Picked up my 987S yesterday! (LONG)
#1
09-24-2005 | 09:34 AM
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Picked up my 987S yesterday! (LONG)
This may be long...I'm not planning any of it out, just going with the flow...some artistic license, if you will.
Picked up my new Atlas Grey 987S in San Jose yesterday morning, flying in from John Wayne airport with a one-way ticket. (Before you ask, no pictures YET because I have to clean/detail it first, so tomorrow...)
Atlas grey is a gorgeous color in the sunlight - seems perfect for the new designs. I saw a SY one as well and while it is at the opposite end of the spectrum (i.e. more in the 'in your face' variety), it is a fantastic color on the new 987 as well.
When I first took a spin in it - papers not yet signed, just went to get gas as the dealer forgot, so he came with me - I was surprised at the length of the clutch. You have to push and push and push and 4 minutes later you actually fully depressed it. It is light, but LONG. The new shifter is FANTASTIC!! Couldn't be a more significant improvement from one model to the next ever. It still does not have the snick-snick feel of a good short shift kit with the aluminum billet, but it is the smoothest I've tried ever and almost glides your hand into place. Very nice, but will require a short shift kit anyway. :-)
The 2nd surprise to me was the rumble of that (stock) exhaust! Wow. Low and gurgling, it sounds as the Boxster should sound, and with Sport Chrono on, once I hit above 4000 rpms it really howled nicely. I can't imagine how amazing the sport exhaust is.
Power is definitely improved, but it seems torque even more so. It's not any faster (or so it seems) than Travis' Revo-ed 986S, so I imagine that comes from similar hp figures. You definitely feel a significant throttle response improvement with Sport Chrono on, so I imagine I'll have it on all the time.
PASM is another wonder - the regular setting (non-PASM) feels even more sturdy and 'on rails' than the 986S stock suspension, then when you turn on PASM, it gives you INSTANT ROW030 suspension. Fantastic option - anyone who gets a 987 must get PASM.
Interior is much improved, but I'm basing it on partial leather versus partial leather. Full leather in the 986S still has a much nicer feel. I do like the new layout - it seems so much more Porsche Design than the last one. We've all become accustomed to the cold, exacting, logical and technological designs from Porsche Design, and this interior screams all that. (but in German, so it's a compilation of many words into one huge word that sounds really cool)
Bose system is the best I've heard in a drop top, but lacks midrange, which is expected from a Bose system.
I'm loving that the rollbar is now 5 inches from my head, instead of the top of my head matching up with it. A sense of relief should something happen.
The view from the cockpit outward is different - the haunches of the front wheel wells are VERY pronounced, seeming at least twice the size of the 986S, but there's a weird feeling when you can't see the hood at all as you can on the 986.
Overall the car feels more composed and solid to me, and the active steering is brilliant. I was very hesitant about it because the 986 steering feel is so spectacular, but the 987 steering is also spectacular, and I prefer it - they are just different.
Buffetting inside the cabin is much less than the 986, and fret not, for the windstop is still the biggest piece of garbage this side of a Geo vehicle interior. Amazing.
New seats are more supportive on the sides, which is nice since I was too cheap to go for the sport seats. I'm lacking in lumbar support this time, however, but the new seats are so hard that I'm not sure any lumbar support could even fight its way through to expose my back to extra support. They are quite supportive and comfortable in a German-hard sort of way.
New steering wheel is not high on my list of likes, in fact, it is one of my few dislikes. Very thin, rather large in diameter, and no 'bumps' like the 986 wheel. The sport wheel wasn't on it, and I'm not sure how much it would cost to retrofit...
Go take a quick break, then come back and finish...I'll be here.
Okay, so I drove down from San Jose back home, down the coast. Incredible place to drive a new Boxster, or any Boxster (I did see one other and we did the flash exchange). When the cars let me pass (most did, but for one idiot with all his bikes tied on the back - from Maryland!) it was a glorious drive to see what PASM can do, and frankly, I'm not sure there is something it can't do. The hugging capability and spring back rates were staggering. I always thought my car felt like it was 'on rails', then I drove Travis' 986S with ROW030 suspension and got back into mine feeling like it had suspension of jello mold with marshmallows. The PASM is truly the best of both worlds, but the 'regular' setting is superior even to the stock 986 suspension as I mentioned.
