981 options you wish you had (not) specced and why? - Page 3 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

I'm curious as to what speccing decisions people would change in hindsight on new 981s they've ordered having owned them for a while? A common one appears to be not speccing dual zone air con and so not having proper climate control. What other examples do people have?

My Boxster S was less than £50k on the road so you can tell I didn't get carried away in the options list! Dual zone a/c? - yes. It's nice. Parking sensors? - yes. You can't see the corners of the car. Decent stereo? - Oh yes, need my tunes .... and that's about it. Do I miss, Big wheels? - no Sport chrono? - no Leather interior? - no Fancy seats? - no PDK? - no PCCB? - no PASM? - no PTV? - no PDQLMRSTVKRAVFHYDNJJ?- no, no, no! These are great cars straight out of the box. Even the 2.9 I've driven as a loan car was great - stunning value at less than £40k for the base model. No wonder other sportscar builders are struggling when faced with 981.

Options i'm missing and wish i did have 1 - DAB Radio - For clearer quality and wider digital station selection. 2 - Front and Rear Park Assist - I only have Rear Park Assist. Front and Rear Park Assist gives the front sensors and a visual aid in the PCM. Only other nice to have would have been the PDLS Plus which gives automatic full beam function. GTS comes with PDLS as standard.

I forgot to order heated seats, that's my only regret, especially as it is a cheap option and I had ticked a significant amount of the other options.

These are my options for my Cayman GTS: Exterior Automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors with integrated rain sensor Electric folding outside mirrors ParkAssist front and rear Transmission / Chassis Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) Sports suspension (20 mm lower) Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) Wheels 20-inch Carrera S wheel Wheels painted in satin platinum Interior Sports Bucket Seats Adaptive cruise control incl Porsche Active Safe (PAS) Smoking package 2-zone automatic air conditioning Light design package GTS interior package - Silver instrument dials Black leather i.c.w Rhodium Silver alcantara package GTS Interior Leather SportDesign steering wheel Audio / Communications Telephone module Porsche Communication Management (PCM) incl navigation module with universal audio interface BOSE® Surround Sound System Digital radio Options I wished I had speced: Heated Seats - Its I cheap option which I should have re added as I had it on the car oringally but done a complete spec change after my Silverstsone day and left it off by mistake. Door Stills - I think this finishies off the car. However, I couldn't deceide between carbon or stainless at the time. I am currently speaking to the dealer to see if I can add these on after the car has arrived.

rxpandy said: These are my options for my Cayman GTS: Exterior Automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors with integrated rain sensor Electric folding outside mirrors ParkAssist front and rear Transmission / Chassis Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) Sports suspension (20 mm lower) Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) Wheels 20-inch Carrera S wheel Wheels painted in satin platinum Interior Sports Bucket Seats Adaptive cruise control incl Porsche Active Safe (PAS) Smoking package 2-zone automatic air conditioning Light design package GTS interior package - Silver instrument dials Black leather i.c.w Rhodium Silver alcantara package GTS Interior Leather SportDesign steering wheel Audio / Communications Telephone module Porsche Communication Management (PCM) incl navigation module with universal audio interface BOSE® Surround Sound System Digital radio Options I wished I had speced: Heated Seats - Its I cheap option which I should have re added as I had it on the car oringally but done a complete spec change after my Silverstsone day and left it off by mistake. Door Stills - I think this finishies off the car. However, I couldn't deceide between carbon or stainless at the time. I am currently speaking to the dealer to see if I can add these on after the car has arrived. What colour is yours? (Just for the sake of completeness!)

It's Carrara White Metallic.

As mentioned above.. I optioned rear parking sensor only which I only found out later that there is no visual aid which you get with front and rear sensor option.. I also think climate control would have been nice now as at the time I didn't think it would be a big problem to adjust manually... I guess both items are not show stoppers and don't detract from the main reason for buying the car... It drives superb!

Has anyone specced (or regretted not) the "Instrument surround in leather" and "Dashboard trim package in leather"? They're about £200 and £750 respectively. The former seems like a good idea potentially if the initial surround is in plastic (is it?) but a waste of money if not, and the latter appears to only add leather in places you can't see while actually driving. I have visions of an awful plastic dash I had in a 987 Boxster courtesy from a few years ago, made it look really cheap and nasty....

I have leather package on my 981 Cayman S. In my opinion, it really lifts the interior. Climate control is something I wish I had, the standard set up is not even as good as that fitted to my 9 year old BMW and the controls are fiddly too. Sound system plus is disappointing, the BOSE in the 991 loan car I had recently was notably better. Am ok with rear parking sensors only which are helpful but then I rarely need to park in tight spots anyway. Heated seats are a boon this time of year. Bluetooth for the phone works well. PDK is purely personal preference but I do prefer the flappy paddles that come with the sport design steering wheel. I have 20" satin platinum wheels and standard suspension. The wheels look good and don't show brake dust but I wonder if they are dating already. The suspension is very well set up for driving although the car looks to sit high even on its huge wheels. Light design package is a cheap option that looks cool. The lights that shine down from the mirrors can be helpful in the dark. Sports seats plus are better than the standard seats for me but not as good as the multi adjustable memory seats if you can afford them or find a car with them. Cruise control works well, especially if you have to endure lengthy average speed camera motorway roadworks on a regular basis. Built in satnav is a "must" for resale, is no doubt obsolete already but integrates well with the other functions and the instrument panel. I have no complaints about the standard headlights. I don't really miss sports exhaust which I loved on my Spyder - I've been in a GTS with its pops and bangs and didn't feel it added to the driving experience. I do miss magic wipers - the technology works well on my BMW and constantly adjusting on/intermittent/off seems very d fashioned in an otherwise modern car. The absence of auto dimming mirrors doesn't bother me and at least gives you a fighting chance of spotting police cars behind you at night!

