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10/10ths · 09-30-2017, 05:44 AM

...."Bashing" intended. I do NOT mean to come across as "bashing" the 987 or other newer cars either.

They ARE great cars.

They just are not better choices for ME and my biases on how things should work.

A couple of folks posted above about owning BOTH their 986 AND a late gen 981, that sounds good to me as well, but unfortunately, I'm not in that tax bracket.

One thing I wanted to comment on, is this notion that interior trim is so cheap and flimsy on the early Boxsters. I bought a 2004 "50 Years of 550 Spyder Edition" 986 Boxster S, and this car has a full leather interior. The only really flimsy trim is the coating on the door arm rest pocket covers, and the doors on the sun visors. All of the switch gear and everything else appears to be of high quality. I solved the arm rest door issue with $45 leather covers off eBay and am efforting a sun visor fix.

It wasn't until I met "Boxster Woody" in Bastrop, Texas that I discovered how cheap the early Boxster interiors were. I remember reading the complaints about that in "Road & Track" and such back in the late 90's, but FWIW, the 2003/4 Boxsters with the upgraded materials appear to be FAR better built.

So, if anyone out in forum world is searching for a 986, my two cents: Buy an '03/'04 model.

All the best!

09-30-2017, 05:44 AM	#8
10/10ths "50 Years of 550 Spyder" Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: The Road Posts: 945	No... ...."Bashing" intended. I do NOT mean to come across as "bashing" the 987 or other newer cars either. They ARE great cars. They just are not better choices for ME and my biases on how things should work. A couple of folks posted above about owning BOTH their 986 AND a late gen 981, that sounds good to me as well, but unfortunately, I'm not in that tax bracket. One thing I wanted to comment on, is this notion that interior trim is so cheap and flimsy on the early Boxsters. I bought a 2004 "50 Years of 550 Spyder Edition" 986 Boxster S, and this car has a full leather interior. The only really flimsy trim is the coating on the door arm rest pocket covers, and the doors on the sun visors. All of the switch gear and everything else appears to be of high quality. I solved the arm rest door issue with $45 leather covers off eBay and am efforting a sun visor fix. It wasn't until I met "Boxster Woody" in Bastrop, Texas that I discovered how cheap the early Boxster interiors were. I remember reading the complaints about that in "Road & Track" and such back in the late 90's, but FWIW, the 2003/4 Boxsters with the upgraded materials appear to be FAR better built. So, if anyone out in forum world is searching for a 986, my two cents: Buy an '03/'04 model. All the best! __________________ 550 SE #310---"It's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow."