Buying a 981, red flags? - Page 3 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

I viewed a Boxster 981 recently. Stunning car, a bit of a unicorn being Aqua blue with tan extended leather, plus PSE. I looked at the paperwork in detail. At the last service, 18 months ago at an OPC, they had flagged up the following, all of which the owner declined: 1. Replace tyres. (But none at less than 4.5mm) 2. Rear brake discs 'close to limit'. (No more details) 3. Exhaust leak from flanges and exhaust valves. 4. Slight oil leak from cam cover bank two. Are these genuine red flags, or is it more likely to be an overzealous OPC out for a bit of light extortion?

paulguitar said: or is it more likely to be an overzealous OPC out for a bit of light extortion? I would say this.

Notwithstanding the fact that I'm currently looking for a BMW 440i, this lovely Cayman caught my eye... https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311304... I'm not much of a Porsche expert so I don't know if these are affected by the bore scoring and IMS bearing issues that I've heard mentioned. Nor do I know how reliable the PDK and PASM systems are. At least this one doesn't appear to have PADM, which I'd consider a blessing! I'll watch the thread with interest as I may yet be swayed by a nice 981!

MitchT said: Notwithstanding the fact that I'm currently looking for a BMW 440i, this lovely Cayman caught my eye... https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311304... I'm not much of a Porsche expert so I don't know if these are affected by the bore scoring and IMS bearing issues that I've heard mentioned. Nor do I know how reliable the PDK and PASM systems are. At least this one doesn't appear to have PADM, which I'd consider a blessing! I'll watch the thread with interest as I may yet be swayed by a nice 981! Some nice options on that for a 2.7. Bore score and IMS not an issue. When you think of the failure of expensive components the internet is not a good barometer. You only hear about the ones that have gone wrong, the many thousands that are faultless don't feature. If it concerns you buy a warranty and tie yourself in to Porsche servicing on what is now an 11yr old car.

the-norseman said: paulguitar said: or is it more likely to be an overzealous OPC out for a bit of light extortion? I would say this. I was thinking the same. Also, an amazing story from the owner. Within a few weeks of getting the service referred to at that OPC, a heavy rainstorm resulted in the dreaded water ingress under the passenger seat. They'd specifically listed having cleared the drain channels on the service bill but then charged the owner over £3,000 to dry out the car and replace the modules.

What do going on with the mileage, the ad says 46700 miles, but the photo with the cluster visible shows 8729m And the inspection video in the ad shows 27900miles on the odometer. Edited by elan362 on Tuesday 12th March 17:45

MitchT said: Notwithstanding the fact that I'm currently looking for a BMW 440i, this lovely Cayman caught my eye... https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311304... At least this one doesn't appear to have PADM, which I'd consider a blessing! This one will have PADM, it's part of the Sport Chrono package. Slightly odd spec car - lots of options especially for a 2.7 but standard headlights which would be a deal breaker for me.

paulguitar said: Also, an amazing story from the owner. Within a few weeks of getting the service referred to at that OPC, a heavy rainstorm resulted in the dreaded water ingress under the passenger seat. They'd specifically listed having cleared the drain channels on the service bill but then charged the owner over £3,000 to dry out the car and replace the modules. Blowing air down the two drain holes from the top is not ideal as you're effectively pushing the crud to the one way valves behind the side intake panels. Some will use a 'trombone cleaner' but even this will not get past the valve without the risk of inverting the rubber causing further blockage risk. The best solution is to take off the side skirt (20mins of a job) and remove the valves. Either give them a good cleaning along with prodding the drain pipes and either put them back or leave them off to get the best discharge of water. You can then clean out all the crap like small stones that have entered the side intakes

Armitage.Shanks said: paulguitar said: Also, an amazing story from the owner. Within a few weeks of getting the service referred to at that OPC, a heavy rainstorm resulted in the dreaded water ingress under the passenger seat. They'd specifically listed having cleared the drain channels on the service bill but then charged the owner over £3,000 to dry out the car and replace the modules. Blowing air down the two drain holes from the top is not ideal as you're effectively pushing the crud to the one way valves behind the side intake panels. Some will use a 'trombone cleaner' but even this will not get past the valve without the risk of inverting the rubber causing further blockage risk. The best solution is to take off the side skirt (20mins of a job) and remove the valves. Either give them a good cleaning along with prodding the drain pipes and either put them back or leave them off to get the best discharge of water. You can then clean out all the crap like small stones that have entered the side intakes Thanks for the info. I fully intend to get that sorted as a matter of urgency, whichever 981 I end up buying. I already took care of it on my (current) 987.

paulguitar said: I viewed a Boxster 981 recently. Stunning car, a bit of a unicorn being Aqua blue with tan extended leather, plus PSE. I looked at the paperwork in detail. At the last service, 18 months ago at an OPC, they had flagged up the following, all of which the owner declined: 1. Replace tyres. (But none at less than 4.5mm) 2. Rear brake discs 'close to limit'. (No more details) 3. Exhaust leak from flanges and exhaust valves. 4. Slight oil leak from cam cover bank two. Are these genuine red flags, or is it more likely to be an overzealous OPC out for a bit of light extortion? What we don't see is Porsche probably quoted him 5 grand to fix this lot. Or maybe more. And I'd guess that scared him off. They don't fix PSE valves so they will replace the whole exhaust. Does standard have valves? 2 grand maybe. Brake discs rear only and pads will be a grand. Tyres definitely a grand. Oil leak is engine out and then fixing stuff easily a grand. So that's how i get to 5. If you had warranty I don't think you'd be saved from all of that. Maybe the oil leak is warranty but that's it. I've heard different reports from owners about exhaust being a consumable item and so therefore not warranty. Obviously if you do have warranty I don't think you can decline remedial work like this or that may invalidate your warranty going forward.

ATM said: paulguitar said: I viewed a Boxster 981 recently. Stunning car, a bit of a unicorn being Aqua blue with tan extended leather, plus PSE. I looked at the paperwork in detail. At the last service, 18 months ago at an OPC, they had flagged up the following, all of which the owner declined: 1. Replace tyres. (But none at less than 4.5mm) 2. Rear brake discs 'close to limit'. (No more details) 3. Exhaust leak from flanges and exhaust valves. 4. Slight oil leak from cam cover bank two. Are these genuine red flags, or is it more likely to be an overzealous OPC out for a bit of light extortion? What we don't see is Porsche probably quoted him 5 grand to fix this lot. Or maybe more. And I'd guess that scared him off. They don't fix PSE valves so they will replace the whole exhaust. Does standard have valves? 2 grand maybe. Brake discs rear only and pads will be a grand. Tyres definitely a grand. Oil leak is engine out and then fixing stuff easily a grand. So that's how i get to 5. If you had warranty I don't think you'd be saved from all of that. Maybe the oil leak is warranty but that's it. I've heard different reports from owners about exhaust being a consumable item and so therefore not warranty. Obviously if you do have warranty I don't think you can decline remedial work like this or that may invalidate your warranty going forward. Yes, I suspect you are right. I doubt the tyres and brakes genuinely need doing, and I'd imagine the exhaust and small oil leak would be able to be solved fairly easily at an independent during its next scheduled service, in September this year. The seller is pretty adamant he's not going to drop below his asking price of £25,000. I genuinely love the car, it's by some margin the most striking I have looked at, but I'd be much happier at £23k to give me some headroom for stuff that might need doing. Here it is:

paulguitar said: The seller is pretty adamant he's not going to drop below his asking price of £25,000. I genuinely love the car, it's by some margin the most striking I have looked at, but I'd be much happier at £23k to give me some headroom for stuff that might need doing. Good for him I don't like to hear stories of sellers dropping thousands off their asking price but nowadays most buyers seem to assume its fair game. If more sellers stopped doing it then maybe we'd get buyers to understand its not a given they can always rely on.