I've had my Cayman for 10 months & 12000miles... Full leather interior & light design pack - looks and feels great, I recommend 18 way power seats - totally unnecessary but good feature if you regularly share the car with your other half (I do) and need a memory function that links all settings (seats, audio, climate, mirrors) to your key. Heated seats - essential IMO Climate control - essential IMO for the temperature control (the dual aspect is pointless) Auto wipers and diming mirrors, folding mirrors - essential IMO 20in rims - so-so, look good, poor ride quality, noisy on poor surfaces; I much prefer the ride on my 19in winter tyres. PDK, sports wheel and paddles - my drive in traffic makes PDK and obvious choice, I rarely use the paddles. I miss having a multi function steering wheel. PCM, voice control, iPod and telephone module - I use the SAT NAV daily, the phone works well cutting out the background cabin noise when you are talking to people, voice control... a novelty I rarely use. the PCM control regularly freezes my iPod! Digital radio - never use it, spec'ed it to future proof the car. The few times I've tried it it looses the signal too often. BOSE - good but not excellent Front and rear parking sensors - they work well. I skipped the sport chrono pack & PTV but did order upgrades on the lights (PDLS), suspension (PASM) and steering (cant recall the acromion) . All of which I'm happy with. Best buy - ACC... works far better that I hoped. I regularly drive through central London and on crowded motorways. It works brilliantly and takes the stress out of the city & motorway traffic ebb & flow. You probably guessed I was after more of grand tourer and easy to drive city car and I think I've got it (I didn't want a 'track car'). Three silly buys... grey seat belts, stainless steel door treads and filler cap (silver plastic), they have no function other than looking good! If there's a next time; I'll skip the 20in rims and add the smokers pack (to gain a central cubby hole with lid). I'd also consider covering the steering column cover in leather as its not included in the interior pack and leaves a big lump of plastic in full view.

If you didn't already know, this thread shows how little we have in common about our requirements! I bought my Cayman S secondhand so it has most of what I want, a few things I'm not fussed about and only one thing I dislike. Like: 19" wheels - best ride/handling compromise for me. PASM see above All round parking sensors - pretty essential Tel prep - can't believe it's not standard PCM grossly over priced and doesn't do speed cameras but works well otherwise Dual Zone Climate - as everyone says... PDK - it changes gear better and faster than I can, and the gear ratios are more sensible than the manual Sports wheel - didn't think I'd use this. I drive fully manually about half the time and normally use the stick (you always know where it is), but if I'm in auto I tend to use the paddles for override, especially on motorways Got but not fussed about: Bose - overpriced, not great, and a waste when the car is too noisy to appreciate it. You're stuck with spending something if you want PCM - but I would have gone for Sound Package Plus. Leather package, but Heated Seats - handy with the leather package Rear Wash Wipe - would like this if the car was left out and the rear window needed cleaning before setting off, but since the car is under cover it's not really necessary Grey seat belts - ludicrously over priced Sports tail pipe - likewise, whats wrong with the standard one? Would have liked: PTV - useful in the wet (I won't be tracking the car, I prefer to use something more suitable) Really don't like Basalt Black metallic - great if you like washing cars, a pain if you like driving them. Was trying to avoid (successfully): Chronosport: Like the idea of the engine mounts, but the rest is gimmicky. Wouldn't use launch control but would be afraid a previous owner frequently had. 20" wheels - spoil the ride a bit and I don't even like the look SS - too low for me, even PASM is marginal for me.

Only thing I skimped on in the options list was PCCB and heated steering wheel - both which I should have included because with the roof down in winter the leather steering wheel is damn cold and the Porsche brake disc pads really generate a LOT of brake dust.

Things I like and ordered with the car, PDK Brilliant and so fast Auto dim mirrors, very effective and graduate themselves depending on the intensity of the light behind you. Also incorporates the wing mirrors Cruise control Heated seats, nice and toasty on a winter blast 19" Cayman 'S' wheels. Comfortable for me and very easy to keep clean. Things a lot people order but not for me. PCM and sound upgrade. £2500 plus not worth it, you are never going to see the money back at resale and not neede for my Sunday morning drives Sports exhaust. Flat 6 at 7600rpm sounds fruity as it is. One thing that I might have ordered differently, I took the standard Alcantara seats because they grip better and are cool to sit on in the summer. However I sometimes think I would have liked the partial leather in two-tone Agate and Pebble grey

The option I'd really like to have but nobody has yet mentioned is, Delete electronic parking brake. Tick!!

Ozzie Osmond said: The option I'd really like to have but nobody has yet mentioned is, Delete electronic parking brake. Tick!! There must be someone who likes it - but I've yet to meet them. Perhaps its partly because there are few people around with a 9" limb growing out of their right kneecap.

I don't mind the fact that it is electronikerally operated, just the stupid fecking switch position - why ain't it on the centre console, there is plenty of space? Also, is it in the same position in the GT3, as if so, with buckets and harnesses on, you would never be able to operate it (GT4 possible problem)?

I had a very basic Cayman and suited my needs fine, only thing I would have added was a rear wiper. All my journeys start in London so the rwar screen wouldn't clear.

I really, really wish that I'd spec'd the auto wipers - didn't think I'd miss them until it started raining and found that manually adjusting them is a PITA. To this day I don't know why this function isn't STANDARD on a car at this price point. I sometimes miss the fully adjustable seats that I've had in demo cars (purely for the auto dip side mirror on reverse function), but then because of all the electrical gubbins they don't go low enough for me to feel truly comfortable in the car either so that's why I stuck to the manual (upgraded Sports Plus) seats Sport Chrono waste of money IMO - makes little sense on a car with a manual box and on the PDK version I drove, made the car utterly mental (and not in a good way). Utterly useless for road driving unless you like being sat on the redline everywhere

bcr5784 said: There must be someone who likes it - but I've yet to meet them. Perhaps its partly because there are few people around with a 9" limb growing out of their right kneecap. I don't get the hate for this, it's just not a problem. Agreed, it should be on the center console but it's not that big a deal where it is, lean forward a bit and press to switch it on. Then just pull away when ready and it auto disengages (manual and PDK versions). In fact in a PDK equipped car, I could see you never really needing to use it except for the biggest inclines (and even then the auto hold would kick in I would have thought)

It's amazing that Porsche can still get away with making you pay extra for many things that are standard on cars half the price.

Moog72 said: I don't get the hate for this, it's just not a problem. Agreed, it should be on the center console but it's not that big a deal where it is, lean forward a bit and press to switch it on. Then just pull away when ready and it auto disengages (manual and PDK versions). In fact in a PDK equipped car, I could see you never really needing to use it except for the biggest inclines (and even then the auto hold would kick in I would have thought) Agreed you don't ACTUALLY need it on pdk, but even then I don't like to sit on the footbrake at traffic lights (irritates me when people in front of me do that) and effectively you are "riding" the clutch if you do. (No problem with a slushbox, but not the same with creep on a pdk). And if you do put it on it tends to come off automatically with a bit a jerk and clunk.

