[Hydralazine]

@ Hydralazine -

I'm a 1st time Porsche owner myself. A few questions for clarity:

What part of the USA? If Hot (AZ, FL, TX, etc.) vented seats might be a consideration (which nixes GTS interior - i believe).

Assuming $$ is part of the equation...Are you planning PPF, Ceramic coating, Tinting windows, any Porsche Warranties (Tire/Wheel, etc.), and of course the urge to swap out the OAPs & add valve controller? These add up real fast beyond the build price. If so you may want to look at trade-offs. Are the 18-ways really worth the $$?

If $$ is no problem then build your dream and enjoy!

tcaliguire
Thank you for your help and message.
I’m in the PNW so I’ve never used ventilated seats except a couple times in the summer (my daily driver is a 2021 lexus gx 460).
I have not even thought about the aftermarket upgrades. I have never done any of things in the past (but I’ve also never owned a sports car before).
I would probably do PPF.
I will do a search on OAP and valve controllers. I’m not familiar with this. I’m assuming this is an aftermarket exhausted upgrade?
thank you.

also can you post your build if you have one ? I would like to see how your car is setup.

 

[ThreePedalEd]

Nice build !
would you do carmine red again ?

Yes, even with the free do-over I stuck with Carmine Red. I personally prefer the deeper true red of Carmine to the slightly orange tint of Guards - although that is an iconic color for Porsche. I considered Shark Blue, but at the time I ordered last July, there were no Shark Blue anythings to see in person. I probably would have considered Arctic Gray as well, but my previous Cayman was white, our two BMW's are black and white, and my previous 911 was grey. I wanted to break the monochromatic trend.

But as others here know, what I really wanted wasn't available for 2022, and I finally just cancelled my wait list deposit on a 2023 CGTS since the dealer wasn't able to give me any likelihood of getting an allocation. But if you want to swap your spot for my 2022 Carmine Red, here's what I'd use it for:

 

[Dragobrath]

Thank you everyone.
Im going to cancel the high gloss back exterior upgrades and cancel the navigation system.
Im also going to cancel the bucket seats.
Thanks for the helpful advice.

I’m torn between getting standard leather (in blue or agate gray) vs the gts interior package.

I was super reluctant to get a full GTS package (1.7k + 3k eur), but when I sat in base leather interior I decided that the upgrade is worth the money. Base interior (no leather) looks like crap and is only worth it if it's a track focused car and you're saving money and weight. Base leather interior is better and has a premium feel, but aluminum detailings are a bit bland, and once you start adding more stuff, you might as well go for GTS interior, which is a good value.

Secondly, black calipers will look amazing on your color and wheel combo. I personally have black wheels + red calipers and went for red GTS interior to balance that out, but you have a more classy look, so I'd consider a GTS interior in chalk.

If you drop bucket seats, then definitely get 18-way adjustable Sport Plus seats. They are amazing. And depending on your area consider getting heated or ventilated seats (or both).

A minor detail but consider getting 718 logo on the back in black. Will look better than chrome on arctic grey. Just a humble opinion.

Edit: if you have a manual transmission, then 18-way seats are not a must-have, so you might consider saving money on them. Ideally try both, or just go for 18-way if money is no object. But definitely get Sports Plus.

 

[Wiscombe64]

I was super reluctant to get a full GTS package (1.7k + 3k eur), but when I sat in base leather interior I decided that the upgrade is worth the money. Base interior (no leather) looks like crap and is only worth it if it's a track focused car and you're saving money and weight. Base leather interior is better and has a premium feel, but aluminum detailings are a bit bland, and once you start adding more stuff, you might as well go for GTS interior, which is a good value.

Secondly, black calipers will look amazing on your color and wheel combo. I personally have black wheels + red calipers and went for red GTS interior to balance that out, but you have a more classy look, so I'd consider a GTS interior in chalk.

View attachment 51350

If you drop bucket seats, then definitely get 18-way adjustable Sport Plus seats. They are amazing. And depending on your area consider getting heated or ventilated seats (or both).

A minor detail but consider getting 718 logo on the back in black. Will look better than chrome on arctic grey. Just a humble opinion.

Edit: if you have a manual transmission, then 18-way seats are not a must-have, so you might consider saving money on them. Ideally try both, or just go for 18-way if money is no object. But definitely get Sports Plus.

Confused. Why does having a manual influence the choice of 18 way vs. 2 way SSP? Thanks.

 

[tcaliguire]

tcaliguire
Thank you for your help and message.
I’m in the PNW so I’ve never used ventilated seats except a couple times in the summer (my daily driver is a 2021 lexus gx 460).
I have not even thought about the aftermarket upgrades. I have never done any of things in the past (but I’ve also never owned a sports car before).
I would probably do PPF.
I will do a search on OAP and valve controllers. I’m not familiar with this. I’m assuming this is an aftermarket exhausted upgrade?
thank you.

also can you post your build if you have one ? I would like to see how your car is setup.

