Buying my first Porsche…

[TTmonkey]

Took a couple of test drives at a Porsche dealership this weekend.

Target car is a Boxster as I like the roof down. Also has to be PDK for me.

Drove a 6 year old 981 GTS. Lovely car, the noise was mental. Actually, in sport plus mode it was ridiculous. Coming off throttle was like opening up with a GPMG. Made me laugh uncontrollably, but ultimately, it was silly. I thought power delivery was a bit disappointing, I guess I’m used to turbo power with bags of torque. Maybe I didn’t get the best roads for the car.

Then drove a 718 2.0. I thought it would be dreadfully disappointing with ‘only’ 300bhp and having listened to all the tails about the soundtrack being terrible. But I guess you don’t miss what you never had, so the noise to me was fine. I don’t need silly levels of speed or noise anyway. It’s a little bit sluggish at low revs in auto mode. But in sports mode and with some open roads I have to say I loved the drive. Felt sharper than the GTS which felt heavier, and the torque wave was much more suitable for country road driving and quick overtaking but not troubling the driving license every time you open it up….

As Im no longer interested in track days, I have decided on the 718. I don’t think the extra 50bhp of the S is going to be required.

So the deposit is going on a fairly lightly specced 718 Boxster. Aiming for a price of about 60k but I know it’s going to be hard to get it less than 65k

What options do you think I don’t need? And I’m not spending the car for a future buyer, this is for me, and if it’s less sellable because it I don’t spec particular I hpjust don’t care.

So PDK, Viper Green, 20inch alloys in black (because I like them), Bose stereo, Nav, reverse sensors, sports exhaust. What else is a must have to my list please? I’d like a half leather option, not sure this is possible?

Any thoughts in the above would be appreciated.

[Porsche991992]

If its for you and a keeper then get the creature comforts , you won’t regret getting them but may think if only I had them , I like lane change assist and camera option , Adaptive cruise control is always a bonus for me along with upgraded lights (i like brightness ) and PDK ( getting older ) . Sorry dude not a big fan of black wheels , I prefer always spec my cars with carerra exclusive design wheels look silver ( easier to clean ) and electric seats .
And lastly and I get a lot of flak for it — I get the TV … yes I know

[churchie2856]

PASM with those 20inch wheels.

[churchie2856]

What is the dealer quoting in terms of delivery times?

[TTmonkey]

churchie2856 said:

What is the dealer quoting in terms of delivery times?

Q4 next year.

[julian987R]

TTmonkey said:

So the deposit is going on a fairly lightly specced 718 Boxster. Aiming for a price of about 60k but I know it’s going to be hard to get it less than 65k

£65k would get you a great 718 Boxster T - thats the one to get over the base in my opinion. Has some nice features to it not on the base or S.

Or even though you don't want the extra power, but if you want all the creature comforts and leather dash etc then for £65k you could get this

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13493124

which by comparison has got it all. The seats, the whole interior is a massive step change from base.

The colour might not be your taste but use that as a benchmark to compare to the Viper green - let someone else have taken the depreciation hit to your gain.....do you really need to buy a new one?

[TTmonkey]

julian987R said:

TTmonkey said:

So the deposit is going on a fairly lightly specced 718 Boxster. Aiming for a price of about 60k but I know it’s going to be hard to get it less than 65k

£65k would get you a great 718 Boxster T - thats the one to get over the base in my opinion. Has some nice features to it not on the base or S.

Or even though you don't want the extra power, but if you want all the creature comforts and leather dash etc then for £65k you could get this

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13493124

which by comparison has got it all. The seats, the whole interior is a massive step change from base.

The colour might not be your taste but use that as a benchmark to compare to the Viper green - let someone else have taken the depreciation hit to your gain.....do you really need to buy a new one

Wow that is pretty special. Not sold on the colour though.

[julian987R]

TTmonkey said:

julian987R said:

TTmonkey said:

So the deposit is going on a fairly lightly specced 718 Boxster. Aiming for a price of about 60k but I know it’s going to be hard to get it less than 65k

£65k would get you a great 718 Boxster T - thats the one to get over the base in my opinion. Has some nice features to it not on the base or S.