If at traffic lights etc, I have taken to putting the car in neutral with the double paddle pull (not entirely sure it is necessary, but I wouldn't sit in gear with the clutch down in a manual?), so need the handbrake on. I would therefore prefer that it had auto engagement as in the Audi "hill hold" function.

The only option I wish I had selected was DAB radio. I assume this can't be retro fitted to the PCM?

FrankCayman said: The only option I wish I had selected was DAB radio. I assume this can't be retro fitted to the PCM? I did have a brief look at this and I don't think so. It also requires addition antennae which is either in the windscreen - so needs a new screen or via a external box on the roof of the car. I just use my phone now - I have a big data plan can just use that to receive any digital radio stations that stream to web or app.

TDT said: I did have a brief look at this and I don't think so. It also requires addition antennae which is either in the windscreen - so needs a new screen or via a external box on the roof of the car. I just use my phone now - I have a big data plan can just use that to receive any digital radio stations that stream to web or app. Thank you for the feedback.

ilduce said: It's amazing that Porsche can still get away with making you pay extra for many things that are standard on cars half the price. +1. Its pathetic you get manual aircon in a car at this price point. The most basic of hatch backs come with climate control, auto lights and wipers etc. Almost every Porsche has a minimum of 5k of options just to get the car to a usable spec.

We had a very frustrated salesman when the wife bought hers in the summer, PDK as driven in city traffic, standard 18" wheels for the lousy roads, Front & rear parking sensors as spatially challenged Normal halogen lights - had fancy ones on previous car & not worth the cost A/C not climate control - only one driver Standard vinyl & alcantara seats, if your a female leather seats = scorched arse in the summer & frozen one in winter Multifuntion steering wheel to avoid fiddling with standard radio Things we didn't get Bigger wheels - see poor roads PASM - She won't use it, Sports exhaust - noisy enough Phone package - lethal idea, too distracting No Sat Nav, Automatic wipers - over rated on previous car Leather trims etc, Basically it was specced deliberately as a very basic car with no thoughts of resale, we'll keep it for years & just wanted what WE wanted on it. Kept it basic as less to fail, less motors & weight from fancy seats etc. So far not missing anything

I have a loner out today with the climate control. Glad I didn't waste my money....2 zones for a Cayman cabin is plain silly!! Plus controls are fiddly too.

Called my OPC on Friday to discuss this whole climate control disguised as dual zone etc. and I asked if it was possible to add it to my car as its not gone to build yet but was locked in on their system. They emailed Porsche and they have said I have a few days to add any additional options / remove options. So would you all advise that I add dual zone climate? Is it much better than the standard ac system and will I notice I huge difference? Also, I didn't add PTV to my original spec because I wouldn't be tracking the car a lot but the more I've read about it, people seem to say it helps traction in the wet and at low speed cornering. For people that have PTV, would you tick the option box again or leave it out and save £900? I've got quite a sporty spec: Manual, x73, sports buckets

If I was configuring again I would add the dual zone because its automatic, not because its dual zone which is pointless in a car the size of a Cayman. At the time I nor the sales guy new the difference!

FrankCayman said: I have a loner out today with the climate control. Glad I didn't waste my money....2 zones for a Cayman cabin is plain silly!! Plus controls are fiddly too. Yeah - but the point is it should be "set and forget". The controls on the standard system are fiddly too but at least with proper climate you shouldn't have to use them as much.

rob.kellock said: Yeah - but the point is it should be "set and forget". The controls on the standard system are fiddly too but at least with proper climate you shouldn't have to use them as much. That would be fine if climate control truly worked. I find it needs to be constantly tweaked. I paid the extra for climate in my previous 2 987's but not in my 981 and glad I didn't. I keep the heat in the middle and fan on low in the winter. keep the heat on low and the fan slightly higher in the summer. It works fine and looks neater too.

My 987 didn't have climate control as it was a showroom car. Not having it was a massive PITA as you constantly have to alter the settings. I would with out doubt tick the option.

FrankCayman said: That would be fine if climate control truly worked. I find it needs to be constantly tweaked. I paid the extra for climate in my previous 2 987's but not in my 981 and glad I didn't. I keep the heat in the middle and fan on low in the winter. keep the heat on low and the fan slightly higher in the summer. It works fine and looks neater too. Interesting, thanks. I found the climate on a 991 S loaner I had recently to be miles better than my Cayman so presumed the systems would be similar.

One thing worth considering is the fancy lights, PDLS?, if you intend driving abroad as it allows you to adjust for LH and RH on the OBC. Saves having to use those horrible black sticky things Edited by jredram on Monday 5th January 23:51

A really boring thing I wouldn't be without is cruise control. It's my daily drive and with all the average speed cameras dotted around road works these days, I find it's a must....sadly!

bcr5784 said: Agreed you don't ACTUALLY need it on pdk, but even then I don't like to sit on the footbrake at traffic lights (irritates me when people in front of me do that) and effectively you are "riding" the clutch if you do. (No problem with a slushbox, but not the same with creep on a pdk). And if you do put it on it tends to come off automatically with a bit a jerk and clunk. b ks! You're not riding any clutch sitting on the brakes at lights with a PDK, where in earth did you get that idea? It's a DC automatic gearbox and they are designed to sit at lights for many minutes at a time with your foot on the brake. As for not wanting to put your foot on the brakes at lights, that just does not make sense at all.... You really think you're annoying people behind you with your brake lights? What would you rather do, use the handbrake? This is 2015, not 1955.

