[thstone]

Originally Posted by since95

1. throw on the shifter seems pretty long, so thinking of going short shifter - any feedback? I've also read some threads about shift cables/linkages anything I should do there?

There are a couple of options: (1) short shifter (with or without bearing upgrade); (2) 997 shifter which is in-between the Boxster stock shifter and a short shifter. My only comment would be to get something that is high quality as the last thing you want at the track is a hard to shift transmission. I have the 997 shifter in my Spec Boxster.

The stock cables and linkages generally work fine except the linkage will occasionally pop off in the rear at the transmission. Its an easy fix to snap it back on and/or zip tie it keep it on.

Originally Posted by since95

2. seats are tired and drivers reline function not working (switch feels broken), any suggestions on recline-able track seats that fit car. It looks like there are lots of options out there that are actually cheaper to buy new than buying a used set of Porsche seats which likely are tired too, but the head rest fits inside the roll bar, so don't want to buy something that won't fit.

Lots of options here and it really comes down to finding something that you like. Deeper seats will hold you in more but they can also be a bit of work to get in/out of. Try to sit in as many seats as possible to get an idea of how they will feel. The somewhat more complicated part is installation - depending on the seat, you'll have to figure out the mount and slider combination.

Originally Posted by since95

3. car seems pretty low, so how can I tell if suspension has been changed? Looks to be Porsche parts, but can't tell if it is ROW M030. Car option tag does not show 030 code. My 993 looked like an SUV with the US spring kit, this Boxster doesn't look like it needs to be dropped, so thinking someone may have replaced suspension. The plan was to install the ROW or PSS9 suspension kit in anything I got, but just looking for some way to confirm what is in the car now.

As Paul indicated, check the part numbers for the springs and shocks. If the car is lower than other stock Boxster's (you should be able to tell from photos), then the car likely has H&R lowering springs on stock shocks or an M030 upgrade (I am assuming that you already looked and there aren't any coilovers under there!).

Originally Posted by since95

4. lots of threads about using Porsche transmission oil. I use Redline MT90 in Gallardo, wife's Miata, daughters 944, and seems to be real good. What is best option for Boxster, stay with the Porsche fluid? I've read it does matter, but Pelican lists Porsche plus 4-5 different brands of 75W90, then also Redline MTL. In the Lambo most of the opinions were split between MT90 and MTL, so I went MT90 since it seemed recommended in the Miata and 944 forums. Would love to stay common with all the cars, but no issues using what should be used.

There are a lot of posts on this subject and the general consensus is to use the somewhat expensive factory fill. You can try whatever you like but most of us come back to the factory fluid. I'm not sure if its the unicorn tear additive or something else, but the factory fluid seems to result in fewer issues.

Originally Posted by since95

5. car is currently running 17s. Since I want to get a separate set of wheels for track vs street so I can run appropriate tires for each what is the better size for the track? I have read where there are more tires available for the 17's but better tires for the 18's.

17s are what almost everyone who regularly tracks their car uses. They are readily available, tires for 17s are cheaper than 18s, and there is a much wider tire selection.

Originally Posted by since95

Any other feedback for prepping the car for some track time. Just getting started, and planning to still drive the car on the street a bit, so not looking for full race car prep. If I decided to go more heavily into track driving I will likely get a newer Cayman a couple years from now (for the IMS-less motor and hardtop). This Boxster S was to balance the cost of tracking something with what the wife was willing to let me spend right now I got a great deal on the car, so I have some room to do upgrades, just don't need to go too nuts with it.

Just the usual track prep - brake fluid, brake pads, and good tires. A stock Boxster has an incredible amount of performance so you can drive it pretty much stock for quite a while before you'll be better than the car.

You'll also want to max out the negative camber in the front. With the stock suspension you'll be limited to around -1.0 deg which probably won't be sufficient for very long. You'll know you're at this point when you see extreme tire wear on the outside 1/3 of the tire. Then you'll need to get -2.0 to -2.5 deg camber via slotting the shock towers, adj camber plates, or adj lower control arms. When you get really good, you'll need -3.0 to -3.8 deg camber but by then you're likely to already have adj lower control arms which adjust via shims so that should be easy.

When you reach the point where you need more car, install a racing seat + harnesses along with the Spec Boxster suspension (PSS9's, adj lower control arms, adj sway bars, adj drop links, and adj rear toe) and a set of sticky R-compound tires. Then you'll have a track car that will handle as well as most GT-3's for a fraction of the cost and you'll still be able to drive it on the street fairly comfortably. Beyond this, you'll have to start trading comfort for more performance (and vice versa).