718 Boxster GTS 4.0 Pricing

[JST]

I was asking about using a smaller diameter tire to fix his complaint about gearing (and potentially also a 19” wheel to fix his complaint about the vulnerability of the wheel).

His point is that a 19” wheel can fix one or the other problem but not both.

[clyde]

Originally Posted by JST

I was asking about using a smaller diameter tire to fix his complaint about gearing (and potentially also a 19” wheel to fix his complaint about the vulnerability of the wheel).

His point is that a 19” wheel can fix one or the other problem but not both.

So, what I was missing was that significant issues should not be addressed if the outcome includes substantially smaller annoyances?

Everything with cars involves compromises and tradeoffs. Perfection is not out there, but you can get pretty close in a lot of ways if you're willing.

[lemming]

Porsche gearing is tall. Yes.

[equ]

I misstated my first gripe... I didn't word it well, 20" per se, is not the problem, low profile is, as is the gearing.

The 987 uses 235/35/19 fr and 265/35/19 rear. Or /40/18 on each if you have the 18" wheels.

The 981 (mine) uses 235/35/20 fr and 265/35/20. The ride is better on my winter set, 235/40/19 and 265/40/19, but that keeps the tall diameter.

Yes, there is a cheap two birds/one stone solution, use the 18" sizes from a 987. Gets both /40 profile and reduces gearing. Am I willing to compromise?

1. Older generation wheels look dorky, so perhaps some quality aftermarket is needed
2. 981 wheel wells are huge, the smaller total diameter will end up looking funny in that body
3. Speedo wrong

2. is the big one and I don't think I'm willing to make the compromise.

Best, money-no-object solution would be to find a 4 to 5% reduction in final drive and use quality 19" with /40 sidewalls. I have not seen any simple final drive swaps. If my LSD were to wear out, perhaps that would be an opportunity - if the correct ratio even exists in the aftermarket (or for other Porsches), but with my low mileage, it will outlive me.

[lemming]

Originally Posted by equ

I misstated my first gripe... I didn't word it well, 20" per se, is not the problem, low profile is, as is the gearing.

The 987 uses 235/35/19 fr and 265/35/19 rear. Or /40/18 on each if you have the 18" wheels.

The 981 (mine) uses 235/35/20 fr and 265/35/20. The ride is better on my winter set, 235/40/19 and 265/40/19, but that keeps the tall diameter.

Yes, there is a cheap two birds/one stone solution, use the 18" sizes from a 987. Gets both /40 profile and reduces gearing. Am I willing to compromise?

1. Older generation wheels look dorky, so perhaps some quality aftermarket is needed
2. 981 wheel wells are huge, the smaller total diameter will end up looking funny in that body
3. Speedo wrong

2. is the big one and I don't think I'm willing to make the compromise.

Best, money-no-object solution would be to find a 4 to 5% reduction in final drive and use quality 19" with /40 sidewalls. I have not seen any simple final drive swaps. If my LSD were to wear out, perhaps that would be an opportunity - if the correct ratio even exists in the aftermarket (or for other Porsches), but with my low mileage, it will outlive me.

I’ve been driving the 987 (09) every other day.

The engine is unbelievably alive. It’s like a squirrel climbing a tree.

But the lack of displacement shows up when you’re sitting on a steep incline red light. It takes extreme skill to not slip the clutch and not bog the engine.

Also, in third gear under heavy acceleration the engine feels underpowered to me.

I bet the 4.0 solves most of this.

[equ]

Originally Posted by lemming

I’ve been driving the 987 (09) every other day.

The engine is unbelievably alive. It’s like a squirrel climbing a tree.

But the lack of displacement shows up when you’re sitting on a steep incline red light. It takes extreme skill to not slip the clutch and not bog the engine.

Also, in third gear under heavy acceleration the engine feels underpowered to me.

I bet the 4.0 solves most of this.

I bet it still doesn't have that much low end torque, you're talking below 3500rpm. You need v8, turbo/supercharging or electric for that. Even the 3.8 Carreras and my GT4 needed some revs.

[wdc330i]

718s FTW.

[FC]

Maybe it's that I last drove my 987S 10 years ago and since I've had a 997TT for 3 years and an F80 for 2, but I don't recall being unhappy with the 987S (3.4L 295hp). I recall it feeling actually quite torquey. Then again, much like the Miata, when I drove it, I drove it hard and I was never under 2.5krpm and usually over 3krpm. Any Boxster would substantially faster than then NC Miata. For a fun car, keeping the revs up is fun.

[lemming]

Originally Posted by FC

Maybe it's that I last drove my 987S 10 years ago and since I've had a 997TT for 3 years and an F80 for 2, but I don't recall being unhappy with the 987S (3.4L 295hp). I recall it feeling actually quite torquey. Then again, much like the Miata, when I drove it, I drove it hard and I was never under 2.5krpm and usually over 3krpm. Any Boxster would substantially faster than then NC Miata. For a fun car, keeping the revs up is fun.

Owned an NC too. It was fun. But the engine feels like a sprinter with 10 pound weights on each ankle. Not an effortless revver and the paradox is you needed to rev it like mad to make power.

One day, someone comes home and says “one of those solstice GXPs blew my doors off”. The 987 was in the driveway not long after that.

I don’t know how best to explain it, but maybe the answer is simple. 3rd fear acceleration frustrates me because the gearing is so damn tall but when you hit redline your wish for another 1000rpms. Maybe that just means I’d like an 8000rpm redline and 50more hp?

[Josh (PA)]

the small turbo 6 in the base 991.2 might fix that issue for you. There is a little bit of lag down low (more than I feel on the n55) but the turbos spool quickly to give you more pull at 2k rpm and it still revs very freely all the way to 7500. In the 1er, I never get too close to redline because you can feel the power drop off before you get there, on the 911 I have to be careful, because the engine keeps making power all the way up. 3rd gear is so flexible in that car. If I wanted to, I could start off in 3rd and never shift on my 20 mile drive to work.