Daily driver - keep the 981 or swap to a 718? - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

I'll start with an apology, I'm usually very decisive when it comes to my cars and knowing what I want, but I'm fannying about due to the urgency of making a decision and would value some feedback on my thoughts as I'm massively over thinking this I have a 981 Boxster 2.7 with PDK and it's my daily (readers thread here ). It's just ticked over 70k miles but is in great condition and has been maintained very well indeed by it's previous owners and I'm continuing that, basically if it needs something, it gets done and I'm very fastidious about it. Previous daily before that was a manual 987.2 Cayman (readers thread here ). With the demise of the ICE 718 cars, my 50th birthday coming up and an enthusiastic attitude from my wife, I have an opportunity to swap the 981 for a new 718. I've spoken to my local OPC and I have to act very quickly as they have just a handful of allocations left. As such, if I'm quick, I can get one of the last ICE 2.0 Style Edition PDK cars to my own spec. The plan will be to keep it long term, probably for many years and possibly as my last ever ICE car so I want to get it right! Driving usage will be a mix of motorway miles for work, and fun roads for trips out, at about 6-8k miles per year as I'm changing jobs soon with a different commute to the one I have now. Firstly, I love the Boxster and having the roof down is great so that'd be my preferred option. But the 981 lives outside on the drive (my Caterham gets the garage) and I'm not sure how this would fair long term with roof condition, leaks etc. So, better to go for the Cayman for a very long term daily? Storage in either isn't an issue. Secondly, keep the 981 as the 718 isn't that much of a step up? My 981 will need cruise control putting on it and the CDR 31 infotainment will need upgrading, but I'm pretty happy to get that done. The issue is how do they fair over 100k miles? Over 150k miles, especially being PDK? I don't mind the maintenance costs but I need it to be reliable and I don't want to resent it if it breaks all the time and lets me down. It's also not in the exact spec I want and being a bit of a perfectionist, this niggles a bit. I realise this is very much a first world problem and I could just buy something boring, but we're a long time dead and I love the way they drive. Also, apologies for the essay, I did say I was over thinking this!

Stick with what you've got, unless there is something on the newer car you must have, most missing option can be added (as you already know). Or maybe a 981 S/GTS with fewer miles? If finance PCP etc. is an issue for older cars then go for a test drive in the 2.0 car before committing, but don't discount a used 4.0 car. Edited by dans160 on Tuesday 10th September 23:51

[quote=AndrewGP]I'll start with an apology, I'm usually very decisive when it comes to my cars and knowing what I want, but I'm fannying about due to the urgency of making a decision and would value some feedback on my thoughts as I'm massively over thinking this I have a 981 Boxster 2.7 with PDK and it's my daily (readers thread here ). It's just ticked over 70k miles but is in great condition and has been maintained very well indeed by it's previous owners and I'm continuing that, basically if it needs something, it gets done and I'm very fastidious about it. Previous daily before that was a manual 987.2 Cayman (readers thread here ). With the demise of the ICE 718 cars, my 50th birthday coming up and an enthusiastic attitude from my wife, I have an opportunity to swap the 981 for a new 718. I've spoken to my local OPC and I have to act very quickly as they have just a handful of allocations left. As such, if I'm quick, I can get one of the last ICE 2.0 Style Edition PDK cars to my own spec. The plan will be to keep it long term, probably for many years and possibly as my last ever ICE car so I want to get it right! Driving usage will be a mix of motorway miles for work, and fun roads for trips out, at about 6-8k miles per year as I'm changing jobs soon with a different commute to the one I have now. Firstly, I love the Boxster and having the roof down is great so that'd be my preferred option. But the 981 lives outside on the drive (my Caterham gets the garage) and I'm not sure how this would fair long term with roof condition, leaks etc. So, better to go for the Cayman for a very long term daily? Storage in either isn't an issue. Secondly, keep the 981 as the 718 isn't that much of a step up? My 981 will need cruise control putting on it and the CDR 31 infotainment will need upgrading, but I'm pretty happy to get that done. The issue is how do they fair over 100k miles? Over 150k miles, especially being PDK? I don't mind the maintenance costs but I need it to be reliable and I don't want to resent it if it breaks all the time and lets me down. It's also not in the exact spec I want and being a bit of a perfectionist, this niggles a bit. I realise this is very much a first world problem and I could just buy something boring, but we're a long time dead and I love the way they drive. Also, apologies for the essay, I did say I was over thinking this! Life is too short. Specced to your taste. Go for it!

