What Options for a new Boxter ??

[Parsonage]

I am considering buying a base model auto Boxter.

However I am overwhelmed with the numerous options which the salesman tells me usually increases the base price by about $40,000.

It appears that many standard features such as cruise control, GPS, steering wheel control for the music, blue tooth, etc are all option extras which are pretty standard on all other vehicles these days.

However there are many more complicated Porsche options like wide wheels, numerous interior trim options, double clutch, etc.

What do you guys recommend as the "must have" important options to include for the Boxter 2015?

[rick3000]

I don't have this, but wish I did: auto dimming rear view and side mirrors. A lot of truck headlights are at the same height as the mirrors on a Boxster, and it would be on my must have list. I would also want bluetooth (who needs a GPS that will be outdated in a few years, when you have a phone), and as much leather as possible (looks better and lasts longer than plastic/vinyl).

It can be fun to price all the options, but be realistic about your needs.

Do you live somewhere cold? Seriously consider seat heaters.
Do you plan on doing a lot of daily driving? Maybe consider small rims with a thicker sidewall.
Do you planning on tracking the car? Find more money, because you will never have enough.

[RandallNeighbour]

Just for fun, I build Boxsters and Caymans on the US Porsche site all the time. Some of my must-have features are:

Ventilated seats (because I live in a very hot and humid part of the world)
Xenon headlamps (called Litronics on the Porsche)
Bose Sound system (can't afford the Burmeyster, even when I'm dreaming)
S model - I would HIGHLY recommend you do without some other features and get the larger engine. You'll not be unhappy about that decision, and the resale value is much stronger in my opinion.

[clickman]

265HP in the new base isn't good enough? How thick does the steak have to be?

Take them for a drive and then decide.

[RandallNeighbour]

"I sure wish I'd bought the base model with the smaller engine" said no Porsche owner EVER.

[Porsche9]

I wish I'd bought the base model with the smaller engine. I said it but don't really mean it.

My mechanic has a fully prepped but still street legal and driven base Cayman. Almost every time I see him he says he wished he'd have at least the power level of an S and he would get the same lap times as the 996 GT3s. Eventually he's going to build a motor.

Skip most of the extra's if you are using it like a real sports cars. Stuff like leather covered whatever is just a plain waste of money that you will never see again.

[BIGJake111]

Pass on the infotainment and no good overpriced tech. Avoid raking up too much on leather air vent slats in a deviated color, and focus on torque vectoring, pdk if that's your taste, sport chrono package. Carbon ceramic breaks if you can justify the price.

[litespeedp]

Don't go crazy with the ocean of options.

Go with the S,your favorite type of transmission,and the Porsche Sport Exhaust.

The S provides power slightly better than the golden 10/pounds per horsepower
ratio.

Yes the base is plenty quick; but the S is MAGIC.

[cfos]

981 Chat

[JayG]

seat heaters are great on a cool night with the top down

[Porsche Chick]

If I were you, I would probably pay for the letter "s" so I could spell it correctly.

Just teasing

[Redboxs]

I would get leather everything. Leather steering wheel, leather vents, leather key fob, leather rear view mirror, leather hood, leather engine cover, leather control knobs, leather buttons, leather guages, leather everything, leather for life.

[rp17]

Get the S. Add sports chrono, and the sport exhaust. SKIP the ceramic brakes. Way too expensive and useless if you track your car majority of the time. Jake take that one off.

[kk2002s]

Definitely the DVD player with the Led screens built into the back of the front seats

And the Voice controlled automatic waxer "Wax On - Wax Off"

Oh and you have to get the 986 front bumper cover option for the 981

And the Glove box delete kit (Carbon fiber of course)

Oh it's like a kid in a candy shop

[Parsonage]

Thanks for your advice thats really helpful. With minimal driving in city only I will stick to the basic Boxter as my ist Porsche.

Heres what the items the dealer is now pushing me to buy, which I am not 100% about:

1. Leather interior & seats - the fake leather on standard seats is fine, but the leather does dress the dash, door trim etc.
2. Bi-xeon lights - apparently the white light is much stronger and better.
3. Auto dimming mirrors & rain sensor ?- apparently good when trucks approaching. Not sure about this, but rain sensor is pretty basic item. adds $870
4. PASM - gives a much smoother ride when not in sport mode.
5. 19inch Boxster S wheels - looks much cooler on the car.
6. Light design package ?- additional LED lights for overhead console, door handles, footwells - probably could be deleted but adds $720

Thinking to delete items 3 and 6 - what do the Experts think??

[Parsonage]

Waiting for the Porsche Experts reply to my updated question at Reply No. #15 as I am about to buy !!!

[CraigM]

Don't skip the heated seats! Greatly extend acceptable top down weather, esp once the sun is down! The wife/gf/whoever will appreciate it and enjoy going out in it more.
I would definitely skip #6. Personally I would only do #2 for sure, the 19s, and PASM if you're worried about the extra stability. I have no TC/PASM, and greatly enjoy when the car drifts a bit. But you may be going pretty dang fast when that happens in a brand new Boxster.

Hopefully others chime in in these final moments - and pics are necessary!

[kk2002s]

It is easy to spend your $$$
If it was my $$$ I would buy 1 year old with extended warranty 'S' model
Going to get a lot more bang for the buck
If it has to be new then again I would for go the frilly options that can add up and get a basic 'S' model
Even the basic 'S' has more HPs, better brakes, better suspension
And those 3 things are what makes a difference in the driving experience

Stop dribbling around and shot already

[mountainman]

Definitely an S for not only your driving pleasure, but for resale. Skip their fancy light kit, but get the bi-zenon if you do any nite driving. Forget the 19 inch wheels because as the economy gets tighter road maintenance is less and more chance of bending a rim on a pothole with 19's.
Also shop different dealers and you may find one that has one on the lot with a lot of options at a deal.
I personally like the very low milage year old S option with an extended warranty and let someone else eat the depreciation.

[Joe B]

Originally Posted by Parsonage

Thanks for your advice thats really helpful. With minimal driving in city only I will stick to the basic Boxter as my ist Porsche.

Heres what the items the dealer is now pushing me to buy, which I am not 100% about:

1. Leather interior & seats - the fake leather on standard seats is fine, but the leather does dress the dash, door trim etc.
2. Bi-xeon lights - apparently the white light is much stronger and better.
3. Auto dimming mirrors & rain sensor ?- apparently good when trucks approaching. Not sure about this, but rain sensor is pretty basic item. adds $870
4. PASM - gives a much smoother ride when not in sport mode.
5. 19inch Boxster S wheels - looks much cooler on the car.
6. Light design package ?- additional LED lights for overhead console, door handles, footwells - probably could be deleted but adds $720

Thinking to delete items 3 and 6 - what do the Experts think??

# 2 is very nice. Nice to really see well at night! Skip #s 3 and 6. Waste of $$$. #5 is not so important. I like my 2003 S just fine with 18" wheels.
Get cruise control. I wouldn't own a car without it (Shut up Jake )!