I've put 100 miles on the car now, so I thought I'd give some thoughts about it.
It's been a blast to drive--other than the fact that I look like I stole daddy's car, I'm not getting many stares--the update was very low-key so people are used to seeing Boxsters and I'm not attracting that much attention.
I'm used to driving cars that have been prepped for track use and my other car is a modified 1998 turbo Eclipse. Not comparable in any way to the Boxster, but that's my background for comparison. I've driven track-prepped RX-7s, Lancer Evos, and assorted DSMs.
Of course, I haven't had much of a chance to actually "drive" the car yet so my initial impressions are fairly cosmetic:
1. The turning radius is awesome.
2. The Bose stereo system is nice, although I don't think it's handling my Doobie Brothers or Frankie Valli very well--they sound rather hollow and washed out, too much mid-range emphasis. Norah Jones sounds spectacular, as does Beck.
3. I'm not hearing any rattle from the windstop as others have mentioned, although I can see reflections vibrate on it. I've only driven as fast as 70 MPH so far though.
4. I hear the whistle from the side mirror that others have mentioned.
5. The engine sounds better with the top up.
6. The top controls are a bit annoying. It's a one-touch up/down button IF the car is moving. If you do it when the car is not moving, you have to hold the control down for the entire operation. If you let go of the button, the top stops moving and the computer warns you that the top isn't fully closed or retracted. If you push the button while driving, it starts moving but then if you pull up to a stoplight, it stops.
Why? Why!? What use would I have for opening the top halfway? It should ALWAYS be a one-touch button. If I want to stop it midway, I should be able to push the rocker switch in the other direction to stop the motion.
7.
You will want to buy the sport chrono package. The electronic throttle is a bit annoying--in standard mode, it feels like the pedal is just not fully responsive--the very first bit of travel feels like it's being ignored--the car hesitates. I don't get this feeling at all when I push the sport button--the throttle feels as it should.
Seeing as how you have to have the sport chrono package to get the sport button/remapped throttle, I highly recommend buying the package, even though the chrono's a pretty silly option. I wish they gave me the option to have some other, more useful gauge in that pod.
8. I have PASM, but I don't think you need it to enjoy this car, really. I mean, I love it but I know they drive very well even without it. If you can't afford PASM, at the very least get the Sport Chrono package--that's much more important!
9. The clutch engagement is too high. I'm hoping that maybe the dealership can do something about this. I want it to be lower so I can put the clutch all the way down, then lift it just a bit to start clutch engagement. As it is right now, I feel like the engagement point is very vague and I have to sit pretty far back for things to be comfortable with the clutch, as a result of this....
10. The throws seem too long. I have to stretch my arm out all the way, and then some to engage third gear. I'm sure these points might be able to be rectified by seating position, but with that clutch engagement being so high (which is pretty typical for most cars I suppose) I can't sit much closer or else I'm going to have to lift my knee to bend my leg enough to get off the pedal. May have to look into the short shifter kit.
11. Shifter feels a little rubbery.
12. Putting your owner's manual kit in your glove compartment leaves very little room for much else.
13. I wish the engine was a little louder.
14. I am completely spoiled by this car's interior. The seats are fabulous--they hug me perfectly. The interior feel like quality, unlike my friend's C6 that has many little fit and finish issues.
15. I hope there's a way to get the big yellow and white warning labels off of the vanity mirrors. They cover the whole mirror back and are pretty garish.
16. The convertible top offers great road noise isolation with very little wind noise. I'm very impressed--it's a far cry from all of the other convertibles I've ever been in!
17. I may be feeling slight hesitation during certain part-throttle-tip-in situations, but I may be imagining things. I'll have to drive it some more before I know for sure.
Okay, so that sounds like a lot of complaining, but rest assured that I'm in love with this car. Turn-in is crisp, almost as if the front were toed-out a little bit even though it's not, and there's a perfect on-center feel. The suspension is taut and the chassis feels very rigid. The girlfriend is happy that her butt doesn't leave the seat when i sail over dips and bumps on the road; I'm happy that I can heel-toe into an onramp and get on the throttle way early and just power straight out of it...up to 4500 RPMs.
More handling/driving comments after 1100 miles...
If anyone else would like to chime in, I'd love to hear what you have to say!