When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
991.2 Order: 14 or 18-way seat & Bose Audio or not?
Hello folks,
It's been a while since I left the P-car community after selling my 997.2 a few years ago. I have recently decided to place an order for an 991.2 C2 with and available July build & possible Sept. delivery. After long debating, I have chosen the Graphite Blue Metallic with Graphite Blue/Chalk leather interior. Now, there are a couple of things I can't made up my mind with and I need to figure them out before it's locked-in for production.
First of all, I would like to hear your opinions on both about the 14-way and 18-way seats option. In a darker interior situation, I wouldn't choose the 18-way seats as the back of them are silver/grey; however, since I chose the chalk (which to me is very much like very light grey or white-ish), I don't mind having that silver back shell. I guess the question is, would the extra $1200 or $1300 for the 18-way seats be something worth the money to spend?
Another one is the Audio system. I was told most people would at least chose the Bose Audio package and I had that in my last 997.2. It was nice but all I really listen while driving is local/traffic/weather news and sometimes some old track music that I don't even have a clue about what they are. I wonder in my case, if I should spend that $1820 for the Bose system at all. (Canadian pricing)
The 14 way seats are more comfortable than the 18 way seats. The 18 way seats are much more "snug".
I originally was going to get the base stereo but my SA insisted I get it for resale purposes. I personally would save the money on the 18 way seats and put it towards the GT heated steering wheel.
The 14 way seats are more comfortable than the 18 way seats. The 18 way seats are much more "snug".
I originally was going to get the base stereo but my SA insisted I get it for resale purposes. I personally would save the money on the 18 way seats and put it towards the GT heated steering wheel.
I was going to say exactly the same thing....so +1
There are a LOT of threads on this topic; do a search to read everyone's opinion.
Bottom line: you need to test-sit both types of seats. Depending upon your physical build and seating position it is very possible that you will hate sitting in one type or the other for any length of time.
For me it took 15 seconds to figure out which seat type I couldn't stand (so-to-speak.)
Seats are a funny thing. I could not decide when I ordered my car last year. I went to the dealer and sat in both the 14 and the 18. I found the 14's more comfortable, but you may not.
Strongly urge you to invest the time sitting in both, your shoulders and back will guide you.
I test drove a car with your color combo, and it looked great. I had 14 ways in my previous 991, have them in my current car, and ordered them in my new car. They're great, and I wouldn't spend the extra money for 18 ways. I have the Bose system in my 991, and my wife has the base system in her 997.2. I listen to mostly Sirius XM and music on my iPhone. I don't think the Bose system is that much better than the base system. I went with the base system in my 991.2.
I tried both the 14 and 18 way seats at a Porsche experience track event recently - to be fair I only sat in them for less than an hour but both were comfortable. 18 ways are a bit more hugging but I didn't find them more comfortable - they will also be more prone to paint rubbing off the bolsters especially if you have a lazy car entry technique i.e. allow your bottom / back to slide across the bolsters as you enter the car.
Its hard to see that resale would be less than the ~$1800 purchase price of the bose system so I wouldnt bother with it.
I don't completely agree with the previous GT steering wheel recommendations - with the 991.1 you need the GT / sports design steering wheel for the proper L/R PDK paddles, now they come as standard (at least in UK) on the 991.2 and you have specified a manual anyway. With the GT steering wheel you would forego the wheel functions. However, I would seriously consider the carbon MF steering wheel, this really does look great. I've used a pic from MaxF14 new TTS post here
Currently, I have two Cayennes -- one with the standard audio, one with the Bose. The standard audio is sub-standard IMO, while the Bose rates a 5 out of 10. I'd definitely go with the Bose, at a minimum. I went with the Burmester in my recent order (below) as I plan to keep the vehicle for a long time, and thought it was a nice to have option.
The seats are a personal matter -- my sales guy said that most go with the 14way, I tried both out, and went with that one -- have the 14 way in one of my cayennes (8 way in the other), and it's nice but not sure if it's exactly the same as the 14 way in the 991.2. As mentioned by Dr Satan, above, ventilated seats are very nice in the summer, although in Vancouver probably not essential -- put it in the nice-to-have category.
Regarding your color combo -- I saw one just like it in the showroom this week -- I liked it, the sales guy thought there was too much blue between the Graphite Blue Metallic with Graphite Blue/Chalk leather interior. I went with Metallic White exterior with the Graphite Blue/Chalk. BTW, the Graphite Blue part of the interior is a great shade with some gray as part of the mix, and the Chalk is good too -- very light gray. It's something you really need to see in person, although the Porsche configurator does an accurate rendering on a Macbook Pro. This is my build -- Sept production:
The 991 Bose is generally a class lower than the 997 Bose was (which was top money at the time).
Hard to advise. I think you will easily make the money back on resell value, not having any upgraded audio system is going to hurt at least resale timing.
The 991 Bose is also a reasonable base to replace individual speakers with quality speakers. Some people throw in individual components from the OEM Burmester. I am not up to date with other aftermarket speakers. The point is that if you don't have the Bose you might miss door trim places or the wiring to them. If sound quality matters to you the Bose also gives you a sufficient head unit so that good sound only requires speaker changes.
I'm not convinced the smaller Gt steering wheel is a forgone choice. It makes it a bit hard to read the instruments depending on how tall you are and how low the wheel is. I don't think the increased torque required to turn the smaller wheel translates into a real advantage in steering feel.
The Carbon fiber wheel is a big one, BTW.
I would definitely get heated seats and the heated multifunction steering wheel for resell value. Lacking those will hurt if you ever want to sell.
05-27-2016, 06:01 AM
991.2 Order: 14 or 18-way seat & Bose Audio or not?
