{"id":37128,"date":"2018-11-04T06:00:20","date_gmt":"2018-11-03T21:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=37128"},"modified":"2019-09-21T14:33:22","modified_gmt":"2019-09-21T05:33:22","slug":"boxster-vehicle-inspection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/boxster-vehicle-inspection\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Years with the Porsche 981 Boxster GTS: Inspection Costs and Ownership Impressions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three Years Since Buying the Boxster<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s been almost three years since my husband purchased the 981 Boxster GTS. Time flies… So, I decided to summarize the general details of the dealer inspection and my husband\u2019s review of the Boxster after three years.<\/p>\n

The current mileage is 30,600 km (he hasn\u2019t gone on many tours with the Boxster in the past year)<\/span>. There were no major issues during the inspection, and the Boxster returned home in about a week. The inspection details are roughly as follows:<\/p>\n

\u2460 Extended warranty application for 1 year… 100,440 yen<\/strong>
\n\u2192 I previously wrote an article titled \u201cShould You Get Porsche Approved Warranty After 3 Years of New Boxster Ownership?\u201d<\/a>, and in the end, we applied.
\n\u2461 Inspection… 213,074 yen<\/strong>
\n\u30fbHeadlight focus adjustment
\n\u30fbRear brake caliper bolt replacement
\n\u30fbEngine oil change (Mobil1 5W-50) 7.5L
\n\u30fbOil filter replacement
\n\u30fbBrake fluid replacement
\n\u30fbAir conditioning filter replacement
\n\u30fbLeft and right air cleaner filter replacement
\n\u30fbNavigation system version upgrade (final free update)
\n\u30fbBattery charging (free service)
\n\u2462 Taxes… 51,630 yen
\n<\/strong>\u30fbAutomobile weight tax for 2 years… 24,600 yen
\n\u30fbCompulsory insurance for 24 months… 25,830 yen
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, the total cost for this inspection was 365,144 yen. It feels expensive to pay over 200,000 yen for an inspection when nothing is broken… (\uff1b\uff9f\u0414\uff9f) (My husband said he just goes along with whatever the dealer recommends, so it might be possible to get it cheaper.)<\/span><\/p>\n

By the way, here\u2019s the status of the tires and brake pads. The rear tires were replaced once due to a puncture, but the front tires are still the original ones from new. Despite multiple visits to circuits and driving schools, my husband says the tires have held up remarkably well.<\/p>\n

Brake pad remaining thickness F: 6.5mm R: 8.0mm
\nTire tread remaining F: 3.0mm R: 5.0mm<\/p>\n

Husband\u2019s Three-Year Overall Review<\/h3>\n

Next, here is my husband\u2019s overall review after owning the Boxster for three years. He kindly wrote this summary himself, so I\u2019ll share it just as he wrote it.<\/p>\n

\u2460 Steering & Suspension<\/h4>\n

When I first drove it, I didn\u2019t think the ride was uncomfortable, but on the highway, I distinctly felt a roughness and slight vibration in the steering wheel.<\/strong> This was more noticeable than when I drove my previous R171 SLK350. At an inspection, I had the wheel balance checked just in case, but there was no problem.<\/p>\n

One day, I had the chance to ride in a friend\u2019s Cayman GTS on the same route, and I felt exactly the same sensation in the steering wheel as in the Boxster.<\/strong> So, I realized this wasn\u2019t a defect but just \u201chow it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now it doesn\u2019t bother me at all, but at first, I think I was overwhelmed by the amount of feedback the Porsche steering transmits.<\/p>\n

\u2461 Ride Comfort<\/h4>\n

Most passengers say \u201cthe ride is very smooth\u201d and \u201ccomfortable,\u201d<\/strong> so I don\u2019t think the ride is bad. However, when I first got the car, I did feel a certain \u201cstiffness\u201d in the suspension.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

However, this \u201csuspension stiffness\u201d mostly disappeared after about 10,000 km,<\/strong> and now it\u2019s very supple. I felt the same with the Panamera, so I think Porsche suspensions just take some time to break in.<\/p>\n

Also, the ride feels better with a fuller gas tank.<\/strong> When the tank is low, the front becomes lighter, making the ride a bit bouncier, so I try to refuel often.<\/p>\n

\u2462 Convertible Top<\/h4>\n

The convertible top is very well made. Before seeing it in person, I thought it was but the roof section is actually a sturdy magnesium structure. It doesn\u2019t dent or flap even at very high speeds.<\/p>\n

Opening and closing is fully automatic with a single switch, and can be done while driving up to about 50-60 km\/h. It takes only about 9 seconds, so you can quickly respond to sudden rain.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As for maintenance, just brushing off dirt and dust with a pig hair brush is enough.<\/strong> For heavy dirt, gently wash with a mild detergent foam. The dealer advised \u201cYou don\u2019t need to wash it every time you wash the car, but if bird droppings land on it, remove them immediately as they become hard to clean later.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2463 Tires<\/h4>\n

My tires were Goodyear EAGLE F1 ASYMMETRIC 2 from new. Personally, I prefer Michelin, so I wasn\u2019t expecting much from Goodyear since it was my first time using them, but they turned out to be excellent tires.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

