To wait or not to wait, that is the question

[Guest]

Porscheless newbie here, ready to receive deep verbal wedgies over my lack of knowledge of anything Porsche (as well as my pendulous abdoman, shiney bonce and diminutive genitalia). Any how ......... I'm in the market for a new toy. Test drove a new 2.7 at the OPC and couldn't cope with the salesman breathing down my neck, so a call to ClassicCarHire.net secured a 2.7 (986) for a period of 3 days along with a generous 400 miles. This has made me much more confident that this is the right machine for me. A precision instrument providing thrills, a spectacle for the awe struck bye standers and importantly requiring no change of underwear. I will have to be a very much better driver than I am to get to the limits of what this car can do.
Less banter, lets cut to the questions -
1. Is there another Boxster soon to be released, in which case I need to wait?
2. Is the 987 noticably different to the 986 in handling / performance? (my test drive of the 987 didnt answer this - although I could have another go I suppose)
3. Will Porsche be offering complementary membership of PCGB for the first year with new purchases? (and if not, why not - Harley Davidson do this to good effect)
4 Thoughts so far are as follows Speed yellow / Metropole blue hood / Ocean blue interior / Park assist / Wind deflector. This will leave £1,500 for other bits. Are there any other additions which from your experience are useful / to be avoided (forget resale value, I'm a serial hoarder).
Unless Porsche do liposuction, colonic irrigation ............
Any advice / insults / flagellation gratefully received

 

[NicD]

Howard,

I can answer a couple of your questions - for the others look at http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=46951

The 987 is just out so not likely to be facelifted for some years but small improvements can be expected each model year - from August.
Free membership of the Club will not be offered, Porsche Cars support the Club directly. We want members who are interested in joining the Club and wont bail out once their free year is up.

 

[JCB..]

2. Is the 987 noticably different to the 986 in handling / performance? (my test drive of the 987 didnt answer this - although I could have another go I suppose)

A 987 with PASM and the Sports Chrono over a standard 986 - yes. A 986 with 030 and "track day" alignment - no.

Both 987's have more HP but both have put on some weight.

(forget resale value, I'm a serial hoarder).

With that colour combo that's jut as well.[]

 

[Helen Goff]

i think the specification is really down to your own needs and taste..
for example theres not much point in upgrading to the Bose sound system if your never going to listen to it.
heated seats..i've never felt to need to use as the air con is so good..but, i know others who wouldn't be without them.
full leather..is an not needed but,i always opt for as i love it, i spend a lot of time in the car so for me its worth it.
computor..for me this gadget is a total waste of money but, my husband loves it and fiddles with it all the time.
climate control..in my optinion is a must have as i use my car all year around,and the "standard" heating system is rubbish.

sit down think carefully about how and for what your going to use the car for..then get what YOU want.

 

[thboxster]

Not to repeat those statements that are available elsewhere but to summarise:

IMO - There is a noticable difference between a 986 & 987. Power difference is not as noticable as the driving feel. The whole cockpit feels firmer/solid, the design and build of the indicator stalks highlight this. Generally the seats and driving position suit me a lot better. That might only be because i've got a small frame, that one's down to you to find out.

The car on the road feels extremely stable even under considerable pressure round corners. That's not to say the 986 didn't, as it did feel in control, but I think the 987 has the edge.

Which would I choose now? If it were to be a brand new one (built to my spec) then 987 is the only option. If I were to go for a previously owned vehicle what would I choose?

Luckily I don't have that choice. Bottom line I think would be my budget. If I could go 987 I would, if I couldn't then i'd aim for a 986 face-lift, quite possibly in Speed Yellow.

Are you going to use it everyday or at weekends? that can help you decide based on age, mileage and possible reliability.

 

[thboxster]

One thing I didn't say. Again, only in my opinion.

Regardless of the advice that people share with you, especially dealers (if you go that route), don't buy a specific car based on colour and spec because it will supposedly be worth more than others when you come to sell it. Buy the one you want, the one that makes you buzz. The fact that your talking speed yellow gives me an indication that your thinking about driving it rather than re-sale anyway.