Handbrake for me. Dazzling those behind with brake lights when stationary in a queue- poor form. Don't think 2015 has anything to do with it?

koorby said: bcr5784 said: Agreed you don't ACTUALLY need it on pdk, but even then I don't like to sit on the footbrake at traffic lights (irritates me when people in front of me do that) and effectively you are "riding" the clutch if you do. (No problem with a slushbox, but not the same with creep on a pdk). And if you do put it on it tends to come off automatically with a bit a jerk and clunk. b ks! You're not riding any clutch sitting on the brakes at lights with a PDK, where in earth did you get that idea? It's a DC automatic gearbox and they are designed to sit at lights for many minutes at a time with your foot on the brake. As for not wanting to put your foot on the brakes at lights, that just does not make sense at all.... You really think you're annoying people behind you with your brake lights? What would you rather do, use the handbrake? This is 2015, not 1955. People who sit at lights with their foot on the brake lights are complete nobs :roll eyes: There is nothing worse than having the high level brake light boring into your brain for minutes whilst sat at lights, they are very blinding. Just the same as fog lights are.

koorby said: b ks! You're not riding any clutch sitting on the brakes at lights with a PDK, where in earth did you get that idea? It's a DC automatic gearbox and they are designed to sit at lights for many minutes at a time with your foot on the brake. As for not wanting to put your foot on the brakes at lights, that just does not make sense at all.... You really think you're annoying people behind you with your brake lights? What would you rather do, use the handbrake? This is 2015, not 1955. I'm afraid you need to get your facts straight. A dual clutch box has (surprise, surprise) two MECHANICAL friction clutches - in the Porsche case two wet multiplate clutches of different sizes, but operated by a computer. In order to provide creep they slightly engage one of them (the larger one on first gear). I'm sure they have done the sums and the clutch will last quite a long time - but it will INEVITABLY wear the clutch to a degree. Friction clutches have undoubtedly got better since 1955 - but the laws of physics haven't. I personally wouldn't want to use creep continuously if the car was used for a great deal of traffic work. There is no NEED for creep (it was inevitable on torque converter boxes - just that those used to it have come to rely on it). I believe the latest GT3 doesn't do it - and I wish the Cayman didn't either. As nsm3 does I prefer to put the box in neutral at longish stops - and if the handbrake wasn't in such as silly place and worked better I would do it all the time. You may be happy blinding the guy behind at traffic lights - I just think it is inconsiderate. I'd rather people didn't do it to me, so I think it only right not to do it them.

supersport said: People who sit at lights with their foot on the brake lights are complete nobs :roll eyes: There is nothing worse than having the high level brake light boring into your brain for minutes whilst sat at lights, they are very blinding. Just the same as fog lights are. I think you guys might have delicate eyes I've never felt this was a problem when sat behind someone at lights and I live in London where we spend quite a bit of time doing it! Brake lights are no where near comparable in brightness to rear fog lights otherwise they would be illegal as brake lights!

bcr5784 said: I believe the latest GT3 doesn't do it - and I wish the Cayman didn't either. This is correct - PDK-S on the 991 GT3 doesn't have any creep, and I too wish that the normal PDK didn't creep also.

TDT said: bcr5784 said: I believe the latest GT3 doesn't do it - and I wish the Cayman didn't either. This is correct - PDK-S on the 991 GT3 doesn't have any creep, and I too wish that the normal PDK didn't creep also. Would it just be a software change to fix do we think? Or is it a mechanical difference?

maxpower5 said: ilduce said: It's amazing that Porsche can still get away with making you pay extra for many things that are standard on cars half the price. +1. Its pathetic you get manual aircon in a car at this price point. The most basic of hatch backs come with climate control, auto lights and wipers etc. Almost every Porsche has a minimum of 5k of options just to get the car to a usable spec. I remember the salesman trying to get me to pay £150 just to have the headlamp washer covers colour-coded. I should have run away at that point. My Golf has climate, radar cruise control, DAB radio, iphone connection, parking sensors front and rear, a rear wiper, led and cornering lights, alcantara sports seats, sports steering wheel, phone package, auto wipers, auto dim mirrors, four wheel drive... all standard and it cost half the price of a Cayman. Porsche really need to sort themselves out.

Why? Your all still bought a Porsche and spent the extra on tight arsed options. So Porsche made more profit which is managements aim. It's annoying but this will only change if people start buying other brands which offer better value

Adam B said: Why? Your all still bought a Porsche and spent the extra on tight arsed options. So Porsche made more profit which is managements aim. It's annoying but this will only change if people start buying other brands which offer better value I like the fact that Porsche give you the option to build your spec. I see it as better value. I'd rather have a lightly spec'd Cayman at £44K than one the Porsche build with all the options on that I don't want and sell for a list price of £50K. Base Caymans are a massive bargain when you consider they are less than some 2 series BMW's. Let's face it, trying to compare a Golf with a Porsche is pretty silly really. It's rather like saying 'My new build 3 bedroom detached property has 3 ensuite bathrooms and only cost £250,000, when there's a Barn conversion up the road made out of old wood for £600,000 that doesn't' Hmmm, probably not a great analogy, but you get my point!

Mario149 said: supersport said: People who sit at lights with their foot on the brake lights are complete nobs :roll eyes: There is nothing worse than having the high level brake light boring into your brain for minutes whilst sat at lights, they are very blinding. Just the same as fog lights are. I think you guys might have delicate eyes I've never felt this was a problem when sat behind someone at lights and I live in London where we spend quite a bit of time doing it! Brake lights are no where near comparable in brightness to rear fog lights otherwise they would be illegal as brake lights! As one of those poor souls with the sensitive eyes I do find this trait to be a pain.As brake lights are limited by wattage rather than lumens(brightness) it is more apparent that manufacturers putting LED brake lights in (Merc) don't worry about the brightness. Some of the latest cars are stupidly bright and whether this is the case or not why has the practice of putting on a handbrake disappeared?

It is poor form sitting with the brakes on while stationary. At night it is dazzling. The only time I do it is when an attractive female is behind and I press the brakes to illuminate her face to enjoy in the rear view mirror! You would also fail your driving test if you didn't apply the handbrake when stopped.

maxpower5 said: You would also fail your driving test if you didn't apply the handbrake when stopped. True, but there are quite a number of things you would fail your driving test on which aren't strictly applicable to the real world. And I say this after going out with my gf's instructor for a test (I passed in 1999) on a proper route and everything the other day for a bit of a laugh - we took the Ferrari I passed btw, 3 minors

koorby said: Only thing I skimped on in the options list was PCCB and heated steering wheel - both which I should have included because with the roof down in winter the leather steering wheel is damn cold and the Porsche brake disc pads really generate a LOT of brake dust. I went for the heated multifunctional steering wheel which I am pleased with EXCEPT for the bloody gear change buttons (PDK). Thought I would adapt but they are just not intuitive! Agree re PCCBs. I might have splashed out JUST to avoid the quantity of brake dust which I have never experienced before...

miskalachi said: Called my OPC on Friday to discuss this whole climate control disguised as dual zone etc. and I asked if it was possible to add it to my car as its not gone to build yet but was locked in on their system. They emailed Porsche and they have said I have a few days to add any additional options / remove options. So would you all advise that I add dual zone climate? Is it much better than the standard ac system and will I notice I huge difference? Also, I didn't add PTV to my original spec because I wouldn't be tracking the car a lot but the more I've read about it, people seem to say it helps traction in the wet and at low speed cornering. For people that have PTV, would you tick the option box again or leave it out and save £900? I've got quite a sporty spec: Manual, x73, sports buckets I have the dual zone climate control in my BGTS and it works well. A pity there is nothing in between this and the basic system. I would not be happy without it.