If you think this really would be your last ever ICE purchase and one that you want to keep for ever go for it, spec it to exactly how you want and enjoy the enthusiastic support of your wife! I went from a mint 981S to a new 4.0 718 GTS for exactly the same reason, I loved my 981S but wanted a car I could keep for a very long time and felt the 718 was always going to be 10 years newer, with all the benefits that brings. Oh, and I certainly didn't have the support or my wife, I still get hassle for selling so you are very lucky!

As you already know the Boxster with the roof up is a very civilised place to do many miles. Just buy a half cover for the roof if you are worried about it being left outside.

We currently have a 981 2.7 PDK Cayman and a 4.0 PDK 718 Boxster which replaced a 2.0 PDK 718 Boxster. In my opinion the 718 2.0 is a step up from the 981 in every way except the noise out of the exhaust and believe it is the best sports car Porsche makes today for the money. The 4.0 is a step up from that but is of course more expensive and still doesn't sound as good as the 981 because of PPF etc. All our cars live outside and provided they're kept clean and looked after show no real signs of wear or degradation. In fact I had a 987 Boxster for 8 years that also lived outside and apart from some fading the roof was still in pretty good condition as it was treated with Fabsil regularly. As mentioned above I would go for a test drive to make sure you're happy with the change and if you are don't look back, you're a long time dead.

Don't do it! Driving my 2.7 PDK 981C 100 miles today I still find it a blast after 9 years. No way would I want the frustration of dull sounding 4 cylinders or 4 litres of unuseable power. What's the point of that?

Thanks everyone for the replies, it's been most helpful. I've already test driven a 718 Boxster earlier this year just before looking at my 981 so it's a known quantity. I don't mind the sound of the flat 4 and being a daily, I don't rev my 981 out very often at all, so it's not enough of reason to keep the car per se. I'm booked in early next week to another OPC and they have confirmed they have both Boxster and Cayman allocations that can be filled by March/April next year. I'm going to have a quick drive of the Cayman just to confirm the differences between it and the Boxster on a motorway run and then I'm 99% going for it!

AndrewGP said: Thanks everyone for the replies, it's been most helpful. I've already test driven a 718 Boxster earlier this year just before looking at my 981 so it's a known quantity. I don't mind the sound of the flat 4 and being a daily, I don't rev my 981 out very often at all, so it's not enough of reason to keep the car per se. I'm booked in early next week to another OPC and they have confirmed they have both Boxster and Cayman allocations that can be filled by March/April next year. I'm going to have a quick drive of the Cayman just to confirm the differences between it and the Boxster on a motorway run and then I'm 99% going for it! I've had many P cars including lots of GT products and an RS, i now have a Boxster 981 GTS. I did consider the new 718 GTS ( no way i'd go for the 4 pot but i'll admit they drive brilliantly ) but i couldn't see the extra 35k would make me think it was worth the cash. I now love roof off driving and i'm too old for GT cars plus, with shot knees getting in and out is better with the roof down ! Took my car out today and gotta say i love it and even better with PDK. I'm also a fan of the 981 platform but , its subjective and at least in the new car you get carplay etc. Keep us posted Edited by GT3Manthey on Thursday 12th September 20:14

DJMC said: Don't do it! Driving my 2.7 PDK 981C 100 miles today I still find it a blast after 9 years. No way would I want the frustration of dull sounding 4 cylinders or 4 litres of unuseable power. What's the point of that? They are a blast. No question. But the turbo engines are a better thing to use and it would be close to a decade newer which bodes well as a long term keeper. I have had both the 4 and 6 pot versions and would swap to the newer car.

Steve H said: I have had both the 4 and 6 pot versions and would swap to the newer car. 100% this. Although I’m sure this thread is missing a few posts from the last time I read it!

New car.

Yes, I think a few posts have gone as well, strange? To update things, I test drove a 718 Cayman this week and I agree it's a lovely car and in my opinion, it is a step up from my 981. It ticked all the boxes and I really liked it. I also spent a lot of time on the configurator to get the right spec. I don't need much at all in the way of options above the Style Edition standard spec, just Sports Plus Seats (the standard seats make my back ache on any journey over 45 minutes), the bigger 64 litre tank and possibly upgraded PDLS lights as I'll be doing a lot of night time driving up the M4. Cruise and heated seats are a must but they're included in the car now. However, with all that said, I'm shelving the idea for now. Although I'll most likely miss out on a new car that I can spec myself, the delta to swap is too great to justify for the step up it represents. The timing isn't great either with the state of the car market and coming in to winter selling my Boxster, so I'm going to take a massive hit, even if it sells at all. At the other end of the scale, as I would be buying the new car in cash outright, the OPC absolutely would not budge on the price. They did say they'd make a very small contribution to a deposit if I take their finance at 10.7%, however that's not something I want to do or that makes financial sense. So for now, the 981 stays and I'll have another look at things in the new year. If Porsche change their mind and the ICE version gets a stay of execution, I may well look at it again, we'll see what happens.