ATM said: paulguitar said: The seller is pretty adamant he's not going to drop below his asking price of £25,000. I genuinely love the car, it's by some margin the most striking I have looked at, but I'd be much happier at £23k to give me some headroom for stuff that might need doing. Good for him I don't like to hear stories of sellers dropping thousands off their asking price but nowadays most buyers seem to assume its fair game. If more sellers stopped doing it then maybe we'd get buyers to understand its not a given they can always rely on. I'm always reluctant to go much over the Autotrader valuation for a private sale. That said, a seller sticking to their guns gives me the impression they believe in their car, which is encouraging.

MitchT said: Notwithstanding the fact that I'm currently looking for a BMW 440i, this lovely Cayman caught my eye... https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311304... I'm not much of a Porsche expert so I don't know if these are affected by the bore scoring and IMS bearing issues that I've heard mentioned. Nor do I know how reliable the PDK and PASM systems are. At least this one doesn't appear to have PADM, which I'd consider a blessing! I'll watch the thread with interest as I may yet be swayed by a nice 981! As an owner myself, that's a £25k, absolute maximum, car.

DJMC said: As an owner myself, that's a £25k, absolute maximum, car. Interesting to know. At £25k I'd buy it and stick a Porsche warranty on it. Looking at the Porsche website it'd be just under £2k for 36 months' cover.

MitchT said: DJMC said: As an owner myself, that's a £25k, absolute maximum, car. Interesting to know. At £25k I'd buy it and stick a Porsche warranty on it. Looking at the Porsche website it'd be just under £2k for 36 months' cover. Except you'd have to fix most of the stuff first before you can get the warranty.

MitchT said: DJMC said: As an owner myself, that's a £25k, absolute maximum, car. Interesting to know. At £25k I'd buy it and stick a Porsche warranty on it. Looking at the Porsche website it'd be just under £2k for 36 months' cover. I’d say at 25k a lot more than you would buy it.

Laughable suggesting tyre replacement with 4.5mm left!

SV_WDC said: Laughable suggesting tyre replacement with 4.5mm left! Agreed. It rather brings into suspicion the OPC’s other advisories too..:

paulguitar said: SV_WDC said: Laughable suggesting tyre replacement with 4.5mm left! Agreed. It rather brings into suspicion the OPC’s other advisories too..: Having driven into standing water on the M4 and narrowly saving an aquaplane spin I would def suggest replacing tires early on these. 4.5mm is a bit bold however.

trumpton7291 said: paulguitar said: SV_WDC said: Laughable suggesting tyre replacement with 4.5mm left! Agreed. It rather brings into suspicion the OPC’s other advisories too..: Having driven into standing water on the M4 and narrowly saving an aquaplane spin I would def suggest replacing tires early on these. 4.5mm is a bit bold however. There was a thread about that by someone else who'd done the same in one of these. Slightly concerning. 3.5mm a sensible time to change, do you think?

DJMC said: As an owner myself, that's a £25k, absolute maximum, car. I’m currently looking for a Cayman, that’s more like £28/29k car. At £25 it’ll be too cheap!

paulguitar said: trumpton7291 said: paulguitar said: SV_WDC said: Laughable suggesting tyre replacement with 4.5mm left! Agreed. It rather brings into suspicion the OPC’s other advisories too..: Having driven into standing water on the M4 and narrowly saving an aquaplane spin I would def suggest replacing tires early on these. 4.5mm is a bit bold however. There was a thread about that by someone else who'd done the same in one of these. Slightly concerning. 3.5mm a sensible time to change, do you think? Is that me? I will keep saying it. Mid engined sports cars are the most susceptible to aquaplane. There are 4 ways to lower your chances Speed Tread depth Tyre width Type of tyre I'm now running 215 fronts and 245 rears on mine. I've read about more people getting into bother in these cars but not many start a thread about it so these incidents pass by quietly. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...

ATM said: Is that me? I will keep saying it. Mid engined sports cars are the most susceptible to aquaplane. There are 4 ways to lower your chances Speed Tread depth Tyre width Type of tyre I'm now running 215 fronts and 245 rears on mine. I've read about more people getting into bother in these cars but not many start a thread about it so these incidents pass by quietly. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17... Yes, that's you. Are there any particular tyres you suggest? And now much narrower are the ones you're running now than standard?

ATM said: I've read about more people getting into bother in these cars but not many start a thread about it so these incidents pass by quietly. Yours is probably the most enjoyable thread since I joined PH, which was a few years ago now. I've thought of you every time I've approached standing (or flowing) water at speed ever since. I tend to compute depth of water, tread depth on tyres, suitability of tyres, likely eventual yaw angle, and general bravery on an almost daily basis this time of year. @ATM, your reward is probably in heaven, but you have unknowingly saved me from myself on many occasions. Liam

paulguitar said: Are there any particular tyres you suggest? And now much narrower are the ones you're running now than standard? All you can do is look at their wet weather rating. I didn't fit winter tyres to this car this year so didn't really drive it for around 3 months. The jury is still out on winter tyres being better than summers in standing water. I had fell for that when I went off. I had a set of winters off the car at the time. Some people truly believe a good summer tyre [based on some tests] is adequate regards aquaplane prevention. I'm less inclined to believe it. Although even in the middle of winter I am not concerned about aquaplaning if I am not going anywhere near a motorway. I did pass by the same stretch where I aquaplaned just last week. Just before the services junction on the M61 near Chorley - South bound. If you zoom in on my pic above you will see the I sign ahead of me and then the services. I looked over at the III, II and I signs as I past by. II was missing altogether and I was bent. Its been over 5 years since I clipped one so I'd bet some more people have clipped them since. They told me in the services it was a common spot for cars going off in the rain. The standard car comes with 235 / 265. 235 45 18 / 265 45 18 235 40 19 / 265 40 19 235 35 20 / 265 35 20 I was actually running a 285 35 19 when mine went off. 215 is the thinnest tyre available in 45 18. So I just added 30 to get a 245 45 18 for the rear. These go on the standard 18 wheels just fine - 8 inch front 9 inch rear - although I do have a few wheel rim nicks from curbs because the curb protectors cant quite cope with a little bit of a stretch. When you put a 205 tyre next to a 235 tyre the difference looks massive. Comparing fronts here - 17 996 and 19 981 - pics below. It doesn't sound like a lot but I like to think of it like the extra width is all in the centre. If you look at the tyres below you will see the edges have lots of sideways slits. But the centres do not. That is common with most high performance summers. So if you take off say 100mm for the sides you are left with the rest as all centre. Now a reduction of 20mm in width becomes a difference between 100mm or 120mm from that centre section. Some people believe aquaplaning starts with your fronts because these need to cut through the water and allow the rears to then follow easier. All I know is it felt like my car floated on all 4 corners. Steering wheel went light and everything went quiet - so no tyre roar for a brief moment. And if you think about it these mid engine cars have less weigh over the nose. My 996 came with 225 40 fronts on 18 inch wheels. But I switched to the 17 setup which has a 205 50 front. Your mind thinks it will feel awful and the car will have no grip. But then you drive it and realise that is just ridiculous. You would find it difficult [on a road] to tell me the car doesn't have enough grip. In fact I even went for run out in the hills with some other Boxster owners just after I fitted my new skinnier setup to the 981 - before the body was repaired and painted. I had a spell in number 2 spot. We stopped to allow everyone else to catch up. The leading man who knew the roads well said he had tried very hard to lose me but just couldn't. I dont consider myself a quick driver so I'm very happy with that. Although if I'm honest I dont think it was all down to Me. I actually think the softer passive damper and softer higher profile tyres setup was quicker on the day because these roads were quite bumpy. And I honestly believe that an average driver is quicker with softer suspension and higher profile squidgy tyres, but thats another conversation for another day and I have gone on for long enough already.

trumpton7291 said: paulguitar said: SV_WDC said: Laughable suggesting tyre replacement with 4.5mm left! Agreed. It rather brings into suspicion the OPC’s other advisories too..: Having driven into standing water on the M4 and narrowly saving an aquaplane spin I would def suggest replacing tires early on these. 4.5mm is a bit bold however. Was it an tyre age related suggestion, rather than a depth one.

