Why doesn't everyone drive a Boxster?

[Perfectlap]

Because everyone I know has figured out how expensive they can be to maintain and upgrade.

I definitely will think long and hard about buying another Porsche that isn't at least CPO.
You may dodge the expensive repairs bullet but the longer you keep the more certain it is that your luck will run out, espcially if your Pcar is winter driven.


p.s.
regarding gas consumption from your list, the Escalade gets 18mpg highway. My Boxster does about 21 mpg.
The Ford Edge crossover/SUV thing gets 30 mpg higwhay.

[ProjectM96]

1. I love the car. But some people just don't like the looks of Porsche's. To some, it is not muscular enough or boxy enough.

2. People think they are expensive to buy and insure. Many people thought I was rich. Someone thought my <$10,000 used 986 actually cost me $40,000. Another person thought I spent $25,000 and another guessed $18,000.

If you are a DIYer, it is cheap to maintain and repair. The only expensive issues that you need a mechanic for are IMS, transmission rebuild or replacement, clutch, engine rebuild or replacement. These are the only $1000+ issues I know of. Water Pump is a bit more complicated for DIY, but it can be done. It just cost me $600 for parts and labor for water pump replacement.

But belts, pulleys, throttle body, AOS, MAF sensor, oil change, air filter, exhaust pipes, O2 sensors, lightbulbs, and more are so easy to replace or fix yourself even for those without much experience with cars. All the how to guides are on pelicanparts or youtube. Even some of the suspension pieces like tie rods are easy to replace. All of these are $10-$500 parts with $0 labor potential.

For performance parts. Some are way overpriced when compared to Japanese cars like exhaust and forced induction and rims, but some are also the same price or cheaper like Underdrive pulleys, Performance Intakes, Suspension modifications.

[healthservices]

It really depends on what you compare it to. I just got a sc430 I'm driving around and for everyday use I think I would pick it over the Boxster, better power, more torque, better stereo, better everyday seating, Hardtop is quite when up.

But if I'm going into the canyons I think I would take the Boxster, but not sure as I don't know how well the sc handles yet.

[milliemax]

Last weekend with the top down at a red light a Miata? owner yelled over to me and said "When my car grows up it will be a Porsche !!'' Then drove away and gave me a thumbs up !!. I am glad that I bought this car. Nothing is perfect and every repair garage is full of all kinds of broken cars. As long as it runs, I am in love.

[986_inquiry]

Originally Posted by healthservices

It really depends on what you compare it to. I just got a sc430 I'm driving around and for everyday use I think I would pick it over the Boxster, better power, more torque, better stereo, better everyday seating, Hardtop is quite when up.

But if I'm going into the canyons I think I would take the Boxster, but not sure as I don't know how well the sc handles yet.

The SC430 does not compare to a Boxster, they're two completely different cars.

The SC430 is heavy, slow, sucks gas and has no trunk

>>> weighs 3,840 lbs
>>> claimed 0-60 in high 5s or low 6s, but 15.6 quarter
>>> 16/22mpg
>>> automatic transmission, no manual available
>>> the hard top convertible takes up almost the entire trunk. Here's a photo with the convertible top down and taking up most the trunk space:

that little space in the back is the trunk.

It's very much a secretary's or real estate agent's car, the Lexus version of a Toyota Solara, but at least the Solara has a trunk:

[healthservices]

Originally Posted by 986_inquiry

The SC430 does not compare to a Boxster, they're two completely different cars.

The SC430 is heavy, slow, sucks gas and has no trunk

>>> weighs 3,840 lbs
>>> claimed 0-60 in high 5s or low 6s, but 15.6 quarter

Yes they are, they may be heavy but its got more torque than the boxsters and you feel torque in the city not HP

Originally Posted by 986_inquiry

>>> 16/22mpg

I have not hit 20 in either one of my Boxsters yet...

Originally Posted by 986_inquiry

>>> automatic transmission, no manual available

In the city and commuting, auto is ok for me, even though both my Boxsters are manual.

Originally Posted by 986_inquiry

>>> the hard top convertible takes up almost the entire trunk. Here's a photo with the convertible top down and taking up most the trunk space:

that little space in the back is the trunk.

But look at how much space you have if the top is up. It is there if you really need it.

There is a reason there are so many different cars, everybody has different needs and sometimes one car cannot fit all those needs.

besides the sound system on the Boxster


In other words "Why doesn't everyone drive a Boxster?

because I drive 2!



don't get me wrong I like the Boxsters, otherwise why would I have two?