Sounds like a sensible outcome taking the circumstances into account. You'll likely find a decent second hand 718 to your spec in the future if things change but in the meantime you get to keep and use a fantastic car.

Great replies and glad to see it wasn’t the usual 981 v 718 bun fight.

Had my 981 boxster GTS out at the weekend and I'm no hurry to 'upgrade'. I think it can also depend on spec of your current car too . If you had a cayman S for example then a GTS with oodles of extra goodies would feel an even bigger upgrade. The 981 makes me smile with the noise of that PSE especially with the roof off. Also, I'm now getting old so no I'm getting slower !

I'm guilty as charged having stocked up on GT3s to survive a Porsche shift to electric cars (aka appliances). If you want to keep driving, best to upgrade now. I would, however, throw a used 4 litre GTS into the mix

So, to update this from September’s decision to keep the 981 Boxster. In November, a friend of a friend died very suddenly of a heart attack. He was late 40s, a keen marathon runner and was in apparently very good health. A few weeks later, my teenage daughter’s best friend lost her father to a brain tumour, he was 43. Having lost my brother at age 50, also to a brain tumour, this hit quite hard. I’m normally pretty conservative and not that materialistic but with the 718 going (allegedly!) and the fact life is very short, this was the kick up the arse I needed. So, my new 718 Cayman gets delivered at the end of March. I’ve spec’d it very deliberately as a usable daily driver and whilst it’s not that special compared to a 4.0 GTS, I intend to pile the miles on it at every opportunity and use it until it (or I) can’t continue. Spec here for those that are interested.

Love the colour Would go with 18 way seats, SW controls and adaptive cruise if the budget would stretch a bit further, you’ll thank me later Mega car either way

Looks great! Definitely worth upgrading imo if you have the means & opportunity.

I bought @jurassicbgts 's 981 Boxster S and it was indeed mint and lovely... I had a 2.5l 4 pot 718 Boxster S before hand, and whilst the 718 BS was really rapid and nice, for me the 3.4l 6pot sounds so much better, even if not as quick Ato B. I'd love a 4.0 718GTS, but I can't afford one. I hope Mrs JurassBGTS has forgiven me for taking it off your hands.... The looks she gave you and me!!!!!

Steve H said: Love the colour Would go with 18 way seats, SW controls and adaptive cruise if the budget would stretch a bit further, you’ll thank me later Mega car either way Thank you! Seeing the colour in person at the OPC made that decision very easy. I take your point on the cruise and the seats but the spec is now locked. I find the 2 way sports seats incredibly comfortable (actually more so than our Volvo XC60) and as my wife won’t drive it, once they’re set, they won’t ever need adjusting. I did think about the adaptive cruise but I had to drawer the line on the extras somewhere! Johnson897210 said: Looks great! Definitely worth upgrading imo if you have the means & opportunity. Thanks, I’m really looking forward to it. I think as a daily driver it should tick all the boxes!

AndrewGP said: Thanks, I’m really looking forward to it. I think as a daily driver it should tick all the boxes! Good for you! I never feel like I am missing out on anything driving what I already have (981BS), but if I did I would be doing exactly the same. This way you get to drive a brand new car the exact spec that you want and it doesn’t get any better than that - enjoy.

[quote=AndrewGP]So, to update this from September’s decision to keep the 981 Boxster. In November, a friend of a friend died very suddenly of a heart attack. He was late 40s, a keen marathon runner and was in apparently very good health. A few weeks later, my teenage daughter’s best friend lost her father to a brain tumour, he was 43. Having lost my brother at age 50, also to a brain tumour, this hit quite hard. I’m normally pretty conservative and not that materialistic but with the 718 going (allegedly!) and the fact life is very short, this was the kick up the arse I needed. So, my new 718 Cayman gets delivered at the end of March. I’ve spec’d it very deliberately as a usable daily driver and whilst it’s not that special compared to a 4.0 GTS, I intend to pile the miles on it at every opportunity and use it until it (or I) can’t continue. Spec here for those that are interested. I like your thinking and change of thought. Life is too short. Dont say it isnt a special car compared to a 4.0 GTS. It most definitely is a great car that for the money is a brilliant choice! Love the colour and spec.

Car looks great - love the colour Would seriously consider Adaptive Cruise Control, especially for the motorway. Potentially even replacing this with the lane change assist. Had it on a Panamera loan car for a month and it was brilliant, especially in stop-start traffic