Ref the Winters vs Summer tyre aquaplaning resistance, the first time I tried winter tyres was driving down to Austria for skiing. On the way down, we had a spin on the Autobahn (overtaking a snowplough..) and I realised that everyone else was on winters (this was in the late '90s) In the ski resort we bought a set of winters for the drive back (this was in my wifes Volvo estate company car) Autobahn was soaking on the way back, but the increase in grip and positive feel was pretty amazing, and I was a convert to winter types from that point onwards.

ATM said: paulguitar said: Are there any particular tyres you suggest? And now much narrower are the ones you're running now than standard? All you can do is look at their wet weather rating. I didn't fit winter tyres to this car this year so didn't really drive it for around 3 months. The jury is still out on winter tyres being better than summers in standing water. I had fell for that when I went off. I had a set of winters off the car at the time. Some people truly believe a good summer tyre [based on some tests] is adequate regards aquaplane prevention. I'm less inclined to believe it. Although even in the middle of winter I am not concerned about aquaplaning if I am not going anywhere near a motorway. I did pass by the same stretch where I aquaplaned just last week. Just before the services junction on the M61 near Chorley - South bound. If you zoom in on my pic above you will see the I sign ahead of me and then the services. I looked over at the III, II and I signs as I past by. II was missing altogether and I was bent. Its been over 5 years since I clipped one so I'd bet some more people have clipped them since. They told me in the services it was a common spot for cars going off in the rain. The standard car comes with 235 / 265. 235 45 18 / 265 45 18 235 40 19 / 265 40 19 235 35 20 / 265 35 20 I was actually running a 285 35 19 when mine went off. 215 is the thinnest tyre available in 45 18. So I just added 30 to get a 245 45 18 for the rear. These go on the standard 18 wheels just fine - 8 inch front 9 inch rear - although I do have a few wheel rim nicks from curbs because the curb protectors cant quite cope with a little bit of a stretch. When you put a 205 tyre next to a 235 tyre the difference looks massive. Comparing fronts here - 17 996 and 19 981 - pics below. It doesn't sound like a lot but I like to think of it like the extra width is all in the centre. If you look at the tyres below you will see the edges have lots of sideways slits. But the centres do not. That is common with most high performance summers. So if you take off say 100mm for the sides you are left with the rest as all centre. Now a reduction of 20mm in width becomes a difference between 100mm or 120mm from that centre section. Some people believe aquaplaning starts with your fronts because these need to cut through the water and allow the rears to then follow easier. All I know is it felt like my car floated on all 4 corners. Steering wheel went light and everything went quiet - so no tyre roar for a brief moment. And if you think about it these mid engine cars have less weigh over the nose. My 996 came with 225 40 fronts on 18 inch wheels. But I switched to the 17 setup which has a 205 50 front. Your mind thinks it will feel awful and the car will have no grip. But then you drive it and realise that is just ridiculous. You would find it difficult [on a road] to tell me the car doesn't have enough grip. In fact I even went for run out in the hills with some other Boxster owners just after I fitted my new skinnier setup to the 981 - before the body was repaired and painted. I had a spell in number 2 spot. We stopped to allow everyone else to catch up. The leading man who knew the roads well said he had tried very hard to lose me but just couldn't. I dont consider myself a quick driver so I'm very happy with that. Although if I'm honest I dont think it was all down to Me. I actually think the softer passive damper and softer higher profile tyres setup was quicker on the day because these roads were quite bumpy. And I honestly believe that an average driver is quicker with softer suspension and higher profile squidgy tyres, but thats another conversation for another day and I have gone on for long enough already. Very interesting, I really appreciate you taking the time to write such a detailed answer.

ATM said: What we don't see is Porsche probably quoted him 5 grand to fix this lot. Or maybe more. And I'd guess that scared him off. They don't fix PSE valves so they will replace the whole exhaust. Does standard have valves? 2 grand maybe. Brake discs rear only and pads will be a grand. Tyres definitely a grand. Oil leak is engine out and then fixing stuff easily a grand. So that's how i get to 5. If you had warranty I don't think you'd be saved from all of that. Maybe the oil leak is warranty but that's it. [b{I've heard different reports from owners about exhaust being a consumable item and so therefore not warranty.[/b] Obviously if you do have warranty I don't think you can decline remedial work like this or that may invalidate your warranty going forward. On my previous 981 CS I had a valve seize on the bank exhaust. The exhaust was replaced under the extended warranty save me £3k. The dreaded PADM x3… for me extended warranty, £1870 for 3 yrs, is a no brainer.

MitchT said: Notwithstanding the fact that I'm currently looking for a BMW 440i, this lovely Cayman caught my eye... https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311304... I'm not much of a Porsche expert so I don't know if these are affected by the bore scoring and IMS bearing issues that I've heard mentioned. Nor do I know how reliable the PDK and PASM systems are. At least this one doesn't appear to have PADM, which I'd consider a blessing! I'll watch the thread with interest as I may yet be swayed by a nice 981! That’s a lot of money for a 2.7

Bullitt 1 said: MitchT said: Notwithstanding the fact that I'm currently looking for a BMW 440i, this lovely Cayman caught my eye... https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311304... I'm not much of a Porsche expert so I don't know if these are affected by the bore scoring and IMS bearing issues that I've heard mentioned. Nor do I know how reliable the PDK and PASM systems are. At least this one doesn't appear to have PADM, which I'd consider a blessing! I'll watch the thread with interest as I may yet be swayed by a nice 981! That’s a lot of money for a 2.7 It's been on AutoTrader for 110 days...

paulguitar said: Bullitt 1 said: MitchT said: Notwithstanding the fact that I'm currently looking for a BMW 440i, this lovely Cayman caught my eye... https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311304... I'm not much of a Porsche expert so I don't know if these are affected by the bore scoring and IMS bearing issues that I've heard mentioned. Nor do I know how reliable the PDK and PASM systems are. At least this one doesn't appear to have PADM, which I'd consider a blessing! I'll watch the thread with interest as I may yet be swayed by a nice 981! That’s a lot of money for a 2.7 It's been on AutoTrader for 110 days... Originally up at £29,500…..

Paul, I didn’t use him for my own purchase, but there’s a chap called Nick Giles who specialises in pre purchase inspections of Porsches, when you find a car that you really like You can find him active on most Porsche FB pages, but in fairness, there are probably no guarantees he will identify a left field issue, but he should be able to look for common failure points.

