Build is Dec 17th, I have BOSE and now Do not want it!

Question: I have a build date of Dec 17th. I currently have the BOSE option, and after reading these forums on it have decided that maybe it is not right for me. I want XM, to be able to play MP3 via AUX, and GOOD sound in the car since it is a daily driver. My initial thought was to get the best system I could via dealer and then add the AUX add in to the CD changer when it comes out and BAM problem solved for everything. Now I am wondering if i should just buy an aftermarket system, have them re-wire the car and put in new speakers, and an ALPINE system with screen to do HD radio, XM radio, AUX and be able to play movies, videos etc. I know it is going to be pricey so that makes me want to cut the 900 dollar option of BOSE if I am going to do this. Now the 2nd time I made a change to the order my dealer told me that every time i do a change they take the car and put it in the back of the line. Is it worth it to make another change this late? My thinking is; 1) even though the sales guy keeps getting irritated with me, screw him, this is what he gets paid for. 2) It's my money so get want I want. 3) It will be winter when it comes anyway and I want to have the bra, new tires, etc put on it before I drive it around. BUT, if I make this change will I get put off so far back that I will have to suffer yet more weeks of no sleep because I want my car. And if I re-wire the car for a new system would it help me in resale to keep the BOSE and re-wire it back to OEM for resale later on? For you guys that have the BOSE and non PCM , and you had to do over, would you do it again, or would you rather save the cash and get an aftermarket to meet your needs? Maybe I am being paranoid, I never actually listed to the stereo when I test drove it multiple times, I was too busy enjoying the engine and drive. But, once I am on my daily routine of driving it every day, will the stereo meet it's expectations or will I constantly be annoyed with not being able to use my MP3, not being able to burn MP3 CD's, have to deal with XM via FM transmitter, and then deal with OEM flukes like reject CD?

If you can, go to your dealer and drive the Cayman with and without the Bose and see what conclusion you come to. BTW, rewiring a Porsche for a different entertainment system should be done by a company with a good insurance policy...just in case. ' How to kill a Cayman S '

Here's the thing - on the assembly line, they get things ready far in advance of the actual build date for your car... for instance, each car has a custom wiring harness made up according to what options are on the car. That's why you can't just add Sport Chrono by adding a button - the wiring doesn't exist unless you ordered the option. All the parts then meet in the same place on the build date, and voila! you have a Cayman S built to your specs. If you make late changes, the changes you make to things, like the wiring harness have to be re-done, so it puts your car back to that phase of production. Changing from Bose to non- Bose , will certainly cause a wiring harness change, among many other things, I'm sure. They can't stop production and wait for a new wiring harness to be built for your car. Also your dealer has only a certain amount of build slots, and that has to figure into the mix, too. If you're that picky about your car audio, I can't imagine that you didn't think about this before or listen to it during your test drives... but you didn't - so I would take mpollard's advice and take a well-produced CD of music you like and feel is a good comparison tool, and test them out back-to-back. Keep in mind - I think there will be a point of diminishing returns no matter how much you spend on an audio system for this car. It's an extremely small cabin, and there's a 295 hp motor sitting eight inches behind your head. If you're expecting a concert-hall experience in such a situation, then I think you're expecting way, way too much. This may be an expensive car, but it is not a quiet, rock solid, vault-like automobile like a BMW 3 or 5 series, or other high-end sedans. It's a high-performance sports car engineered to not be very quiet, and that means there's trade-offs - everyone wants to hear a great induction sound, and a great exhaust note, but you also can't have a concert hall experience in the tiny cabin of a mid-engined sports car - you really can't have it both ways. I know a guy with a Carrera GT, and the stereo doesn't sound very good in it either, for more than $400k. I'd say, do a comparison, then decide. Also, do have a look at the thread mpollard has pointed you to - tearing apart the center stack and all it entails is not for the inexperienced or faint of heart. brad

I would keep the Bose on your option list and not suffer a delay in the build date. Get XM hardwired into the car, use the commander instead of a plug and play unit because it's small and comes with a wired FM modulator. Listen to it, and I don't think you will want to change anything. Before having much time with the car, I think everyone dreams a bit of the audio things they can do to it; I did all the research, took the wiring apart and saw all the possibilities. At this point, all I've done is add a small subwoofer, which you will have with the Bose and I am satisfied. The truth is, it's a two seater sports car meant for driving fun, you will never need or even want a screen in there to distract you, and giving up mp3 cds is not that bad, you'll get better sound quality with real cd's you burn or you can patch in another stereo input with the hardwired XM commander. - Suneet

