Which Boxster to get?

[Sundayjumper]

Am viewing Tuesday, will let you know how I get on.

How did you get on ?

[Beany]

I will say if you keep looking at Boxsters, make sure the audio system is good enough - the audio on the 330 is weak as fuck without the Harmon Kardon upgrade (better speakers and a sub) and it's the only thing that annoys me about the car. Especially with the roof down, the lack of bass really makes music disappointing.

That said, as a 'pure roadster' design, it might well be the standard audio is good enough - never heard a boggo boxster audio system, might be reet enough.

[GG.]

It isn't. You really need the Bose system on the 987/997 for it to be on nodding terms with good. That said, it shouldn't put you off buying what would otherwise be the right car but I would make sure it has at least the "extended" speaker package rather than basic (most do and that Northway one does). My 997 doesn't have Bose and its one of the things I would like to upgrade. Retrofitting the Bose system would be prohibitive but there are other ways.

[Beany]

It isn't. You really need the Bose system on the 987/997 for it to be on nodding terms with good. That said, it shouldn't put you off buying what would otherwise be the right car but I would make sure it has at least the "extended" speaker package rather than basic (most do and that Northway one does). My 997 doesn't have Bose and its one of the things I would like to upgrade. Retrofitting the Bose system would be prohibitive but there are other ways.

From the sniffing around I've done, it's much the same for the BMW HK stuff...

[integrale_evo]

I will say if you keep looking at Boxsters, make sure the audio system is good enough - the audio on the 330 is weak as fuck without the Harmon Kardon upgrade (better speakers and a sub) and it's the only thing that annoys me about the car. Especially with the roof down, the lack of bass really makes music disappointing.

That said, as a 'pure roadster' design, it might well be the standard audio is good enough - never heard a boggo boxster audio system, might be reet enough.

To be honest, a 'decent' system will probably be beyond its best by now anyway.

I expect a good set of aftermarket components and amp with a modest sub will blow away most factory fit 'fancy' systems.

In fact, just adding a sub and filtering some of the lower frequencies away from the stock speakers can make a world of difference to even the weakest sound system. At least an e46 ( or boxster ) is a reasonably solid base to start attaching decent speakers.

[Explosive Newt]

Am viewing Tuesday, will let you know how I get on.

How did you get on ?

I was about an hour away when my phone pinged up with a very apologetic email saying they forgot to put a note on that I was coming for a look and one of the other lads sold it! Guess it was not to be. Unfortunately I was on my way back down South from my folks in Yorkshire so couldn’t have got there any earlier. Shows what a nice car it was to get snatched up so quickly.

[GG.]

There will be others as you say (not that I wouldn't have uttered a few choice swear words).

[Explosive Newt]

I will say if you keep looking at Boxsters, make sure the audio system is good enough - the audio on the 330 is weak as fuck without the Harmon Kardon upgrade (better speakers and a sub) and it's the only thing that annoys me about the car. Especially with the roof down, the lack of bass really makes music disappointing.

That said, as a 'pure roadster' design, it might well be the standard audio is good enough - never heard a boggo boxster audio system, might be reet enough.

Honestly (and I know this may not go down well) I mostly listen to radio 4 / podcasts these days (usually podcasts from radio 4) so the only thing I really want is an aux in!

[Explosive Newt]

There will be others as you say (not that I wouldn't have uttered a few choice swear words).

Northway esq did promise to help out in future and hopefully they have a decent flow of stock. Never know, might get something even better....

[Coaster1]

This thread has made me realise that 996s can still be had for sensible money. I've not really looked at them for a few years and assumed they would have been caught in the modern classics bubble too.

I reckon you’d like it.

They are very DIY friendly (not me but somebody like you) and parts are not expensive.

[Jobbo]

I will say if you keep looking at Boxsters, make sure the audio system is good enough - the audio on the 330 is weak as fuck without the Harmon Kardon upgrade (better speakers and a sub) and it's the only thing that annoys me about the car. Especially with the roof down, the lack of bass really makes music disappointing.

That said, as a 'pure roadster' design, it might well be the standard audio is good enough - never heard a boggo boxster audio system, might be reet enough.

Honestly (and I know this may not go down well) I mostly listen to radio 4 / podcasts these days (usually podcasts from radio 4) so the only thing I really want is an aux in!

I thought the Becker CDR23 in my Boxster (standard unit in the facelift 986) sounded fine; but it was an absolute pig to add an aux in to. It connected to the car’s loom via fibre optic cable so you needed something like a Dension to attach an iPod or aux jack.

[Marv]

parts are not expensive.

Are they not? I always think of Porsche parts as on the pricey side, especially the bits you have to get from Porsche and can't get through companies like carparts4less, etc.

[Explosive Newt]

New thought:

987 Boxster S
Vs
987 Cayman (non S)

?

[Explosive Newt]

I will say if you keep looking at Boxsters, make sure the audio system is good enough - the audio on the 330 is weak as fuck without the Harmon Kardon upgrade (better speakers and a sub) and it's the only thing that annoys me about the car. Especially with the roof down, the lack of bass really makes music disappointing.

That said, as a 'pure roadster' design, it might well be the standard audio is good enough - never heard a boggo boxster audio system, might be reet enough.

Honestly (and I know this may not go down well) I mostly listen to radio 4 / podcasts these days (usually podcasts from radio 4) so the only thing I really want is an aux in!

I thought the Becker CDR23 in my Boxster (standard unit in the facelift 986) sounded fine; but it was an absolute pig to add an aux in to. It connected to the car’s loom via fibre optic cable so you needed something like a Dension to attach an iPod or aux jack.

The cheapest kit for the 987 PCM2 stereo comes in at £120 - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bluetooth-US ... 2630117615

Unless I buy something old enough to have a tape deck then there is a much cheaper kit that looks like this:

[Coaster1]

parts are not expensive.

Are they not? I always think of Porsche parts as on the pricey side, especially the bits you have to get from Porsche and can't get through companies like carparts4less, etc.

Ah, I was only talking about consumables such as radiators, exhausts, brakes etc from cp4l / ecp etc

Pattern parts for suspensions ain’t too dear either.

[Beany]

Unless I buy something old enough to have a tape deck then there is a much cheaper kit that looks like this:
<snip>

The more I look at audio upgrades for the beemer, the more tempting this gets.

[Explosive Newt]

Unless I buy something old enough to have a tape deck then there is a much cheaper kit that looks like this:
<snip>

The more I look at audio upgrades for the beemer, the more tempting this gets.

The Jag has one. Been using a similar adaptor for the last couple of years and the sound quality is far, far better than you would expect. No hiss or anything, even with it turned right up!

[JonMad]

I had a bluetooth cassette adapter in my A8 that was excellent. Particularly combined with the Bose system which was the best car audio setup I've ever experienced.

[Sundayjumper]

This thread has made me realise that 996s can still be had for sensible money. I've not really looked at them for a few years and assumed they would have been caught in the modern classics bubble too.

I reckon you’d like it.

They are very DIY friendly (not me but somebody like you) and parts are not expensive.

▲
This

Apart from a full engine rebuild, I don't think there's onything on the car I couldn't tackle myself.

You can take mine out for a spin next time we have an OV9 E36 Compact owners meet

[Carlos]

If it has a single din unit like the 2003 996 had you can get an Alpine head unit with he same orange backlight, BT call function , music streaming etc for £80.