Hol said: Paul, I didn’t use him for my own purchase, but there’s a chap called Nick Giles who specialises in pre purchase inspections of Porsches, when you find a car that you really like You can find him active on most Porsche FB pages, but in fairness, there are probably no guarantees he will identify a left field issue, but he should be able to look for common issues. Thanks, Hol. I am aware of Nick Gilles and had considered using him for this as he seems very reasonably priced. But I have been rather put off by the nightmare suffered with his service by Tame Racing Driver of this parish, and also his two Google reviews, both of them one star. It's frustrating because, as I say, he is very reasonably priced and actually is located not too far at all from the car I am most interested in.

paulguitar said: I have been rather put off by the nightmare suffered with his service by Tame Racing Driver of this parish Where is the detail on Tame Racing Driver and the car he bought?

ATM said: paulguitar said: I have been rather put off by the nightmare suffered with his service by Tame Racing Driver of this parish Where is the detail on Tame Racing Driver and the car he bought? https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=10&t=2037330

paulguitar said: trumpton7291 said: paulguitar said: SV_WDC said: Laughable suggesting tyre replacement with 4.5mm left! Agreed. It rather brings into suspicion the OPC’s other advisories too..: Having driven into standing water on the M4 and narrowly saving an aquaplane spin I would def suggest replacing tires early on these. 4.5mm is a bit bold however. There was a thread about that by someone else who'd done the same in one of these. Slightly concerning. 3.5mm a sensible time to change, do you think? Most new tyres come with 8mm of depth now, a handful of sportier tyres come with 7mm. I think the n new Bridgestone sport tyre, that is getting very good reviews for steering feel, is 6mm from new. No wonder steering feel feels better with 20% less tread wobble interfering. I wouldn't let tyres on a Porsche drop below 3.5mm or get older than 5 years. So, at 4.5mm there is only 1mm remaining really. Porsche say to replace at 3mm to reduce the risk of aquaplaning. Which makes me laugh as Approved used cars will sell you a car with "...at least 3mm remaining." so you could need to replace them after a tank or two of fuel has been used. But, I reckon 3.5mm is about right to change.

Ed.Neumann said: Most new tyres come with 8mm of depth now, a handful of sportier tyres come with 7mm. I think the n new Bridgestone sport tyre, that is getting very good reviews for steering feel, is 6mm from new. No wonder steering feel feels better with 20% less tread wobble interfering. I think Cup 2 only come with 5mm when new. Obviously lethal in the wet. In this pic is a Cup 2 tyre for the rear axle of a modern GT3 compared to one for a much older 911. These are road legal tyres. And No that's not worn it's a new tyre. And yes Porsche will let you order a brand GT3/GT4 type car from them with these tyres on and then wave you off as you leave the showroom and tip toe down the road in the pooring rain.

I ran my 996 on Cup 2's summer before last, I bought some wheels and they were on them, they still had 5mm on them and were a year old, and they were amazing, until....I went out and the temp had dropped and there was that horrid drizzle in the air. You could just feel how edgy they were while warming up, and you just couldn't keep any temperature in them. I think the coldest day I had before then was about 8 or 9 degrees, this was 5 degrees and the difference was incredible. The PS4's went straight back on again and that was the last time I used Cup 2s.

I bought some wheels for my BMW. The seller had only used them on his e36 M3 for 3 trackday sessions. They came with the used r888 tyres. I think they were a medium compound but cant be sure. So I bolted them on just to try it. The grip was insane. Made me laugh out loud. You could just turn the wheel and the car would turn at much higher speeds than you were used to. I was addicted. I even went out for some fun drives. It wasn't just the grip but the feedback too. Reasonable steering feel in a BMW estate. But then it rained and everything changed. The car was useless. So I get it. If you have never experienced grippy tyres like this on a simple road car then I'd say dont do it because you will be spoiled, forever.

ATM said: I bought some wheels for my BMW. The seller had only used them on his e36 M3 for 3 trackday sessions. They came with the used r888 tyres. I think they were a medium compound but cant be sure. So I bolted them on just to try it. The grip was insane. Made me laugh out loud. You could just turn the wheel and the car would turn at much higher speeds than you were used to. I was addicted. I even went out for some fun drives. It wasn't just the grip but the feedback too. Reasonable steering feel in a BMW estate. But then it rained and everything changed. The car was useless. So I get it. If you have never experienced grippy tyres like this on a simple road car then I'd say dont do it because you will be spoiled, forever. The biggest shock is the first time trying slicks. Obviously, this can only be on a circuit, but wow! And then, for full-on hilarity, slicks in the wet...

A bit late but 2 pages later I'm not sure anyone actually answered your original question. I wouldn't assume it's an over zealous OPC, tyres and discs perhaps but the exhaust leak is incredibly common and they will or have all suffered from it. As long as you take it anywhere but an OPC it's a low cost repair. Remove old studs and replace. The oil leak is rare but on that basis I'd tell you it's not worth the risk or hassle. The colour combo is a personal choice, rare but ultimately undesirable for the vast majority of buyers. I don't think an inspection or OPC warranty are essential on these cars they are generally one of the more reliable within the brand in recent years. As was said the drains need to be cleaned out on day 1. Edited by testdrive on Thursday 21st March 21:59

testdrive said: A bit late but 2 pages later I'm not sure anyone actually answered your original question. I wouldn't assume it's an over zealous OPC, tyres and discs perhaps but the exhaust leak is incredibly common and they will or have all suffered from it. As long as you take it anywhere but an OPC it's a low cost repair. Remove old studs and replace. The oil leak is rare but on that basis I'd tell you it's not worth the risk or hassle. The colour combo is a personal choice, rare but ultimately undesirable for the vast majority of buyers. I don't think an inspection or OPC warranty are essential on these cars they are generally one of the more reliable within the brand in recent years. As was said the drains need to be cleaned out on day 1. Edited by testdrive on Thursday 21st March 21:59 Thanks for the reply. I've been told a minor oil leak from there is an easy fix, do you think that's not the case?

Armitage.Shanks said: Except you'd have to fix most of the stuff first before you can get the warranty. I guess I'd have to persuade the owner to take it to a Porsche dealership for the assessment, which I'd have to pay for. Then, if it was elegibile for a warranty without any (or too much) cost to get it to that place, I could go ahead and buy it, otherwise walk away.

paulguitar said: Thanks for the reply. I've been told a minor oil leak from there is an easy fix, do you think that's not the case? Depends what it is and who is paying ! Tough question for a guy on the internet to answer with certainty.

testdrive said: paulguitar said: Thanks for the reply. I've been told a minor oil leak from there is an easy fix, do you think that's not the case? Depends what it is and who is paying ! Tough question for a guy on the internet to answer with certainty. I've called a couple of Porsche indys to ask about this and neither thought it was a cause for particular concern. So I won't let it put me off the car. I'd like to use it as a negotiating tool, but the seller is seemingly not for budging from his asking price.

paulguitar said: The biggest shock is the first time trying slicks. Obviously, this can only be on a circuit, but wow! And then, for full-on hilarity, slicks in the wet... I did a tarmac rally at Oulton park years ago. Snow, on slicks, Mk2 Escort. Not recommended. Start from pitlane, going anti clockwise, you approach Lodge corner and it's blind. You know there is zero run off. I gave up after SS1 and went home.

