I was interested in both the Boxster and the 911 Cab. A guy at work had a 2000 911 Cab for sale...34,000 miles, $38K. It was blue, with tan interior and gorgeous. It was over my budget, but I thought it was the car I had to have.

Then I drove it.

It was pretty fast, but didn't feel nearly as fast as the '04 Vette I had. It handled nicely...but only at speed. At low speeds, it was a pig. The clutch was heavy, the steering even heavier. It just felt ponderous.

It almost got me over my desire to own a Porsche altogether, then I found a 2001 Boxster S. Local car, one owner, 14K miles.

I looked at it Saturday and bought it on the spot. It handled and rode far better than the 911, and felt just as fast (I realize that it's actually a bit slower). The clutch and steering felt better, and the whole car just felt more "alive" than the 911.

As a bonus, I saved over 10K vs. the 911.

I'm picking up the Boxster tomorrow...I'll post some pics.