Throttle response was instant with Sport Chrono. When I downshifted with the silky smooth 6-speed and gave it a go, it went. This is where I feel a bit of speed difference - it seems to have instant throttle response and more torque than before.
While the scenery was breathtaking, I didn't get too much time but to glance as I had to concentrate on driving, of course. One day I'd like to go back and take my time, or be a passenger. Boxster Bob (of Cambria), you are a lucky man to live in that area.
Overall I'm very pleased and excited to get to know the car before taking it to the track in November. I'm not excited about thrashing 19" Pilot Sports, but I don't have any money left to get a spare set of 18's or 17's at present. Might as well learn with the Carrera S wheels anyway.
I promise pictures tomorrow or Saturday at the latest. You can bet your bum I will be washing it tomorrow, so most likely I'll put them up afterwards.
Picked up my new Atlas Grey 987S in San Jose yesterday morning, flying in from John Wayne airport with a one-way ticket. (Before you ask, no pictures YET because I have to clean/detail it first, so tomorrow...)
Atlas grey is a gorgeous color in the sunlight - seems perfect for the new designs. I saw a SY one as well and while it is at the opposite end of the spectrum (i.e. more in the 'in your face' variety), it is a fantastic color on the new 987 as well.
When I first took a spin in it - papers not yet signed, just went to get gas as the dealer forgot, so he came with me - I was surprised at the length of the clutch. You have to push and push and push and 4 minutes later you actually fully depressed it. It is light, but LONG. The new shifter is FANTASTIC!! Couldn't be a more significant improvement from one model to the next ever. It still does not have the snick-snick feel of a good short shift kit with the aluminum billet, but it is the smoothest I've tried ever and almost glides your hand into place. Very nice, but will require a short shift kit anyway. :-)
The 2nd surprise to me was the rumble of that (stock) exhaust! Wow. Low and gurgling, it sounds as the Boxster should sound, and with Sport Chrono on, once I hit above 4000 rpms it really howled nicely. I can't imagine how amazing the sport exhaust is.
Power is definitely improved, but it seems torque even more so. It's not any faster (or so it seems) than Travis' Revo-ed 986S, so I imagine that comes from similar hp figures. You definitely feel a significant throttle response improvement with Sport Chrono on, so I imagine I'll have it on all the time.
PASM is another wonder - the regular setting (non-PASM) feels even more sturdy and 'on rails' than the 986S stock suspension, then when you turn on PASM, it gives you INSTANT ROW030 suspension. Fantastic option - anyone who gets a 987 must get PASM.
Interior is much improved, but I'm basing it on partial leather versus partial leather. Full leather in the 986S still has a much nicer feel. I do like the new layout - it seems so much more Porsche Design than the last one. We've all become accustomed to the cold, exacting, logical and technological designs from Porsche Design, and this interior screams all that. (but in German, so it's a compilation of many words into one huge word that sounds really cool)
Bose system is the best I've heard in a drop top, but lacks midrange, which is expected from a Bose system.
I'm loving that the rollbar is now 5 inches from my head, instead of the top of my head matching up with it. A sense of relief should something happen.
The view from the cockpit outward is different - the haunches of the front wheel wells are VERY pronounced, seeming at least twice the size of the 986S, but there's a weird feeling when you can't see the hood at all as you can on the 986.
Overall the car feels more composed and solid to me, and the active steering is brilliant. I was very hesitant about it because the 986 steering feel is so spectacular, but the 987 steering is also spectacular, and I prefer it - they are just different.
Buffetting inside the cabin is much less than the 986, and fret not, for the windstop is still the biggest piece of garbage this side of a Geo vehicle interior. Amazing.
New seats are more supportive on the sides, which is nice since I was too cheap to go for the sport seats. I'm lacking in lumbar support this time, however, but the new seats are so hard that I'm not sure any lumbar support could even fight its way through to expose my back to extra support. They are quite supportive and comfortable in a German-hard sort of way.
New steering wheel is not high on my list of likes, in fact, it is one of my few dislikes. Very thin, rather large in diameter, and no 'bumps' like the 986 wheel. The sport wheel wasn't on it, and I'm not sure how much it would cost to retrofit...
