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Though not new to Rennlist, having owned a 991.1 C2S for a couple of years (which is currently my profile photo), I'm new to 981 ownership. If all goes well, the following will arrive at my doorstep in the next day or two: a 2013 Boxster S, 44,000-ish miles, two previous owners.
Excited to join the ranks of 981 owners, just in time for fall convertible weather here in central Illinois.
John C.
You’ll be able to provide a comparison not many in here have - 991 Cab vs. Boxster. Same interior, but how does the driving feel different (or the same)?
You’ll be able to provide a comparison not many in here have - 991 Cab vs. Boxster. Same interior, but how does the driving feel different (or the same)?
Yes, I'm actually interested in the comparison myself. I no longer own the C2S, which was a 2014, but I remember it well and both cars are eerily similar in specifications - both naturally aspirated flat-6's (3.8 for the 911 vs 3.4 for the Boxster), PDK, Sport Chrono, 20" wheels (even down to the exact SAME wheel design, although I think the tire size is slightly different). What I didn't realize when I was shopping for the Boxster is that the acceleration specs aren't much different; the factory spec on the C2S with PDK was 4.5 seconds 0-60 (if I remember correctly), and the spec on the Boxster S is similar. So same transmission; nearly the same acceleration times; both with Sport Chrono (and yes, both in dark blue metallic; I'm a blue guy all the way). Will be interesting to see how the Boxster compares to my recollection of the 911.
Prediction: you'll kick yourself for not buying the 981BS instead of the 991S back in 2014.
Well, funny thing about that. The reason we went with the 911 was that it had more interior room, and since it was going to be a daily driver, including grocery store runs, Home Depot stops, Walmart, etc. that was important at the time.
Now we have two Macans (mine is an S; wife's is a base), so interior space isn't an issue any more. This will be strictly a summer fun car. We test drove a couple of 981's at a local dealer this time around, and both of us thought "Wow, this is a blast . . . " but we really couldn't wring it out properly in an urban test drive. We also drove a 718; I liked it, but the significant other was adamant about the flat-6 sound. So we settled on a 981, and I wanted the extra power of the S version, which I may regret if I end up in jail some day . . .
There aren't many (any?) winding roads in central Illinois, but there are possibilities in southern IL, where I grew up and still have relatives, and Wisconsin isn't far away, either . . . We've already got some weekend excursions planned.
Congrats - looks like you found a nice example there! I even like the amber side markers on Blue and those wheels look great too. I'll be interested in your impressions and comparisons as well.
For cornering fun, look for a local PCA DE at https://autobahncc.com/ in Joliet. You’ll have a blast your first weekend and you do not have succumb to the pressure to advance - I know a few drivers that are perfectly content to turn laps in Novice or Intermediate.
You’ll be shocked at the capabilities of your stock 981. Also, your SO has a good ear!
Car arrived yesterday at 6:00 p.m. Couple of interior shots:
Didn't get to drive it much yesterday, and today we've got a heat index of 110 here, so probably will be a couple of days before I really get to test it out.
John C.
Congrats, beautiful color combo! Would highly recommend adding PSE at some point if you're considering it, mine came with it optioned from the factory and it is an incredible sound.
Still awfully hot here, but I decided to make a few spirited runs down a couple of curvy entrance ramps to a local interstate. First impressions:
You all were correct - I love the Boxster. Honestly, more than my C2S Cabrio. Same for my wife. She wasn't a big fan of driving the 911, but she really enjoys tooling around in the Boxster so far.
Going on memory that is now 2 years old, my sense is that the C2S might have been just a hair quicker in a straight line. But on the curves of the entrance ramp (taken at speeds I'm certain our State Police would frown upon . . .) the Boxster just felt more stable to me. The 911 always felt just a bit twitchy when doing this, as if it wanted to give me a subtle reminder that the car really should only be driven by folks who really know what they are doing (and I'm not one of that group). The Boxster, however, seemed to be saying "Really? That's all you got? Come on, dude, get a move on." Just absolutely, completely stable and in control. And the howl of the flat six above 6000 rpm is just glorious. Yep, my wife was right about the sound.
Other surprises: at 80mph on the interstate with the top up, the car is surprisingly quiet. I can't say it is quieter than the C2S was, but I could easily see doing long-ish road trips at this speed without ear fatigue. The suspension isn't nearly as forgiving as the air suspension on my Macan S (which I keep in Sport mode all the time), but it is quite comfortable. I might not want to drive it from San Francisco to NYC straight through, but 300 miles or so in a day should be fine. Even the Bose stereo is decent. Looking forward to some back road adventures when the weather finally cools off!
08-24-2024, 10:44 AM
Joining 981 Owners
