Speccing a Boxster

[Bumble SV]

All

I am new to this forum and wondered if any of you would share your experience/thoughts as current/former Boxster owners.

I am contemplating getting a new/nearly new Boxster. The budget allows for either an S with a very minimal number of options or a non-S with scope to get a few more options. My thought is that I don't need many options as I'm buying it for the driving capabilities.

My question is to what extent there is anything really necessary to spec? Top of my list are Sports Seats, ParkAssist, Xenons, TPM, mobile phone prep + USB connection. Anything else? The problem is that in the S guise, this pushes things over the budget so I need to prioritise or get the non-S.

Any thoughts very welcome.

Kind regards

 

[daro911]

You need to drive both models back to back and then only you can decide which model floats your boat

Armed with the model of choice in mind you can then proceed to speccing it up

You mention new or nearly new [&o] so when push comes to shove the exact spec might not be in your hands after all[]

 

[jdpef356]

Take a look at

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=632564

Plenty of good second hand models about unless you have money to burn buy second hand[]

 

[Bumble SV]

Thanks daro911. Good point - I should have included in my original post that I have driven both and that I have a preference for the S. However, if there were a number of 'must have' options that would then push this above the budget, I would then consider the non-S.

You are absolutely correct that if buying a nearly new model then I would not have many of the choices. I am therefore trying to establish which ones I then need to exclude from my consideration.

Thanks again.

 

[Bumble SV]

ORIGINAL: jdpef356


Take a look at

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=632564

Plenty of good second hand models about unless you have money to burn buy second hand[]

Thanks - good thread!

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: Bumble SV
You are absolutely correct that if buying a nearly new model then I would not have many of the choices. I am therefore trying to establish which ones I then need to exclude from my consideration.
 
Thanks again.

You should buy the car with the options "you must have" buying for future resale purposes is a waste of time and money IMO My current Boxster Spyder (6th to date) was the first used example I have ever owned and was a very heavy spec example but with 1000 miles and a £16k saving off list I couldn't refuse

Do I use the Sat Nav:Sports Chronoipping Mirrors & Rain Sensors:Ipod: in a word NO [] Would I have specced them up from new NO

I bought this car because it was the right £££'s and had "my must have options" ie PSE:Climate:Full Leather:

I am sure the next owner may want the other toys but I would still have bought this actual car without them for sure [8D]

Good luck with the hunt there has never been so many nearly new or low mile used examples to chose from than today and the prices of some are incredibly low

 

[Buddy]

OPC is the only place to buy a nearly new with the two year warranty I am a fan of the auto dimming mirrors & wipers package which is actually a relatively low cost option anyway, Sports seats and sports wheel also a must for me, Xenon lights a good option too. Climate control better than ordinary air-con.

 

[jdpef356]

ORIGINAL: Buddy

OPC is the only place to buy a nearly new with the two year warranty I am a fan of the auto dimming mirrors & wipers package which is actually a relatively low cost option anyway, Sports seats and sports wheel also a must for me, Xenon lights a good option too. Climate control better than ordinary air-con.

IMO OPC or any Indi is not the way to go when buying - Any garages second hand car is only someone elses second hand car.
They (the salesman) no little about the car other than what is in the service book - the person who know all the answers to any questions you may have was the previous owner. Find a car you like with the correct spec. Ask all the right questions test drive and then if you still like make an offer to the point you agree a price. Then ask do they mind if you have a Independent inspection? (Not an option a must).
Dependant on inspection and any faults found (you may be able to negotiate down further)

Now you have peace of mind - buy a guarantee elsewhere if you feel the need.