981Boxess said: paulguitar said: I'd like to use it as a negotiating tool, but the seller is seemingly not for budging from his asking price. Lovely looking car, really, and I see the £25k price being debated, but what is it (year/engine/miles/owners) if it is posted above I can't see it. It's a 2012 'S'. Three owners, 62,000 miles. Full history which comprises five services, all at OPC. The last one was carried out in September 2022. Options include: PSE Bose Parking sensors front and rear Extended leather package. Heated seats and steering wheel Dynamic lights Satnav

If the owner isn’t going to negotiate on price (which they are perfectly within their rights to do) You need to weigh up whether the car is good enough (overall) as is compared other cars on the market and whether you want to buy it or move on. What are other similar cars on auto trader advertised for? A Quick Look today shows 11 blue 2.7l 981 with prices ranging from £21k to £32k, with mileages from 18,000, to 100,000 So you need to make your call based on that - if you pass on it, how much would it cost to get a similar car elsewhere? If it is already priced fairly, then if you make an insulting offer, the seller may decide not to sell it to you no matter what. I don’t know what age the car is, but it could be 10-12 years old - and people have to accept that and that they are not buying a new car and there be I’ll be some age related issues and consumable items

elan362 said: If the owner isn’t going to negotiate on price (which they are perfectly within their rights to do) You need to weigh up whether the car is good enough (overall) as is compared other cars on the market and whether you want to buy it or move on. What are other similar cars on auto trader advertised for? A Quick Look today shows 11 blue 2.7l 981 with prices ranging from £21k to £32k, with mileages from 18,000, to 100,000 So you need to make your call based on that - if you pass on it, how much would it cost to get a similar car elsewhere? If it is already priced fairly, then if you make an insulting offer, the seller may decide not to sell it to you no matter what. I don’t know what age the car is, but it could be 10-12 years old - and people have to accept that and that they are not buying a new car and there be I’ll be some age related issues and consumable items Agreed. It's a case for me of weighing it up against a couple of others I am looking at. There is a 2014 2.7 that is not quite as special in terms of trim/spec, but the mileage is lower (sub 50,000) and the seller is willing to negotiate. I reckon that could be had for £20k. It needs a major service and the tyres are from 2016, so need to factor that in. There is also a competitively priced 'S' at Portiacraft: https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16175342

1. Porticraft are nice guys, they will help if any issues. 2. It is an S. 3. See points 1 and 2. I love light interiors, Porsche is the exception, far too much beige in that other one, I don't want a beige dash, steering wheel, carpets. blah, blah, blah.

Also, it has PASM and sound package plus. That would be all I need to be honest.

Ed.Neumann said: Also, it has PASM and sound package plus. That would be all I need to be honest. The Portiacraft one? I see mixed reviews for them, but I am surprised that that car has not sold yet. Have you dealt with them, Ed?

paulguitar said: Ed.Neumann said: Also, it has PASM and sound package plus. That would be all I need to be honest. The Portiacraft one? I see mixed reviews for them, but I am surprised that that car has not sold yet. Have you dealt with them, Ed? They always strike me as the Lidl version of the Porsche independents, but that is not to say it’s a bad place to buy from.

paulguitar said: The Portiacraft one? I see mixed reviews for them, but I am surprised that that car has not sold yet. Have you dealt with them, Ed? No, but I know people who have, All have been happy with the service and more importantly, after sales support. I think they are just more realistically priced than some of the other indys, who often charge the same, if not more, than OPCs.

Ed.Neumann said: paulguitar said: The Portiacraft one? I see mixed reviews for them, but I am surprised that that car has not sold yet. Have you dealt with them, Ed? No, but I know people who have, All have been happy with the service and more importantly, after sales support. I think they are just more realistically priced than some of the other indys, who often charge the same, if not more, than OPCs. Good to know, thanks.

paulguitar said: It's a 2012 'S'. Three owners, 62,000 miles. Full history which comprises five services, all at OPC. The last one was carried out in September 2022. Options include: PSE Bose Parking sensors front and rear Extended leather package. Heated seats and steering wheel Dynamic lights Satnav It isn’t a colour combo I would have thought of choosing but in the pictures it looks really nice. I think the wheel is possibly a step too far for me, and I would be tempted to go to black to tone it down a little, but if it works for you that is what it is all about. Has it got phone integration? Cruise is an easy retro fit if you want it. The recent OPC service may open up the factory warranty option, relatively cheap peace of mind. I would rather have an ‘S’ if you have the choice, but again if a perfect spec/history non ‘S’ turned up I would not dismiss it. The mileage wouldn’t put me off on a car with the right servicing history.

Ed.Neumann said: Also, it has PASM and sound package plus. That would be all I need to be honest. No PSE on the Portiacraft car as far as I can make out, that might be why it hasn’t already sold at a fair price, it is quite a desirable option and not cheap to retro fit. Even if you are not sold on wanting PSE a lot of people are and come resale time it would be worth having.

981Boxess said: paulguitar said: It's a 2012 'S'. Three owners, 62,000 miles. Full history which comprises five services, all at OPC. The last one was carried out in September 2022. Options include: PSE Bose Parking sensors front and rear Extended leather package. Heated seats and steering wheel Dynamic lights Satnav It isn’t a colour combo I would have thought of choosing but in the pictures it looks really nice. I think the wheel is possibly a step too far for me, and I would be tempted to go to black to tone it down a little, but if it works for you that is what it is all about. Has it got phone integration? Cruise is an easy retro fit if you want it. The recent OPC service may open up the factory warranty option, relatively cheap peace of mind. I would rather have an ‘S’ if you have the choice, but again if a perfect spec/history non ‘S’ turned up I would not dismiss it. The mileage wouldn’t put me off on a car with the right servicing history. I love the colour combo, I'd probably have specced a black dash and 'wheel but otherwise, that's my dream combination. It looks stunning in the flesh. Yes, it has 'phone integration, and if I get that one I will indeed have cruise control retrofitted. I'm also looking at a 2.7 in a similar colour but with a standard interior (alcantara) and not many options, I think the seller of that one is far more open to negotiation on price.

ATM said: paulguitar said: Latest news with mine, I have ordered the stalks for adding cruise control: Looks like I will go to MLR Porsche in Stoke to get that fitted and coded, and while I am there I will have them look at the drain tubes and carry out the modification to remove the valves. Never admit to 'cruising' in your Porsche. Not on PH anyway. I did a speed awareness course this morning, so it will hopefully help to prevent further frustrations and also I consider cruise control to be a significant aid to safe driving when used properly. I started a thread about it here a few years ago and was quite taken aback by the ignorance about its use. Aside from that, I am also intending to get CarPlay added to the PCM 3. Not sure what the latest is on that, does anyone have any recent advice, please?

paulguitar said: ATM said: paulguitar said: Latest news with mine, I have ordered the stalks for adding cruise control: Looks like I will go to MLR Porsche in Stoke to get that fitted and coded, and while I am there I will have them look at the drain tubes and carry out the modification to remove the valves. Never admit to 'cruising' in your Porsche. Not on PH anyway. I did a speed awareness course this morning, so it will hopefully help to prevent further frustrations and also I consider cruise control to be a significant aid to safe driving when used properly. I started a thread about it here a few years ago and was quite taken aback by the ignorance about its use. You need a copy of the urban dictionary. And a parrot

Shaoxter said: You need a copy of the urban dictionary. And a parrot Ah, oh dear

paulguitar said: I did a speed awareness course this morning, so it will hopefully help to prevent further frustrations and also I consider cruise control to be a significant aid to safe driving when used properly. I started a thread about it here a few years ago and was quite taken aback by the ignorance about its use. Aside from that, I am also intending to get CarPlay added to the PCM 3. Not sure what the latest is on that, does anyone have any recent advice, please? Hi Paul , To add a proper instal whilst keeping the original PCM unit I was quoted £950 including VAT . I'm not sure I'll bother just yet as for my usage it might not be worth it however, if you intend using your car as a daily I see why you'd want it . There are cheaper options but I think that means doing away with the factory PCM unit .

