Comments from Readers<\/h3>\nThe Wonder of the Boxster<\/h4>\n
\uff0aComment on the issue where people ask \u201c911?\u201d when you say you drive a Porsche, but the atmosphere gets awkward when you answer \u201cBoxster.\u201d<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Until about a year ago, I was in the \u201cOpen cars? Pfft, haha\u201d camp, but getting a 718 Boxster changed my world!<\/strong> It\u2019s hard to explain, but it\u2019s just so much fun. Before driving it, I wondered if I\u2019d feel embarrassed, but that was needless worry. My Macan GTS was hit, and I was considering switching to either a 911 or a Boxster as my next car, so this was very helpful. I\u2019ve decided on the Boxster next. The 911 seems like a car you can enjoy even when you\u2019re older,<\/strong> so I\u2019ll save that for the time after next. (Ippachi)<\/span><\/p>\n The Boxsters I owned were the base 986 and 987 models.<\/strong> In a word, they felt like \u201ccars that run, turn, and stop\u201d or \u201cnimble cars,\u201d with performance more than enough for me. I agree! I couldn\u2019t forget the joy of the manual base 981 Cayman I used to drive, so last week I bought a well-maintained base 981 Boxster with a manual transmission. With Porsche, I feel there isn\u2019t much quality difference between expensive and cheaper models. The Cayman and Boxster clearly offer great value. The speed is just right too. (Maru)<\/span><\/p>\n Soft-close doors<\/strong> were something I wanted, but after much thought, I didn\u2019t get them. I was worried that if my small child closed the door quietly by themselves when I wasn\u2019t looking, they might get their fingers caught. I\u2019m sure there are safety features, but I couldn\u2019t confirm because the display models didn\u2019t have this option. I ordered a Panamera in Japan in November 2018 and chose the 5-seat option called 4+1 seats.<\/strong> Also, until reading this article, I hadn\u2019t considered parking width issues at all. Places where my Boxster fit might not accommodate the wider Panamera I\u2019m adding. The difference between 1800mm and 1935mm width is quite significant. I\u2019ll be sure to check parking spaces in advance! (Tommy)<\/span><\/p>\n I saw the Nachi article<\/a> while staying at a hotel in Katsuura, so I wanted to comment. I visit Nachisan about once a month, and I always debate whether to take the \u201csea route\u201d or the \u201cmountain route\u201d after the Hanwa Expressway. Recently, I mostly choose the mountain route: exit at Arita IC, then Route 424 \u2192 Route 311 \u2192 Route 168 \u2192 Route 42.<\/strong> Our family\u2019s daily driver is a pre-facelift Golf 7. The Golf is such a well-made car that I honestly sometimes think it might even be better than a Mercedes E-Class.<\/strong> I totally agree with my husband\u2019s opinion on this! I used to drive my wife around in a Golf V. I also drove it occasionally because it was convenient. It\u2019s incomparable to the Golf 7, but at the time, it was a flawless car. It felt much more luxurious than Japanese luxury cars back then, and I had no complaints.<\/strong> Our second car, a Ford compact SUV, has passed 110,000 km and is nearing its limit, or rather, I can\u2019t stand the difference in ride comfort compared to the Panamera and Volvo anymore. So I\u2019ve started considering cars in this class. The front-runner is the new Mazda3, with the Golf as a contender. Some reviews say the Mazda3 has surpassed the Golf.<\/strong> I\u2019m influenced by my Porsche-loving parents and drive a pre-facelift Golf 7. The well-behaved Golf is praised by many as a great car. My dream is to own a Porsche someday, but I don\u2019t have the financial means yet, so I chose VW because it shares the same heritage. Starting with a brand that shares the same bloodline and moving closer to Porsche<\/strong> seemed important to me. Sorry for going off-topic, but the Golf is truly a wonderful car.<\/strong> I\u2019ll keep driving it as my \u201cbaby Porsche\u201d for a while. (Umigame)<\/span><\/p>\n There are many \u201ctonalers\u201d who park next to you unexpectedly. When I go out for solo lunch and get seated at the counter, even if they say \u201cplease sit anywhere you like,\u201d I hesitate because I don\u2019t want to block others or have to ask someone to move during the meal. So I end up becoming a \u201ctonaler\u201d myself (laughs).