Why does Boxster get a lukewarm reception?

[VincentVega]

Great shot, really like this one. I'm also not a convertible fan but a chixster with a hardtop seems like a great combo.

[CJFusco]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

My old 2006 Cayman S with PSS9s, Cayman R ride height and alignment, Fabspeed headers and muffler, tune, and some other misc goodies was the closest to the air-cooled 911 experience that I've ever gotten in a water pumper. It was very raw and linear, the rush to redline was very similar to what you experience in one of the older cars. It was also more nimble and obviously easier to live with daily.

This post warms my heart. I'm well on my way: my 2007 has the Fabspeed, the plenum and GT3 TB, an engine tune, and I've taken about 50lbs out of the car so far. Next is suspension work and probably lightweight seats. The character of the car is totally different than when I bought it -- it really felt more like a GT when I bought it, but now it is pretty raw and direct, and makes all the right noises.

[onewhippedpuppy]

PSS9s are incredible. I had two Cayman S at the same time, one the aforementioned modified car and another loaded one with PASM and Sport Chrono. The modified car was more responsive than the car with Sport Chrono, even with the Sport Chrono in Sport mode. The modified car with PSS9s rode better than the stock car with the PASM in normal, and was more responsive than the stock car with the PASM in sport. You are on the right track!

[CJFusco]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

PSS9s are incredible. I had two Cayman S at the same time, one the aforementioned modified car and another loaded one with PASM and Sport Chrono. The modified car was more responsive than the car with Sport Chrono, even with the Sport Chrono in Sport mode. The modified car with PSS9s rode better than the stock car with the PASM in normal, and was more responsive than the stock car with the PASM in sport. You are on the right track!

Yep -- the Bilsteins are the direction I'm leaning, too. I figured PSS9s, some new sway bars, and a couple of other little changes will really waken the car's handling up a bit.

[Jeff Alton]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

PSS9s are incredible. I had two Cayman S at the same time, one the aforementioned modified car and another loaded one with PASM and Sport Chrono. The modified car was more responsive than the car with Sport Chrono, even with the Sport Chrono in Sport mode. The modified car with PSS9s rode better than the stock car with the PASM in normal, and was more responsive than the stock car with the PASM in sport. You are on the right track!

Try a DSCSport controller in a PASM car with lowering springs.... Amazing...

Cheers

[masraum]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

PSS9s are incredible. I had two Cayman S at the same time, one the aforementioned modified car and another loaded one with PASM and Sport Chrono. The modified car was more responsive than the car with Sport Chrono, even with the Sport Chrono in Sport mode. The modified car with PSS9s rode better than the stock car with the PASM in normal, and was more responsive than the stock car with the PASM in sport. You are on the right track!

I was curious, but not shopping, and was on the Bilstein website. Apparently, Bilstein makes PSS9s specifically for PASM cars. They call them Damptronic, and they still work with the PASM. Interesting.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

Try a DSCSport controller in a PASM car with lowering springs.... Amazing...

Cheers

I've talked to a couple of guys with the DSC controller and Bilstein Damptronics, which they had nothing but rave reviews for.

[rusnak]

I definitely need PASM to stay active. I find that the rear tires ain't going to last very long as it is, and I never turn it off. Sport mode is way too stiff. I need to look into fatter rear tires I think.

And BTW, I finally figured out how to get the intake grill off. I should make a helpful video about that (there are none) which shows the back side of the grill, and the location and orientation of the detents. I broke off one of the lugs on the black interior vent, so I'll be replacing that.

Anyway, without the stupid blocking plate thing, the engine really revs. MASSIVE improvement. I can't imagine ever putting that thing back on.

[72doug2,2S]

What is this "blocking plate"? I wonder why the engineers did this?

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by 72doug2,2S

What is this "blocking plate"? I wonder why the engineers did this?

See Post #201. I can see needing it if you're driving in a monsoon. But if there is a monsoon, you're not going to be driving the Cayman.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rusnak

See Post #201. I can see needing it if you're driving in a monsoon. But if there is a monsoon, you're not going to be driving the Cayman.

You might be surprised.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by masraum

You might be surprised.

I daily drove a 996 for a year. Toss on some snow tires in the winter and plow through the snow. Porsches don't melt in bad weather!

[CJFusco]

Originally Posted by rusnak

See Post #201. I can see needing it if you're driving in a monsoon. But if there is a monsoon, you're not going to be driving the Cayman.

Again, part of the reason they did this was because there were several incidents involving early 986 Boxsters sucking cigarette butts thrown from cars into their intake grilles and igniting the engines. I'm not kidding.

[rusnak]

I guess the solution is to attach some sort of mesh to the grill. Completely blocking the intake would be to prevent rain from being sucked into the intake, I would think.

[masraum]

Wow, so the tail/spoiler that you see on the Cayman was a Cayman only option, and just based on pictures looks like it requires a swap of an entire Cayman rear bumper.

I suspect I'll just live with my smooth round butt.

Do any of you folks with a cayman or Boxster put the tail up manually and drive around like that?

There's a Cayman in my neighborhood, a 981, that always has his tail up. I'm not sure that I've ever even seen mine. I assume it goes up and down at speed or I'd get some sort of warning light about it.

[rusnak]

Mine is an '11 "S" with the aero package. It includes a fixed rear spoiler and the front splitters. PASM, limited slip, Sport Chrono, sport seats, etc etc.

[rusnak]

Better picture of the rear spoiler in this thread here: 1st time Porsche buyer, 911 or Cayman? - Page 2 - Rennlist Discussion Forums

The fixed spoiler on mine came from the factory like that. The automatic spoiler is disabled. It is attached to the rear hatch, not the bumper.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by masraum

Wow, so the tail/spoiler that you see on the Cayman was a Cayman only option, and just based on pictures looks like it requires a swap of an entire Cayman rear bumper.

I suspect I'll just live with my smooth round butt.

Do any of you folks with a cayman or Boxster put the tail up manually and drive around like that?

There's a Cayman in my neighborhood, a 981, that always has his tail up. I'm not sure that I've ever even seen mine. I assume it goes up and down at speed or I'd get some sort of warning light about it.

The ducktail on the Cayman can be retrofitted to a Boxster. Cayman rear spoiler - Articles

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Mine is an '11 "S" with the aero package. It includes a fixed rear spoiler and the front splitters. PASM, limited slip, Sport Chrono, sport seats, etc etc.

Nice set of options. I'd like mine to have LSD.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

The ducktail on the Cayman can be retrofitted to a Boxster. Cayman rear spoiler - Articles

Yeah, that's the one that I'm talking about, but it is a bit cleaner with the Cayman rear bumper which also gives it a dual spoiler look when deployed (not that I ever see it deployed)