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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
2013 981 Boxster PDK
- Thread starter MR_Y
- Start date
MR_Y
Well-known member
No stickers.
If it was an "S" or "GTS", then definitely yes.
Started doing the school run and I am happy with how the Chellino child seat fits, so no need to get an OEM child seat .
I was meant to do an Audi Breakfast run last weekend, but could not attend. The run-in period for the new engine (short block) has passed, so the car is itching for a nice, long spirited drive.
If it was an "S" or "GTS", then definitely yes.
Started doing the school run and I am happy with how the Chellino child seat fits, so no need to get an OEM child seat .
I was meant to do an Audi Breakfast run last weekend, but could not attend. The run-in period for the new engine (short block) has passed, so the car is itching for a nice, long spirited drive.
Donnie Darko
///Member
Congrats on the Porker!!!
Nothing beats the driving experience a Porsche give you!!!
Currently have the GTS version and it’s really an amazing car to drive.
Nothing beats the driving experience a Porsche give you!!!
Currently have the GTS version and it’s really an amazing car to drive.
MR_Y
Well-known member
Update after 1 month ownership:
- Used as my daily driver and for the morning school run (Chellino child seat fits nicely and can also fit in the front trunk), and it excels at both. Ride quality is excellent for a sports car (even beats some sporty compact sedans for ride comfort)
- Fuel consumption is worse than initially expected. See my Fuelly.com below in my signature. Currently at 13.2l/100km - mainly driving in weekday traffic (60km per day) and weekend blasting. However, the engine has just passed it's 1,000km run-in period (the short block was replaced), so I would expect this figure to reduce to, say, 11.0l/100km over time.
- The engine is opening up nicely and the performance feels slightly better. The sound is magical as the revs shoot up. 0-100 sprints are decent (on a half-hearted launch, I got just under 7 seconds), but would likely improve to 6 seconds (if not just under) in the right conditions. This is not a drag car, especially at altitude. The strength of this car lies in the high rev range, where it builds up speed strongly.
- Handling is brilliant and very forgiving. It is just a super balanced car.
- I am using Android Auto on my phone, an AUX cable to pipe audio through the speakers and a winsdcreen suction mount holder as my solution to modernise the car. So, I can run maps, stream music and make/receive calls. Not the most elegant looking solution, but it works well.
- The aftermarket TPMS valve sensors work well and the display unit looks pretty nice on top of the dash. Well worth the price.
- I had VPS full frontal done a few weeks ago. It is holding up well.
- Taxis tend to respect the car in traffic, so I am given a wider than usual berth. Also, a taxi in the oncoming lane gave me way to make a right turn yesterday (this has never happened to me before)!
- On the flip side, other road users tend to be more dickish in traffic. No one has given me way to take a gap (in the Volvo I was given way many times).
- Used as my daily driver and for the morning school run (Chellino child seat fits nicely and can also fit in the front trunk), and it excels at both. Ride quality is excellent for a sports car (even beats some sporty compact sedans for ride comfort)
- Fuel consumption is worse than initially expected. See my Fuelly.com below in my signature. Currently at 13.2l/100km - mainly driving in weekday traffic (60km per day) and weekend blasting. However, the engine has just passed it's 1,000km run-in period (the short block was replaced), so I would expect this figure to reduce to, say, 11.0l/100km over time.
- The engine is opening up nicely and the performance feels slightly better. The sound is magical as the revs shoot up. 0-100 sprints are decent (on a half-hearted launch, I got just under 7 seconds), but would likely improve to 6 seconds (if not just under) in the right conditions. This is not a drag car, especially at altitude. The strength of this car lies in the high rev range, where it builds up speed strongly.
- Handling is brilliant and very forgiving. It is just a super balanced car.
- I am using Android Auto on my phone, an AUX cable to pipe audio through the speakers and a winsdcreen suction mount holder as my solution to modernise the car. So, I can run maps, stream music and make/receive calls. Not the most elegant looking solution, but it works well.
- The aftermarket TPMS valve sensors work well and the display unit looks pretty nice on top of the dash. Well worth the price.
- I had VPS full frontal done a few weeks ago. It is holding up well.
- Taxis tend to respect the car in traffic, so I am given a wider than usual berth. Also, a taxi in the oncoming lane gave me way to make a right turn yesterday (this has never happened to me before)!
- On the flip side, other road users tend to be more dickish in traffic. No one has given me way to take a gap (in the Volvo I was given way many times).
Zack
///Member
MR_Y said:
I can confirm this :fencelook:
It's funny how people's driving attitude changes when they see a sports car all of a sudden. Is it simply just jealousy? I'll be honest, I'm not a beetle fan, but to me, these cars are respected so I generally give way to pretty cars (unless they drive like a cock and force their way into a gap as Audi and Merc drivers generally do).