[fivepointnine]

Originally Posted by healthservices

Yes they are, they may be heavy but its got more torque than the boxsters and you feel torque in the city not HP



I have not hit 20 in either one of my Boxsters yet...



In the city and commuting, auto is ok for me, even though both my Boxsters are manual.



But look at how much space you have if the top is up. It is there if you really need it.

There is a reason there are so many different cars, everybody has different needs and sometimes one car cannot fit all those needs.

besides the sound system on the Boxster


In other words "Why doesn't everyone drive a Boxster?

because I drive 2!



don't get me wrong I like the Boxsters, otherwise why would I have two?

my S has more torque than any of my vehicles in town, effortless acceleration!!!!

my other vehicles are a BMW X3 2.5i and a highly tuned Saab 9-3 putting down about 260hp to the wheels.....the Saab has more violent acceleration (pushing about 23psi boost) but with the turbo lag I think my S is just as fast if not faster accelerating, top speed is no contest going to the S and handling is also no contest also in favor of the S.....but the Saab gets over 30MPG on the highway and has 4 seats and is an auto, so its the daily driver for the wife.

[schnellman]

Back to the original question. And so you can all stop wondering, I have figured it out. Everyone isn't as cool as we are.

[nieuwhzn]

Originally Posted by fivepointnine

my S has more torque than any of my vehicles in town, effortless acceleration!!!!

my other vehicles are a BMW X3 2.5i and a highly tuned Saab 9-3 putting down about 260hp to the wheels.....the Saab has more violent acceleration (pushing about 23psi boost) but with the turbo lag I think my S is just as fast if not faster accelerating, top speed is no contest going to the S and handling is also no contest also in favor of the S.....but the Saab gets over 30MPG on the highway and has 4 seats and is an auto, so its the daily driver for the wife.

Ah, another Saab performance car driver. I've got a Viggen. Power and acceleration of the Viggen and the Boxster are about the same, but the delivery is completely different. The Boxster is rear wheel drive and naturally aspirated, the Viggen is front wheel drive and high pressure turbo. The Boxster power delivery is effortless and linear all the way to redline. The Viggen is working much harder (noticeable because it has sport motor and transmission mounts), but has virtually no turbo lag because of very clever tweaking of the throttle controls. Of course the biggest difference is rear wheel versus front wheel drive. The steering of the Boxster is much more crisp especially under acceleration. As long as you can get the power on the road (real men don't have traction control) the steering is extremely effortless. The Viggen has serious difficulties putting all its power down through the front wheels, because of the high torque the wheels not only spin but also suffer a lot from torque steering. The Viggen is a real handful when driving it to the max. Still, I love driving both cars, the Box for its sportiness, the Viggen for its sheer brutality. The Box is more fun because the top goes down, the Viggen is more because its a stealth fighter (my greatest joy is smoking clueless BMW's).

So, coming back to the original question. Part of the reason that not everyone is driving a Boxster is because other cars can be a lot of fun also.
Of course the main reason that not everyone is driving a fun car is because they don't care, they just want to go from A to B, yawn.

[986_inquiry]

Originally Posted by healthservices

But look at how much space you have if the top is up.

Not much, it's shallow above that area, and that's why I bought a convertible, to leave the top up

Originally Posted by healthservices

besides the sound system on the Boxster

You mean the engine? Sounds great to me!

ghetto cruisers need "sound systems", we have Porsches If I wanted a sound system I'd drive an escalade and fill it full of subwoofers

[986_inquiry]

Originally Posted by ProjectM96

For performance parts. Some are way overpriced when compared to Japanese cars like exhaust and forced induction and rims, but some are also the same price or cheaper like Underdrive pulleys, Performance Intakes, Suspension modifications.

IMHO a Porsche is one of the few vehicles you'd not want to do "performance" upgrades to. If I wanted to constantly add upgrades to it I would have bought a V8 Mustang or Camaro, or maybe Civic or WRX. Cars like that have lots of performance parts available that I could sink thousands on but I'd still be left with a Mustang, Camaro, Civic or WRX.

Not that those are "bad" vehicles, but they're certainly not porsches. Some even have the same engines as their grocery-getter counterparts.

[jbs986]

Everyone should own a Porsche in their lifetime, I just bought a 2002 Boxster in Oct. of this year, it had 68K miles on it and all maintenance done on it by the old owner. He had over $5,500.00 in resets for the car, I paid $ 9,000.00 for it.

