max. speed
 

Has anyone got anywhere near the maximum speed for the 986 Boxster S
(on derestricted roads of course) as I cannot imagine it would be very pleasant
given the noise with the hood up at relatively modest speeds.

Do the S versions in the UK come with the liner in the "hood" ("top" for us Yanks)? Maybe you need a window track adjustment or your tires are worn.

My Boxster S, dispite being a convertible, is the quietest sports car I've ever owned. It's got too much sound deadening if you ask me. I've had it up to 120-130 mph and it's no Lexus, but it's quiet and stable enough that the sense of speed is somewhat reduced.

Thats wierd, my 00 with 40k sounds like a tornado is right behind me at speeds over 70mph. The windows seem sealed and the sound seems to come from the rear.

To the subject in question, I cannot help.

Is this tire noise? I do know that tire noise on some tires can be extreme?

Road surfaces also make a difference, macadam vs concrete etc.

256km/hr 986 non s (who knows if that was actuall as I've heard there are discrepencies on the speedo) but the noise wasn't too bad as far as I recall mind you at that speed I wasnt paying much attention to the noise. At 180kms there is not much noise at all for a convertable.
you more or less hear the engine over the wind. :cheers:

my 2.5 on the dyno hit the limiter in 5th 168mph. I know it is not a S, but I thought I would share. and no dyno numbers.. way too embaressing. :(

I've got an 01 S, and have nowhere near maxed it out speed-wise. That's only because I can't afford a confrontation with the boys in blue. On those fairly rare occasions I've approached 110, I'll echo blue2000s: It feels wonderfully stable and is not particularly noisy. Feels like I'm doing 75.

The fastest I've had mine up to was an indicated 151mph with the top up. The ride and noise level was surprisingly civilized I thought. It still had some left but that was fast enough for me. My owners manual says the 03 S is good for 164 mph, but I don't think I'll ever see if it's true.

I don't take mine to track nor about to race anyone out on the streets. Great looking convertible with Porsche badge that can do about 150mph is good enough for me. Only time I really speed through is at on ramps to expressways. Love that cornering!!!

To get back to the topic, fastest I've had my 99 none S was 105mph.

Why am I in quotes? Just Curiouse.. I've been up to 143 on the street. Took way too long to get it up there though.

I took my 02 non S up to 145mph with the top down. Lots of turbulence and the front end felt very unstable. I was able to get my 02 Carrera coupe up to 175mph. That car felt much more stable and confident. All this done on public roads late at night. I would not recommend these speeds to anyone who does not have excellent driving skills.

I've hit 136 in my non-S boxster with the top down.

150 in BMW Z3, car felt stable, glued to the road even, felt like the car weighed 10 tons. 146 in 99 boxster, quiet, very stable. I guess it helps ive got the GT3 bumper and side skirts on it. Ran out of road basically for the box, the Z3 was cooling down fast so I had to stop, didnt want it to cool the oil too much. Ummm, I think I went 90 in my 02 jeep liberty renegade... don't do that.

Huh? The Z3 was cooling down fast so you had to stop? That seems very odd to me. Driving a car that fast puts a LOT of stress on the engine, creating a lot of heat. Regardless of ambient air speed, I can't imagine a car coolling off the faster you drive it. Hell, it seems to me it would get hotter at an accellerating rate, much like air resistance would increase at an accellerating rate.

How accurate was your dyno test? The unmodified 99' should only be able to do 150ish.

I've hit an indicated 125 at the track. Why "indicated".. well.. Porsche speedos are not as accurate as they used to be. I have read (online) many reports that on the newer cars they can read as much as 10% too high. More often 5-8% high. So.. 125.. maybe that was only actually 112.. maybe it was dead on though.. Doubt it was reading "low" though ;)

As accurate as my speedo says. 168mph. Your right an unmodified boxster should only hit about 150... On the track/street. There is no wind resistance on a dyno. :)

Hmm,that makes sense. How much of that do you think is due to modifying your Boxster?

I've noticed this on my boxster. If the engine is not 100% warmed up...say 180 degrees instead of 185 and I drive fast the coolant temp actually drops 10-20 degrees sometimes.

none of it.. lol I did not change the gearing so it is stock in that sense. I wish I had the video of it on the dyno still. You would be surprised how fast our car is if it had to pull no weight and had no drag. It got there real quick.