off. Great fun and very addictive. With it switched off it may be a little loud if you are continually doing long motorway runs but that is not what we bought the car for Digital Radio (DAB)... Don't use it but would choose it just for future proofing Cruise control.....Do not have it. I have had cruise control on a few cars and used it less than 10 times. Only noticed it on the last 911 on the day I sold it so wouldn't bother. Multi function steering wheel....do not have it and wouldn't bother Wind Deflector - Have it but already removed it as it reduces rear visibility

Thanks for your opinions sooty. Of the things I'm struggling with only PSE is still undecided. Think I'm going to have to play it safe and leave it off then get it fitted later if I have tried it and want it. It may sound stupid with a car like this, but sometimes you just want a lazy cruise to get from A to B or aren't in a hurry, or heavy traffic - lots of times when it will be driven with a light foot, and it's with the roof up at these times there is a boom/drone inside the car - it may not be that much of an issue at all but I remember it from last year and it's making me wary of ordering it and then not liking the car. I know for sure there are loads of times I would love the PSE. It seems to be more with PDK too as it keeps the revs low at light throttle, and I reckon it will only affect the Boxster as Cayman will have different acoustics. Anyone who can add thoughts or experience which may help me I would appreciate it. Lockdown is this Friday so have three days to decide. Thanks, Gordon.

I also couldn't decide to go with PSE or not in my 981 Cayman S since nowhere in London had a Cayman with PSE that I could test drive before I placed my order. So I didn't get it, worried about droning on the motorway, especially since I forked out a lot for Burmester. Then the GTS came out with standard PSE and all the youtube testers loved the noise (and so did I) so I had it retrofitted by the OPC for about £500 more than if I'd ticked the box. I like it because its another point of difference when you put it in Sport mode, gives the car a bit more pronounced Jekyl & Hyde character. If I'm in the car on my own, it's always on.