New Boxster GTS and Porsche Exclusive - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Hi Guys, I've just ordered a new Boxster GTS (January build) with a frankly ridiculous number of options ticked. I plan on this car being a keeper and daily driver so, with man maths/logic fully engaged, I don't have too much trouble justifying it to myself. This brings me to my question. Porsche bang on about the capability of the exclusive department and that, if it can technically be done, you can have it. The unwritten bit, especially with this being Porsche, is that it will cost you! My first question was if they could do a two tone interior, similar to the Luxor beige version, but using the cream leather from the Panamera range. The answer I got back from Germany was not an absolute "no" but near as damn it. They stated that the carpet and seat colours could be changed. So my second attempt, this time via the OPC, was to ask if could I have black carpets with my two tone Luxor beige interior and also if I could have the seats in two tone to match (black side bolsters/headrest and the centres in Luxor beige). As I'm having the hard shell backs leather trimmed, Porsche exclusive are already involved in the seats so I didn't think I was pushing the boundaries of reasonable! My salesman, when chased, has said the answer is no to the seats. They are still chasing the carpet question. Is this what you'd expect or is my salesman just being lazy and not even asking the questions? Let's be honest.....the only way I can justify burning the £000s of pounds that are lost when you spec a new car is by having it tailored to my personal tastes. I'm so disappointed in the mismatch between the claims and reality of the abilities of "Exclusive" that I might even bin the idea in its entirety! Your opinions are appreciated. Kevin

Exclusive can be a bit of a minefield in terms of ensuring all the correct option codes are submitted so some dealers are not keen on doing it. Requesting carpets in a deviating colour should not be an issue and may even be on the dealership's version of the configurator from memory. It may be worth dropping the Exclusive department an email to ask them if they can supply the car the way you would like it. I've had a Boxster with a leather to sample exclusive interior and lots of contrast stitching in a non standard colour a few years ago and it took a while to sort it all out. Going for Exclusive will add a significant delay to your delivery as the car is built in standard spec on the production line with a normal interior then is taken to the Exclusive department where it is stripped out and the custome interior choice items are then fitted. I don't have a direct email address but you could try using this contact page on their German website https://my.porsche.com/germany/accessoriesandservi...

Kevin Secker said: Hi Guys, I've just ordered a new Boxster GTS (January build) with a frankly ridiculous number of options ticked. I plan on this car being a keeper and daily driver so, with man maths/logic fully engaged, I don't have too much trouble justifying it to myself. Let's be honest.....the only way I can justify burning the £000s of pounds that are lost when you spec a new car is by having it tailored to my personal tastes. I'm so disappointed in the mismatch between the claims and reality of the abilities of "Exclusive" that I might even bin the idea in its entirety! Your opinions are appreciated. Kevin You did ask! Having succumbed to the temptation to buy new cars, partly because I wanted it to MY spec, but mostly because I prefer not to (potentially) suffer the consequences of an unsympathetic keeper, I do see where you are coming from. That said, I can mentally (just) justify the initial depreciation hit that results. The trouble is if you go exclusive ( or even go just a bit wild) AS WELL you get a "doubly whammy" (if you remember that) of initial depreciation and the almost inevitable total loss on your exclusive bits. But buying a (newish) Porsche is rarely a sensible decision - so being judgemental is hardly sensible either.

Kevin Secker said: Thanks for the reply. Very interesting! Would you mind telling me exactly what you had done by exclusive and how much it cost? Obviously PM me if you'd rather keep figures private. A delay won't bother me too much as a February delivery is less than ideal for a convertible sports car anyway. I'm pleased that the build happens the way you describe as it means I shouldn't lose a build slot on a car that has a VERY limited life. Kevin Never gone exclusive - and (though I'll never say never) I doubt I would unless it appeared reasonable value (something of a rarity - but a very personal issue - in the Porsche world). The look of a car isn't much of an issue to me, - and you can usually get function without going exclusive. But, I'd suspect that is a minority view.

isuk said: Exclusive can be a bit of a minefield in terms of ensuring all the correct option codes are submitted so some dealers are not keen on doing it. Requesting carpets in a deviating colour should not be an issue and may even be on the dealership's version of the configurator from memory. It may be worth dropping the Exclusive department an email to ask them if they can supply the car the way you would like it. I've had a Boxster with a leather to sample exclusive interior and lots of contrast stitching in a non standard colour a few years ago and it took a while to sort it all out. Going for Exclusive will add a significant delay to your delivery as the car is built in standard spec on the production line with a normal interior then is taken to the Exclusive department where it is stripped out and the custome interior choice items are then fitted. Thanks for the reply. Very interesting! Would you mind telling me exactly what you had done by exclusive and how much it cost? Obviously PM me if you'd rather keep figures private. A delay won't bother me too much as a February delivery is less than ideal for a convertible sports car anyway. I'm pleased that the build happens the way you describe as it means I shouldn't lose a build slot on a car that has a VERY limited life. Kevin Edited by Kevin Secker on Wednesday 28th October 20:18