MR_Y
Well-known member
Chucky said:
The "S" is the one to get, especially in 981 guise.
Finding a low miler, at a decent price, is tough.
A high miler is not a problem, if you get one from Porsche Approved Used cars - the 2 year/200,000km Plan adds real peace of mind. Still, they are priced north of R600k.
I would have loved an "S", but the standard one had the right price and condition for me (so, I say to myself).
If you are going for any 981, please make sure that the PASM option is ticked. The ride quality is really good with these adaptive dampers.
npower
Active member
MR_Y said:
Your fuel consumption figure is pretty similar to mine. Lowest I ever got was around 12.5l. Getting 11.0 would be difficult in mixed urban use.
The sound of that flat six is something else, it has so many layers to it - induction bark as you change gear and a slight popping on the overrun.
MR_Y
Well-known member
Update
Had a long weekend drive from JHB to rural KZN south. Tackled about 3km of gravel roads, some steep, some mildly rutted. Car handled it well, touched a bit only twice.
I won't be doing the gravel road run in a hurry though, had to literally crawl and creep over these roads
On the open N3 roads, I was fortunate to have pretty decent weather that allowed me to drop the top and blast the car safely. No issues, especially with the wind deflector keeping the buffeting in check.
Consumption from JHB to KZN worked out to only 7.3l/100km. The reverse route worked out to 8.5l/100km. I did drive with the top down more often on the way up, so that may have affected the aerodynamics which drove up the consumption a bit (together with all the uphill driving).
Bottom line - the car is enjoyable on open roads. That is its natural habitat.
As a side note, I became frustrated with the Aux cable and have replaced it with a Bluetooth Aux receiver adaptor. It works well and is wireless. Next step is to get a neater, more functional phone mount.
Had a long weekend drive from JHB to rural KZN south. Tackled about 3km of gravel roads, some steep, some mildly rutted. Car handled it well, touched a bit only twice.
I won't be doing the gravel road run in a hurry though, had to literally crawl and creep over these roads
On the open N3 roads, I was fortunate to have pretty decent weather that allowed me to drop the top and blast the car safely. No issues, especially with the wind deflector keeping the buffeting in check.
Consumption from JHB to KZN worked out to only 7.3l/100km. The reverse route worked out to 8.5l/100km. I did drive with the top down more often on the way up, so that may have affected the aerodynamics which drove up the consumption a bit (together with all the uphill driving).
Bottom line - the car is enjoyable on open roads. That is its natural habitat.
As a side note, I became frustrated with the Aux cable and have replaced it with a Bluetooth Aux receiver adaptor. It works well and is wireless. Next step is to get a neater, more functional phone mount.
MR_Y
Well-known member
Update
Given the lockdown conditions, I am using this car as my stress reliever every 2nd day. Spend about 20 minutes going through some very quiet back roads around my estate (keeping more than enough social distancing). After the oil temperature reaches its optimum level, then let that glorious motor open up and sing (no need to do crazy speeds). Head off to the local shop to get a loaf of bread (gloves and mask on) and then back to isolation for the next 48 hours...
Given the lockdown conditions, I am using this car as my stress reliever every 2nd day. Spend about 20 minutes going through some very quiet back roads around my estate (keeping more than enough social distancing). After the oil temperature reaches its optimum level, then let that glorious motor open up and sing (no need to do crazy speeds). Head off to the local shop to get a loaf of bread (gloves and mask on) and then back to isolation for the next 48 hours...
npower
Active member
MR_Y said:
Been itching to do the same. Lock down as really been getting me down, lol!
I purchased soft top shampoo and the conditioning spray from my local Porsche dealership. I got plenty of time on my hands but I still keep procrastinating, so it still sits in my boot. Tomorrow, definitely....
The 981 is a great platform. The NA flag six makes such an awesome sound and driving experience is truly worth more then what these cars go for on the second hand market. Last year Porsche got us out twice to Kyalami to give the cars abit of a rip, I hope once the COVID-19 is in control, you get to experience your car on track, it is a real eye opener on how well these cars are engineered. I am hanging onto my 987 R for now, we should do a meet up with the Porsche guys on the forum after the lock down passes.
MR_Y
Well-known member
Del-Bosc said:
I am on the Porsche Club - Central Region.
If you are not a member, check this out:
https://www.pcsamember.co.za/login/
MR_Y
Well-known member
Update at 29,xxx
Lockdown:
Being driven every 2nd day for about 45 mins on open roads during lockdown.
Roof down all the time while driving.
Oil and coolant levels are all well behaved.
Some forums have noted oil consumption issues, but these mainly seem to be on 'garage queen' cars instead of daily drivers.
Wheel alignment:
I was considering taking the car in for regular wheel alignment and balancing at 30,000km, but was advised by an ex Porsche technician not to do this.
