I haven't been stranded yet, but I chalk that up to luck. I bought my '02S 2.5yrs ago and I'm 10K into in repairs. Started with the clutch and flywheel, which was some what expected when I bought it. Then upper strut bearings. Then a clogged drain destroying my brake booster. Then while waiting for those parts to come in my water pumped twisted off. Now I'm having a remanfuctured steering rack put in. I love the Boxster, but if I could do it again I probably would go S2k or something else. I'm in too deep now as I almost have a new car. I keep thinking I should sell it before I have an IMS failure. Oops, knock on wood.