What seats are you going for? If adaptive sports seats maybe go for the 997 turbo s seats with the black leather sides and cream alcantara inserts - think they look great if you can get matching cream door inserts I did laugh when I read you are getting leather seat backs on a two door car, I guess that is why it's exclusive, because it's a standard option on 911s

bcr5784 said: Never gone exclusive - and (though I'll never say never) I doubt I would unless it appeared reasonable value (something of a rarity - but a very personal issue - in the Porsche world). The look of a car isn't much of an issue to me, - and you can usually get function without going exclusive. But, I'd suspect that is a minority view. Sorry, that question was aimed at ISUK. As you say, the lovely thing about doing a factory order is the ability to specify what you want. For example I love lighter interiors but can't bear light carpets....just setting yourself up for a world of hurt keeping them clean! But I'm equally sure that I'm not the majority view or Porsche wouldn't make light carpets the norm with light interiors. Each to their own. Kevin Edited by Kevin Secker on Wednesday 28th October 20:22

Adam B said: What seats are you going for? If adaptive sports seats maybe go for the 997 turbo s seats with the black leather sides and cream alcantara inserts - think they look great if you can get matching cream door inserts I did laugh when I read you are getting leather seat backs on a two door car, I guess that is why it's exclusive, because it's a standard option on 911s Hi Adam, If I thought I could get cream alcantara inserts and extend it to the lower dash and door panels (i.e. replace the standard alcantara with cream) I'd be in there like a shot. To my eyes the silver seat backs, when viewed from outside the car, just jar visually. There's nothing else on or in the car that matches. I'm not bothered about them being leather.....it's just the only way of getting rid of the silver!!! It's funny how Porsche offer some things on one range and not on others. Kevin

Fair enough, so come on what's the full spec, very curious now

I can't recall the full final costs as it was back in 2008 on a 987.1S. From memory the leather to sample was something like £1k more than the natural leather option at the time and the paint to sample was a similar amount above the special order colours. The stitching was pretty costly as instead of offering a single stitching colour package like Ferrari do, Porsche insist on every single item in the car having it's own stitching code and price. To get the handbrake and gear shift gaiters stitched I had to order the optional aluminium versions as they wouldn't do the stitching on the standard versions. I don't know if that has changed for the 981 models so you'd have to go through it either with your dealer or Porsche Exclusive direct. The Exclusive options were exterior colour to sample, interior leather to sample, deviating carpet, interior stitching to sample and carpet mats with edging trim to match the seats. The car actually was my sister's and she wanted it in the colour scheme of a Lamborghini Gallardo she saw on a trip to the Lamborghini dealer when I was collecting a new car there. The exterior colour was Grigio Proteus and the interior leather was Arancio. Porsche were able to match both colours after the Lamborghini dealer kindly lent me their sample swatches to send to Germany. The 987 interior could be highly customised but most dealers seemed unaware of this. The colour scheme won't appeal to everyone but it was certainly striking with a fairly reserved exterior but very loud interior with inverted stitching. I also did a 981.2 Boxster S in Carrara white a couple of years later with an Exclusive interior that mimicked the Boxster spyder.

Thanks ISUK. That's just what I was looking for. I accept that the leather colour of your car wouldn't be for everyone but the stitching is fantastic! I also love that the end result is so personal. The cost to have exactly what you wanted didn't seem "Porsche" ridiculous either. Given that my provisional spec has a price tag starting with a 7, the extra to get exactly what I want is manageable. Now all I need to do is bang some heads together at the OPC. Kevin

For me the black interiors are too dark and the red interiors are just too red so I did my own upholstery in the red alcantara on some spare panels I got off ebay. Quite easy to do. I have yet to do the gator ond door handles to finish it off

Adam B said: Fair enough, so come on what's the full spec, very curious now You asked.....Like I said......a bit silly!!!! Exterior Colour 2T Jet Black Metallic 4V Black convertible top Interior Colour BL Black / Luxor Beige two-tone leather interior Exterior 632 Bi-Xenon-Headlights incl. Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS+) with dynamic high beam 625 Porsche Entry & Drive 636 Park Assist (front and rear) 748 Electrically folding exterior mirrors 546 Roll-over bar with exterior colour paint finish XYB Fuel filler cap with Aluminium look finish Transmission / Chassis 480 6-speed manual gearbox X73 Sports chassis, 20 mm lower 220 Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) incl. mechanically locking rear differential 450 Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) Wheels 423 20-inch Carrera S wheels Wheel Accessories XDH Wheels painted in satin platinum Interior 454 Cruise control P13 Automatically dimming mirrors with integrated rain sensor 630 Light design package 608 HomeLink® (garage door opener) P07 Adaptive Sports seats Plus (18-way,electric) 844 Multifunction steering wheel 573 Two-zone automatic climate control 342 Seat heating 541 Seat ventilation 345 Steering wheel heating 583 Smoking package Interior Leather XNG Instrument surround upper section in leather XNS Steering column casing in leather XPT Porsche crest on storage compartment lid XSC Porsche Crest embossed on headrests XWK Sports seat Plus backrests in leather Interior Aluminium XXB Door sill guards in stainless steel, illuminated Audio / Comm. P23 Porsche Communication Management(PCM) including navigation module 682 Burmester® High-End Surround Sound System 666 Telephone module UN1 Online Services 693 Six disc CD/DVD autochanger 691 Digital radio 671 Voice control system I'm still not sure on the steering wheel because the multi-function wheel looks so crap but I like having everything at my fingertips and the 991.2 wheel looks very tasty for a future swap!!! Kevin Edited by Kevin Secker on Wednesday 28th October 21:46