Let us know what you find.

 

[Michael Downing]

ORIGINAL: thboxster
don't buy a specific car based on colour and spec because it will supposedly be worth more than others when you come to sell it. Buy the one you want, the one that makes you buzz.

Isn't it funny how the "best colour (etc) for depreciation" when you buy the car is always "Ummm ... difficult to shift ...." when you trade in? []

Quite right. Buy the car you want, not the car that someone is guessing that someone else will want in a few years' time.

 

[Guest]

Good point. Artic silver and ocean blue for example, popular colours to good resale, until it comes to resale and then "oh, lots of those on the market at the moment, you should have bought pink with green polka dots one".

 

[KPNut]

I have a 987 Boxster on order.

Lapis blue with blue hood, stone grey partial leather, 18 inch rims, climate control, wind deflector and park assist. Thants it! A "Poverty spec" really. I could have bought a 986 with lots of toys for less money but I decided to buy new. In my view all the toys are very nice, but they are just toys, its the car that matters.

I am a little concerned with the RMS problem, and the possibilty of the brake rotors corroding, (because I have no garage so the car is always outside) and the cost of major repairs outside the warrenty are frightening [>:]. So if you are like me and are going to struggle with the cost of ownership then think very hard before buying. The advantage of buying a new 987 is that you have a two year warranty to give you some breathing space, rather than just a year.

Incidentally, welcome to rip off Porsche. 4 years warranty in the USA and just 2 years here. I just wish the club could somehow use its influence on Porsche to be responsible. We pay more for our new porkers than everywhere else, and probably add a disproportionately high amount to Porsche profits. If the car wasn't so bl**dy good I'd never support such a cynical organisation.[]

Kevin Powell.

 

[Dapster]

My advice is to buy the very newest car you can afford. If that is a 986 then fantastic, it is a truly, truly fabulous car. If you can stretch to the 987 you will have a car with which Porsche have done the impossible - improve the 986 in every way. Some bits subtley, other bits massively.

For me the extras that I simply can not believe I had done without in the past are sports seats and litronic headlights (xenon). The others are just a matter of taste and personal preference - it's your wedge so enjoy the ride!

 

[Guest]

Speed yellow/ blue interior & hood is an excellent choice for a boxster. I think this colour combo looks superb and will really stand out from the crowd.

Shiney bonce? That's a prerequisite for a Porsche driver apparently. Oh, and you should also be over 40 and into really modern music.

Regarding diminutive genetalia, the Porsche is guaranteed to provide an immediate extension.

There are a few threads currently wrt new Porsche purchase. Since I'm not in a position to buy a new one myself, I'm getting all excited about other peoples' and helping them choose instead. Marvellous this board is [].

 

[jw2015]

If I were you, I'd take advantage of the large selection of almost new 986s out there and save a few quid, instead of going for the brand new 987. You'll get a pristine version now with loads of extras for your money.
Plus, depending on when the car was registered, compared to when you want to buy it, you could almost end up with a 2 year warranty on it anyway if you buy from an OPC. They have to buy the extended warranty to cover the minimum one year guarantee they give on a used car, and they can now only buy this in 1 year chunks. So if you buy a car that has 11 months left on the existing warranty, the dealer will have to top that up with a one year extended warranty and, hey presto, almost two years for you, almost as good as having the brand new car.
That's what I ended up with myself, knowing full well that the 987 was due out in a matter of months. I got a lot more car for my money, high spec, spot on and more, as far as my must-haves were concerned, and less than 4000miles on the clock. I don't for a moment regret not waiting for the 987. I fully intend keeping my beautiful 986 until it falls apart.

 

[Guest]

Hi,

I drove both and went for the 987 as it was noisier, faster, better put together (IMO), obviously more modern looking, chunkier, Bose was superior, roof goes up on the move (great when a call comes in along with looking cool)and 19"ers were available.