Thanks Guys I guess i was just getting parnoid! My girl friend, who took two test drives with the sales guy while I sat in differant interiors to see what I wanted, said the stero sounded just fine playing Bad to the Bone while the guy hit 130 on 275 around cincy. Given the link provided earlier I will stick with the BOSE, and maybe a AUX will come out in the future. I do not know if I could push it back any further, it is hard enough to sleep as it is! WHERE IS MY CAR! Thanks for the input!

I'm not an audiophile, but the Bose unit is acceptable for this car. I listen to the radio on my morning drive and CD's when I took a day trip recently. On around town jaunts, I am more than happy to listen to the engine. Any high dollar investment in audio for this car would be lost on resale so I think the Bose would be a good option to have for the future.

i like the bose ...glad it came as an option on my cayman . yes, bose is bose ...but compared to the stock radio i feel like it is an improvement.

b8factor, I ordered the Bose radio just because it's been in my other cars. I'm having the XM Commander satellite radio installed by a very reputable dealer that my dealer uses. Last Friday they were installing the same radio in a new 911 along with a radar detector in the front bumper. The entire bumper was removed. They are going to mount the radio in the bottom shelf below the nav screen and use a plastic molding material to fill in the void areas on the sides and spray paint it to match the interior color all for $482. I would keep what you currently have on order, otherwise it will be spring before you get your car!

I got my car one week ago with Bose and w/o PCM . I ended up having to take 19 inch wheels becuase they were in the bose car (and I didn't really need them /c I'm going with 20 inch OZ 's). I'm very happy with the choice I made. I think the car sounds great. Way better than my 996 or 986 S's and light years better than the HK system in my E46 M3 . FWIW I'm listening to Clapton, SRV, etc not Rap so maybe that's the diffrence? I say stay with it. Life is too short and you'll sell it for a Cayman Turbo S someday so....

When commuting, I listen to the news. Sometimes, I listen to music, like when on the freeway as I get to my starting point. When TOURING, I leave the radio OFF. I leave the windows down. I hear the wind, I hear the motor, I hear my heartbeat. Wonderful. I don't miss a thing. Mostly, it is a matter of how you expect to use your car. I have done 3500 miles now in 2 months and don't miss the audio options I am missing (mp3 playback, aux in connection). All that said, I have but am not impressed with the Bose . Too bass oriented.

I have the Bose system and thought I wanted it when I picked out which car I wanted (of the available inventory on the WestCoast) but after ordering my car and then reading stuff on this website, I started to think I didn't want it. Now that I have, I think it sounds great, I listen to all sorts of music, it has great bass for rap, great highs for metal and I listen to music at very high volumes most of the time. I've done aftermaket stuff in every car I've owned but honestly after hearing the Bose , I'm completely satisfied. The $900 for the system is pennies compared to what after market systems go for that would give you a better sound. The only downside I've found is the inability to add aftermarket headunits without changing the whole system out but I think Suneet put it best, you don't need a screen to distract you in the small cabin, just drive the damn thing.

bose No Highs no Lows Bose Blows but in this car it is not bad... I put in Aftermarket Amp JL and Focal Speakers and JL subs. Sirius Satellite While it sounds about 50% better than Bose it was not what I was hoping for for 6,000 bucks Not to mention I had a lot of problems with it and it still is not right and I might be switching everything back if I can get them to to do it. The radion does not work sometimes and speakers lose power etc It works for weeks then craps out and then works again...

When I decided I wanted a Cayman and went to test drive one. I told the dealer I wanted to hear both systems (Premium vs. BOSE ) si I took one of my fav. CDs and tried it out on both, to me Premium sounded pretty crapy while as BOSE was more than acceptable, not in the same league as my current Harmann-Kardom on my CLK but as someone said the size and acoustics of the cabin are not the same. After the test I knew I had to add the BOSE price to the final car. I also thought about changing the whole system, rewiring, etc, but then again I thought the BOSE was good enough, I will be having the PCM also so I'll be able to play mp3s, but as you have seen over here you can retrofit the PCM later for not that much money and I am sure the aftermarket will come up with solutions to your other needs sooner or later...