Kevin Secker said: You asked.....Like I said......a bit silly!!!! Exterior Colour 2T Jet Black Metallic 4V Black convertible top Interior Colour BL Black / Luxor Beige two-tone leather interior Exterior 632 Bi-Xenon-Headlights incl. Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS+) with dynamic high beam 625 Porsche Entry & Drive 636 Park Assist (front and rear) 748 Electrically folding exterior mirrors 546 Roll-over bar with exterior colour paint finish XYB Fuel filler cap with Aluminium look finish Transmission / Chassis 480 6-speed manual gearbox X73 Sports chassis, 20 mm lower 220 Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) incl. mechanically locking rear differential 450 Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) Wheels 423 20-inch Carrera S wheels Wheel Accessories XDH Wheels painted in satin platinum Interior 454 Cruise control P13 Automatically dimming mirrors with integrated rain sensor 630 Light design package 608 HomeLink® (garage door opener) P07 Adaptive Sports seats Plus (18-way,electric) 844 Multifunction steering wheel 573 Two-zone automatic climate control 342 Seat heating 541 Seat ventilation 345 Steering wheel heating 583 Smoking package Interior Leather XNG Instrument surround upper section in leather XNS Steering column casing in leather XPT Porsche crest on storage compartment lid XSC Porsche Crest embossed on headrests XWK Sports seat Plus backrests in leather Interior Aluminium XXB Door sill guards in stainless steel, illuminated Audio / Comm. P23 Porsche Communication Management(PCM) including navigation module 682 Burmester® High-End Surround Sound System 666 Telephone module UN1 Online Services 693 Six disc CD/DVD autochanger 691 Digital radio 671 Voice control system I'm still not sure on the steering wheel because the multi-function wheel looks so crap but I like having everything at my fingertips and the 991.2 wheel looks very tasty for a future swap!!!;) Kevin Really nice spec but I agree with the steering wheel - the multi function wheel really bugged me after an hour with it, just personal taste, I thought the base wheel was perfect - the only thing not at my finger tips is the volume control - everything else including answering the phone etc is available on the stick to the lower right

Kevin See my spec below Go for it ! 2-zone automatic air conditioning, 20-inch SportTechno wheel, 6-speed manual transmission, Automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors with integrated rain sensor, BOSE® Surround Sound System, Bi-Xenon Headlights with PDLS+ with dynamic high beam, Black painted wheels (partially), Carbon centre console trim, Carbon door sill guards, Cruise control, Digital radio, Electric folding outside mirrors, Light design package, Online services Painted headlight cleaning system covers, Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB), Porsche Communication Management (PCM) incl navigation module with universal audio interface, Porsche Entry & Drive, Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV), Reversing camera incl. ParkAssist front and rear, Roll-over bar with exterior colour paint finish, Seat heating, Smoking package, Sports Bucket Seats, Sports suspension (20 mm lower), Steering column casing in leather, Telephone module, Wheel Caps. Geoff

isuk said: I can't recall the full final costs as it was back in 2008 on a 987.1S. From memory the leather to sample was something like £1k more than the natural leather option at the time and the paint to sample was a similar amount above the special order colours. The stitching was pretty costly as instead of offering a single stitching colour package like Ferrari do, Porsche insist on every single item in the car having it's own stitching code and price. To get the handbrake and gear shift gaiters stitched I had to order the optional aluminium versions as they wouldn't do the stitching on the standard versions. I don't know if that has changed for the 981 models so you'd have to go through it either with your dealer or Porsche Exclusive direct. The Exclusive options were exterior colour to sample, interior leather to sample, deviating carpet, interior stitching to sample and carpet mats with edging trim to match the seats. The car actually was my sister's and she wanted it in the colour scheme of a Lamborghini Gallardo she saw on a trip to the Lamborghini dealer when I was collecting a new car there. The exterior colour was Grigio Proteus and the interior leather was Arancio. Porsche were able to match both colours after the Lamborghini dealer kindly lent me their sample swatches to send to Germany. The 987 interior could be highly customised but most dealers seemed unaware of this. The colour scheme won't appeal to everyone but it was certainly striking with a fairly reserved exterior but very loud interior with inverted stitching. I also did a 981.2 Boxster S in Carrara white a couple of years later with an Exclusive interior that mimicked the Boxster spyder. I love when pics of this car resurface from time to time. I think the colour combo is fantastic. Interior looks great.