Newb researching and looking for some guidance

[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!

[Topshelf]

That is interesting info box. I'm definitely going to test both 2.5 and 2.7 cars to see if I prefer one over the other. I've already all but ruled out going with an S at this point, so it's really going to be down to engine preference and options.

One thing I forgot to ask though is about higher mileage. Are these cars capable of going 100k+? I know they need care, but I didn't know if they had only so much life in them, even if they were maintained well. Not that I plan on buying one with that many miles, just like to know the facts.

[Sloan]

Topshelf,

How much of a premium are you finding for the "S" in the model years you are looking for? I see that you have 'essentially ruled out' the "S" and its not even on your test-drive list, but I'm wondering if the price gap is really that big - for sure if you pay for mods to get more power out of the 2.5 or 2.7, it would seem that could exceed the extra you'd pay for the "S" up front. I'm really asking b/c you make it clear you will be buying with Tiptronic, where the extra torque of the "S" would really make a difference.

I'm not trying to make this more difficult for your or make you second-guess your 'decision' against the "S", I just want to know how much of a factor the price difference is.

P.S. I went through the similar analysis recently of 2003-2004 "S" vs. 2005 base model, and I ended up with the "S", and am very happy with my choice.

[kennedi]

Topshelf:
Seeing how my S just got delivered two days ago, I can say that I was going through the same analysis as you. I live in So. MD so many of the pre-owned Porsche choices were out of No. VA and MD. I found that I could get a year or two base model for the price of a loaded S - at least in my area. I ended up buying one in CT because the prices and choices were much better than my area. I ADORE the extra hp!

BTW. Thanks to many of the folks here on this forum for giving me advice on buying!

Now, I just gotta figure out which radar detector to procure.....

[Bob Z.]

As others have said, drive a few and see what suits your needs - I say go with the newest you can afford.

Sorry to be off topic but speaking of roads, I lived in Port Tobacco MD for 11 years before moving to Florida - some of the best roads in that area anywhere and that is the only thing I miss about living there...roads here suck - mostly straight & flat.

[Lil bastard]

Originally Posted by Sloan

Topshelf,

How much of a premium are you finding for the "S" in the model years you are looking for? I see that you have 'essentially ruled out' the "S" and its not even on your test-drive list, but I'm wondering if the price gap is really that big - for sure if you pay for mods to get more power out of the 2.5 or 2.7, it would seem that could exceed the extra you'd pay for the "S" up front. I'm really asking b/c you make it clear you will be buying with Tiptronic, where the extra torque of the "S" would really make a difference.

I'm not trying to make this more difficult for your or make you second-guess your 'decision' against the "S", I just want to know how much of a factor the price difference is.

P.S. I went through the similar analysis recently of 2003-2004 "S" vs. 2005 base model, and I ended up with the "S", and am very happy with my choice.

Having the Tip S transmission is a reason NOT to go with the 'S'.

This is because in low gear and in second gear, an auto transmission acts as a torque multiplier.

Low gear, the gear used when getting under way, climbing a steep hill, or sometimes when pulling a very heavy load, has a torque multiple of around 3:1.

Second gear has a torque multiple of about 2:1.

In High gear, used at highway speeds, the transmission uses a direct drive gear, meaning that there is no torque multiplier.

And if you have a car equipped with "overdrive," like 5th gear in the Tip S, the torque ratio is in the neighborhood of 0.8:1.

Every auto transmission establishes its multiples with slight differences, depending on what the designers determine to be the most efficient torque multipliers for a given engine in a specific car.

You'll feel less torque in a Base w/ manual transmission than you will with a Tip S.

[CJ_Boxster]

Originally Posted by Lil bastard

Having the Tip S transmission is a reason NOT to go with the 'S'.

This is because in low gear and in second gear, an auto transmission acts as a torque multiplier.

Low gear, the gear used when getting under way, climbing a steep hill, or sometimes when pulling a very heavy load, has a torque multiple of around 3:1.

Second gear has a torque multiple of about 2:1.

In High gear, used at highway speeds, the transmission uses a direct drive gear, meaning that there is no torque multiplier.

And if you have a car equipped with "overdrive," like 5th gear in the Tip S, the torque ratio is in the neighborhood of 0.8:1.

Every auto transmission establishes its multiples with slight differences, depending on what the designers determine to be the most efficient torque multipliers for a given engine in a specific car.

You'll feel less torque in a Base w/ manual transmission than you will with a Tip S.

Good info, Thanks Jim... I mean Lil_bastard.