I've been driving for 34 years and never once have I engaged the handbrake at a red light nor was I taught to do so. In fact none of my friends or family do either so there seems to be a vocal minority here. Neither have I ever once been 'blinded' by brake lights from the car in front; some folks must have very very sensitive eyes. Most drivers in Asia, USA, Australia and NZ drive automatics and trust me, they hold their feet on the foot brake at lights, it would be illogical not to do so in an automatic. It's only when I moved over to the UK three years ago that I realised just how old school and stuck in the 1950's this country has become with a vast number of people still holding onto the antiquated belief that driving a manual is more sporty or gives you more 'control'. First thing I did was get my Brit wife an automatic and convince most of her family to do the same; no more dreary and tiresome family arguments about the pros and cons since none of them would ever go back to a manual now. Incidentally if you have PDK and are driving in the city or motorway slow traffic, the stop/start function of the engine would negate any supposed wear on the clutches since drive is disengaged when the engine is stopped. I guess a moot point then?

koorby said: I've been driving for 34 years and never once have I engaged the handbrake at a red light nor was I taught to do so . Did you learn in an automatic?

koorby said: Incidentally if you have PDK and are driving in the city or motorway slow traffic, the stop/start function of the engine would negate any supposed wear on the clutches since drive is disengaged when the engine is stopped. I guess a moot point then? While that is true, that function is also a PITA. It requires you to brake to a standstill, which is not comfortable for passengers (and in the absence of creep wouldn't be necessary). And in slow moving traffic the constant starting and stopping of the engine irritates the hell out of my other half - and grates on me a bit too.

FrankCayman said: I like the fact that Porsche give you the option to build your spec. I see it as better value. I'd rather have a lightly spec'd Cayman at £44K than one the Porsche build with all the options on that I don't want and sell for a list price of £50K. Base Caymans are a massive bargain when you consider they are less than some 2 series BMW's. Let's face it, trying to compare a Golf with a Porsche is pretty silly really. It's rather like saying 'My new build 3 bedroom detached property has 3 ensuite bathrooms and only cost £250,000, when there's a Barn conversion up the road made out of old wood for £600,000 that doesn't' Hmmm, probably not a great analogy, but you get my point! Agree up to a point but some options just take the piss, having non-automatic aircon rather than automatic climate control was possible in this day and age, until Porsche went backwards on this from the 987/997 For example metallic paint and rear wiper should be NCO, floor mats should be included, and the cost of leather interiors is a joke

koorby said: I've been driving for 34 years and never once have I engaged the handbrake at a red light nor was I taught to do so. In fact none of my friends or family do either so there seems to be a vocal minority here. Neither have I ever once been 'blinded' by brake lights from the car in front; some folks must have very very sensitive eyes. Most drivers in Asia, USA, Australia and NZ drive automatics and trust me, they hold their feet on the foot brake at lights, it would be illogical not to do so in an automatic. It's only when I moved over to the UK three years ago that I realised just how old school and stuck in the 1950's this country has become with a vast number of people still holding onto the antiquated belief that driving a manual is more sporty or gives you more 'control'. First thing I did was get my Brit wife an automatic and convince most of her family to do the same; no more dreary and tiresome family arguments about the pros and cons since none of them would ever go back to a manual now. Incidentally if you have PDK and are driving in the city or motorway slow traffic, the stop/start function of the engine would negate any supposed wear on the clutches since drive is disengaged when the engine is stopped. I guess a moot point then? Well obviously as you have been driving for 1 more year than me you must know best. I was taught to use the handbrake and continue to do so whether I am in a manual or an auto. You won't change my stuck in the 50's antiquated view that it is better for the transmission and shows common courtesy to other drivers.

J12KJR said: it is better for the transmission and shows common courtesy to other drivers. agree

cibble10 said: I went for the heated multifunctional steering wheel which I am pleased with EXCEPT for the bloody gear change buttons (PDK). Thought I would adapt but they are just not intuitive! Agree re PCCBs. I might have splashed out JUST to avoid the quantity of brake dust which I have never experienced before... I have a manual so the issue doesn't effect me, but I do feel your predicament. I've just returned a loner today which had PDK with the Paddles rather than buttons. The paddles are a far more logical and superior way to change gear with a PDK.....but I did miss the multifunction steering wheel terribly....plus you end up with 2 paddles and 4 stalks...it looked a right mess!! Do you think you may change the steering wheel? Such a shame you're not totally happy with the spec.

FrankCayman said: cibble10 said: I went for the heated multifunctional steering wheel which I am pleased with EXCEPT for the bloody gear change buttons (PDK). Thought I would adapt but they are just not intuitive! Agree re PCCBs. I might have splashed out JUST to avoid the quantity of brake dust which I have never experienced before... I have a manual so the issue doesn't effect me, but I do feel your predicament. I've just returned a loner today which had PDK with the Paddles rather than buttons. The paddles are a far more logical and superior way to change gear with a PDK.....but I did miss the multifunction steering wheel terribly....plus you end up with 2 paddles and 4 stalks...it looked a right mess!! Do you think you may change the steering wheel? Such a shame you're not totally happy with the spec. whilst I am no auto electrician logic suggests that as they are just switches you should be able to change round the wiring so that the push becomes a down shift and the pull becomes an up shift. I realise that the buttons would be engraved incorrectly but it would be a small price to pay for an intuitive solution. Someone will probably be along soon to say it isn't that simple.

bcr5784 said: You might well find that your speedo is a bit optimistic, mine was (use a freestanding GPS to find out - or time between mile posts on the Motorway). I think the general rule is that you won't get prosecuted unless you are doing more than 70+10% +2mph = 79mph. If there are other factors such as poor visibility etc then I really wouldn't push your luck. That's one of the first things I do with any new car, the GTS and the GT4 were both unerringly accurate, 1mph (optimistic) over at 50

