Burmester now because NAV can always be added later.

 

Here's a vote for neither and save your money for something else that floats your boat .

The NAV is mediocre at best and Waze, Google Maps, etc.much better. It's a noisy cabin and I''m not sure that Burmester adds much over Bose that will improve the quality of your ownership experience. I'd put that money towards ceramic, PPF, some good wine, a weekend trip or something else entirely.

As other have said, NAV is easily added ex post facto for little cost if you want it.

 

Why isn't "neither" an option? Burmeister is 100% worthless IMO unless you only listen when you're sitting still in your garage. These cars are noisy. You can't listen to music. If you are the type of person who constantly uses NAV and can't find your way home or to the grocery store without it, then maybe yes to NAV. But when your phone does the same thing and probably better, why do you need it in your car? If you absolutely have to spend a few thousand dollars, PM me and I'll give you my PayPal address. 😁

 

Agree with the last couple of posts: Neither.

I have the Burmester on my 991. Based on the sound quality, it's definitely not worth $5K. I have navigation too, and while it's convenient to have it built-in, the navigation on my phone is better and it's easier to use.

 

Had the Bose on my 991.2 C4S and it was embarrassingly underwhelming. I find the Burmeister to be a huge upgrade on my Boxster 25. Replicating the sound via the aftermarket is just as costly and will not bring any value at the time of sale.

 

I personally have both Burmester and Nav, but always use Android Auto (activated by Sima..) nav instead. The Porsche Nav is decent, but why pay for map updates and traffic info when Gogle maps are free?

I personally think the Burmester sounds great and disagree the Cayman is too loud (while cruising) to enjoy. I agree you need high quality music to fully benefit. As to Burmester vs build your own, I am coincidentally having a local shop do a build for my Mini JCW that happens to cost $4,600 for Focal speakers, Helix amps and a custom JL subwoofer box install in my hatch storage area. I am curious to see how the two systems will compare. Pure specs, you get more for your money with a custom build. I will report back. As to original question, if I was ordering another Cayman right now I would still get Burmester and definitely not get Nav.

 

I opted for NAV and Bose...

 

You need to have a "neither" option. As someone with a car with both and a car with neither, I think 1) Burmeister is almost useless in a Cayman (or even in a Panamera), and in a Spyder is completely useless, and 2) my Spyder doesn't have NAV, but I did the DIY free install and it works perfectly for free.

I guess if I was forced to pick, I'd say NAV, because the DIY NAV took some effort, so getting it as an option does have some value, whereas I have Burmeister in a 911 and consider it a total waste.

 

Very strange statement. I have had Burmester in both my Spyders and consider it essential if you want to hear anything at highway speeds with the top down. I would say the sound system without Burmester is totally useless in a Spyder. I literally did an all-night cross-country drive with the top down at 80+ mph listening to an audio book. Would not have been possible without it.

 

I think it boils down to the individual at the end of the day. And really depends on what you consider a good audio experience. For many people, a good audio experience means you ONLY hear the sound system and the experience is devoid of things like wind and road noise. In that case you could have the best sound system in the world but if you're in a Boxster, then that's a bad audio experience and so I imagine that's why a lot of people say to not bother.

For me personally, a good audio experience means that when I do choose to listen to music in my cars, the audio frequencies are clear at all volumes with me being able to hear music without the need to crank the volume to unsafe levels. The Burmester should be able to do that as the speaker quality and tuning allow a clarity that the stock system and the Bose do not offer. Will there be road noise, yes, especially in my Boxster. But will the tones coming from the speakers be clear and punchy. Also yes and that's what I want.

 

Thanks. This precise use case will totally justify the cost for me. I am paying for clarity and fidelity which isn't the same as loud.

 

The Bose is plenty adequate for listening to audio books. Wouldn't want to mix an album on it though.

 

My 2cents - sound systems in Boxster/Cayman is always so-so, and all those fancy names - if you get into it - mean nothing much in our cars, just a way for PAG to make a few bucks more. Don't expect much from any of those sound options and you won't be disappointed If you want serious sound - go aftermarket, it will be cheaper and better. In my 981 the biggest sound upgrade was throwing out PCM and installing aftermarket android head unit.

 

Burmester.

The Burmester is going to give you a greater improvement over the Bose than the Nav will give you over Apple CarPlay.

I haven't spec'd Nav in a Porsche since Apple CarPlay became available. My $0.02 of course.

 

and the risk of creating other unwanted rattles.