Apparently, the knobbly bits that have to tweaked, as part of alignment adjustment, are made of very sensitive materials and, as such, Porsche do not advise regular wheel alignment.
They only advise to do alignment if the car has visible signs of uneven wear on the tyres or if it pulls to one side, or if the owner experiences any wheel-related issues.
As further mitigation, they get a tech to drive and inspect the car at each annual/15,000km service interval to assess whether alignment and/or balancing is necessary.
Headlight delamination:
The headlights were wrapped with VPS and seem to be fine. However, I am seeing slight scarring on the edges of the film (where the VPS cuts out before the upper edge of the headlight). This seems to be a known issue on 981 cars called "headlight delamination" and is covered under warranty. However, given that I am only seeing this issue after VPS was applied, I figure that Porsche could (incorrectly) blame the VPS application process. In all fairness, this is a minor issue, since the VPS covers 99% of the light already and prevents further delamination.
Performance:
I am craving more oomph at the bottom end and I can understand why most buyers go for the 'S' model (3.4), since the 2.7 model lacks torque down low. I imagine that the current 718 Boxster (2.0 turbo) addresses this issue at the expense of a less engaging soundtrack (4 cylinder turbo vs 6 cylinder NA). The plus side is that the car sounds and feels fast when you rev it hard at road going speeds - there is no need to drive at super high speeds to get a thrill. Contrast this with an Audi TTS, where it insulates you so well that you need to push over 160kmh+ to get real thrills. Still, I will be keen to experience an "S" or a "GTS", in the 981 family, at some point in the future.
All in all, I am very happy with this car. Both my family car (Volvo) and this car fulfill my vehicle requirements. Especially, when you consider that BOTH vehicles cost less than ONE new 200kw+ hot hatch (say 135i, A35). So far, both cars are still on maintenance plan until end 2021.
Lockdown:
Being driven every 2nd day for about 45 mins on open roads during lockdown.
Roof down all the time while driving.
Oil and coolant levels are all well behaved.
Some forums have noted oil consumption issues, but these mainly seem to be on 'garage queen' cars instead of daily drivers.
Wheel alignment:
I was considering taking the car in for regular wheel alignment and balancing at 30,000km, but was advised by an ex Porsche technician not to do this.
Apparently, the knobbly bits that have to tweaked, as part of alignment adjustment, are made of very sensitive materials and, as such, Porsche do not advise regular wheel alignment.
They only advise to do alignment if the car has visible signs of uneven wear on the tyres or if it pulls to one side, or if the owner experiences any wheel-related issues.
As further mitigation, they get a tech to drive and inspect the car at each annual/15,000km service interval to assess whether alignment and/or balancing is necessary.
Headlight delamination:
The headlights were wrapped with VPS and seem to be fine. However, I am seeing slight scarring on the edges of the film (where the VPS cuts out before the upper edge of the headlight). This seems to be a known issue on 981 cars called "headlight delamination" and is covered under warranty. However, given that I am only seeing this issue after VPS was applied, I figure that Porsche could (incorrectly) blame the VPS application process. In all fairness, this is a minor issue, since the VPS covers 99% of the light already and prevents further delamination.
Performance:
I am craving more oomph at the bottom end and I can understand why most buyers go for the 'S' model (3.4), since the 2.7 model lacks torque down low. I imagine that the current 718 Boxster (2.0 turbo) addresses this issue at the expense of a less engaging soundtrack (4 cylinder turbo vs 6 cylinder NA). The plus side is that the car sounds and feels fast when you rev it hard at road going speeds - there is no need to drive at super high speeds to get a thrill. Contrast this with an Audi TTS, where it insulates you so well that you need to push over 160kmh+ to get real thrills. Still, I will be keen to experience an "S" or a "GTS", in the 981 family, at some point in the future.
All in all, I am very happy with this car. Both my family car (Volvo) and this car fulfill my vehicle requirements. Especially, when you consider that BOTH vehicles cost less than ONE new 200kw+ hot hatch (say 135i, A35). So far, both cars are still on maintenance plan until end 2021.
MR_Y
Well-known member
Del-Bosc said:
[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Only worth it for the meet u[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]ps (breakfast runs)[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] and events (skid pans, track days - some of which have an extra pay in[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]).
[/font]You also get to make great contacts in the Club during the events. The vast majority of the guys are friendly.
Contrary to popular belief, most Porsche Club members are simple, average guys driving older cars that are out of Plan.
They can give you great pointers on what to look out for as potential issues on your car and point you to an ex-Porsche technician to fix your car.
[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]There is no online discussion [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]forum to discuss[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] issues. However, there are regional Club Whatsapp groups for chatting and for buying/selling parts and used [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]vehicles.[/font]
[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]The Club [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Facebook page (restricted to Club members)[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][size=small]is the closest thing to an online chat forum.