SkinnyPete said: Why the electric seats? I have them on mine and they are totally superfluous, the manually adjustable sport seats plus are far superior. In fact every time I drive another Porsche with sport seats plus it reminds me how bad the 14 way electrical ones are I just imagined them to have a lot more adjustment available, sometimes i can struggle to get really comfortable in a seat. I understand you can get the electric adjustment on both both sports and non sports seats (i would want electric sports seats). Well at the moment anyway, obviously i need to sit in a couple first and see how i get on. Mrs skinny is a little shorter so presets might also be useful. Twinfan said: Sport Chrono on a 981 only blips in Sport Plus, not Sport, unlike on a 718 where if you have Sport Chrono it blips in both modes. Ok thanks. I was expecting that there was a sports mode where it included the blip, which i wouldn't be able to independently disable whilst in that mode. As for sounds, was burmester an option on the 981? I don't think I've seen a single car with it fitted (or at least, advertised)

Yep Burmester was a stupidly priced option at £2663. Bose was bad enough at £801. I think for both you may have had to have PCM at £2141 too, or at least Sound Package Plus at £1052 to get the CDR head unit. I think Bose and Burnester are a waste of money in a noisy mid-engined sportscar like the Cayman. I only ordered SPP so I could get a reversing camera and DAB!

Twinfan said: Yep Burmester was a stupidly priced option at £2663. Bose was bad enough at £801. I think for both you may have had to have PCM at £2141 too, or at least Sound Package Plus at £1052 to get the CDR head unit. I think Bose and Burnester are a waste of money in a noisy mid-engined sportscar like the Cayman. I only ordered SPP so I could get a reversing camera and DAB! +1

Mine came with some James bond s t ….

Porsche911R said: BOSE is 10x better than SPP though, I like it. just turn the base down 2 clicks and up the treble about 3 and it sounds pretty good, SPP is pretty s t. SSP is better than the BOSE in my TTS. It's good enough for a noisy car.

DJMC said: SSP is better than the BOSE in my TTS. It's good enough for a noisy car. Not sure why MrD thinks Bose is 10x better, most people seem to think it's decidedly average. In a noisy sportscar I find SPP is good enough for the odd cruise. Most of the time it's off and I have the windows open

Twinfan said: Not sure why MrD thinks Bose is 10x better, most people seem to think it's decidedly average. In a noisy sportscar I find SPP is good enough for the odd cruise. Most of the time it's off and I have the windows open because I have had 8 porkers with and without it, and BOSE is a far better system once set up. One cannot drive windows open in modern cars due to high buffering. Is what is hence hence the step in price in the 3 systems.

Porsche911R said: because I have had 8 porkers with and without it, and BOSE is a far better system once set up. One cannot drive windows open in modern cars due to high buffering. Is what is hence hence the step in price in the 3 systems. It makes no difference how many Porsches you've had. The Bose v Spp debate depends on the model of Porsche and personal preference. 987 Boxster benefitted from Bose, yet the weird cabin acoustics of the 987 Cayman didn't require Bose over Spp. Bose was slightly better than Spp in a 981, but really not worth the extra cash. Of course, I don't expect you to agree!

Bose is tosh. SPP is ok, anyone recommend the Burmeister ?

skinny said: SkinnyPete said: Why the electric seats? I have them on mine and they are totally superfluous, the manually adjustable sport seats plus are far superior. In fact every time I drive another Porsche with sport seats plus it reminds me how bad the 14 way electrical ones are I just imagined them to have a lot more adjustment available, sometimes i can struggle to get really comfortable in a seat. I understand you can get the electric adjustment on both both sports and non sports seats (i would want electric sports seats). Well at the moment anyway, obviously i need to sit in a couple first and see how i get on. Mrs skinny is a little shorter so presets might also be useful. My argument against the 14 way adjustable is more the lack of support, I almost fall out of the seat at every corner. I think I've said it before but my old Mondeo is has more aggressively bolstered seats. P.S. Wouldn't buy a Porsche without Bose, SPP is awful. Just get BOSE and knock bass down 2 clicks and its perfect.

Only know one guy with Burmester - he didn't think it was anything special. Whether that is because everything sounds naff in a Cayman at speed, or whether it's because everything sounds naff in a Cayman, even stopped, I can't say.

Porsche911R said: One cannot drive windows open in modern cars due to high buffering. Bobbins. I have the same AWE foilers you had on your GT4 and they work great.

I went fairly nuts on options when I speced my 981 BGTS.......actually......who am I kidding.....I went mental with the options! Thing is, I could afford it and, in hindsight, there isn't a single one I would delete. It is a keeper after all and it's my daily too. I love my 18 way electric seats, both the ease of getting out of a tight parking spot at work and the dipping nearside mirror when reversing. The memory is nice after some kind tech moves my seats around. I love my Burmester. I had a loan Boxster S for a few weeks before I ordered my car and I HATED the Bose. It was awful! I love the Bose in our MX-5 so was somewhat surprised to find that. I leathered everything in sight and, once I ran out of official options, I started making up my own via Exclusive. Once again, fortunately ,given the cost, no regrets there either. It's all "horses for courses".

SkinnyPete said: My argument against the 14 way adjustable is more the lack of support, I almost fall out of the seat at every corner. I think I've said it before but my old Mondeo is has more aggressively bolstered seats. P.S. Wouldn't buy a Porsche without Bose, SPP is awful. Just get BOSE and knock bass down 2 clicks and its perfect. Thanks - i won't rule out the basic sports seats then. I've read both ways re SPP vs bose. I don't expect something to blow my mind esp in the 981 boxster cabin - as long as i can get my tunes on and hear all the highs and lows across all my music! Edited by skinny on Thursday 7th March 08:05

Flyferrari said: I went fairly nuts on options when I speced my 981 BGTS.......actually......who am I kidding.....I went mental with the options! Thing is, I could afford it and, in hindsight, there isn't a single one I would delete. It is a keeper after all and it's my daily too. I love my 18 way electric seats, both the ease of getting out of a tight parking spot at work and the dipping nearside mirror when reversing. The memory is nice after some kind tech moves my seats around. I love my Burmester. I had a loan Boxster S for a few weeks before I ordered my car and I HATED the Bose. It was awful! I love the Bose in our MX-5 so was somewhat surprised to find that. I leathered everything in sight and, once I ran out of official options, I started making up my own via Exclusive. Once again, fortunately ,given the cost, no regrets there either. It's all "horses for courses". FF I’d love to see the spec sheet on a car that was hammered with options and a few pics maybe.sounds like the proper way to buy a bxt if budget ain’t an option.

