Topic: Back in Time: Harsh Reality: The Solstice GXP meets the roadster benchmark!

[TomatoSoup]

Some quick Googling shows Porsches are relatively reliable. Probably because their owners don't drive them like "normal" cars

Well maybe, but a friend of mine had an early model Boxster from new.  They had a habit of shedding transmissions - and it happened to his.  I think he got the first replaced under warranty, but when it failed the second time he shed the car

[kennysabarese]

Ouch

[GXPinKC]

Well maybe, but a friend of mine had an early model Boxster from new.  They had a habit of shedding transmissions - and it happened to his.  I think he got the first replaced under warranty, but when it failed the second time he shed the car

Oh, my goodness, you would think the Porsches would hold up tremendously over the rigors of driving very hard as from what I have heard they are engineered very well from the start and have such impecable reputations!  I am somewhat agast to learn they are so susceptable to transmission troubles.  Wow, they should at least stand behind their vechicles when problems
occur!

[Gentleman Jack]

Stand behind them like GM does?  Seriously?  Our beloved kappa have tons of issues.  They are not top quality cars. As the old saying goes:
Fast, cheap, reliable.  Pick any two...

[Brazen17]

After perusing several Porsche forums it seems they have a lot of the same bugaboos we have. Starting issues, electrical issues, transmission issues and the list goes on...

I know what the kappa is and I know what it isn't. It's a parts bin car with no trunk and a plastic interior. It has inferior braking and poor feedback from the road (vs boxster). It has more body roll and inferior aerodynamics (again, vs. boxster). I also know it kicks the "purest driving roadster on the market" ass on the track for many thousands less. It must have absolutely killed the reviewer(s) to admit that the porsche couldn't post a better track time than the kappa.

Oh yeah, it has inferior trunk space too...

And since there IS an aftermarket for both cars lets see what the boxster can do with another 10K or even 15k and what the kappa can do with 2k. The boxster is no doubt a more refined car (whatever that means) but the kappa has more possibilities even after being out of production for 2+ years. Too bad we will never get to see what the true factory potential could have been but that is another story.

[wspohn]

I know what the kappa is and I know what it isn't. It's a parts bin car with no trunk and a plastic interior. It has inferior braking and poor feedback from the road (vs boxster). It has more body roll and inferior aerodynamics (again, vs. boxster).

Well some of those shortcomings are minor.

Quality of assembly and interior you have to be willing to pay for, but the brakes are just fine, they just specified a pad that is (relatively speaking) crap. Fine for driving to the supermarket but not for anything approaching enthusiast driving. Change the pads and you fixed it.  Same with handling - any more sporting and buyers would have been complaining, but add parts available from the factory (or, predictably cheaper, from the after market) and it cleans up the handling a great deal.

The storage space we can't do anything about.  And quit bragging that you have a trunk - my coupe doesn't!!

Poor feedback is  a result of poorly contrived power steering and they never got that right on anything except late model Corvettes - it seems to be an American failing, from decades of producing vague over compensated steering, perhaps.

The aerodynamics are a non-issue. Yes, we have lousy aero numbers compared to many other cars, which results in slightly lower fuel numbers at legal speeds, but the fact that it also results in theoretically lower top speed is completely academic and something that would only bother people on boards like this one.  Who in their right mind cares whether your car would do 140 or 160?  It has zero practical application (except to get you tossed in the can if you actually test it out).

The Kappa is a compromise like all cars. Some of the areas they compromised in bother me (space utilization) some don't (aerodynamics), but the end result is pretty good.

[Brazen17]

I agree with most of your points but you lost me on the trunk space...I am definately NOT bragging about it!      But I knew that when I bought the car and I sure hope it was not a surprise to anyone else who bought a kappa. If it was, well, who's fault is that! I like the car because for the price/performance ratio it is hard to beat. Come to think of it I pick my stocks the same way...   And I just can't get past that a good chunk of what I pay for many exotics is just because of the name on the badge...

[GXPinKC]

I agree with most of your points but you lost me on the trunk space...I am definitely NOT bragging about it!      But I knew that when I bought the car and I sure hope it was not a surprise to anyone else who bought a kappa. If it was, well, who's fault is that! I like the car because for the price/performance ratio it is hard to beat. Come to think of it I pick my stocks the same way...   And I just can't get past that a good chunk of what I pay for many exotics is just because of the name on the badge...

I bought the car because it spoke to me in every angle possible...looks, style, price, the fact that yes it was a convertible, it was a Pontiac, having previously owned a brand new S.O. 1995 Firebird Formula I wanted the same feeling I had owning the Bird.  Well, it has met every parameter that I had in mind when the decision was made and more.  Who cares about trunk space, heck, Carol and I have been to more National and Regional Meets then you could shake a stick at and not ever had a problem with space, heck, knowing how to pack with a convertible is essential.  The smiles just keep coming and the payback has been unbelievable in every way.  I will never look back because the value, looks, and performance for the dollar invested cannot be beat and the payback certainly way up there with some of the best Roadsters on the planet.  Now, it's a bit early so I will offer the board to another not so incoherent as I at this hour.  I and Carol have a basketball game to attend today at KU and the weather is perfect for a drive to Lawrence, Kansas in Miss Red Eagle!!!

