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Initial experience moving from 981 Boxster S to 992 Turbo S.

T

Tarun

PCGB Member
Member
Just made this transition and spent a couple of days with the (new to me) car. Thought I'd write out my experience so far while its fresh:

Similarities​


  • Familiar interior. 10 years between the cars, but almost all the switchs / stalks / menu items work the same way. Interior quickly felt familiar. The quality of switches is still solid. The menus look different, but have a similar navigation.
  • Familiar driving experience?. The car also felt familiar? After a couple of hundred miles, it felt like I'd been driving a 992 Turbo S the whole time. The transition felt natural. The cars are obviously very different - 300hp NA mid engine vs 640hp Turbo rear-ish engine. But the confidence putting my foot down coming out of a corner was similar (just that Im not putting my foot all the way down in the turbo s...I guess Im saying that it felt predictable what will happen - how the car will bounce around on the road, how the balance would feel, how the pdk would kick down gears, the confidence in the brakes. Im really surprised how familiar it all felt, given the brakes are different, the engine is vastly different. I wonder if this is why all of youtube feels the turbo s is boring..
  • Size. The size of the cars felt similar. Maybe because of rear axle steer + parking cameras? My boxster didnt have any cameras and I know the turbo is wider and longer, but I barely noticed, driving through narrow country lanes and while tractors are coming the other way.
  • Ground clearance. The ground clearance is amazing. Didnt need the lift yet, and cars goes over speed humps just fine!
  • Weight. The weight feels similar. I think its because of the power and the big brakes, but on public road driving, I was surprised the turbo s didnt feel heavier.
  • PDK. The pdk kickdown is familiar. I like to jab the throttle pedal for a mico-second to come down gears before overtaking and its a great feeling in both cars!

OK, now the differences:​



  • Ride quality. The suspension is more comfortable than the Boxster. I think its the dampening which is better? The ride is still tight even in default setting compared to a normal sedan, but I was bouncing around a lot less than in my boxster.
  • Actual speed. Its obviously much higher in the turbo s. The turbo s gets to 70mph so much easier and calmly. You dont feel it.
  • Perception of speed. OK, I think the boxster *feels* faster lolol. I know its not, but I think 1. because I can mash the throttle pedal fully without worrying as much, and 2. Top of 2nd gear in boxster is around 70mph, so its absolutely screaming at 7k+ rpm, which brings me to the most important difference:
  • Noise. At normal 20-70mph speeds, the turbo s is so quiet, it could be electric. 1.5k rpm 8th gear is 70mph. The boxster NA engine is obviously more noisy, and a better noise than the OPF filters, turbo engine, but also, because in the boxster a lot of the engine noise comes into the cabin, it feels like a more alive car. The turbo s also has a good noise when you press throttle more than half, but its a different kinda noise and feels more "grown up", "mature".
  • Exhaust. Sports exhaust to my ears continues to be unnecessary. In both cars. I think Im more of a engine/induction noise person than exhaust noise person.
  • Creature comforts. Burmester, ventilated seats and heated streering wheel are amazing in the turbo s. I think this is just me getting used to modern car tech.
  • Public attention. People notice the turbo s more. Definitely felt a lot more self-conscious and re-affirmed my decision to start with the turbo s, instead of considering a ferrari, mclaren, lambo. I want to try those cars, but even the turbo s felt a bit too "much". I feel like the boxster is in a perfect spot. People love seeing it, kids sometimes take pictures, but it doesn't stand out.
  • Choo choo mother f******. There is the feeling of a "surge" of power in the turbo s which also feels very "mature" "grown up" "powerful train-like". It feels like the turbo s isn't trying hard going through the 20-70mph speeds whereas the boxster is giving its all. Kinda like an adult jogging peacefully vs a small kid running at full pace.
My boxster is now worth around 20k, while the turbo s was 200k+, I gotta say, the boxster gives me like 80-90% of the feel.

I will come back to revisit this in 6 months after living with the turbo s some more.
 
Excellent summation - but to a degree the car is more noticeable if the colour demands it. My GT Silver GT3 Touring is not given a second glance by most people whereas the Python Green Turbo S with added stripes, well.......
 
As someone who would dream of owning a 992 Turbo S, I found your post really interesting. I love my 981 Boxster S and the emotional analogue feel of the car with the PSE exhaust note and induction noise. Glad to know I have 80-90% of a Turbo S for a fraction of the price. In the real world on UK B roads, it would be interesting to see if I could keep up.
 
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