Which Porsche Grade and Model to Choose

Among Porsches, my husband often gets asked by people around him about which grade and model to buy. Recently, I introduced an article titled How to Choose a Porsche Grade: Organized by Usage and Situation, and my husband always says,

When it comes to Porsche, choosing a higher grade doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be more satisfied.
Each grade, model, and year has its own unique appeal, so what’s really important is to think about what kind of car you want to drive this time and for what purpose, and then choose the Porsche that satisfies you.

That’s what he says.

Just the other day, a car enthusiast acquaintance asked him for advice on buying a Porsche, and since I overheard their conversation, I’d like to share it here today.

Replacing a 981 Boxster

This person owns a 981 Boxster Edition (PDK). I’ve seen it once, and the Jet Black body color and black-themed interior looked incredibly cool.

One reason they bought the 981 Boxster Edition was because they had ridden in my husband’s 981 Boxster GTS.

A few years ago, when they sat in the passenger seat, they said,

What is this amazing engine sound?! It’s incredible! If I were alone right now, I think I’d be screaming my head off!!

They were so impressed that they ended up buying a 981 Boxster.

After delivery, they participated in Porsche driving school, used it for daily commuting, went on tours, and now their mileage is about to hit 80,000 kilometers. (Amazing!)

Recently, the engine’s revving has improved even more, and the car is in excellent condition, making driving very enjoyable. However, since a few years have passed since the purchase, they said they were in a situation where they wanted to try a different Porsche, preferably with a manual transmission, and maybe a higher grade than what they have now.

Currently, they are considering buying a 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 with a manual transmission and asked my husband, “What do you think?”

My husband replied,

Well… Since you’re currently driving a 981 that’s in such great shape and you’re satisfied with it, I think you might find the naturally aspirated Porsche more satisfying.
I’ve driven the 718 GTS 4.0 myself, and it’s high-performance with a solid chassis, very easy to drive, and I thought, “This would be fun anywhere—from city streets to touring!” The 718 is definitely faster and more capable, but you especially value the sound, right?
In that case, I think you’d be more satisfied with the engine sound that offers a wide range of tones up to high frequencies depending on the RPM.
So, I think the current 2.7L engine in the 981 suits you better, and if you do change cars, something like a higher-grade 981 Boxster or an early 991 911 might give you more satisfaction.
Also, while manuals are fun, I’ve recently been wanting a PDK because you can enjoy the “pop” sound on upshifts, which feels great.

In response, the person said, “I see… I guess it’s just wanting what you don’t have, huh… lol,” but I’d like to hear what they eventually decide to buy.

Would a Targa Suit Me?

By the way, recently I’ve also been talking with my husband about “if I were to buy a Porsche someday…” and asked him, “What do you think would suit me?”

He said,

Hmm… How about a 911 Targa? You often say you want to drive a car that not many people have, and the Targa is rarely seen on the streets and looks incredibly cool.
You probably won’t go on crazy tours like I do, right? Your main use would be everyday driving, with occasional long trips, highway driving, or going on the Royu Driveway… so I think you’d really enjoy it in any situation.
On the highway, you could drive very elegantly and comfortably. A woman driving a bright red Targa would look super cool.

The 911 Targa… it’s definitely really cool and a Porsche I’ve secretly admired for a long time. Alright, I’ll do my best!

…Though it’s a bit premature since the manual car I ordered in April still hasn’t arrived yet… lol