My build was 2022 so it won't match 2023 (no more Black/Luxor Beige interior and LED PLDS+)

Attached is my sticker and some pics:

• I felt the Beige interior paired well with the Aurum wheels -
• Went with standard seats, felt like some that you'll only use the 18-ways once
• IMHO Black calipers is a must for any exterior paint color (minus the reds)
• I'm in North Dallas area and it gets hot, so vented seats
• Ala cart vice the Premium Package for LCA, I've gotten in the bad habit of not looking over my shoulder to move lanes (my other vehicles have mirror warnings) plus the highway speeds here are fast and cars can easily sneak up on you
• The best headlights available in 2022
• The basic interior trim looks way too cheap so went with the leather
• Finally GT Silver, classic/conservative pick to bring down the bit aggressive wheel color

Also full PPF, Ceramic paint coating and full Window tinting - All done by Dallas Xpel after I picked up the car.

That was MY thought process and personal preferences. My only regret was possibly white instrument dials and sports clock. I do notice on cloudy days the dials are really dark. My opinion

 

[jared703]

One of my favorite things about my 718 is the blacked out Porsche logo and removal of the rear badging.

 

[Dragobrath]

Confused. Why does having a manual influence the choice of 18 way vs. 2 way SSP? Thanks.

If you have a PDK, then extra thigh cushioning is nice and you can adjust your seats to a perfect position where you barely need to move. On manual cars you need a bit more room below your thigs to operate the clutch. 2-way is already set up nicely for manual driving.

 

[Wiscombe64]

If you have a PDK, then extra thigh cushioning is nice and you can adjust your seats to a perfect position where you barely need to move. On manual cars you need a bit more room below your thigs to operate the clutch. 2-way is already set up nicely for manual driving.

Okay, just shows how personal seating is. I previously had 2-way SSP in a PDK but found the angle of the seat base was wrong for me. I got the 18 way with my manual and like having the front of the seat base higher and the back fully down. Just reinforces the need, wherever possible, to try for yourself. Cheers.

 

[Treemagnet]

Please don't completely dismiss the SportDesign Package before reading this info.

We optioned the package on our BGTS and the glossy black parts look really sharp, much better than the (IMHO) cheaper looking standard dimpled matte black plastic stuff on effectively every low end vehicle in the world. We even installed a set of matching gloss black side vents from BumperPlugs (Painted Side Vents - 718), to tie together all the exterior parts and they all match perfectly.

I'll admit they sometimes seem to be dust magnets (just like any other glossy black surface), but mostly it's really only noticeable on the lower portion of the rear valence after significant mileage. Regardless, we had our entire car PPF'd, so no worries with chips, scratches or swirl marks on the the glossy black parts or any of the other painted surfaces. The PPF allows the use of a California Duster without having to worry about scratches and the entire car can be dusted in 5 minutes or less.

Would definitely order the package again if a Spyder RS allocation were to come our way.

 

[Hydralazine]

My build was 2022 so it won't match 2023 (no more Black/Luxor Beige interior and LED PLDS+)

Attached is my sticker and some pics:

• I felt the Beige interior paired well with the Aurum wheels -
• Went with standard seats, felt like some that you'll only use the 18-ways once
• IMHO Black calipers is a must for any exterior paint color (minus the reds)
• I'm in North Dallas area and it gets hot, so vented seats
• Ala cart vice the Premium Package for LCA, I've gotten in the bad habit of not looking over my shoulder to move lanes (my other vehicles have mirror warnings) plus the highway speeds here are fast and cars can easily sneak up on you
• The best headlights available in 2022
• The basic interior trim looks way too cheap so went with the leather
• Finally GT Silver, classic/conservative pick to bring down the bit aggressive wheel color

Also full PPF, Ceramic paint coating and full Window tinting - All done by Dallas Xpel after I picked up the car.

That was MY thought process and personal preferences. My only regret was possibly white instrument dials and sports clock. I do notice on cloudy days the dials are really dark. My opinion
View attachment 51351 View attachment 51352 View attachment 51353

Absolutely stunning

 

[Hydralazine]

I was super reluctant to get a full GTS package (1.7k + 3k eur), but when I sat in base leather interior I decided that the upgrade is worth the money. Base interior (no leather) looks like crap and is only worth it if it's a track focused car and you're saving money and weight. Base leather interior is better and has a premium feel, but aluminum detailings are a bit bland, and once you start adding more stuff, you might as well go for GTS interior, which is a good value.

Secondly, black calipers will look amazing on your color and wheel combo. I personally have black wheels + red calipers and went for red GTS interior to balance that out, but you have a more classy look, so I'd consider a GTS interior in chalk.

View attachment 51350

If you drop bucket seats, then definitely get 18-way adjustable Sport Plus seats. They are amazing. And depending on your area consider getting heated or ventilated seats (or both).

A minor detail but consider getting 718 logo on the back in black. Will look better than chrome on arctic grey. Just a humble opinion.

