[Scott Aber]

Have a deposit down on 2017 718 boxster s Miami blue. Msrp $91k.
I just realized it has the base stereo no Bose. How bad is the base stereo and can an aftermarket upgrade be done. I like my tunes.

I think I have a good deal paying $67k. Also no ventilated seats, can that be added afterward?

Had a 2010 boxster way back and test drove a 991.1 cab s and then drove 718 gts and liked the boxster better. Go figure.

I assume the 718s would drive the same as the gts as this car has Sport Chrono, PASM, PSE. I only difference drive wise is the gts is a little lower.

 

[MikePhDPE]

my 17 BS is also miami blue. MSRP 100k, I also paid 67k. I have all the options you have plus PTV, heated and ventilated seats, bose, etc. I looked around for months before finding it and then a couple weeks haggling. and i had to fly halfway across the country to get it and drive it back. I absolutely love it and would do it again in a heartbeat.

If you aren't completely in love with the options then I would suggest waiting until you find what you really want.

 

[alf_17]

I have chosen to spec my 2019 base Boxster with the base audio system despite normally specifying my cars with upgraded audio.
My personal opinion is that the base audio system is more than adequate especially as the car is a soft top/open top car which is not the best starting point for an audio system to begin with.
It was however a bit boomy for my taste with the standard settings, but reducing the bass setting helped a lot.

 

[718S]

I have a 2019 S I found on the lot. I too wanted the Bose option but this one had standard system. I’m fine with it as the best music is the sound of the engine behind you. The only way to find exactly what you want is to do a custom build. I didn’t want to wait 4 months for an option the wasn’t super important. Searching for a used car with exactly what you want seems more challenging!

 

[SMUmustangs]

I still have not yet picked up my car but my only comment is when I was looking for a 2018 Cayman in Canada I do not think I ever came across one that did not have at least the Bose upgrade as an added option even with cars that had minimal options so that kind of tells me the Base Stereo is not that great.

 

[CaymanMatt]

I still have not yet picked up my car but my only comment is when I was looking for a 2018 Cayman in Canada I do not think I ever came across one that did not have at least the Bose upgrade as an added option even with cars that had minimal options so that kind of tells me the Base Stereo is not that great.

What that tells me is that the base system is horrible and that the Bose upgrade should really be considered as the base system. I have the Bose system and am generally happy with it. I was very surprised to find that there is no midrange adjustment, only treble and base. There are a couple other special settings though that seem to help compensate.

 

[RussellHodgson]

I have the base stereo in my 718 CS. For my purposes it is fine. I don't have the music cranked up though. I suspect if you really want great base then the bose would be necessary. But if you want a competent stereo then the base one is fine.

 

[Baka1969]

A Boxster (or any sports car particularly a convertible) is not conducive to anything more than mediocre sound at best. Anyone that says otherwise is either fooling themselves or doesn't know what good sound truly is. Nuance just doesn't exist in a Boxster sound system.

The only real thing one needs is a system that is loud enough to overcome the substantial noise the car has. Especially while driving.

 

[DriveInHouston]

A Boxster (or any sports car particularly a convertible) is not conducive to anything more than mediocre sound at best. Anyone that says otherwise is either fooling themselves or doesn't know what good sound truly is. Nuance just doesn't exist in a Boxster sound system.

The only real thing one needs is a system that is loud enough to overcome the substantial noise the car has. Especially while driving.

+1

I have to confess that I only listen to the stereo in traffic. The moment I can run free, I turn it off, so I can hear my wife complaining about the engine sound being too loud!...>

 

[718S]

+1

I have to confess that I only listen to the stereo in traffic. The moment I can run free, I turn it off, so I can hear my wife complaining about the engine sound being too loud!...>

That’s funny! **** wives don’t appreciate this stuff!

 

[MLJJ]

Mine suggested that I wear ear plugs if I must drive in sport mode :|. Hummm, not gonna happen! On the rare occasion she is a passenger, I'm in normal mode

 

[DriveInHouston]

That’s funny! **** wives don’t appreciate this stuff!

