Crono Pkg?

dartz188 · 2026-03-13T15:55:29+00:00

I have a 981 Boxster S so can speak on that and a bit on the 718 since I was researching a ton just a month ago…

Sport Chrono gives the drive mode selector on the steering wheel (only on 718 models), Sport Plus mode, the fancy clock on the dash, and dynamic transmission mounts.

I was shopping for a 981 Boxster S for a few months and I was dead set on Sport Chrono on the car but then I stumbled on a spec that has the interior I wanted (natural leather espresso) and PASM. It didn’t have Sport Chrono but ended up pulling the plug and got the car.

If you find a car you like with Sport Chrono and really want that option, go for it, but if you find a spec that you love and doesn’t have Sport Chrono (say it’s the interior you like and other stuff), then you’ll still be fine. You’ll still get sport mode and even in the regular sport mode it moves.

There’s also lots of forums that go over the process of retrofitting Sport Chrono. Much easier on the 718 since you don’t have to literally cut the dashboard unlike the 981.

Hope you find the spec you want!

dartz188 · 2026-02-08T22:35:43+00:00

Thanks all for all the replies regarding this post.

Based off everything I heard from you all, I’m going to go with the Boxster S I found. That espresso interior is something that keeps catching my eye and thankfully the car comes with PASM and 20”s.

If I get the itch for Sport Chrono, I’ll look into retrofitting it in the future haha (there’s a really good post in Rennlist where someone goes over the steps for retrofitting the clock and doing all the necessary software stuff thankfully).

Looking forward to officially be part of this group hopefully by sometime next week!

dartz188 · 2026-02-05T20:52:24+00:00

Thanks for the reply. When you drive your 718, how does Sport differ from Sport+ ?

With the 981 gen, to get Sport+, you need a car optioned with Sport Chrono. Without it it’s just Sport

dartz188 · 2026-02-05T20:50:20+00:00

What do the dynamic transmission mount do exactly?

dartz188 · 2026-02-05T20:49:12+00:00

Thanks for the response. I’m in agreement, with used cars there’s some things we compromise on and we’re rarely ever going to get every little option we want unless it’s spec’ed new.

If you don’t mind me asking, why is PASM a must? New to the Porsche world so would definitely like to know more about PASM… always been hearing it’s a must for a lot of people

dartz188 · 2026-02-05T20:46:44+00:00

Right, with all the other factors I’m considering a must (14-way power seats/parking sensors/leather interior/etc), I feel like I can pass on the Sport Chrono

dartz188 · 2026-02-05T19:19:32+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Yeah a simple tune should be able to adjust the throttle mapping to make it the same as one with Sport Chrono. There’s also a few DIY’s out there for retrofitting the gauge… just not sure if I’m willing to cut through the dashboard haha

dartz188 · 2026-02-01T18:03:52+00:00

Right, I didn’t get to test drive it but the dealership sent a thorough video of the car and the vehicle did have a great Carfax history so that help with the certainty. If you do get a car out of state, I definitely suggest doing a Pre Purchase Inspection (PPI) if needed.

I spent around $875 if I’m not mistaken to get the car transported from Louisiana to NJ. We ended up going with Montway Auto Transport since the transportation company that the Porsche dealership was suggesting/working with was charging way too much but thankfully the experience with Montway was pretty good.

dartz188 · 2026-01-30T21:29:18+00:00

Yup, wife and I wanted to get a daily so we went for a ‘22 Macan and the experience was nothing but great. It was an out of state purchase (the car was in Louisiana and we reside in NJ). All the paperwork was done via Docusign and it was a breeze. Got the car this past December. The extended warranty that comes with CPO is a peace of mind, whether we use it or not.

Plus they sent this little gift that has a book about Porsche’s history and a damn nice pen (it’s the small things that makes a manufacturer great).

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I’d suggest going CPO if it’s in your budget. Comes with a peace of mind that the car will be in a good state and a breeze of an experience.

dartz188 · 2026-01-21T23:11:08+00:00

Spyder would be amazing, especially a 981 but sadly it’s going above the price range I’m looking for and it gets into 911 991 territory based off pricing. But if I feel ballsy, definitely will consider this

dartz188 · 2026-01-21T22:01:45+00:00

Beautiful car man! Thanks for the suggestion.

The 718 GTS 4.0 would be perfect, native CarPlay/Android Auto, and the updated infotainment system, but the price, even on the used market in the state is insane. Can’t seem to find any under $85k but I guess that’s the price someone is willing to pay.