Or even though you don't want the extra power, but if you want all the creature comforts and leather dash etc then for £65k you could get this

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13493124

which by comparison has got it all. The seats, the whole interior is a massive step change from base.

The colour might not be your taste but use that as a benchmark to compare to the Viper green - let someone else have taken the depreciation hit to your gain.....do you really need to buy a new one

Wow that is pretty special. Not sold on the colour though.

that colour in real life will knock your socks off. But either way, like I say, consider that as a benchmark and challenge yourself on why you need to buy brand new vs used with an official warranty. You'll get far more bang for your buck.

[Jawls]

TTmonkey said:

So PDK, Viper Green, 20inch alloys in black (because I like them), Bose stereo, Nav, reverse sensors, sports exhaust. What else is a must have to my list please? I’d like a half leather option, not sure this is possible?

Any thoughts in the above would be appreciated.

Obviously you’re speccing for yourself not me, but I don’t think it’s hard to keep it below 60k.

For reference, my 981 cayman is poverty spec. All standard apart from paint, alloys, leatherette seats, rear parking sensors.

Anyway, on to the Boxster.

I’d want dual zone climate. Not because dual zone matters, but because otherwise it’s boggo air con not climate.

Eg. http://www.porsche-code.com/PPMZR4I5

Comes to just shy of 60k and frankly there’s a bit of fat in that. Maybe you aren’t arsed about electric folding mirrors (I don’t have them) or cruise or sports chrono.

Also, am I going blind and sports exhaust isn’t on the configurator?

Adding leather adds quite a bit of cash.

So http://www.porsche-code.com/PPX22AE1 is just shy of 63k. 3k for a bit of leather? Not obvious that’s worth it but YMMV. Personally I’d rather sack the leather off and get the sports seats plus. And generally, I’d say try and spend less on options once getting near Boxster S money.

Edited by Jawls on Wednesday 22 June 11:25

[Blink982]

I have a 718T Cayman and had a base 718 before it. I would also look at the T as it comes with all the driving toys.

I’d add:
2 zone climate (it’s easier to adjust than standard air con)
Heated multi-function wheel (for those cold mornings or not to warm drives with the top down)
Smoking package (tidies up the awkward looking hole)

Cruise, Nav, CarPlay, parking sensors and heated seats are all standard now AFAIK.

Then upgrade the headlights if you do a lot of night driving (I do so added the Xenon ones and they come with the now trademark 4 DRL). I have the standard Sport-Tex/Leather seats and plastic dash but for £1200 you can have leather everywhere. I wasn’t that bothered but to make the interior a bit nicer, you can add it. I didn’t like the lizard green stripes on the seats but added the seatbelts, just because. I have listened to the Bose option and wasn’t impressed. Spending £ on audio in a sports car with the engine inches from your lug holes doesn’t make sense. I also got rid of the T stripes.



Python really is a great colour.

Edited by Blink982 on Wednesday 22 June 22:55

[julian987R]

Blink982 said:

I have a 718T Cayman and had a base 718 before it. I would also look at the T as it comes with all the driving toys.

I’d add:
2 zone climate (it’s easier to adjust than standard air con)
Heated multi-function wheel (for those cold mornings or not to warm drives with the top down)
Smoking package (tidies up the awkward looking hole)

Cruise, Nav, CarPlay, parking sensors and heated seats are all standard now AFAIK.

Then upgrade the headlights if you do a lot of night driving (I do so added the Xenon ones and they come with the now trademark 4 DRL). I have the standard Sport-Tex/Leather seats and plastic dash but for £1200 you can have leather everywhere. I wasn’t that bothered but to make the interior a bit nicer, you can add it. I didn’t like the lizard green stripes on the seats but added the seatbelts, just because. I have listened to the Bose option and wasn’t impressed. Spending £ on audio in a sports car with the engine inches from your lug holes doesn’t make sense. I also got rid of the T stripes.



Python really is a great colour.

Edited by Blink982 on Wednesday 22 June 22:55

Looks fantastic. Love the T. I don't think there is enough love for the T which is a shame.
It was my original plan to get one instead of an R, but then stopped myself from buying new (there was zero used T's at the time) and my spec was coming in more than a GTS...it was around £85 and figured for half that I could get an R. Yours really looks amazing.