FrankCayman said: It makes no difference how many Porsches you've had. The Bose v Spp debate depends on the model of Porsche and personal preference. 987 Boxster benefitted from Bose, yet the weird cabin acoustics of the 987 Cayman didn't require Bose over Spp. Bose was slightly better than Spp in a 981, but really not worth the extra cash. Of course, I don't expect you to agree! but I do agree you state is slight better :-) you have to pay for slightly better hence the option choices on Porsche and all other brands. it's pretty simple. I do think, yes it's a bit more than Slightly better hence I speced it yet again over SPP.

SkinnyPete said: P.S. Wouldn't buy a Porsche without Bose, SPP is awful. Just get BOSE and knock bass down 2 clicks and its perfect. correct makes you wonder what other people talk s t about lol but that's forums for you :-)

Schmed said: Bose is tosh. SPP is ok, anyone recommend the Burmeister ? it's excellent but silly money, a car sound system will always be compromised IMHO great if it was specced by the first owner I found Bose better than standard Porsche SS

My 981CS has SPP. the speakers for BASE/SPP/BOSE and Burmester are all cheap and made by the same company (ASK) and branded. So far I've done the tweeters from Musicar, that alone is enough for me I think. https://rennlist.com/forums/991/966586-musicar-nor... /D Edited by dbryder on Friday 8th March 13:05

dbryder said: the speakers for BASE/SPP/BOSE and Burmester are all cheap and made by the same company (ASK) and branded. really? so you blow £5k on "Burmester" what you actually get is some slightly better ASK speakers and some grille badges?

dbryder said: My 981CS has SPP. the speakers for BASE/SPP/BOSE and Burmester are all cheap and made by the same company (ASK) and branded. So far I've done the tweeters from Musicar, that alone is enough for me I think. https://rennlist.com/forums/991/966586-musicar-nor... /D Edited by dbryder on Friday 8th March 13:05 That's a start, but the base is very woolly. I know others have stuffed the port on the sub-woofer. The middle isn't great either - voices don't sound natural. Apart from that it's terrific. Problem with many expensive (2 seater) car setups is that, instead of focussing on a good 4 or 5 speaker set up they try to impress buyers with speaker numbers and (pseudo) surround sound. Edited by bcr5784 on Friday 8th March 13:44

I bought my 981S when it was 14 months old. The only thing I would have liked was electric folding wing mirrors, just to make it easier to get in the garage.

stebbo said: I bought my 981S when it was 14 months old. The only thing I would have liked was electric folding wing mirrors, just to make it easier to get in the garage. Given the way they swivel, they don't make much difference to be honest...

Twinfan said: stebbo said: I bought my 981S when it was 14 months old. The only thing I would have liked was electric folding wing mirrors, just to make it easier to get in the garage. Given the way they swivel, they don't make much difference to be honest... Useful visual confirmation that you've locked the car, though (I am rather absentminded!).

drcarrera said: Useful visual confirmation that you've locked the car, though (I am rather absentminded!). I must admit, that's the main thing I use them for...

dbryder said: My 981CS has SPP. the speakers for BASE/SPP/BOSE and Burmester are all cheap and made by the same company (ASK) and branded. So far I've done the tweeters from Musicar, that alone is enough for me I think. https://rennlist.com/forums/991/966586-musicar-nor... /D Edited by dbryder on Friday 8th March 13:05 You could say that about any component on a mass produced car though. Everything is made to a budget even on the most expensive of cars.

Also, 987.1 Bose sounds better than 981 Bose.

The one option that I added that has been a waste of money is Bose, I think I included it thinking “it was one of the options I should have”. Not so much for the improved sound quality over standard but because I never listen to it as I spend all the time taking in the wondrous 981 BGTS engine sound which I never tire of. Should have put the money towards adaptive sports seats plus which I wish I had included!

PS4S tyres only seem to be available for 20” wheels on mine, in hindsight this is the one thing I wish I’d known at the time as would’ve specced them. Dealer 20” official rim prices are now double the price. I was not impressed with the Bose when I tried it on a loaner car, the SPP is adequate.

Front & rear parking sensors - I just went for rear which means bleeps only and no display.

Radish said: Front & rear parking sensors - I just went for rear which means bleeps only and no display. I had both specced at first then added the camera too at the last minute - totally worth it and wouldn't be without one now.

dreamcar said: The one option that I added that has been a waste of money is Bose, I think I included it thinking “it was one of the options I should have”. Not so much for the improved sound quality over standard but because I never listen to it as I spend all the time taking in the wondrous 981 BGTS engine sound which I never tire of. Should have put the money towards adaptive sports seats plus which I wish I had included! For exactly that reason I did not spec any stereo upgrade on my GT3 Touring. Why would I want to listen to anything else than that glorious 4.0 litre flat six?

SkinnyPete said: You could say that about any component on a mass produced car though. Everything is made to a budget even on the most expensive of cars. Yes, but by contrast the Alpine uses Focal speakers (a serious hifi player,), only has 4 of them, and the sound produced is in a completely different league to the Bose system in my 981 . Like I say if you use half the speakers you can spend twice as much on each and get a better result. Edited by bcr5784 on Saturday 9th March 08:50 Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 20th March 09:20

Thought id add (and bring this back alive) as dated as this thread may be its immensely helpful to a new buyer. Took to page 6 or 7 but the highlight was to read that a car not speced with heated seats isn't such a tragedy if the vehicles seats have the alcantara inserts. Ian

I'm in the market for a 981 Boxster S at the moment, many hours of looking and reading up. Online there are cars of similar mileage, but with vastly different specs and the prices can seemingly vary a lot! Trying to stay under £30k ideally. I'm interested in what people think the value of different options are now in 2024? What would you prioritise for ownership and/or resale? Options below that I'm prioritising at the moment, PDK Sports Design Steering Wheel PSE PASM Leather Dash Not white Not sure I am too interested in but perhaps should care about: Sports Chrono (I've heard the PADM mounts can be a problem), Heated Seats, PTV, PDLS etc. Thanks in advance!