They have excellent roundness, wear resistance, quietness, and ride comfort. Most notably, their wet grip performance is outstanding.<\/strong> At Porsche\u2019s driving school, there\u2019s a lesson where you deliberately slide the car on a wet track, but these tires grip much better than expected. While other cars slide normally at the same speed, these tires kept gripping, making it hard to slide smoothly.<\/p>\n

Also, they provide great grip on wet winding roads and general roads, giving a strong sense of security.<\/strong> Their wet water drainage is also sufficient, so you can drive confidently on rainy highways.<\/p>\n

\u2464 Engine<\/h4>\n

The engine\u2019s responsiveness was great from delivery, but compared to other cars, I expected it to be sharper than it actually was.<\/strong> Specifically, I felt the high-rev range lacked a bit of punch.<\/p>\n

When I brought it in for inspection, the service advisor told me:<\/p>\n

\u201cPorsche engines really start to come alive around 15,000 km.\u201d<\/p>\n

After that, around 20,000 km<\/span> my car started to change noticeably, and by 25,000 km it was revving explosively. The mid-to-high rev range and the engine\u2019s musical sound are very satisfying.<\/p>\n

Regarding power and torque, I initially wondered \u201cCan I handle this much?\u201d<\/strong> but now I feel it\u2019s <\/p>\n

With the Panamera Turbo\u2019s 550 PS, it\u2019s clearly overwhelming and hard to fully exploit in Japan. But the Boxster GTS\u2019s 330 PS is still manageable. If anything, I\u2019d even prefer a bit less power.<\/strong> I think the basic, naturally aspirated Boxster is just right for driving freely in Japan.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2465 Quietness<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s an open sports car, so it\u2019s not silent, but with the top closed and the sport exhaust off, cruising is very comfortable. You can enjoy music or radio, and unlike old supercars, conversation with the passenger isn\u2019t difficult.<\/p>\n

However, when switched to Sport or Sport Plus and you press the accelerator deeply, the volume rises significantly.<\/strong> But it\u2019s not an unbearable roar; it\u2019s a refined yet powerful exhaust note (though this depends on personal taste).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2466 Winding Roads<\/h4>\n

The Boxster is a car made for winding roads.<\/strong> It turns around its center like drawing circles with a compass, especially in tight corners. It\u2019s not a fluttery lightness but a precise, continuous arc.<\/p>\n

I once drove with a passenger who usually drives FR sports cars, and they were amazed at \u201chow different the posture and G-forces feel during cornering.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u2467 Brakes<\/h4>\n

Porsche brakes need no introduction. They used to squeal when new but stopped after the break-in. Besides being very effective, Porsche brakes are known for their excellent controllability.<\/strong> They respond to pedal pressure with a firm feel and don\u2019t have deep travel. You can control them precisely from low to high speeds. Braking is even enjoyable with a Porsche.<\/p>\n

\u2468 Rigidity<\/h4>\n

Many worry about rigidity in a convertible. According to my data, the 981 Cayman\u2019s torsional rigidity is 40,000 Nm\/degree, while the Boxster\u2019s is 17,000 Nm\/degree. That sounds concerning, but there\u2019s no need to worry.<\/p>\n

On highways and winding roads, I don\u2019t feel any lack of rigidity.<\/strong> Of course, on rough roads with the top closed, you might hear slight rubbing noises between the roof and body, but that\u2019s about it. Sometimes when pushing hard through Fuji Speedway\u2019s 100R corner, I feel a bit uneasy, but that\u2019s the only time I\u2019ve noticed it in Japan.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2469 Highway Driving<\/h4>\n

There\u2019s no sense of insecurity on the highway. Normal mode is fine, but switching the chassis to Sport makes the car move like a swimming fish\u2014agile and confident.<\/strong> Lane changes, acceleration, and braking respond exactly as you want, with great peace of mind. However, for grand touring, the 911 might be better.<\/strong> It\u2019s not tiring, but the 911 feels more stable.<\/p>\n

At speeds over 200 km\/h on Fuji Speedway\u2019s straight, I sometimes feel a slight lack of downforce, so it\u2019s not ideal for ultra-high-speed cruising. (Compared to the Panamera; it\u2019s still much better than regular cars.)<\/span> But unless you\u2019re blasting down the Autobahn\u2019s fast lane, it\u2019s no concern in Japan. No worries here.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u246a Everyday Usability<\/h4>\n

This car has the standard GTS PASM suspension, not the sports chassis. I\u2019ve never scraped the car on bumps at convenience stores or gas stations in my usual area, so don\u2019t worry about the low ride height.<\/strong><\/p>\n

One caution: when parking in reverse, if the parking block is high, you might scrape the lower rear bumper, so be careful. I usually stop with a little space before the block without touching the tires.<\/p>\n

With a width of about 1800 mm, it fits in most mechanical parking garages<\/strong> and can be parked in coin lots without issue. Narrow roads and passing other cars aren\u2019t a big problem at this size.<\/p>\n

Also, as I introduced in a previous blog post about cargo capacity,<\/a> it\u2019s probably one of the most practical open two-seaters for carrying luggage.<\/p>\n

\u30dc\u30af\u30b9\u30bf\u30fc\u306e\u30c8\u30e9\u30f3\u30af\u306b\u306f\u3053\u3093\u306a\u306b\u8377\u7269\u304c\u7a4d\u3081\u308b\uff01\u30b9\u30fc\u30c4\u30b1\u30fc\u30b9\u3067\u8a66\u3057\u3066\u307f\u305f\u3002<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n