[TTmonkey]

Blink982 said:

I have a 718T Cayman and had a base 718 before it. I would also look at the T as it comes with all the driving toys.

I’d add:
2 zone climate (it’s easier to adjust than standard air con)
Heated multi-function wheel (for those cold mornings or not to warm drives with the top down)
Smoking package (tidies up the awkward looking hole)

Cruise, Nav, CarPlay, parking sensors and heated seats are all standard now AFAIK.

Then upgrade the headlights if you do a lot of night driving (I do so added the Xenon ones and they come with the now trademark 4 DRL). I have the standard Sport-Tex/Leather seats and plastic dash but for £1200 you can have leather everywhere. I wasn’t that bothered but to make the interior a bit nicer, you can add it. I didn’t like the lizard green stripes on the seats but added the seatbelts, just because. I have listened to the Bose option and wasn’t impressed. Spending £ on audio in a sports car with the engine inches from your lug holes doesn’t make sense. I also got rid of the T stripes.



Python really is a great colour.

Edited by Blink982 on Wednesday 22 June 22:55

Looks stunning.

[First Sea Lord]

Nice looking car. I prefer understated which is why mine's agate grey, but they're really sublime cars. Driving them around is life affirming stuff.

If you're keeping it I would thing about adding:

1. Dual zone climate. It just makes life easier vs turning the heating on / off. Know it should really be standard
2. Heated steering wheel. Really helps on colder days, which means you can have the hood down more often
3. Intelligent cruise. Great given how many average speed camera zones there are, I really like it on mine
4. Reversing camera. Really helps unless you're only parking in easy spaces

Overall, I really would definitely add #2 and #4. The other two are nice to have.

[First Sea Lord]

Gratuitous and average pic of mine.

Other thought is that folding mirrors are great if you're regularly going to be parking it in the street.

[julian987R]

First Sea Lord said:

Gratuitous and average pic of mine.

Other thought is that folding mirrors are great if you're regularly going to be parking it in the street.

Nothing average about it, it looks awesome. Folding mirrors is one mod con I wish the 987s had.

[the-norseman]

I bought my first Porsche a few years ago, test drove 718 Cayman, 718 Cayman S, 981 Cayman and 981 Cayman S. In the end I ended up spending 20k more than budget on an amazing spec 981 Cayman S (basically a GTS with all the stuff it had) and had it Stage 2 tuned. Amazing car loved it.

Sold it just add more money to my house move, still miss it today.

For me, I had come from owning quite a few 2.0 turbo hatch backs and the 718 just sounded the same, even the 2.5.

[LiamH66]

Dual zone climate is a must have. Folding mirrors helpful occasionally. If you get the sports steering wheel in leather you probably won't need it heated (at least I never have). Smokers' package neatens up the centre console. Only other real "must haves" for me nowadays are all weather floor mats, indoor car cover, and winter wheels and tyres if I'm using the car when weather is bad.

Extended leather looks nice. One of mine has this with a lot of race tex/alcantara, which I never would have chosen, but I might if I order another one. I'm also a sucker for the carbon dash fittings that I have on both, and the rest of the carbon that I have on the other.

I would never now spec without PASM and PTV, but that's mainly for the limited slip diff that you don't get without buying both. I'm guessing neither of them are life changing for most people, but personally I like a sports car with an LSD.

Good choice of base car. My winter car is a 2.0 turbo 718 Cayman, and as an everyday road car it is a joy in every way. Can't believe I don't use it more in summer, but also strangely attracted to the 981 GT4 most mornings.

Liam

[DJMC]

PASM.

I never wanted it, the standard suspension on the 981 seemed fine on test drives. But the used car I bought had it (and 20's) and it makes it better.

The 718 standard suspension is harder than the 981's and so is the PASM version, but I'd add it for extra suppleness.

Other than that, follow what's been said by others.

[Philvrs]

https://www.ashgood.co.uk/vehicle-details/Porsche-...

Used vs New debate again, but covers your requirements at your budget?

[TTmonkey]

Philvrs said:

https://www.ashgood.co.uk/vehicle-details/Porsche-...

Used vs New debate again, but covers your requirements at your budget?

That is lovely.