Go take a quick break, then come back and finish...I'll be here.
Okay, so I drove down from San Jose back home, down the coast. Incredible place to drive a new Boxster, or any Boxster (I did see one other and we did the flash exchange). When the cars let me pass (most did, but for one idiot with all his bikes tied on the back - from Maryland!) it was a glorious drive to see what PASM can do, and frankly, I'm not sure there is something it can't do. The hugging capability and spring back rates were staggering. I always thought my car felt like it was 'on rails', then I drove Travis' 986S with ROW030 suspension and got back into mine feeling like it had suspension of jello mold with marshmallows. The PASM is truly the best of both worlds, but the 'regular' setting is superior even to the stock 986 suspension as I mentioned.
Throttle response was instant with Sport Chrono. When I downshifted with the silky smooth 6-speed and gave it a go, it went. This is where I feel a bit of speed difference - it seems to have instant throttle response and more torque than before.
While the scenery was breathtaking, I didn't get too much time but to glance as I had to concentrate on driving, of course. One day I'd like to go back and take my time, or be a passenger. Boxster Bob (of Cambria), you are a lucky man to live in that area.
Overall I'm very pleased and excited to get to know the car before taking it to the track in November. I'm not excited about thrashing 19" Pilot Sports, but I don't have any money left to get a spare set of 18's or 17's at present. Might as well learn with the Carrera S wheels anyway.
I promise pictures tomorrow or Saturday at the latest. You can bet your bum I will be washing it tomorrow, so most likely I'll put them up afterwards.
#2
09-25-2005 | 02:07 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,992
From: Bahrain
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Very nice write-up. Congratulations on the new Porsche. I test-drove the new 987 S when it first came out and I was in love. Atlas is a beautiful colour, but I have yet to see it on a Boxster. Looking forward to your pictures.
#5
10-02-2005 | 10:54 AM
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Haven't had a chance to snap too many pics yet, and now that I've been driving it, it is dirty again, so I have to wait until it is washed for more pics. I installed clear side markers so I am due for more pics.
#6
10-05-2005 | 01:38 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
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Hello,
This is the first time that I read a remark about the clutch. You are absolutely right, the travel is much too long. The only other car in which I found this problem was a BMW 1 series. It is strange that no professional reviewer remarked this problem.
The seat are indeed missing lumbar support (and adjustment of the inclination). It is a pricey option (about 1.500 €), while these are standard on a Golf GTI, which is half the price of a Porsche.
This is the first time that I read a remark about the clutch. You are absolutely right, the travel is much too long. The only other car in which I found this problem was a BMW 1 series. It is strange that no professional reviewer remarked this problem.
The seat are indeed missing lumbar support (and adjustment of the inclination). It is a pricey option (about 1.500 €), while these are standard on a Golf GTI, which is half the price of a Porsche.
#7
10-05-2005 | 10:24 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 21
From: SF Bay Area
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Originally posted by raman
Hello,
This is the first time that I read a remark about the clutch. You are absolutely right, the travel is much too long. The only other car in which I found this problem was a BMW 1 series. It is strange that no professional reviewer remarked this problem.
The seat are indeed missing lumbar support (and adjustment of the inclination). It is a pricey option (about 1.500 €), while these are standard on a Golf GTI, which is half the price of a Porsche.
Hello,
This is the first time that I read a remark about the clutch. You are absolutely right, the travel is much too long. The only other car in which I found this problem was a BMW 1 series. It is strange that no professional reviewer remarked this problem.
The seat are indeed missing lumbar support (and adjustment of the inclination). It is a pricey option (about 1.500 €), while these are standard on a Golf GTI, which is half the price of a Porsche.
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#8
10-25-2005 | 06:01 PM
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I love Atlas Gray, but it seemed like it'd be hard to take care of. Great looking car.
I also love the sound of the stock exhaust. Hearing the 986/986S makes me love the new exhaust. Sport Chrono is pretty cool too. It makes for great heel-toe downshifts.
I also love the sound of the stock exhaust. Hearing the 986/986S makes me love the new exhaust. Sport Chrono is pretty cool too. It makes for great heel-toe downshifts.
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