Consultation About Buying a Boxster

I often receive questions about car purchases through this blog, and my husband usually replies with his opinions. So this time, I’d like to share a consultation we received from someone considering buying a Boxster and how my husband responded.

The inquiry was roughly as follows:

Having finally decided to fulfill a long-held dream by purchasing a 981 Boxster, but unsure whether to go for the base model or the S. (Choosing the 981 over the 718 because of the engine sound.)
For daily work, I mainly use the highway (Hanshin Expressway Wangan Route), and on weekends I want to drive the mountain roads of the Rokko range, including the Royu Driveway, which has been a goal of mine.
That said, I’m not a speed freak or a racer, and since my wife will also be driving, I naturally plan to choose the PDK transmission.
Given that, I’m wondering whether it’s better to have the S for the likely higher speeds on the Royu, or if the base model is enough, or maybe the base is even more fun because you can rev it higher. Also, how does it hold up on highways?
I’ve never driven a Porsche coupe before, so I’m starting to get confused thinking about all this. I’d really appreciate some advice! (S-san)

That was the gist of it.

Indeed, deciding between the base model and the S (or higher) is something many Porsche buyers probably struggle with.

My Husband’s Response as a Boxster Owner

So, what was my husband’s reply?

In terms of pure driving enjoyment, the base Boxster is more than enough. In fact, you can really rev the engine and have fun. On smaller mountain roads like the Royu Driveway, the power is just right to enjoy the drive.
However, on larger winding roads in the Kanto region or when driving fast on highways, you might find the power a bit lacking and feel unsatisfied.
So, “Should I go for the S then?” you might ask, but if you’re considering the S, it might be better to just go for the GTS instead.
The GTS holds its value better than other trims, so it’s effectively cheaper to own. Plus, the naturally aspirated 981 Boxster GTS really sounds amazing.
That said, if you think, “GTS is a bit too much for me…,” then the base model with lots of options like Sport Chrono and Sport Exhaust, such as the Black Edition, is a great deal.

After that, S-san replied, “There’s a dealer nearby with both a Boxster S and a Black Edition base Boxster, so I’m going to check them out.”
And not long after, we received this message:

Finally, last weekend I decided on a “981 S, MY16, PDK, Jet Black”! It was really a long journey. I’ve never agonized so much over choosing a car before. I’m exhausted but also feel incredibly relieved… The delivery might be as soon as the end of this month. I can’t wait to drive it!

Congratulations, S-san!

There’s plenty of Porsche info online, but real, owner-based insights are surprisingly rare. I think many people want to “get that little push by consulting someone.”

We’re always happy to receive consultations like this and to hear about deliveries, so please feel free to send us your questions anytime.