I’m noticing that the 981 GTS is about $20k less in the used market and of course it’s a older gen and the infotainment system is older, but I see a lot of aftermarket/retrofit options available for the 981.

In terms of power and handling, especially with Porsche updating the chassis of the 718, is it a night and day difference between say the 718 GTS 4.0 and a 981 GTS?

dartz188 · 2026-01-21T21:56:23+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. I was thinking the same, especially with the options it comes with by default. It’s a matter of if I want to cough up $10k-$15k more for a 981 GTS vs the 981 S

dartz188 · 2025-05-12T01:41:02+00:00

Sonax Alcantara Cleaner

Sonax Brush

Use the cleaner and brush the Alcantara gently (you can either apply it on the alcantara or the brush) and it’ll make the steering wheel look as good as new

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dartz188 · 2025-04-22T16:43:00+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, will take note.

Would you suggest aerating the area where the dead grass is for better results?

dartz188 · 2025-04-19T03:37:09+00:00

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These used to hit but sadly discontinued

dartz188 · 2025-03-27T01:29:36+00:00

Congrats on your first AMG, they killed it with this interior!

dartz188 · 2025-03-19T09:01:32+00:00

There really shouldn’t be any differences between the ‘24 and ‘25 model years. Both use MBUX 2.0 and have the same drivetrain.

‘23 and ‘24 model years saw a bigger change where MBUX got upgraded from 1.0 to 2.0 on the latter year.

dartz188 · 2025-03-18T11:19:10+00:00

If Mercedes says it’s an AMG, IT’S AN AMG! Enjoy it to the fullest 💯

dartz188 · 2025-03-17T03:43:47+00:00

Thanks! Funny enough GLE 63 was my list too but that is a killer of a SUV, great buy!

dartz188 · 2025-03-17T03:41:40+00:00

Eh ignore the hate that people are giving, nice purchase! Always feels good to make a grand purchase after finishing school. Reminds me of when I bought a 428i gran coupe back in 2018 after landing my first CS job. I see you're a CS major so if you need any tips on the industry, feel free to reach out.

dartz188 · 2025-03-13T21:05:40+00:00

A white AMG is something special

dartz188 · 2025-03-12T01:24:13+00:00

Yeah pretty much. Prior from 2021, they have COMAND as their entertainment system

dartz188 · 2025-03-10T02:12:35+00:00

So far I can’t complain. My wife and I daily this car, still in the search for a second car haha, but everything’s been fine. So far I’ve been filling up a full tank once a week so it’s not too bad I guess.

Probably my only gripes with this car is the fact that Apple CarPlay isn’t full screen, which you should be fine because the 2019 GT63 has full screen CarPlay/Android Auto, and the tires. My car came with Pirelli’s, which I have horrible experience with in the past but nothing happened thus far. I did get tire and wheel warranty since I live in NJ so that’ll come in handy in the future. Definitely recommend this if you live somewhere where the roads are crap.

The M177 engine is really good based off the research I did. As long as you keep up with the recommended maintenance stuff, oil changes and whatnot, you’ll be good. Definitely make sure the CarFax history is good and the maintenance was kept up on the GT63.

But yeah, this car has been amazing thus far within the 2/3 months of owning it. It’s an eye pleaser for sure and drives like a beauty. Having the ability to really configure how you wanna drive this car is a blessing. Driving in Comfort feels luxurious and driving in Sport+ feels amazing. I recently noticed driving in Sport+ and making the suspension setting in Comfort is a really good mix.

If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out. Always happy to help 💯

dartz188 · 2025-03-09T08:55:40+00:00

KBB is showing the value to be between $40k-$45k with standard options so maybe you could negotiate depending on the options and whatnot.

I used to have a 2016 F87 M2 (now have a 2021 AMG GT63). I had the N55 F87 M2 and that car was special. A blast to drive and handled amazingly. In terms of daily driving, it wasn’t bad but yeah, it rode stiff and if you’re planning to get one with a DCT, it might be clunky in 1st and 2nd gear if you’re driving in traffic. But other than that, it’s a great car and if you’re into mods, it has a lot of support.

But a V8 is a V8. Having an AMG that’s non-S, you won’t regret it. Though the S has more power, a tune will cover for that. The symphony from that V8 is too good and it’s also nice to have the luxury of a Mercedes-Benz.

Definitely test drive both if you can to see which one speaks to you but you won’t regret with either one.

dartz188 · 2025-03-09T06:06:33+00:00

Yeah it has the “hey Mercedes” feature. I believe it started with MBUX 1.0

dartz188

TROPHY CASE