<\/strong> (Kaze no Sakamichi)<\/span><\/p>\n When I park my 458 or Carrera, if there\u2019s a lone Panamera parked in a big empty lot, I\u2019ll park nearby. When there\u2019s only one car, I worry about vandalism,<\/strong> so I like to park where it feels more grouped. \uff0aComment on test driving the BMW 5 Series: a sporty sedan that has regained the \u201cjoy of driving.\u201d<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The current 5 Series is still decent, but I agree with the opinion that \u201cit used to be better.\u201d<\/strong> Around us, people often say \u201cBMW has gone.\u201d My Cayenne has clocked about 24,000 km in just one year since delivery. I\u2019m not even using it for commuting\u2026 I guess PORSCHE makes you want to drive more and rack up the miles (laughs). (Banki Hajime)<\/span><\/p>\n Our car has done 2,000 miles (3,200 km) in 3 months, so it\u2019s about the same pace. We haven\u2019t driven much due to bad weather, so maybe it\u2019ll increase in summer. Daily mileage really adds up. The 981 is a wonderful car, but I think the 718\u2019s handling is a step above.<\/strong> I don\u2019t know the technical details well, but I heard the rear suspension was improved from the 981 to the 982 (718), which greatly contributed to better handling. I\u2019m a \u201cbrand-new\u201d Porsche owner who bought a used 981 Cayman in late January. Since it snowed occasionally in the Kanto area, I haven\u2019t been able to go far and have only been cruising the metropolitan expressway, so I\u2019m super jealous of those who can go to Royu Driveway between errands and pickups (laughs). \u3018Ishi to Tap\u3019 I\u2019ll continue sharing fun and informative posts about Porsche, cars my husband and I have test-driven and loved, and our car life, so please stay tuned.<\/p>\n By the way, here are links to previous posts sharing readers\u2019 comments:<\/p>\n \u2192All comments received on the Porsche blog (real voices from owners and those waiting for delivery) in one place!<\/a>
\nOnce you get used to it, you don\u2019t care about people\u2019s eyes at all. In fact, I\u2019m addicted to open cars now (laughs). When I drive the 911 GTS, I\u2019m like, \u201cWhy doesn\u2019t the roof open?<\/strong>\u201d Of course, the 911 is a great car.
\nComparing the 911 and Boxster, my feeling is \u201cquality goes to the 911, fun goes to the Boxster.\u201d<\/strong> It\u2019s a rough analogy, but if I were to compare them to fighter jets, the 911 would be an F22 and the Boxster an F16\u2014though I\u2019ve never flown either (laughs). (Runrun Rumba)<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/IMG_0540-700x480.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nDriving open under the fresh green canopy, open at night in Tokyo\u2019s midsummer, or open with winter gear in the cold\u2014all were extraordinary, transporting me to another world.
\nThough sometimes mocked as \u201cthe poor man\u2019s Porsche,\u201d once you grip the wheel and press the accelerator, you\u2019ll realize how off-base that criticism is. Plus, it\u2019s not just for driving; it has enough storage for trips and decent shopping. It might be the most practical two-seater convertible in the world.<\/strong> (Tetsu)<\/span><\/p>\nOptions on the 971 Panamera<\/h4>\n
\nI definitely want to add them when I upgrade to the next Panamera.<\/strong>
\nFor our family, rear seat comfort is a priority, so we added four-zone climate control and rear electric sunshades.<\/strong> I like being able to operate the rear sunshades from the driver\u2019s seat. Our 4-year-old also loves the ambient lighting.
\nThough not factory-installed, we added a navigation canceller. The 971\u2019s large navigation screen makes it easy to watch DVDs from the rear seats.<\/strong> This might be controversial, but for us, it\u2019s essential for long trips. (Neriten)<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20171104105129-e1530664898240-800x534.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Road to Nachi<\/h4>\n
\nSometimes a light truck safety car blocks the way, but there are many safe passing points, making for a comfortable drive. Give it a try! Just note there are few rest stops, so kids might not like it.