Things like exhaust and steering wheel can be retrofitted on a relatively straightforward & cost effective basis. Leather dash & paint would be much harder to do. So buying on condition would be more important to me. My first Porsche had the multifunction steering wheel (not ideal) but was a good example for the money so I went ahead. Had planned to swap it out for a PDK one with the proper paddles but eventually learned to live with it based on how infrequently I was using it in manual mode. I think assigning value of options is very difficult in the second-hand market and on a forum you'll likely get a strong opinion on the 'must haves' that may not reflect the buyer market.

SV makes a fair point about condition over spec, but assuming you have anumber of decent condition cars: I would separate out into: 1. must haves and not practical to retrofit: Colour PDK PASM Leather Dash 2. must haves but can retrofit Sports Design Steering Wheel PSE 3. Nices to haves: Sports Chrono Heated Seats PTV PDLS personally I would wait till you get a car with all your 1 ans 2s, wich wil inevitably have some 3s too it is not a rare car so one shoudl come along to your taste, and why retrofit a PSE for £3k, when fitted to a used car its worth £300

£300? How do you come to that figure?

I plucked it from my orifice. Not a precise number but probably about right on a 30k car, and IME of buying Porsches

OP from 9 years ago here We're all different. Now I love a PSE on a Porsche, and had one on my BGTS that originated this thread, but I don't think they're worth anything, or not anything that you could put a number on for a boxster. They just aid ease of sale with certain buyers / increase your buyer base. For me on a 981, a PSE would be a must. But I would not pay 3k for one to be fitted, simple as. There are enough out there that I'd just wait a little longer for one with. Conversely, if you're not into a PSE, or ambivalent, you're just gonna buy the car anyway, or not. There are too many other factors at play. Conversely I recently bought a Ferrari 612 which is relative poverty spec (as much a 300k in modern money can be "poverty" lol, and there wasnt much you could add to them in 2004 to be fair ). Would I have preferred one with the HGTS/C package that has the fruitier exhaust? Yes, but I had a fixed budget, there's only a handful for sale at any given time and they move slooooowly, so there you do see a noticeable price difference.

Going to clarify my prev post below. If you took and average of all boxsters and accounted for difference options vs sale price, i'm sure you could come up with a "value" figure for PSE. But it would only be valid across a large sample, say if you bought 20+ cars at the same time. For an individual purchase by a single person, that figure would be meaningless though Mario149 said: OP from 9 years ago here We're all different. Now I love a PSE on a Porsche, and had one on my BGTS that originated this thread, but I don't think they're worth anything, or not anything that you could put a number on for a boxster. They just aid ease of sale with certain buyers / increase your buyer base. For me on a 981, a PSE would be a must. But I would not pay 3k for one to be fitted, simple as. There are enough out there that I'd just wait a little longer for one with. Conversely, if you're not into a PSE, or ambivalent, you're just gonna buy the car anyway, or not. There are too many other factors at play. Conversely I recently bought a Ferrari 612 which is relative poverty spec (as much a 300k in modern money can be "poverty" lol, and there wasnt much you could add to them in 2004 to be fair ). Would I have preferred one with the HGTS/C package that has the fruitier exhaust? Yes, but I had a fixed budget, there's only a handful for sale at any given time and they move slooooowly, so there you do see a noticeable price difference.

Mario149 said: For me on a 981, a PSE would be a must. But I would not pay 3k for one to be fitted, simple as. There are enough out there that I'd just wait a little longer for one with. Its 3.5K+ to retrofit OEM .... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... ...so finding one with it must equate to circa £2K

TBH when I said exhaust can be retrofitted straightforward & cost effective I was referring to an aftermarket solution like Carnewal

SV_WDC said: TBH when I said exhaust can be retrofitted straightforward & cost effective I was referring to an aftermarket solution like Carnewal Can't see the advantage. The OEM comes with the dash button (rather than those fobs you need) and the amount of R&D Porsche will have put into theirs is far superior to that of a 3rd party.

KittyLitter said: Its 3.5K+ to retrofit OEM .... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... ...so finding one with it must equate to circa £2K Maybe on a £70k nearly new car but not on a 6 year old £30k car it doesn’t

KittyLitter said: Its 3.5K+ to retrofit OEM .... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... ...so finding one with it must equate to circa £2K Mine cost £1700 at an OPC, although that was a few years ago.

KittyLitter said: Its 3.5K+ to retrofit OEM .... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... ...so finding one with it must equate to circa £2K I see what you're saying, but I don't think it works like that in real life, certainly not on an individual sale basis. A dealer isn't going to look at a car he wants to put into stick, find out it has a sports exhaust, then add 2k to the original sale price they had in their head. Equally, a buyer isn't going to view a car, and think it's 2k too expensive then suddenly change their mind when it has PSE. There's just too many other factors involved. And all that assumes that most buyers do actually want a PSE. Wouldn't surprise me at all to find out that outside of PH world, many/most buyers might not want the OTT pops and bangs from 981/991 onwards cars, even though I suspect most of us here love it

A real world example to illustrate. Few years back I was buying a nearly new Macan turbo - 2 years old, budget about 50k, high spec ones were 76-80 new Came down to 2 examples, both decent nick, approx 10k miles and a year of warranty Grey with sport classics Black with turbos So both easy to sell colours with black leather I preferred the look of the SCs but the black one had 17k of options and the grey 10k. Some of the 7k difference was PSE and PTV I went with the black one, I knocked both down by £2k but they were the same price, the extra options just made it slightly more attractive to sell

This Boxster 981s has been for sale for over 15 months on AT https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308070... Initially was on at £37,950 but doesn't have PSE, Leather Dash and no BOSE. IMO if it had two of the three I'm pretty sure it would have sold by now.

Spevs said: This Boxster 981s has been for sale for over 15 months on AT https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308070... Initially was on at £37,950 but doesn't have PSE, Leather Dash and no BOSE. IMO if it had two of the three I'm pretty sure it would have sold by now. I think the 'lack' of extras is not the issue, it's a 2012 car at the end of the day and it's too expensive for what people want to pay. Lack of Bose in a convertible wouldn't bother me, neither does the lack of leather dash (in a GT4 it would but that's a car at twice the price of this). I don't know why some get hyped up over PSE, switching the car to 'Sport' alters the engine note that will provide the blips and overrun 'pops' if that's what drivers want. It's certainly not worth £2k+ retro fit and makes negligible difference px or resale just potentially limits your target audience due to swallowing the 'must have' guff.