[dave92101]

This past Saturday I took delivery of a 2019 Boxster S. This is my third Boxster S, but the first one custom ordered. I placed the order in early April and it's been a long wait, but it's finally here. Yay!

Previously, I owned a slightly used 2005 BS 6MT in Arctic Silver that I enjoyed for 7 years. After that, a brand new 2015 BS 6MT in White that was from dealer stock. I owned it for 2 years. Since then, a 2016 VW GTI Autobahn 6MT. The lease was up, so it was time to get back to a Porsche, right?

My build code was: PKYW8261

718 Boxster S
6 Speed MT
White / Black Top
Leather Interior in Black / Dark Silver with Sport-Tex seat centers
Seat Heating
20" Carrera S wheels in silver
Wheel Center Caps with colored Porsche Crest
Lane Change Assist (LCA)
PASM
2-Zone Automatic Climate Control
Smoking Package
LED Headlights with PDLS+
Light Design Package
Model Designation changed to "718"
Power Folding Exterior Mirrors
GT Sport Steering Wheel
Burmester Sound System
Apple CarPlay
Sport Seats Plus (2-way)
Navigation including Porsche Connect
Voice Control
Door Sill Guards in Stainless Steel
Instrument Dials in White
Sport Tailpipes in Silver
Sun Visors in Leather
Steering Column Casing in Leather
Porsche Crest on Headrests
Seat Belts in Guards Red
Fuel Cap in Aluminum Look Finish

This will be my daily driver and only car. I mostly drive around San Diego County with road trips to Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Yosemite, SF and the entire West Coast up through Washington State. The Burmester was a big splurge, but I love my music.

I had Xpel PPF full front and side rockers installed before delivery, and the car is out at a shop now getting the exterior and wheels ceramic coated. I plan on keeping this one for quite a while, so I want it to stay nice looking and easy to maintain.

Not an inexpensive car, but I say: You only go around once in life!

 

[dave92101]

Oh...and here's a photo of the delivery and the next day during a drive.

 

[BlueNorther]

Great looking car and one heck of a build, and extra points for the MT!. Good thing you got the xpel, I had a white Cayman GTS as a daily driver and didn't get the PPF, and rock chips were pretty noticeable since the undercoat is black. I also think the red belts in a black interior are the way to go.

 

[dave92101]

Thank you! I spent a lot of time playing in the configurator, but when I walked into the dealer I placed the order on an allocation that was locking that day. No changes after that and no regrets. The red seatbelts were a must have, as was the MT, white gauges and Sport-Tex seats.

Yes, the PPF will be a big help in protecting from minor stone chips. The ceramic coating on top will prevent bird droppings and bug guts from staining the PPF. Not cheap, but good insurance.

 

[johan]

No pics on the black marks when you drove out from the dealer?

 

[dave92101]

Hahaha....I certainly was tempted!

 

[cbarra]

@dave92101 - Beautiful car! I'm curious as to whether you considered Sport Chrono? And what factors played into the decision to leave it off? Was it simply a cost concern? Don't like the rev-matching? Don't like the bump in the dashboard, etc? I'm certainly not trying to say one choice is better than another, just curious as to how you thought through that particular option? Again, great looking car!

 

[dave92101]

@dave92101 - Beautiful car! I'm curious as to whether you considered Sport Chrono? And what factors played into the decision to leave it off? Was it simply a cost concern? Don't like the rev-matching? Don't like the bump in the dashboard, etc? I'm certainly not trying to say one choice is better than another, just curious as to how you thought through that particular option? Again, great looking car!

Thank you the compliments on the car. I took a lot of time selecting all of the options I wanted (and didn't want).

I had Sport Chrono on both of my previous Boxsters and did consider it. I wasn't worried about the cost, and the dashboard timer/clock looked ok, though I never used it. I would have gotten white to match the gauges.

I didn't like the rev-matching, because I tend to do my own rev-matching when driving aggressively. When I had it on Sport+, sometimes I would get a double blip, because both the car and I were doing it. If I forgot to turn it off, it was rev-matching at every downshift coming through town. Oops.

I also didn't like how much "snap, crackle & pop" was added in those modes, especially once I added the PSE to my 981. Kind of exaggerated and a bit obnoxious. Some people love that, but I wasn't a fan.