You will have the satisfaction of doing the job yourself and you will have saved on a 20K car approx 4/5K[]

 

[jonnyp1]

I know everyone will have their favourites....... For my mind buy the best you can get, but have you considered heated seats - great for roof down motoring. I am a big fan of cruise. I had sports seats on my boxster and didn't enjoy them, found they pushed out my shoulders too much - try before you buy and compare to the standard seat.

my two pennys worth

hope that helps and good luck

jon

 

[Dylan1]

the adaptive heated sports seats are now essential for this old codger[]wouldnt consider a car without it-try them and see if you agree.definately i wouldnt budge from an "s"as its a different league (IMO).also sport chrono/pse is great fun.xenons are also a big plus for me.satnav i couldnt really care less about .take a look having tested all options and see whhat you can find thats closest or buy it specced to your desire new and take the dperciation if you sell within 3 years(as i did with the cayman!)

best of luck
dylan

 

[Bumble SV]

ORIGINAL: dyllan

the adaptive heated sports seats are now essential for this old codger[]wouldnt consider a car without it-try them and see if you agree.definately i wouldnt budge from an "s"as its a different league (IMO).also sport chrono/pse is great fun.xenons are also a big plus for me.satnav i couldnt really care less about .take a look having tested all options and see whhat you can find thats closest or buy it specced to your desire new and take the dperciation if you sell within 3 years(as i did with the cayman!)

best of luck
dylan

Thanks. That is a good point - do the Adaptive Seats have lumbar support like the Comfort Seats? I understand from others that neither the Standard nor the Sport Seats have lumbar support. I'm don't think that I'm quite in the 'old codger' category yet but have a couple of dodgy discs in my back so the seat is imperative to me.

 

[Dylan1]

exactly!!

the adaptive sports seats have the advantage of the sport seats AND comfort seats-they have lumbar support as well as the sport seat adjustments-they really are a class apart(IMHO)-and i have had all the different seat types in my 5 porsche!!

i too have a couple of dodgy discs []and these are the best seats I have come across-definately the best porsche ones-sadly and not surprisingly i guess given their cost-they are not very common on used cars

good luck but once youve tried the adaptive you wont want any other!!

bw
dylan

 

[Buddy]

As you're going for a new or nearly new you should be able to get a nearly new with a high spec, these are more likely to be at the OPC than elsewhere sadly adaptive seats are not by any means common, sports seats suit me but not everyone. Do a search on the Porsche centres car search as there you can see what all of the dealerships have in.

As for going non-franchised, their prices often mirror the OPC Porsche Approved cars but not the preparation, some will be as good but less or paid for warranties.

Private buying may save some money but a lot of cars are not as advertised. Having said that, if you do find what you want privately you can get a Porsche Warranty if you want to go for it.

Whether you do buy nearly new from an OPC or elsewhere at an OPC you can try out seats, cars with other features etc so take a visit and treat it as research.

 

[flat6]

Just another point of view, if you're buying the car mainly for driving enjoyment and you said after driving both the 2.9 and S that you preferred the S, you should also consider how much that takes priority over other other items. When I work out my desired spec for a second hand car, yes some options are essential to me to even consider the car but once i've chosen the desired engine, I cannot compromise on that. I couldn't choose a car that doesn't have the performance I desire but has some of the other options on my list because my primary requirement is driving enjoyment and that is what i'll be doing most in the car. I'd soon be wanting to upgrade to get the extra power I craved. Equally, if I felt the 2.9 was plenty enough power for me, I wouldn't buy the S and forfeit other options I would prefer over the extra power, if my budget was restricted such that I could not have everything. My point of view doesn't count for your purchase but just food for thought...

 

[nwhear]

2.9 - plenty of power for me but if I had the cash.........

Heated seats (a real must have)

Short shift gear change

Park assist

Cruise control

Sports chrono would have been nice and the adaptive seats but we all have our own budget!

 

[spyderman]

Based on mine:
Love the PCM sat nav - use it a lot, updated with 2010 CDs.
Love the heated sports seats - nothing beats driving home in the dark in Winter with the roof down!
Love the Sound System (don't rate Bose) although have recently replaced the dash speakers.
Wouldn't be without the wind deflector.
Buying a Gen.II I'd go for PDK together with Sport Chrono Plus - an expensive combination.
I'd go for a year old S from an OPC.

 

[Peter Cee]

Choice number one : PDK or manual ?

If you go for PDK then Sport Chrono Plus is essential in my opinion. Transforms the car.

PSE is the icing on the cake if you can find it.

 

[Bumble SV]

Thanks all. Your comments are much appreciated.

 

[Bumble SV]

Thanks to all for your advice. I picked up a new Boxster S last week and I am delighted. Unfortunately no PSE, although other than that it has what I was after. Thanks again.