Hi All
This is my first post, I have only recently joined this forum, but have been looking at various posts on here leading up to the purchase of a 2004 Lapis blue Boxster S.
Having now driven the car about 500 miles on various types of roads in various conditions from sunny but cold 6 – 8 degrees to damp and cold. I have a few questions to put to anybody who would like to share their experiences.
I looked around for the best I could get for the money and ended up with the 2004 S with 71,000miles on the clock, previously owned by an older chap who did all his own minor servicing, all fluids where changed yearly whilst in his care. The car presents very well, with not a mark on the alloys or the interior and apart for some stone chips, the exterior is mint.
My first impressions are very positive, the car is extremely rapid through the gears and pulls well with a noticeable and audible shift at around 4500rpm and howls up to where I limit my gear changes at around 6500rpm. It seems to pull as well as my previous Porsche, a 928GTS, but with far superior feel.
There are a few minor niggles though, which maybe just a symptom of the cars characteristics or age…
The brakes though very powerful, have very little early bite, you have to use a considerable amount of force to get them to activate the ABS compared to my daily drive a 520BMW, brakes and pads have plenty of wear left. The car is very responsive to inputs, but seems a touch vague whilst in a straight line. And I was surprised that it felt like the backend was going to come round on a quick left hander over a crest, it has PSM and it was switched on, (it was a cold day though). There is also a very minor gearbox / diff noise when in lower gears, and what seems to be a minor whine from the rear nearside at around 45MPH to 70MPH, I checked for any lateral movement on the wheel whilst jacked up but it was solid as a rock. If anybody could give some advice on the noise, or any other of my early observation it would be appreciated.
Having highlighted the minor niggles, I have to say that without doubt this is the best sports car I have driven, It is the closest a car has come to providing the thrills of motorcycle riding without the discomfort, or worry for the missus.
Can't wait for some better weather to really put it through it's paces!
Look forward to hearing your replies.
