Newb researching and looking for some guidance

[eqs]

Do the easy thing Topshelf - do a test drive of the different variations and you will get your answer very quickly. Bear in mind there may be a lemon or two here and there, but that's what an introductory test drive can/will tell you.

I drove a 02 996 cab tip and I almost died in disgust - the pick-up was pathetic. Was it a lemon, I don't know, but it was really bad and not something I ever wanted.

So, I tried a 07 987S tip and it was better, but the off the line had too much lag, but once it was going 20 it had lotsa power. I like the off the line, and came to the conclusion that my wife would have to drive stick again if she wanted to drive the Pcar.

My just turned 14yo son set me straight. He said dad, why are you looking at tip?Here's your parameters you wrote down - and at the top of the list was "stick". Thank _od I listened to him. He's a smart little (bigger than me now) sonny.

But hey, I noted it before, everyone's different and hey, if that floats your boat ..... good on you.

Anyways, hope I was some help. Don't let anyone tell you what to do - do what makes - you - happy. Whatever, buy what you love, settle for no less.

Cheers and good luck in whatever you get

[Topshelf]

Thanks guys. Appreciate all the responses. It's interesting to hear all the 2.5 owners say that they have enough power. Between those statements and the fact that I'm happy in a vehicle with 30hp less and considerably more weight right now, there doesn't seem to be any reason that the base wouldn't make me happy. Obviously I'd love to pick up a fully loaded S, but I just don't know if it's in my price range at the moment. Hell, if it wasn't for my budget I'd be picking up a loaded Cayman S. Anywho, I had a test drive lined up for an '02 Base w/tip tonight, but it sold already. I'll try to get a few drives planned for this Saturday. Problem is finding an S tip to test. Closest one is 86 miles away.

Just a thought, since I am considering the base model, is there any reason I shouldn't atleast check out a 2.5 model? I thought I read that there were some engine issues which was one of the reasons I decided to start my search with the 2.7's.

Thanks again

[rick3000]

All Boxster's have the possibility of engine failure (RMS), but once you get past 30k miles the likely hood of it happened greatly decreases. The earlier ears (97-98) were a little more prone to this than the later years, but it can still happen to any Boxster despite age and mileage.

[gmboxster]

Once again I have a 2.5l 201 HP manual 5 speed. And unless you want to flirt with getting tickets everytime you drive this engine has plenty of power and acceleration for your purposes. In addition it will be quite a bit cheaper. With the money I saved in the purchase price I can put into repairs, even though I have driven completely trouble free so far.

[Lil bastard]

The main shtick to the Boxster is the chassis and handling. Both models excel at this equally. More power doesn't improve this.

The 'S' has different springs, sway bars and shocks, but it also weighs more. It has larger brakes, but the difference in stopping distance is minimal - the Base still outperforms 99% of the cars out there - the only real advantage to the 'S' Brakes is if you track the car, fade takes longer to set in. In street driving, you're not on the brakes enough for fade to set in. But, the Brake Pads, Rotors and such also cost more to replace on the 'S'.

The Tip S is fine, I like it. Though you'll find it a little more 'slushy' than most Man-U-Matics.

Truth is, only you can decide if the Base is right or the 'S'. I've driven many Boxsters and can't justify the extra cost of an 'S' for the type of driving I use the car for - all I'd really get are bragging rights which don't interest me at all.

Find the best car (Base or 'S') in the best condition - get a PPI, for the best money and be happy. When buying a used car, that's the most you can hope for. Don't compromise and buy a lessser car because it has more bells and whistles - maintenance issues are big headaches and wallet drainers. Good Luck
:dance:

[Topshelf]

I love helpful forums!

You guys have me thinking about reality more than desire right now. Being that this will be a DD, I'm actually wondering if the slightly softer Base wouldn't be the better choice based solely on ride quality. The roads I have to travel through PA and NJ aren't always glass smooth, so that couldn't be another reason to avoid the S. I think I'm going to start looking at 98-'02 Base models. Do as much reading as I can so I know what to look for, and get out for a few test drives this weekend. It's funny because I'm really more of a corner guy than a hp guy...years of roadracing makes you appreciate the skill of cornering...but once you start looking at a car you can't help but get sucked into the bigger, badder choice. Dam marketing! I do think you're right though. The main point of these cars is to get around a corner, and more hp will not help me with that. I will not be tracking the car, so I don't need the stiffest suspension setup available. Infact, I'm actually looking for a luxury sport car, so a compliant ride is more important than more hp to me. Man, only took you guys a few hours to straighten me out!

[box_canyon]

Hi Topshelf. One point to note is that in 2000, Porsche bumped up the displacement from 2.5 to 2.7l and from 201 to 217 mainly to compensate for the weight added to the car in meeting new side impact standards in the states. You gain power but not performance!

I was lucky, when I bought my 1999, the previous owner had fried the motor and the dealer installed a 2000 spec 2.7l in its place. A little more power with the lighter car- even at that, I'm not sure the difference is very noticeable though! If you want more low-end "grunt", the 3.2 S makes alot of difference. Problem is they are way more cash!