Driven At Last

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: oliver

This will be our (her) fourth Boxster.

Not interested in a test drive. Top priorities were colours, seat comfort and audio.

***********************************************************************************************************************

Mike no juicy bits to report refs your non test drive so lets have the bottom line .... What did you decide on refs the "Top Priorities" []

 

[oliver]

Off the top of my head, I think it was:

GT Silver (my wife wanted Blood Orange but was persuaded that it might work on a '73 911 but could be a 'trifle sudden' on a Boxster). GT Silver looked surprisingly nice between an Arctic 997 and Seal Boxster in the showroom.

Terracotta full leather, adaptive sports seats (heated), bose, pcm with phone, 18" wheels, hard top, climate plus various other bits and pieces.

Quite a high spec., but we've had the last one for 4 1/2 years so it's been spec'd to use and enjoy for the next five years.

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: oliver

Quite a high spec.,

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[8D]Mike apart from the trick suspension and 19" alloys I think you have pretty much covered everything [] Sounds very nice combo

 

[mwadams]

Sorry Oliver, but I don't like heated seats either, just uncomfortable for me.
Again its down to personal choice.
Mark

 

[oliver]

The other thing I'd always have on any decent road car is 'cruise control'. Again it is an acquired taste, but once you start to use it as a matter of habit, it is very useful.

 

[mwadams]

Had cruise control on my 996 C4, but just don't see the need in a sports car for cruise.
Tried on long journeys done the M1 and could not get along with it.
Again its personal choice and I think sports cars are becoming too soft these days.
Mark

 

[oliver]

ORIGINAL: mwadams

Had cruise control on my 996 C4, but just don't see the need in a sports car for cruise.
Tried on long journeys done the M1 and could not get along with it.
Again its personal choice and I think sports cars are becoming too soft these days.
Mark

Sports cars aren't getting too soft, they're getting too heavy. I have two lwt 911s where even the passenger sun visors were deleted.

This also applies to the current road cars. In yesterday's Autocar Chris Harris argued that the new 997 was a better car than the 997'S', because its lighter weight was more significant that the S's extra power.

Having said that, every day road cars have to be practical for their intended use and everyone has their personal 'must haves'. As we do quite a lot of motorway/autoroute driving, cruise has become essential. Unfortunately almost every manufacturer has a different system, positioned in a different place so few people ever get comfortable with it. However the Porsche tempostat is very good and enables relaxed, safe, economical cruising using the simple hand control. If everyone had cruise the motorways would be a lot safer. It teaches 'anticipation'.

 

[Andy Tims]

ORIGINAL: Mark Bennett

I believe it has been this way for a while in the USA (It's good practice anyway, but MAKING people do it is a bit much...)

I always start any car with the clutch depressed. Less drag on the starter motor + it might just have been left in gear.

 

[mwadams]

Oliver

I was not saying it is any good, just don't like cruise.

My journey down the M1 every morning was not any easier or relaxed with cruise control regardless of how good the system and in my opinion I would rather have more control without all of the driver aids.

As you say, we all have our must haves....... mine is air con and leather, other than that I love PORSCHES for what they are.

Mark

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: daro911

Had a one hour+ test drive in the "S" and it was better than expected. Better for the following reasons in no particular order:-

4)after a 75 minute drive I am more convinced than ever that this is the best "Sports Car" Porsche has ever made and I have driven the 997"S"

*********************************************************************************************************

Autocar 21 Dec: Boxster 2.7 Group Test - Steve Sutcliffe said the following:-

"The new Boxster truly is that good. So good in fact, that I believe Porsche has created another problem for itself, entirely seperate from the one concerning its peculiar desire to redesign the same shapes over and over again.

It's this: so much quicker is the new Boxster on the road, and so much better is it to drive overall than the old model, I can't now think of a single reason, other than pure snob appeal, why you'd want to part with the extra 25 grand it costs to buy a new 911.

The new Boxster sounds better, steers more sweetly, has safer and sharper handling, stops better because it's lighter and is more economical. And here's the real haymaker: in many ways it's also more engaging as a sports car - more thrilling to drive, more alive beneath you, more like a real 911 in terms of the feel and communication it exudes." [8D]

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: Mark Bennett

I don't want to turn this in to a heated (seats) debate <groan>[]

[8D]Mark I am out of here for a few weeks now taking my summer hols 2004, better late than never So whilst I am away you are in the "hot seat" should any more tests pop up [] Seasons Greetings to one & all and roll on Spring 2005

 

[Mark_Bennett]

[]

Have a good time Robert. See you next year.