Edit: if you have a manual transmission, then 18-way seats are not a must-have, so you might consider saving money on them. Ideally try both, or just go for 18-way if money is no object. But definitely get Sports Plus.

thank you very much for your post and help.
can I see your build ?
Also do you have any photos of your car ?

 

[Dragobrath]

thank you very much for your post and help.
can I see your build ?
Also do you have any photos of your car ?

Here's the build:

The Porsche Code

www.porsche-code.com

 

[Hydralazine]

Here's the build:

The Porsche Code

www.porsche-code.com

View attachment 51354
View attachment 51355

immaculate. Gorgeous. Aventurine green

 

[thingineer]

Consider the black brushed aluminum for the interior trim.

 

[mplex]

Make sure to select the smoking package to get the extra 12v socket without the hole in the dash, as well as the free footwell luggage net (great for a radar detector). Depending on your climate, the heated steering wheel has been especially nice on cooler days with the top down sans gloves. The ventilated seats help some, but do not work miracles when it’s hot. I also got the fire extinguisher, hope to never need it, but it gets more comments than anything else by far. The aluminum pedals are also really nice.

I checked every box on my build, Burmester, extended leather etc, and those are the options I wouldn’t live without. Extended leather is incredible, but questionable cost-wise.

Good luck with your build!

 

[Kor 446]

Seats: I say the 18 way is the only way. It takes a minimum 30 minutes and probably more to be SURE any seat is a "fit" whether in a den or a car. If that seat doesn't fit it can take a lot away from the movie your watching or the drive you are taking. Some people may match the LWBS and the 2 ways just fine. But that is a better lucky than good situation. Barring a chance to give the seats a long and hard test, I'd want the adjustability there to bail me out should i need it. Also, it's not a set-it-and-forget-it feature when on a long drive. I move my seat around several times an hour to keep things loose.

GTS inerior: Dead set against it until I drove a 718 with leather. and then got to sit in a car with the GTS package. Having learned how the car drives I was sold immediately. From the carbon fiber trim to the deviated stitching to the race-tex dash/door trim the GTS' character matched the car perfectly. Even better is grip of the the race-tex seats. No sliding around whatsoever. It feels like you are "in" the seats rather than "on" them as is the case for the leather seats. Perfect for a sports car.

Nav: Save the money. Our head-units have Nav and Android Auto built in. semiserv is a guy you can find on the forum. He can hack into the system and activate both features for around $500. I only needed AA because who needs Nav when you've got Google maps. Just make sure you either download maps for off-line use. There are numerous other apps out there that have off-line map capabilty as well.

 

[Hydralazine]

Seats: I say the 18 way is the only way. It takes a minimum 30 minutes and probably more to be SURE any seat is a "fit" whether in a den or a car. If that seat doesn't fit it can take a lot away from the movie your watching or the drive you are taking. Some people may match the LWBS and the 2 ways just fine. But that is a better lucky than good situation. Barring a chance to give the seats a long and hard test, I'd want the adjustability there to bail me out should i need it. Also, it's not a set-it-and-forget-it feature when on a long drive. I move my seat around several times an hour to keep things loose.

GTS inerior: Dead set against it until I drove a 718 with leather. and then got to sit in a car with the GTS package. Having learned how the car drives I was sold immediately. From the carbon fiber trim to the deviated stitching to the race-tex dash/door trim the GTS' character matched the car perfectly. Even better is grip of the the race-tex seats. No sliding around whatsoever. It feels like you are "in" the seats rather than "on" them as is the case for the leather seats. Perfect for a sports car.

Nav: Save the money. Our head-units have Nav and Android Auto built in. semiserv is a guy you can find on the forum. He can hack into the system and activate both features for around $500. I only needed AA because who needs Nav when you've got Google maps. Just make sure you either download maps for off-line use. There are numerous other apps out there that have off-line map capabilty as well.

thank you so much !
I am still torn on leather vs gts interior package!
this is definitely good info!!!

 

[Madsina]

Here is my recent build that I locked on 12/15. I was originally going with Arctic Grey but after finally seeing it in person, it pulled too blue for my taste. Ended up going back to Chalk.. I wanted a “GTS like” interior but wanted all leather and vent seats.

PPVS5PM2

 

[Dragobrath]

thank you so much !
I am still torn on leather vs gts interior package!
this is definitely good info!!!

If you don't need ventilated seats, I wouldn't bother with mixing and matching leather interior myself and just went for GTS package which is a good value for what it includes, looks great and cohesive.
You already saved a good money LWBS and navigation.

 

[PeC]

PCCB are reserved for GTs currently. They were an option before. Overkill for GTS IMHO. Unless you are planning on tracking it regularly, but that would be better suited for GT4.

The general recommendation is that if you are a regular track junkie, then stick to the steel brakes if possible, as the CC rotors are painfully expensive to replace. For fun track days, it's ok.
For street, CC brake advantage is less brake dust and much lower unsprung mass what helps with comfort and steering.

My wife really wanted to push me to have PCCB as it looks good to her