The time has flown since I purchased my Porsche Boxster on June 26, 2019. In the two months since then, I have greatly enjoyed driving and also just looking at the thing, to be honest. I drive it to work on sunny days and have taken the Boxster on a few short trips.
But in that period I haven’t taken the time to do some of the basic things you’d do with a new car. I added only one radio station to the ones preset by the dealership and didn’t activate the satellite radio. I hadn’t paired my mobile phone with the car. I hadn’t changed any of the default settings on the displays or configured its optional features. I hadn’t even taken the Porsche on an extended drive just because. I barely tested the Sport mode. Although I actually did RTFM.
So on August 26, exactly two months after bringing the Porsche Boxster home, I decided to devote the day to getting to know my car.
I started with the center display screen functions. Although I don’t expect to use this feature much, I paired my mobile phone with the car using Bluetooth. It was a simple process. After checking my preset radio stations in the MINI, I set the same stations in the Porsche. Finally, I jotted down the satellite radio ID so I could activate it online later.
After reviewing the owner’s manual for the programmable features, I went through the menu and set a few options such as the folding mirrors, auto door locking, warning volume, and the multi-function display items. I checked the oil level and tire pressures on the display. (Note the outdoor temperature of 107°F!)
My building’s parking lot is gated and I had been using a clunky, ancient-looking remote control to open the gates. No more. I programmed one of the Porsche’s HomeLink buttons to open the gates. So much better!
The next order of business was to wash the car. Due to the soft-top, Porsche doesn’t recommend putting the Boxster through an automatic carwash. So I have been hand-washing the car and today would be its third bath. I washed and dried the car, taking extra time on its wheels and under the rear spoiler.
The day was hot, so a drive and photoshoot would have to wait until evening. There is a scenic and partly curvy road nearby, known to bikers and car clubs, called The Loop. Around 6:30 pm, I set off up Beach Street, top down, in the warm evening. I began The Loop at Granada Boulevard, driving north on Old Dixie Highway with no traffic ahead of me. I turned right on Walter Boardman Road and then again on Highbridge Road which winds its way along the edge of Bulow Creek. Here I pulled off the road to take a few photos.
I continued on Highbridge. There are two ways to complete The Loop, either along the river on John Anderson Drive or along the beach on A1A. Since I hoped to take some photos by the ocean, I continued to A1A and stopped at the parking lot where the roads meet. Here I took more photos above the beach.
The sun was setting soon and I had one more stop for photos I hoped to make. So I cruised south on A1A enjoying the cool wind and the ocean views. At Granada Boulevard I turned right and crossed the bridge, completing The Loop. A few blocks further I made a U-turn, then pulled up in front of the Ormond Garage. This was an historic garage but recently turned into a bar and grill. Since I was parked illegally, I left the Boxster running while I quickly took a few photos, dodging traffic on Granada.
Photos completed, I jumped in the car and headed back home along Riverside Drive and Beach Street, arriving just before 8:00 pm. During this drive I passed 1,000 miles since purchase and will be writing a review of the car soon.