[Brazen17]

I hear ya Ron. We have had upper 60's for several days now and a few more yet to come. I will be going for a drive today no doubt about it!!! Maybe head up to the twisties and pick on some of those superior german engineered automobiles...Just Kidding!   

[Treeman]

I read all those articles like the Dickens before I buy a car.  Then, I never read another one about the car I bought.  Buyer beware.  Owner - love it or leave it and who cares what anyone else thinks!  Its MY car!

[Brazen17]

I read all those articles like the Dickens before I buy a car.  Then, I never read another one about the car I bought.  Buyer beware.  Owner - love it or leave it and who cares what anyone else thinks!  Its MY car!

Or stated another way - Screw You I Like It!!!   

[tazz]

No matter what a person coulds still windup with a problem car.  The Solstice is my biggest problem car out of the 12 new I've owned in the last 25yrs but at least I still enjoy it and it has an extended warranty which helps alot.  When I fist bought it used with only 6900 miles I thought I would keep it forever now I'm not sure if I'll actually keep it or not within the next two years.  Might have to trade it in for a Camero V8 Vert in a few years but who knows what I'll do It's a fun car just way too many issues.

[kennysabarese]

I wonder how many non forum members have problems. I'm sure someone keeps track of these numbers somewhere. Maybe JD power or something?

Maybe just the modders have problems?

[Uranium-238]

Last time I looked JD power had Porshce rated very highly for reliability.

EDIT: Just checked JD power ratings...looks like Porsche isn't sitting on top of the ratings like it used to. Interesting.

[Gentleman Jack]

Does anybody actually believe what JD writes anyway? 

[HAMMER DOWN]

No matter what a person coulds still windup with a problem car.  The Solstice is my biggest problem car out of the 12 new I've owned in the last 25yrs but at least I still enjoy it and it has an extended warranty which helps alot.  When I fist bought it used with only 6900 miles I thought I would keep it forever now I'm not sure if I'll actually keep it or not within the next two years.  Might have to trade it in for a Camero V8 Vert in a few years but who knows what I'll do It's a fun car just way too many issues.

 I'll sell you mine It's been problem free, 72k & till as original cup holder & door handles 

Mike

[GXPinKC]

I'll sell you mine It's been problem free, 72k & till as original cup holder & door handles 

Mike

Ha, ha, ha, you sure! HAMMER DOWN, Miss Red Eagle has been problem free as well in all her journey's to Meets and events and yes even on vacation once.  Only ounce did Carol and I travel in separate cars to a function and that was a wedding and needed both to follow the groom and bride in their separation from the church!  Wow, what fun to "tag team"!

[Gentleman Jack]

Backing away slowly....

[Sol Asylum]

Backing away slowly....

Good boy GJ, just leave that one on the Tee where it belongs.

[GXPinKC]

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2013-porsche-boxster-manual-test-review

I began this thread way back on November 02, 2009 at 08:57:24 AM.  Decided it was time to add to the thread with this
update on the 2013 Porsche Boxster Manual transmission vehicle.  Indeed, just fun to compare our Kappa's to one of the very best vehicles on the road.  I have never in my life driven a Porsche of any kind, but to be honest some day I may drop into the dealer and do it.  Oh, I am not mad, just curious...cause will never sell or get rid of "Miss Red Eagle"!  I hope you enjoy this update to the thread and if I can find a Kappa owner in Kansas that owns a 2013 Porsche Boxster with a manual transmission, I will indeed take advantage of the situation and take a test drive!  See ya on the flip side...
 

[HAMMER DOWN]

Damn, that got to be the slowest $62k  roadster  out there.

[Brazen17]

Damn, that got to be the slowest $62k  roadster  out there.

The "S" version is no slouch but still a lot of $$ @ 80K+! Now if the S was in the 60K range then you're on to something!

C/D TEST RESULTS:
 Zero to 60 mph: 4.4 sec
 Zero to 100 mph: 10.5 sec
 Zero to 150 mph: 28.2 sec
 Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 5.3 sec
 Standing ¼-mile: 12.9 sec @ 111 mph
 Top speed (drag limited): 176 mph
 Braking, 70–0 mph: 147 ft
 Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.99 g

[WWI Flying Ace]

I realize beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I just don't see any beauty when it comes to the Boxster...

Agreed.

I began this thread way back on November 02, 2009 at 08:57:24 AM. 

Wow!  I just reread this whole thread.  I had 60k on the clock back then.  I am at 148k now...time flies!  And I still love just looking at this car when I walk up to it after work to go home in the parking lot.  Kappas rule.  And so do Kappa driving people!

[GXPinKC]

Agreed.

Wow!  I just reread this whole thread.  I had 60k on the clock back then.  I am at 148k now...time flies!  And I still love just looking at this car when I walk up to it after work to go home in the parking lot.  Kappas rule.  And so do Kappa driving people!

Wow, WW1 Flying Ace...148k what a trip and the memories of the great people you have met along the way and joy waking up every morning and seeing your pride and joy sitting in the garage...ah that feeling is above joy!  We are all blessed indeed on this great forum to own Kappa's...what a rush!!!