Chaps quick question- Will my GTS have PTV as standard ? If so , how good is it and how can I check it has it ? Tia

GT3Manthey said: Chaps quick question- Will my GTS have PTV as standard ? If so , how good is it and how can I check it has it ? Tia Simplest way is to check the option codes I think. Surely it will have its own code. Unless it is included in a bundle which has a code. There is a way to get all option codes from the VIN.

ATM said: Simplest way is to check the option codes I think. Surely it will have its own code. Unless it is included in a bundle which has a code. There is a way to get all option codes from the VIN. Tks I'll give it a go this weekend. Didn't know if it was standard on the GTS cars

Out of curiosity, were 981 GTSs available with standard suspension? I don’t think I’ve ever known of one without x73 or PASM. Having driven both of those (in Cayman format) they’re both excellent in their own right. My take on it was that in terms of stiffness, X73 sits between PASM’s normal and Sport mode. Beautifully judged, really. 981 PASM is also very well adapted. For the most part, Normal mode is ideal on a British road, but now and again, on a smooth road, the Sport is the order of the day. Without sounding insulting - I assume you’re aware if yours has PASM or not? Both excellent. Never driven a 981 on standard springs. I can’t imagine it would be bad. My next piece of advice is to definitely take it for a full geo setup by someone who knows what they’re doing with a Hunter rig. It can make a HUGE difference to the handling. I had mine setup as ‘fast road’ nearly 3 years ago. It was pretty off at the time and it was transformative. It’s also worth noting that given the state of our roads, I’ve repeated this each year (about 3k miles) and interestingly, while still being significantly better than when I got it, it had been knocked appreciably away from the setup. Edited to add; congrats on the purchase. You’re going to love it.

Royal Jelly said: Out of curiosity, were 981 GTSs available with standard suspension? I don’t think I’ve ever known of one without x73 or PASM. Having driven both of those (in Cayman format) they’re both excellent in their own right. My take on it was that in terms of stiffness, X73 sits between PASM’s normal and Sport mode. Beautifully judged, really. 981 PASM is also very well adapted. For the most part, Normal mode is ideal on a British road, but now and again, on a smooth road, the Sport is the order of the day. Without sounding insulting - I assume you’re aware if yours has PASM or not? Both excellent. Never driven a 981 on standard springs. I can’t imagine it would be bad. My next piece of advice is to definitely take it for a full geo setup by someone who knows what they’re doing with a Hunter rig. It can make a HUGE difference to the handling. I had mine setup as ‘fast road’ nearly 3 years ago. It was pretty off at the time and it was transformative. It’s also worth noting that given the state of our roads, I’ve repeated this each year (about 3k miles) and interestingly, while still being significantly better than when I got it, it had been knocked appreciably away from the setup. Edited to add; congrats on the purchase. You’re going to love it. Don't worry no insults taken . Mine has PASM. For context I've had many cars but technically I'm bloody useless ! Not just with cars but anytime practical. My father would have been so disappointed! I've owned many GT P cars including a 996RS, 2 997 GT3's, air cooled cars ( my first was a 930 turbo targa at 23), 987 Spyder, GT4, 355 Ferrari. The list goes on. Oh , and I've had cars rebuild at the likes of 9E. As over the years I've had no time I've just let the experts get on with my many cars needs. At 55 this hasn't changed lol. I feel my misgivings is that I've not learnt the inner workings of the many cars I've owned but I've just never had the time. I've had cars set up by JZM and 9E so you're right, I might need to have that done although a road setup for me now with no plans for track days is all I'll need . That , plus I'm now captain slow !

GT3Manthey said: Hi Paul , To add a proper instal whilst keeping the original PCM unit I was quoted £950 including VAT . I'm not sure I'll bother just yet as for my usage it might not be worth it however, if you intend using your car as a daily I see why you'd want it . There are cheaper options but I think that means doing away with the factory PCM unit . Thanks for the info. That is indeed pretty expensive. It's currently my only car but a toy, basically. If I do go ahead and get Carplay, I'd rather keep the existing screen for the sake of originality,

ATM said: GT3Manthey said: Chaps quick question- Will my GTS have PTV as standard ? If so , how good is it and how can I check it has it ? Tia Simplest way is to check the option codes I think. Surely it will have its own code. Unless it is included in a bundle which has a code. There is a way to get all option codes from the VIN. I've used this eBay seller's service for several cars. Full build sheet from the VIN for £2.99: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/296293726456

GT3Manthey said: Don't worry no insults taken . Mine has PASM. For context I've had many cars but technically I'm bloody useless ! Not just with cars but anytime practical. My father would have been so disappointed! I've owned many GT P cars including a 996RS, 2 997 GT3's, air cooled cars ( my first was a 930 turbo targa at 23), 987 Spyder, GT4, 355 Ferrari. The list goes on. Oh , and I've had cars rebuild at the likes of 9E. As over the years I've had no time I've just let the experts get on with my many cars needs. At 55 this hasn't changed lol. I feel my misgivings is that I've not learnt the inner workings of the many cars I've owned but I've just never had the time. I've had cars set up by JZM and 9E so you're right, I might need to have that done although a road setup for me now with no plans for track days is all I'll need . That , plus I'm now captain slow ! Apologies - I was hungover yesterday, which is my excuse for misreading PTV for x73. You can find that in the VIN decode, or raise the rear wheels and turn one. If the other turns the same way, you’ve got a LSD (and therefore PTV/locking diff). I have PTV and to be honest I’m not sure I would know on the road. You occasionally can detect the inside-rear application of braking, but it’s obviously pretty subtle. As far as the LSD - on the road I’ve never felt it struggle to put power down out of a corner, aside from the occasional squirm in the wet from my clumsiness.. I’m in the same boat as you regarding usage. Mine is set up for road enjoyment. I have no interest in compromising 99% of my use for a potential track day. Certainly the best investment in the car that I’ve made, though. Edited by Royal Jelly on Thursday 11th April 06:41

paulguitar said: Thanks for the info. That is indeed pretty expensive. It's currently my only car but a toy, basically. If I do go ahead and get Carplay, I'd rather keep the existing screen for the sake of originality, That's my thinking especially as I'll likely go for a Porsche warranty at some stage. The alternative is to get a cheap stand alone screen that hangs in the car somewhere.

Royal Jelly said: Apologies - I was hungover yesterday, which is my excuse for misreading PTV for x73. You can find that in the VIN decode, or raise the rear wheels and turn one. If the other turns the same way, you’ve got a LSD (and therefore PTV/locking diff). I have PTV and to be honest I’m not sure I would know on the road. You occasionally can detect the inside-rear application of braking, but it’s obviously pretty subtle. As far as the LSD - on the road I’ve never felt it struggle to put power down out of a corner, aside from the occasional squirm in the wet from my clumsiness.. I’m in the same boat as you regarding usage. Mine is set up for road enjoyment. I have no interest in compromising 99% of my use for a potential track day. Certainly the best investment in the car that I’ve made, though. Edited by Royal Jelly on Thursday 11th April 06:41 Lovely thank you . I should have a little more time with the car this weekend so will investigate. I need to do things such as read through the manual , check the tyre temperatures when cold and play with the memory settings although I think I've got my seat set for me now. I still can't believe the car is 10yrs old it's that good.

