GTS vs S
Hi all,
I posted a few months ago about when the 7 speed manual might be available in the 981, and based on your (accurate) replies that it would not be soon, if ever, I avoided ordering a 981S. However, my 987S now has 106K miles (it is my daily driver) and I am getting to the point where I really must replace it.
I think the Boxster GTS is, like most Porsche models, carefully calculated to fully extract the maximum cash out of their customers. However, it has a few features that I like and cannot obtain with the typical Boxster S (see below). As with my 987S order of nearly 10 years ago, I am looking for a relatively "pure" roadster experience. My spec would be:
S model, manual transmission, rhodium silver, sport seats without adaptive, basic leather interior, basic 19" wheels, BiXenon, rain sensing wipers (I dislike the distraction of manually adjusting the wipers in intermittent rain), sport suspension (I have the regular suspension on Carrera Classic 19s now and find it to be too soft), PTV, either chrome exhaust tips or PSE (I don't like the tarnished look the normal tips obtain after a few months). I have the chrome tips on my 987 and am comfortable with the sound it makes without PSE. Sport steering wheel, red seat belts. I'd order the least expensive audio that would allow me to attach my ipod.
A few things I don't like about my 987S: the warning stickers on the sun visors (should have ordered the leather ones! and yes I have some OCD/aesthetic issues), silver gauges (would prefer the better visibility of typical black). Otherwise I have been very happy with it.
Compared to the 981S, the GTS provides the PSE, an undetectable HP increase, black gauges but with a red tach (can I go all black as an option?), sport chrono (which I find ridiculous, does anyone use the sport chrono, it has a distinct "poser" feel to me? but I am intrigued by the sport+ option), the tinted lenses (seems too trendy) and the 20" wheels, (the brake disc sizes in the Boxster are inappropriately small for 19s, much less 20s, and I will not spend $7K on PCCB).
I would do Zuffenhausen Euro delivery and I would probably have the car shipped to the west coast of the US to make a PCH run before taking it home to Texas.
So, would you order the 981S and tolerate the silver gauges for ~$73K without PSE, ~$75K with PSE, or pay ~$79K for the GTS. My question really is, how much value would you put on the alcantara bits, the 15hp, the tinted lenses and larger wheels. Let me know what you think, but I will probably order a 981S.
Thanks!