These options worth it?

[dalwood]

EDIT: Did not mean to post in DIY. I'd delete it if I could figure out how. :o

When buying a new 987 (non-S), are the following options worth while:

• Wind blocker
  
• Sport Exhaust (factory)
  
• 6 speed
  

Thanks.

Edited May 31, 2008 by dalwood

[White987S]

For sure the windstop.

The PSE is great. Not cheap.

[Edman]

Windstop is worth whatever they charge for it.

[SPIRO]

The windstop makes a huge diffference in comfort and stereo sound quality. Drive a car with it on and off, and see the difference for yourself.

For me, the 6 speed seems smoother, but to be honest, the gear ratios are not that different if you compare a 5-speed to a 6-speed. Again, try both, at a dealer, and see which you prefer.

[70Sixter]

The 6 speed is also expensive. But I think worth it if you have to have it. As SPIRO said - "Try both."

[renzop]

If you study the ratios of both trannys carefully and work out the speed in gears at redline you will see that the 5 speed is better for the street and low speed events but the 6 is really nice for high speed track work. The 6 speed actually has a bigger gap between 1st and 2nd than the 5 speed but 2nd 3rd and 4th are nice and tight.

For me the 5 speed made more sense. 5th is certainly high enough ( I am going 75 @ 3000 rpm ) for American highways. Seems like the 6 speed would be a good autobahn tranny, where you need to drop a cog when you're doing 110 to get by that pesky Beemer :-)

Regards,

Alan

[dalwood]

The windstop makes a huge diffference in comfort and stereo sound quality. Drive a car with it on and off, and see the difference for yourself.

For me, the 6 speed seems smoother, but to be honest, the gear ratios are not that different if you compare a 5-speed to a 6-speed. Again, try both, at a dealer, and see which you prefer.

Thanks for everyone's advice for the windstop.

I have yet to see a dealer anywhere in the US stock a 6 speed Boxster, so it is so far impossible to try one at a dealer.

Thanks again.

[White987S]

dalwood, I would also strongly recommend heated seats. Depending on were you live, this greatly extends the top-down driving season, and your passanger (wife) will also like it. I go top-down, with the heater blasting, in 40 degree weather, on the highway. Plenty warm. A hat helps too! :)

[dalwood]

If you study the ratios of both trannys carefully and work out the speed in gears at redline you will see that the 5 speed is better for the street and low speed events but the 6 is really nice for high speed track work. The 6 speed actually has a bigger gap between 1st and 2nd than the 5 speed but 2nd 3rd and 4th are nice and tight.

For me the 5 speed made more sense. 5th is certainly high enough ( I am going 75 @ 3000 rpm ) for American highways. Seems like the 6 speed would be a good autobahn tranny, where you need to drop a cog when you're doing 110 to get by that pesky Beemer :-)

Regards,

Alan

I would love to study the 6 speed's ratios. Unfortunately, I can't find them posted anywhere. Even the dealer does not know what they are(!).

Are we to assume the optional 6 speed is the same found standard in the S? This seems suspect because first gear is taller in the S's gearbox. Also, S's ratios do not jibe with all of your gear spacing observations; the S's 1st and 2nd are *closer* together, not farther, and the S's top gear is *shorter* than the 5 speed's, suggesting that the 5 speed is more suited to high speeds than the 6.

Does anyone have the definitive ratios specs for the 987's optional 6 speed? Thanks.

[Loren]

Dealers never cease to astound me... from the Boxster Owner's Manual (found in every car).

[dalwood]

dalwood, I would also strongly recommend heated seats. Depending on were you live, this greatly extends the top-down driving season, and your passanger (wife) will also like it. I go top-down, with the heater blasting, in 40 degree weather, on the highway. Plenty warm. A hat helps too! :)

Thanks for the recommendation, White987S. Here in South Texas, *all* car seats come with solar powered heaters. :lol: .

[White987S]

Dealers never cease to astound me... from the Boxster Owner's Manual (found in every car).

The Boxster sales brochure also has this info in the back few pages.

[dalwood]

Dealers never cease to astound me... from the Boxster Owner's Manual (found in every car).

Thanks a lot, Loren. Dealers are indeed astounding.

I assume those specs are from the 2007 MY owner's manual(?). According to them, the S and !S 6 speed trannies are the same. However, the ratios for the S posted in the latest Sales Brochure show:

1. 3.31
   
2. 1.95
   
3. 1.41
   
4. 1.13
   
5. 0.97
   
6. 0.82
   

Those ratios at least give a more sane spread between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, than the ones from the owner's manual. Maybe Porsche changed the S's ratios for 2008? Seems unlikely, however.

So I guess I'll assume the owner's manual is right for the !S, but there appears to be conflicting data for the S.

Thanks again.

[dalwood]

Dealers never cease to astound me... from the Boxster Owner's Manual (found in every car).

The Boxster sales brochure also has this info in the back few pages.

To be precise, the brochure shows 6 speed ratio data only for the S. It merely states the !S has an "optional six-speed manual". That implies the !S may have the same exact tranny. But I'm half German by blood, so I have a genetic need for precision darnit. ;)

The 6 speed data in the brochure also differs from that found in the (2007) owner's manual, leaving one to wonder which one to believe.

[Loren]

Dealers never cease to astound me... from the Boxster Owner's Manual (found in every car).

Thanks a lot, Loren. Dealers are indeed astounding.

I assume those specs are from the 2007 MY owner's manual(?). According to them, the S and !S 6 speed trannies are the same. However, the ratios for the S posted in the latest Sales Brochure show:

1. 3.31
   
2. 1.95
   
3. 1.41
   
4. 1.13
   
5. 0.97
   
6. 0.82
   

Those ratios at least give a more sane spread between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, than the ones from the owner's manual. Maybe Porsche changed the S's ratios for 2008? Seems unlikely, however.

So I guess I'll assume the owner's manual is right for the !S, but there appears to be conflicting data for the S.

Thanks again.

I actually took those from the MY06 Owner's Manual.

The MY07 Owner's Manual is here online to download.

[majormcf]

Get the windstop and xenon headlamps. Upgrade the wheels if you can afford them. I have a stock radio with the PCM 2.1 and its a little weak. Might as well splurge for mats, you will pay about the same on ebay. I love the steering wheel controls and havent bought a car without them for about 15 years.

I am happy with the 5 speed but havent driven a 6 speed.

Just curious what color your going with, some colors have some nice to have exclusive options you may want to consider. I have the matching seatbelts, dash, airvents and boxster emblems. Seen a few cars close to optioned like mine but have never seen one exactly like it though sure there is one out there somewhere.

Good luck!

[berty987]

Personally I would go for a short shift and XPA wheel rather than the 6 speed gearbox (especially if you don't spec the sport wheel). I was under the impression the 6 speed gearbox came as part of a sport option which also included PASM ? Either way, the short shift and padded wheel add to driver involvement, i'm not sure the added cost of a six speed box is going to give much benefit.

[renzop]

I agree about the winstop. Its great over about 60 mph. Should come with the car standard. But below 50 I like to remove it and the roll hoop grills. Makes the drive more involving but the buffeting is minimal.

Another option to think about is PASM. If you have rough roads in the area PASM in normal mode is a delight. Everyone who has ridden with me comments on the relative comfort over frost heaves and potholes. Also on rough turns there is no skittishness like I have felt in other performance cars. In sport mode there is a noticeable tightening up. The car turns in more agressively and is more precise on corner exit under power. It's an expensive option but if have the bucks its one I recommend.

Regards,

Alan

Edited June 4, 2008 by renzop