I can't believe I'm typing this, but I think you should buy a low mileage Honda S2k. I've heard the car is loads of fun and very dependable and not terribly expensive to maintain or repair compared to a Porsche in the same price range.
Buying a $15k Boxster that one keeps for more than a year requires the owner be doggedly determined to own a Porsche and
only a Porsche. He is also willing to deal with all the crap that goes wrong with a 986 of that age and mileage. I bought a $15k boxster four years ago. Granted, I bought a beat-to-hell example of the car, but nevertheless, the normal stuff that goes out on our cars went out on mine and none of it is cheap to fix compared to a rice burner.
If you're looking for a Boxster that you won't spend a lot of time and cash repairing, you will spend at least $25k. Actually, I'd push that to $30k or more because the 2005's and younger are much nicer and seem to be more reliable than the 986's... but that might be a simple issue of lower mileage and less days on the road.
Let us know what you finally buy and do post pics, even if it's not a Boxster. We won't diss you because you chose a different ride.
Of course, if you install a fart can for an exhaust on that S2K you'll get all sorts of grief from forum members, including myself.