Well, she does appreciate the stuff! She just doesn't like competition (to whom I listen to...). Nothing she can do about the engine!

 

[718S]

Mine suggested that I wear ear plugs if I must drive in sport mode :|. Hummm, not gonna happen! On the rare occasion she is a passenger, I'm in normal mode

Lol. She should be wearing the plugs!

 

[Baka1969]

These discussions remind me of the discussions on trying to get decent sound quality on a motorcycle.

Spoiler Alert:

It doesn't exist


Outside noise is the number one enemy of a good quality music system. If you remove all ambient noises, even a mediocre (in audiophile terms) system can sound pretty good. Once noise is introduced it rapidly destroys sound quality.

So, even if you spent $50k on a 5000 watt/channel McIntosh (or other) car audio system for a Boxster, it would be a complete waste of money.

If, however, the base stock system can get loud enough to overcome the top-down road noise levels without distortion, it's going to be acceptable. If it can't, more power (without distortion) could be needed. That said, excellent sound quality is highly unlikely.

 

[GGG]

Also no ventilated seats, can that be added afterward?

The vented seats, I doubt this will be easy since it's actually a vacuum-systeem, ask your dealer...

 

[alf_17]

The vented seats, I doubt this will be easy since it's actually a vacuum-systeem, ask your dealer...

It might be a vacuum system, but to me it sounds like the motor/fan is in the seat when I turn it on.
It can probably be done, but I am not sure it is something every dealer would want to do.


As for the vented seats, I must say they seem much more effective than those in a Mercedes (W213 at least).

 

[martinbrown3214]

agree with the alf_17.

 

[martinbrown3214]

I have the base stereo in my 718 CS.

 

[Taxdr1965]

Ok, now the wife said she hated the Miami Blue, which I liked, but really wanted the yellow. We both agree that yellow was first choice. So I find a yellow 2018 GTS with 3k miles being sold as new full warranty etc. As you guys know yellow is super hard to find and finding it with the right options even harder. MSRP $97270. I offered them $70k and they would not take it.

According to them at this point they are at $76k bottoms line Which is still 22% off msrp. Good or bad deal?? My other deal on the blue one was 28% off msrp, but it was 2017 with 5k miles.

 

[Viffermike]

What that tells me is that the base system is horrible and that the Bose upgrade should really be considered as the base system. I have the Bose system and am generally happy with it. I was very surprised to find that there is no midrange adjustment, only treble and base. There are a couple other special settings though that seem to help compensate.

No, what that means is that dealers almost always order cars with 'name brand' options to inflate their bottom line. It's common practice -- even if the 'upgrade' is actually worse than the 'base' standard. BMW is the absolute worst at this, to the point where it's watered down the ///M brand by making all manner of 'performance' add-ons branded with ///M. It often makes a difference in resale value, too, because almost no consumers are aware that the 'upgrade' often isn't.

@Scott Aber: Check out this thread and this thread in the Electronics, Audio, and Lighting subforum. Both are based on upgrades of the base audio in a 718. There are other threads in that subforum that will answer other questions you likely have.

I purposely bought my 718 with the base stereo because it's not based on fiber-optic bus control like the Bose or Burmester system is -- and I planned on upgrading it (and I have a multi-faceted aversion to all things Bose). Though I'm still debating almost two years into ownership, I have done nothing so far. Why? The base stereo is not bad at all -- in fact, with a little tweaking, it sounds better than the base stereo I've had in three of the last four cars I've owned. If I do decide to upgrade anything, I have a feeling that upgraded speakers only will make enough difference for my needs.

Realize that the 718 is a somewhat raw sports car with an engine a foot behind your head -- and a car cabin (much less a convertible's cabin. Can you say 'infinite baffle'? LOL) is among the worst places to listen to audio, anyway. Don't expect anything in such an environment to be transcendental. Be realistic about it, and you won't be disappointed.