I spent £2-3K more than a similarily specced nearly new 986 but hey.....each time I drive past a 986 I smile and think ...."........so last year!!".

Either way enjoy the buying experience and enjoy the car!!!

 

[JCB..]

but hey.....each time I drive past a 986 I smile and think ...."........so last year!!".

Each to his own but hopefully most people here bought the car as a car not a fashion statement![&:]

JCB..

 

[JCB..]

I fully intend keeping my beautiful 986 until it falls apart.

Soul Brother![]

When it does I'll help you fix it!

JCB..

 

[Guest]

hood going up on the move, you can do it on a 986 , its seemingly available as a hack , something to do with pin 18, i think the downside was that the windows dont drop down that fraction when you press the switch , i can look out the link if you want

 

[juliany27]

Just to help; there is an article in the June 2005 edition of 911 and Porsche World on pages 66-69 about an after-market fit or changing the hood relay.

Does anyone know if this is any good or will it cause problems?

 

[Guest]

Apologies for stealing ths link from the www.986forum.com , but it might help , the credit should go to perfectlap






Perfectlap

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Join Date: Nov 2004Location: New JerseyPosts: 697


Convertible top hack (lower top while moving)

---

Did the 'driving while lowering the convertible top' hack this weekend. Someone else posted it here and it was indeed a five minute job. Pull out the convertible top switch next to the fuse box (the big white block) and locate the #18 pin. It says #18 Tach with all the other codes for the other numbers. I used a set of pliers to break off the pin completely. Plugged it back in and fired up the boxster.
Works fine, you just need to have the emergency break up at least one click so that the brake light comes on your dash. I was travelling about 25mph while the top was lowering. My plastic window has started to fold precisely without having to do the chop so its been a perfect hack.
BUT...
When I raise the top the windows don't automaitcally lower that little bit so that you can engage and lock the the top. I have to first lower each side window and then raise the top. I didn't notice if the windows still also lower that little bit when the doors are opened.
It seems more useful to be able to lower the top while moving than having the windows come down atomatically to close up the top. If you don't like this hack you can always get a new fuse block for $40.__________________
BOXSTER: The Driver's Porsche.www.cardomain.com/memberpage/789415

 

[jr2015]

Re the modification mentioned in 911&PW, I notice that removing pin 18 means the roof can be opened at ANY speed, are there insurance issues as this de-activates the factory-designed safety measures?
regards,
jr.

 

[juliany27]

jr

Although I am not an expert on insurance etc. law - criminal law is my area of practice - I fear that any insuarance policy, or OPC or commercial warranty might very well be invalidated by interfering with the electronics of your car, and it will be hidden most carefully in some small print somewhere in the documentation issued by the insurance company or warranty issuer. In addition I believe that one is supposed to notify an insurance company of any material alteration to a vehicle. An insurance contract is a contract uberrimae fidei [a nice Latin legal term I am afraid], that is, a contract of the utmost good faith between both parties, and I expect that the tampering with components or, possibly adding non-standard equipment would involve something which might give rise to a potential claim against your motor policy, and if there is no disclosure from the [potential] claimant then the insurance company/warranty company will do its' best to avoid liability on the basis of failure to disclose something they consider important.

You know what insurance companies are like... what the company thinks is relevant without telling the insured what it has in mind, even though the same does not ususally apply to the insurance company. In other words, if they can wriggle out of paying on any claim on any grounds possible, whilst taking huge premiums as swiftly as they can, they will do so.

And people say that Solicitors are fat cats.....

I think that I have found the answer to your question; try reading the paperwork and let me know if you understand it; as a Solicitor with 28+ years of qualified experience I am damned if I can really understand this sort of turgid legal jargon. At the end of the day, IMO you really have to disclose - but there is bound to be an insurance expert/lawyer who can give you a definitive answer - no doubt a Porsche owner with the appropriate expertise can definitively confirm the position.