GT3Manthey said: Lovely thank you . I should have a little more time with the car this weekend so will investigate. I need to do things such as read through the manual , check the tyre temperatures when cold and play with the memory settings although I think I've got my seat set for me now. I still can't believe the car is 10yrs old it's that good. They’re rather good aren’t they! Sounds like we have a similar ownership background (GT3’s, Ferrari etc etc) and honestly, the 981 GTS Boxster / Cayman are amongst the best sports cars I’ve had the pleasure of owning. Handling, usable power, noise, quality, and grin factor are pretty much second to none. Enjoy your car, you’re going to love owning it I reckon

MrVert said: They’re rather good aren’t they! Sounds like we have a similar ownership background (GT3’s, Ferrari etc etc) and honestly, the 981 GTS Boxster / Cayman are amongst the best sports cars I’ve had the pleasure of owning. Handling, usable power, noise, quality, and grin factor are pretty much second to none. Enjoy your car, you’re going to love owning it I reckon Cheers MrVert I'm already smitten. Can't see me wanting to part with this one. Going to book tickets to Porsche Classics at the Castle with the wife . Hamper in the front, nice leisurely drive there with the roof off . Happy days

paulguitar said: GT3Manthey said: Hi Paul , To add a proper instal whilst keeping the original PCM unit I was quoted £950 including VAT . I'm not sure I'll bother just yet as for my usage it might not be worth it however, if you intend using your car as a daily I see why you'd want it . There are cheaper options but I think that means doing away with the factory PCM unit . Thanks for the info. That is indeed pretty expensive. It's currently my only car but a toy, basically. If I do go ahead and get Carplay, I'd rather keep the existing screen for the sake of originality, It is basically splitting the PCM and installing a PCB inside, visually you would never know it has been done. I am not sure we are all thinking of the same mod?

981Boxess said: It is basically splitting the PCM and installing a PCB inside, visually you would never know it has been done. I am not sure we are all thinking of the same mod? Hi mate , yes that's what I was quoted £950 for .

GT3Manthey said: 981Boxess said: It is basically splitting the PCM and installing a PCB inside, visually you would never know it has been done. I am not sure we are all thinking of the same mod? Hi mate , yes that's what I was quoted £950 for . Someone on here ordered a kit direct from China and it cost around £200 all in delivered, obviously not fitted. It seems like there is a lot of meat on the bone at £950 fitted.

981Boxess said: Someone on here ordered a kit direct from China and it cost around £200 all in delivered, obviously not fitted. It seems like there is a lot of meat on the bone at £950 fitted. I tend to agree hence not rushing into it. That quote was by a well known Indi

981Boxess said: GT3Manthey said: 981Boxess said: It is basically splitting the PCM and installing a PCB inside, visually you would never know it has been done. I am not sure we are all thinking of the same mod? Hi mate , yes that's what I was quoted £950 for . Someone on here ordered a kit direct from China and it cost around £200 all in delivered, obviously not fitted. It seems like there is a lot of meat on the bone at £950 fitted. It does seem a bit toppy. I'm looking at this one, around £333 delivered: https://www.joyeauto.com/product/porsche-911-boxst...

And this one, for a bit less: https://www.isudar.com/collections/spring-sale-isu...

I got the NM Automotive one and had it installed during the car's service (note that's an ex VAT price). What swayed it for me is that comes with a heap of installation instructions, the original PCM is still fully available and the guy who makes them is very responsive for support queries. https://www.nmautomotive.co.uk/product-page/pcm-3-... It's a very responsive bit of kit - faster at connecting to my phone than the dedicated Sony head unit I had in my last car. I'm very happy with it.

seefarr said: I got the NM Automotive one and had it installed during the car's service (note that's an ex VAT price). What swayed it for me is that comes with a heap of installation instructions, the original PCM is still fully available and the guy who makes them is very responsive for support queries. https://www.nmautomotive.co.uk/product-page/pcm-3-... It's a very responsive bit of kit - faster at connecting to my phone than the dedicated Sony head unit I had in my last car. I'm very happy with it. How much did it cost to install it?

paulguitar said: And this one, for a bit less: https://www.isudar.com/collections/spring-sale-isu... Pretty sure that is the one I mentioned above, for that money why not.

981Boxess said: paulguitar said: And this one, for a bit less: https://www.isudar.com/collections/spring-sale-isu... Pretty sure that is the one I mentioned above, for that money why not. I'm enquiring about having it fitted, will update in due course.

paulguitar said: 981Boxess said: paulguitar said: And this one, for a bit less: https://www.isudar.com/collections/spring-sale-isu... Pretty sure that is the one I mentioned above, for that money why not. I'm enquiring about having it fitted, will update in due course. If I was paying someone to fit it I would only get the fitter to supply the kit. If you are doing it yourself then it doesn’t matter.

981Boxess said: If I was paying someone to fit it I would only get the fitter to supply the kit. If you are doing it yourself then it doesn’t matter. Agreed. If you supply third party kit to a fitter, they can (and usually do) wash their hands of any issues, as they can blame faulty kit, supplied by you to be the cause. If they supply and fit, it is their issue to fix- no excuse for slopey shoulders. If you DIY, get whatever kit you want and batter on. I would recommend https://www.mr12volt.com/en-gb/collections/hallowe... If you were in Glasgow I would help you DIY.

elan362 said: 981Boxess said: If I was paying someone to fit it I would only get the fitter to supply the kit. If you are doing it yourself then it doesn’t matter. Agreed. If you supply third party kit to a fitter, they can (and usually do) wash their hands of any issues, as they can blame faulty kit, supplied by you to be the cause. If they supply and fit, it is their issue to fix- no excuse for slopey shoulders.

GT3Manthey said: Tks I'll give it a go this weekend. Didn't know if it was standard on the GTS cars PTV is an option on the GTS, not standard

elan362 said: 981Boxess said: If I was paying someone to fit it I would only get the fitter to supply the kit. If you are doing it yourself then it doesn’t matter. Agreed. If you supply third party kit to a fitter, they can (and usually do) wash their hands of any issues, as they can blame faulty kit, supplied by you to be the cause. If they supply and fit, it is their issue to fix- no excuse for slopey shoulders. If you DIY, get whatever kit you want and batter on. I would recommend https://www.mr12volt.com/en-gb/collections/hallowe... If you were in Glasgow I would help you DIY. Have you fitted one of these? Sadly I am the least capable human on the entire planet when it comes to anything practical so there's zero chance I could fit one.

I fitted the Mr12volt to my 981 Boxster S with bose

elan362 said: I fitted the Mr12volt to my 981 Boxster S with bose That's exactly what I have. Are you happy with it and do the sat nav commands come through on the binnacle display? Any problems at all with it?

SV_WDC said: GT3Manthey said: Tks I'll give it a go this weekend. Didn't know if it was standard on the GTS cars PTV is an option on the GTS, not standard @GT3Manthey - if of interest, I have just taken a look at the 981 GTS option sheet. "Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) incl. mechanically locking rear diff" option code: 220, price: £890 Hope that helps

paulguitar said: That's exactly what I have. Are you happy with it and do the sat nav commands come through on the binnacle display? Any problems at all with it? Yes, very happy with it. The newer version is even better as it utilises the built in mic. No, aftermarket carplay solution will give you carplay maps in the binnacle. (You retain your PCM mapping in the binnacle, nav in carplay does not broadcast to binnacle.