The other consideration was that I could never decide which mode I should be in, so I was fiddling around with the buttons more than I should have. The new version uses the steering wheel dial, but same thing. I decided to get the S for the extra power and if I want to go faster, I'll just downshift and step on the gas.

Having less things to fiddle with is the same reasoning as to why I didn't get the multi-function steering wheel or the 18-way seats with memory. Just MT with a GT Sport Wheel and the standard Sport button. I get some burbles on Sport, but just enough.

Some folks might disagree with my choices, but I built this one for me, not resale or anyone else. Select the options that make you happy. ?

 

[BlueNorther]

I agree about the Sports Chrono. The problem is that is too good, and since you it automatically comes on in Sport and Sports plus, I found that my heal toe and rev matching skills really suffered. I left it off on my 718 build and I'm finding the car is a blast to rev match and heal toe in Sport, and the pedal position is really good for it. It brings out another level of involvement between driver and car when you have a manual transmission, especially on the curvy back roads, with the top down. Feels and sounds good when you get it just right.

The mode selector on the steering wheel is kind of gimmicky, when you still have to move your hand, and if your turning then so does the selector, unlike the button, which is alway in the same place. Also when you turn the dial, the MFD tells you the mode for a few seconds, which I find annoying because that's when I want to check the oil temp. Not a big deal, but can live without it for sure.

 

[dave92101]

I got a chance to take a few interior photos today that show the Sport-Tex seats, red seatbelts, white gauges and clean and simple GT Sport steering wheel.

 

[CaymanMatt]

I got a chance to take a few interior photos today that show the Sport-Tex seats, red seatbelts, white gauges and clean and simple GT Sport steering wheel.

View attachment 23444 View attachment 23445 View attachment 23446

Dave:
Please give your opinions of the white gauges once you've had enough time to get a feel for them. Ease of view at all times of day are my main interests.
The car looks great. Enjoy!!

 

[dave92101]

Dave:
Please give your opinions of the white gauges once you've had enough time to get a feel for them. Ease of view at all times of day are my main interests.
The car looks great. Enjoy!!

Thank you for the compliment on the car. I've been driving around with a smile on my face since I picked it up.

I was out and about today at various times and did some testing. I had no problems with the look and legibility of the white instrument dials at any time. I did notice that when the sun was directly overhead at noon, I was getting a bit of reflection from the silver stitching of the steering column casing on the glass/plastic lens, but I think that would happen regardless of the face color. At nighttime, the white almost disappears and the numerals and dial indicator stand out nicely.

I liked the white gauges better than the gray center gauge which is standard on S models. I had that in my 981 BS and the low contrast was not ideal. IMHO, the black instrument dials of the base models offer the best contrast and readability, but unfortunately you can't select that as an option in an S model. Personally I think white is pretty cool looking. It reminds me of my 987 BS. White was standard on S models back then.

 

[CaymanMatt]

Thank you for the compliment on the car. I've been driving around with a smile on my face since I picked it up.

I was out and about today at various times and did some testing. I had no problems with the look and legibility of the white instrument dials at any time. I did notice that when the sun was directly overhead at noon, I was getting a bit of reflection from the silver stitching of the steering column casing on the glass/plastic lens, but I think that would happen regardless of the face color. At nighttime, the white almost disappears and the numerals and dial indicator stand out nicely.

I liked the white gauges better than the gray center gauge which is standard on S models. I had that in my 981 BS and the low contrast was not ideal. IMHO, the black instrument dials of the base models offer the best contrast and readability, but unfortunately you can't select that as an option in an S model. Personally I think white is pretty cool looking. It reminds me of my 987 BS. White was standard on S models back then.

View attachment 23453

Dave:
That is exactly the information I was looking for! Thanks for the review. I have a hard time with the dark gauge at dusk or when in shadows and believe the white gauges would cure that. Next time....
I totally understand the smile. We are incredibly lucky to be able to drive cars like this!??

 

[dave92101]

Glad to be of help!

The contrast of dark numerals on a white gauge face is good and certainly better than the white numerals on gray that's standard on the S. I have my headlight control on the 'Auto' setting, so they'll come on (with instrument lighting) when you hit dusk, drive through a tunnel or pull into a parking garage.

There could be a next one to do slightly differently, but I plan on owning this one for 4-5 years. No regrets, just drive and enjoy the one you have now!