sd_boxster

I've had my '03 986 for about six months now, and other than the short throw shifter have done nothing to it. My previous car (an '05 Tiburon) was both underpowered and took very well to modifications; in the 3 years I owned it, I installed a catback, CAI, larger injectors, Eaton supercharger, fuel tuner, intercooler, strut bar, oil catch, and countless other little things here and there. After reading up here on Renntech and a couple of other Porsche forums, I'm left wondering if the Boxster is better left un-modded. My understanding is that the motor isn't really boost-friendly without upgrading the internals, aftermarket exhausts seem hit-or-miss vis-a-vis drone and power, and as for the suspension... why mess with what makes a Porsche a Porsche? The only mods I'm really considering are a cold-air intake and (since the stockers are worn) some quality drilled rotors. Can any of y'all who have been doing this longer than I have chime in and give me a short list of which mods are worth it, which ones are take-or-leave, and which you'd definitely advise against? What have you done to your Box that you love, what have you done that you wish you hadn't? What's the first mod to make? TIA!

The artist/track isn't in a non-English format, is it? Some tracks (like the Russian cuts on T.a.t.u CDs) would not display properly on my Sony headunit as they were extended characters - could be the same issue for your gibberish tracks/albums?

Assuming there's a + and - lead to each horn assembly, you'd run the positive lead to the switch, (the center contact) and then bring off a wire from the switch leading to each horn assembly. When the switch is toggled one way, it will complete the circuit to the OEM horn; when it's the other, it will power your air horns. I'd put the switch in a nice dark corner of the front trunk or something similar, since you probably only need to switch this for inspection. But that's just me. Sound clip of the airhorns? I'm curious - the OEM horn seems pretty loud to me. Good luck!

I think an SPDT switch would be fine for your needs and less confusing to wire, since they'll only be three contacts instead of six. The guys at Radio Shack are pretty much only good at selling cell phones these days, so google SPDT switch and look at a few pictures so you know what you're looking for before you wander in...

I just installed the Schnell short-throw shifter in my '03 986. I have read mixed reviews on the Schnell, and mixed reviews in general on short-throw shifters in Boxsters, but I've missed the STS I installed in my Tiburon and the price was right. As far as installation goes, the instructions are adequate... if you need a reminder on how to install a Boxster shifter. If this is your first time (like it was mine), they're about 80% complete. Pointers like how to remove the flex rods from the shifter base are completely missing, and other items (like the amount of time it will take to remove the factory bushings) are grossly understated. Nevertheless, the instructions were enough to keep me in the right direction, and the kit was complete. Words of caution: I had to pull out the cup from one of the new bushings and remove the washer behind it in order to get enough clearance to install both snap rings. Also, you do not need to remove the small plastic cube from the ball joint on the side of the factory shifter. It won't fit on the Schnell, so leave it on the old shifter. Third, when you read the DIY's for the STS installation, marking the position of the shift cables is this mysterious event that sounds really important, but isn't explained worth a darn in the Schnell instructions. It's obvious once you start disassembly what everyone is talking about. Just use a Sharpie on each cable to note how far it extends into the cable clip. After I put everything back together, I took the Boxster for a spin, and I am delighted with the results. The shifts are REALLY tight... the difference is amazing. If you enjoy really short gear throws and solid engagement, this is a great addition. This is my first Boxster mod. My last car, a Hyundai Tiburon, was my sanity project - whenever I was feeling stressed out, I'd go turn wrenches for a bit, and wound up with a blown, intercooled Tib making 230 at the wheels. I look forward to seeing what I can do with my Boxster!

Thanks for the replies, all. After reading up here and elsewhere, I will wait to mess with the electronics until I have the budget to do so. For now, I'll be adding an in-line FM modulator and a satellite tuner... myself, since I need to get my feet wet with modding the Boxster.

Trying to get my crap straight so I don't make any awful mistakes. I'll be replacing the stock head unit in my '03 Boxster. I have the Bose subwoofer and the factory amp, which I _believe_ is a six-channel amp. Can I use the factory amp? I've got the stupid fiber-optic lashup - is the amp a write-off? If I cannot reuse it, should I run the dash and door speakers off the new headunit and just get a 2-channel amp to drive the Bose subwoofer? Any guidance is greatly appreciated. Thanks again, DJ

Hi, all: I've been searching around for a replacement for the stereo in my '03 Boxster but didn't want to do a double-din conversion. I'm settling, I think, on the JVC KD-AVX44 - it's a very feature-packed unit that will nicely complement the Boxster's dash (Image below) Questions: 1) Will any single-din unit fit in place of the factory CDR-23 unit? 2) Any suggestions on an amp to replace the one in the front trunk? My Boxster has the Bose subwoofer. For the time being, I'd like to keep the drivers all stock and just get the stereo and amp dealt with. Thanks in advance for your replies. If anyone actually HAS this unit installed, your comments would be appreciated. -DJ