thinking about selling my 03 S ?

[demick]

None of the financial reasoning I'm reading here makes any sense.

It sounds more like you don't want to keep the Boxster and are looking for something else. If that's the case, by all means, get rid of the Boxster.

But if you really do like the car and would like to keep it, but are simply afraid of possible future costs, do this instead: Take the $25K that you would otherwise be out-of-pocket on your Boxster-Evo swap and put it in the bank. Anytime you have an unexpected expense on the Boxster, take it out of that account.

Chance are, 5 years from now, you still have more than $20K in that account. Even if you are very unlucky (total engine failure), you will still have $10K left in that account. Financially, there is almost no possible way for you to come out ahead by buying the Evo.

[Lobo1186]

Originally Posted by demick

None of the financial reasoning I'm reading here makes any sense.

It sounds more like you don't want to keep the Boxster and are looking for something else. If that's the case, by all means, get rid of the Boxster.

But if you really do like the car and would like to keep it, but are simply afraid of possible future costs, do this instead: Take the $25K that you would otherwise be out-of-pocket on your Boxster-Evo swap and put it in the bank. Anytime you have an unexpected expense on the Boxster, take it out of that account.

Chance are, 5 years from now, you still have more than $20K in that account. Even if you are very unlucky (total engine failure), you will still have $10K left in that account. Financially, there is almost no possible way for you to come out ahead by buying the Evo.

+1 :dance:

[gschotland]

Uh, you're making one big (likely faulty) assumption, that his Boxster's paid for and that the Evo will be paid for with cash. Someone who's able to buy an '03 Boxster or any $40k car for cash probably isn't sweating maintenance costs. If your life is about "monflee" payments (as in "What's the monflee on that car?"), then I can see the prospect of a big repair being unnerving. Think in these terms and you'll get the reasoning.

That's why many (not all) people who want fancy cars that they either can't really afford to buy and/or can't afford to maintain after the warranty's over choose to lease. I'm not totally knocking leasing, people have their reasons for doing it, a big one being fixing their monthly transportation costs.

Buy new and you pay out the ass in depreciation and interest, but you have minimal maintenance. Or buy used, have less depreciation and more maintenance - more expensive maintenance if it's a Boxster. If you want to play you've gotta pay. Porsches have never been Toyota/Honda/Mitsu money to maintain. All cars are a losing proposition. How do you want to lose your $?

High maintenance costs aside, I adore my '02 S (purchased for $17k cash last year) and have no regrets. I can't think of a car that's even close in overall value for money.

Every time I see a Subie STi, Mitsu Evo or similar "performance car" with those idiotic dual Coke can tailpipes, droning exhaust note and goofy picnic table wing I just shake my head and chuckle. Yeah it'll "blow the doors off" my S, but those are hopped up econo-cars with no finesse, just great numbers. If that's your thing...

Originally Posted by demick

None of the financial reasoning I'm reading here makes any sense.

But if you really do like the car and would like to keep it, but are simply afraid of possible future costs, do this instead: Take the $25K that you would otherwise be out-of-pocket on your Boxster-Evo swap and put it in the bank. Anytime you have an unexpected expense on the Boxster, take it out of that account.

Chance are, 5 years from now, you still have more than $20K in that account. Even if you are very unlucky (total engine failure), you will still have $10K left in that account. Financially, there is almost no possible way for you to come out ahead by buying the Evo.

[jcoit]

So my wife says, "Ooooh theres one in the parking lot". So we stopped and looked at the 03 s that was parked in the grocery store parking lot. No other car has ever made her do that! Most definitely not the two racey looking hondas that have lived in our driveway over the kids teenage years. Case closed for me. Of course there never was a case for me, I got the go ahead to buy a sports car and thirty minutes into my search I found the boxster market and have been homing in on one ever since.

You know I got to say in this thread in particular there is alot of talk about performance car vs car. That has never played a very large part in my thinking about this car. Everytime I see the rear end of a boxster I see a car with unmatched styling and design. From any angle it gives this impression. Its like looking at a fine lady in an evening dress thats just a tad too tight. You know underneath it has all the performance it needs to make for a thrilling ride. No doubt about it, Im sold.

[ekam]

We need to stop comparing apples and oranges. I can hear the laughter from visitors who stumble on this thread.

It's a roadster vs a street legal rally sedan.

[Evan528]

Originally Posted by ekam

We need to stop comparing apples and oranges. I can hear the laughter from visitors who stumble on this thread.

It's a roadster vs a street legal rally sedan.

Agreed!! I would never dream of trading in my Porsche for a Mitsubishi

I dont think any car under $80,000 comes close to the preformance of a Boxster......Speed yes..... but speed is not everything!

[jbs986]

[QUOTE=Evan528]Agreed!! I would never dream of trading in my Porsche for a Mitsubishi

I dont think any car under $80,000 comes close to the preformance of a Boxster......Speed yes..... but speed is not ever,ything![/QUOTEl

My Lotus Elise is better in every performance category with the exception of the motor blowing up, Porsche rules when it comes to that.

[ekam]

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10q4/lightning_lap_2011-feature/lightning_lap_2011_3a_ll2_class_page_3#

Let's not even compare the Evo to Boxster... it can't even take on the Mustang... what a shame... :ah:

Seriously what are you guys smoking? I want some.

[Evan528]

lol... you are right about that!

The exact reason I leased my Cayman and will lease another one.......

I looked at the Lotus and loved it. I chose the Porsche instead mostly because of the interior. The Lotus has a very "race car" like interior with zero creature comforts.

[mikefocke]

"My Lotus Elise is better in every performance category"

So you can persuade your gf/wife to travel in it for a few hundred miles?

Take along enough luggage for a 2 week trip for 2..and a set of golf clubs?

Drive in auto-temperature controlled comfort?

Get it repaired in about every state/province in the US, CN, etc?

A car performs when it does well what you buy a car for. Is the Elise a faster track car? No quarrel. Better car for the daily grind of weekend jaunt? Entirely different question.

[demick]

Originally Posted by gschotland

Uh, you're making one big (likely faulty) assumption, that his Boxster's paid for and that the Evo will be paid for with cash. ...

Fundamentally, it make no difference if he has the $25K cash or will make payments, as his out-of-pocket costs will be roughly the same. Take the $500 or $600 per month in payments for the Evo and put them in the bank instead and he'll very quickly have a big 'maintenance' stash.

No matter how you look at it, over the next 5 years, the Evo will depreciate by $25K. The Boxster will depreciate by about $5K-$7K. That's close to a $20K difference that anyone would be hard pressed to spend in maintenance on a Boxster (yes possible, but very unlikely).

However, in more recent posts he has made it more obvious that he just doesn't want the Boxster anymore. Initially, he made it sound like his reasoning was financial - which was why I posted this. But more recently it just sounds like he's done with the Boxster and wants a newer car with more HP. If that's what he wants, then thats what he should do. But he shouldn't kid himself into thinking he will save money in the process.