re: noise - it all depends.
The Boxster is one of the slickest "Jekyl and Hyde" acts ever to come along. The wife and I took a 400 mi. ride last weekend - cruise control set on 75, stereo easily audible, conversation at slightly elevated levels, but no complaints from the wife. Stock suspension is nice enough on the interstate. Good gas mileage too.
On the track - 10 mpg, lots of the best noises for sale on the market anywhere when the variable cam is goes into the exitement range, flat out handling my 911-owning instructors admire.
You get 2 cars in 1: the under 3500 rpm car and The Beast.