SV_WDC said: @GT3Manthey - if of interest, I have just taken a look at the 981 GTS option sheet. "Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) incl. mechanically locking rear diff" option code: 220, price: £890 Hope that helps Tks mate . Oddly enough I emailed the indi I bought the car from and they confirmed my car doesn't have it . Not sure with my lack of driving ability I'd notice the difference anyhow . Tks again

elan362 said: paulguitar said: That's exactly what I have. Are you happy with it and do the sat nav commands come through on the binnacle display? Any problems at all with it? Yes, very happy with it. The newer version is even better as it utilises the built in mic. No, aftermarket carplay solution will give you carplay maps in the binnacle. (You retain your PCM mapping in the binnacle, nav in carplay does not broadcast to binnacle. Good info, thanks.

GT3Manthey said: Tks mate . Oddly enough I emailed the indi I bought the car from and they confirmed my car doesn't have it . Not sure with my lack of driving ability I'd notice the difference anyhow . Tks again You won’t notice on the road, unless you’re caning it out of a wet corner..

Royal Jelly said: You won’t notice on the road, unless you’re caning it out of a wet corner.. It hopefully won't see wet roads :-)

elan362 said: If you were in Glasgow I would help you DIY. What a nice offer

981Boxess said: elan362 said: If you were in Glasgow I would help you DIY. What a nice offer Indeed it is, and frustrating I'm in Shropshire

DJMC said: MitchT said: Notwithstanding the fact that I'm currently looking for a BMW 440i, this lovely Cayman caught my eye... https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311304... I'm not much of a Porsche expert so I don't know if these are affected by the bore scoring and IMS bearing issues that I've heard mentioned. Nor do I know how reliable the PDK and PASM systems are. At least this one doesn't appear to have PADM, which I'd consider a blessing! I'll watch the thread with interest as I may yet be swayed by a nice 981! As an owner myself, that's a £25k, absolute maximum, car. Now reduced from £35k to £29,900. Starting to get a little interesting!

I agree, it is £25k car. There was a 981 S in the same colour combo that was £35k for sale in Suffolk for ages, PDK, PASM, PSE but 89k miles, it was then dropped to £30k, then £28k, then £25k, then when back up to £26950 and sold. Came back on the market a couple of weeks later and still for sale now at £25500, in Derby I think it is from memory. I only remember it as I love the colour combo. Great looking car, but at 90k miles I think it needs to be £20-22k and a buyer who will do 3k miles a year in it, or just accept that it could be worth £10k in 3 years but who cares if it has only cost you £20k, so put another 80k miles on it. So many cars have now been on sale for a year or more. More so 991s. 12 year old 991 Carrera's with 80k miles on them need to be £35k now to really move, the ones at £40-42 are all sat there. Many keep popping back on the market, often no cheaper.

Ed.Neumann said: Great looking car, but at 90k miles... This one has 52,500 miles, unless we're talking about different cars. Interestingly the insurance on this, for me, is £364. I was also looking at a BMW 440i, which comes in at £550! A BMW 420i is only £4 less on insurance than the Porsche!

MitchT said: This one has 52,500 miles, unless we're talking about different cars. Interestingly the insurance on this, for me, is £364. I was also looking at a BMW 440i, which comes in at £550! A BMW 420i is only £4 less on insurance than the Porsche! We are, sorry, I was talking about the 981 Cayman S in the same colour combo that has been on sale for months now, and prices up and down like a yoyo. I was just agreeing with DJMC that the now 10 year old 2.7 linked should be a £25k car now, not £30k. Unless that colour is worth £5k more to you, which is may well be, which is fine. I just find it hard to justify the prices at the mo on these when you could buy an early 981 for sub £25k back in 2019. Here we are four, nearly five years later and they are 5 years older and more money. Also, I would take a 718 over a 2.7, if going NA then it would be the 3.4 for me personally, the 718 drives so great, I just can't get my head around the 4 cylinder thing. Nothing wrong with it, feels lighter, steering much nicer, handles better, even sounds nice, just I would prefer a 6 cylinder and it stops me buying one. I very nearly bought the carmine red 718 that Stockport Porsche had last month, had some nice options, 29k miles and we agreed £32k, but, I couldn't do it as I kept thinking I would regret it being a 4 cylinder. Stupid, but there we go. But it would have been a good buy, 2018 car, 2 years warranty, just had a major service, and even had full PPF. I was amazed that it hung around for nearly 3 months, at £33k advertised it was a good £4k cheaper than any other 718 Cayman at an OPC. Exeter have a 718 Cayman S for £34k with 44k miles on it, with all the benefits of buying approved used. Plus you get Carplay etc. which is great if a daily. Edited by Ed.Neumann on Sunday 12th May 23:17

Ed.Neumann said: I just find it hard to justify the prices at the mo on these when you could buy an early 981 for sub £25k back in 2019. Here we are four, nearly five years later and they are 5 years older and more money. You don't have to justify the prices. If you are looking to buy one and you think they are overpriced buy something else. If you are selling and you think they are selling for too much sell your one cheap.

WBAC have increased their offer on my 2014 2.7 981 by 10% over the last 6 months, not that I'm selling. As we draw closer to the end of ICE models their used prices will no doubt carry on rising as the Boxster/Cayman EV stockpiles at OPCs, a la Taycan.

981Boxess said: Ed.Neumann said: I just find it hard to justify the prices at the mo on these when you could buy an early 981 for sub £25k back in 2019. Here we are four, nearly five years later and they are 5 years older and more money. You don't have to justify the prices. If you are looking to buy one and you think they are overpriced buy something else. If you are selling and you think they are selling for too much sell your one cheap. Of course. We can only ever talk from a personal perspective, I presumed that goes without saying. You don't have to buy something else, just need to wait a few weeks and buy one of the ones that come up in the spec you want at a price point you want. I'm not really knocking the prices, I don't think they are too far out, just a few cars that are that are, and it is obvious they are because they are then sitting for months and months or even a year. I think we are probably getting to the point where prices, especially for the NA cars, are levelling out and will be a cheap ownership experience, in the way of deprecation anyway, even if prices are the same as five years ago. What we are seeing with post 2009 911 and Cayman/Boxster prices is strange, normally we see them drop really low, like £10-15k low and sit for a while, then when people start to spend lots on the bits that need replacing as these cars hit a certain age prices go up to account for that, then when prices go up people start to get that FOMO which in turn pushes prices up even more, slowly, but over 5-10 years it can be quite a steep climb as fewer and fewer become available. However, it seems these post 2009 NA cars the prices have gone up before they hit the really expensive years, that 15 year old sort of age. An other thread on here with a 997.2 Carrera at £60,000 I find strange, drive a 991.2 Carrera back to back with that 997.2 and not sure paying more for the 997.2 makes a lot of sense, definitely some rose tinted glasses there with the 997.2. This can be a good thing though, if a car is still worth a decent amount owners tend to then to spend what needs to be spent on them to keep them factory fresh, when they get to sub £10k many find it tricky to spend 50% of the cars value on a service and a suspension refresh. My gripe is many of the cars out there are now feeling tired but sellers are asking the same as one that looks and drives like new, and then they say "Well it is an old car now." Hence why when looking people need to go out and drive a good one so they don't get their fingers burnt. There is no reason for a 15 year old car not to drive like new, or a car any age, just not sure all the sellers understand this.

Ed.Neumann said: You don't have to buy something else, just need to wait a few weeks and buy one of the ones that come up in the spec you want at a price point you want. There is a poster on here that has been talking about buying a 981 using that tactic for as long as can remember. Meanwhile everyone else is out there

981Boxess said: There is a poster on here that has been talking about buying a 981 using that tactic for as long as can remember. Meanwhile everyone else is out there Haha, to be fair, as soon as one comes up in the right colour and spec. cost tends to go out the window for most of us, within reason of course. Also, it is easy for me to say when I have another 911 that is not going anywhere to use.