\nAlso, watch out for surprises: white police motorcycles waiting in unexpected spots<\/strong> and officers catching speeders<\/strong> (I\u2019ve encountered this several times on Route 168). (Umpaki)<\/span><\/p>\nThe Excellence of the VW Golf<\/h4>\n
\nOur Golf has over 20,000 km per year, and at 65,000 km, the mechatronics failed, leaving us stranded on the highway, but otherwise it\u2019s been extremely reliable. I think it\u2019s such a good car that I plan to keep it for another five years and then hand it down as my eldest son\u2019s first car! (Nave)<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/IMG_4513-1024x683-e1530661001752-800x534.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nHaving driven Latin cars before, maybe that\u2019s why I felt that way. If anything, my only complaint was having no complaints. Because of that, my wife didn\u2019t like it, and we ended up back with a Latin car\u2026 (Taknokk)<\/span><\/p>\n
\nBut the Golf 8 is coming out this year, so I plan to wait for that and the Mazda3 Skyactiv X model before deciding. (SN)<\/span><\/p>\nDealing with \u201cTonalers\u201d (Parking Next to You)<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/IMG_7017-700x480.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nThe risk of door dings is actually lower for supercars and luxury cars,<\/strong> since the owners usually care about their cars. I avoid parking next to kei cars, minivans, or cars parked with sharp steering angles.
\nMany supercar owners worry about where to park, but I think being a Ferrari actually protects you from trouble (laughs). So I park anywhere, even coin parking, and so far, no issues.
\nIn the end, only a small portion of people care about cars, and most don\u2019t even notice.<\/strong> (HIRO)<\/span><\/p>\nAbout BMW<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/IMG_8464-700x480.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nIt used to be truly sporty. Now it\u2019s more like a pretend sport. They soften the front suspension, stiffen the rear, and tune the steering\u2019s initial response to feel sporty.
\nAs a result, BMW\u2019s core fans have been drifting away in recent years. However, BMW\u2019s global sales and profits keep hitting record highs, so their branding seems successful. Still, I worry about BMW\u2019s long-term future as core fans leave.<\/strong>
\nMy personal theory is that manufacturers involved in F1 are the ones that really push the edge.
\nBy the way, BMW once held the record for highest engine RPM at around 19,000 rpm. That was when the M5 sedan had a V10 engine.
\nCompared to those edgy times, BMW has really \u201cgone.\u201d
\nSorry for the long rant. My father loved BMW and owned three at a time for 40 years since getting his license. But two years ago, he stopped owning any BMWs and switched to Mercedes and Porsche. This is my lament as a BMW fan.
\nWith Porsche entering F1 next year or the year after, I have even higher hopes for Porsche\u2019s future.<\/strong> (Buchi)<\/span><\/p>\nPorsche Mileage<\/h4>\n
\nYou aim to replace at around 30,000 km, right? In the U.S., 3 years and 30,000 miles (48,000 km) is considered quite low, and for a Panamera, you\u2019d probably get 50-55% of the purchase price back. (SN)<\/span><\/p>\n718 and 981<\/h4>\n
\nThe 981 GT4 apparently has the same rear suspension improvements as the 718, so I\u2019m curious about my Boxster Spyder. (Ishi)<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThe rear suspension improvement mentioned earlier refers to the rear member reinforcement. It seems you can easily do this on the 981 using 718 parts, and I\u2019m itching to try it. However, increasing rear grip can cause understeer on regular roads, so I want to \u201ctake it easy\u201d and enjoy the 981 as it is first. (Tap)<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/DSC_1289-800x533.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nNice to meet you, Tap. Thanks for the additional comment. I looked up \u201crear member reinforcement 981\u201d and found info that this reinforcement bar is fitted not only on the 981 GT4 but also on the Boxster Spyder.<\/strong> It\u2019s hard to check under the car in person, so this made me happy.
\nWhen I switched from a 981 GTS to a 718 (982) base model, I felt a big improvement in handling, and when I returned to the 981 Spyder, I expected to feel a decline but didn\u2019t notice any difference.
\nAt the time, I thought maybe my senses were off or I was biased toward my car. But if the 981 Spyder has this reinforcement, maybe my feeling wasn\u2019t wrong after all. Thanks for the valuable info. Looking forward to more discussions. (Ishi)<\/span><\/p>\nPast Comments<\/h3>\n
\n\u2192Sharing comments received on the blog again (real voices from Porsche owners and those waiting for delivery)!<\/a>
\n\u2192Introducing voices from Porsche owners! \u2013 Oil changes, door dings, daytime running lights, etc.<\/a>
\n\u2192Voices from Porsche owners: Comment sharing Vol.4<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sharing Blog Comments Lately, I’ve been receiving more comments even on older posts. I’m glad I took the plunge and rewrote all past articles\u2026 haha. As usual, I\u2019m sharing some of the comments from readers, and this is the fifth installment. Again, I\u2019ve edited the comments slightly to include only the necessary parts and to keep the context clear before sharing them with you. Comments from Readers The Wonder of the Boxster \uff0aComment on the...","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":9604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=9318"},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"