My point is, a used Porsche Boxster is a bargain no matter how you look at it. for the money you can not find a better handling convertible. This is my second Boxster,my first one was a 99. I drove it for two years and sold it for more money then I bought for. If you work on your Boxster yourself you will save a ton of $$$ they are not hard to work on and also fun to work on, IMO.

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

As a guy who has been riding motorcycles for 40 years and have owned 33 bikes in that time and still have 3 of my own, I can tell you Boxstering is the closest thing to riding. My wife and I call them the "4 wheeled motorcycle". Sometimes it reminds me of flying the 2 seat single engine low wing plane I learned to fly in.

[milliemax]

Well said IDAHO RED !!!!!

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by jbs986

I just bought a 2002 Boxster in Oct. of this year, it had 68K miles on it and all maintenance done on it by the old owner....I paid $ 9,000.00 for it.

nice

[986_inquiry]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

p.s.
regarding gas consumption from your list, the Escalade gets 18mpg highway. My Boxster does about 21 mpg.
The Ford Edge crossover/SUV thing gets 30 mpg higwhay.

Escalade gets 18mpg highway driving cross-country if you fill up, immediately get on the highway, cruise at 60 mph for 400 miles, get off highway and fill up again. By that comparison we get 30mpg

Proof from the mouth of owners:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=escalade%20mpg&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CE4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftownhall-talk.edmunds.com%2Fdirect%2Fview%2F.f0da912&ei=yYzdTtqvKYKL2AXil9mVBQ&usg=AFQjCNFJyqiME2qTUWsVfv4pyju15z4q3A&sig2=NQ-Wi3l2hCW8x9QOBtwfXA

I recently got 19MPG on a trip from Boston to Charleston, SC. I average around 14 around town (13-15).

I love my 06 Escalade. 15.1 MPG but am looking to get one of the new Hybrids.

Drive it as I am drving a 5000lb vehicle. I can get 14.6 average and 17 highway on Y2005 ESV.

I just purchased a 2007 Escalade. A year old vehicle but almost new. It only had 221 km. on it. On my first tank of fuel it used 61.7 lt to go 234.8 km. That is 10.75 mpg (Imperial) so even less per US gallon.

And I know "oh we only average 6mpg better". That 6mpg is 40% more (15mpg vs 21mpg). That's actually pretty huge, 40% more than our 21mpg would be 29.4mpg. Only very modern (2008+) 4-cylinder cars or hybrids can even touch an average of 29.4mpg, so a 40% improvement is nothing to sneeze at.

Also improving gas mileage is an exercise in diminishing gains. Average person drives ~15,000 miles a year. It comes to a point in mpg that it doesn't make much sense to keep improving. 100mpg would only use 150 gallons instead of 300 gallons a year used by a 50mpg vehicle, but what vehicle gets 100mpg? A 50cc scooter? 50mpg vs 25mpg uses only 300 gallons instead of 600 gallons, but the only vehicle that could average 50mpg is a brand new Pruis. Sure that extra 300 gallons the 25mpg vehicle uses a year is $1000 more per year (averaging $3.33/gal), but if the new hybrid costs $10,000 more than the vehicle that averages 25mpg (which I'm sure it does) then you might as well get the 25mpg vehicle, and look at all the options you have for 25mpg vehicles?

Boxster 2.5/2.7 manual seem to offer reasonable mileage (low 20s) while still looking great and performing well.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by 986_inquiry

Escalade gets 18mpg highway driving cross-country if you fill up, immediately get on the highway, cruise at 60 mph for 400 miles, get off highway and fill up again. By that comparison we get 30mpg

I live within arm's reach of two major highways and I routinely drive to the other side of state (non-rush hour) to visit friends who also live within blocks off the parkway. I'd say very little of my driving doesn't occurr on the ultra smooth GSP on non-peak hours.
On full tanks and in nearly 8 years of owning this car I have NEVER been anywhere close to 30 mpg. I say I am lucky to even hit 23 mpg (all) highway and that's very smooth throttle, barely tapping the brake, on low revs which isn't at all good for the engine.

[rteichman]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

On full tanks and in nearly 8 years of owning this car I have NEVER been anywhere close to 30 mpg. I say I am lucky to even hit 23 mpg (all) highway and that's very smooth throttle, barely tapping the brake, on low revs which isn't at all good for the engine.

I live in your region, and on long haul drives (PA to Cape Cod, PA to upstate NY, etc.) I routinely get 29 MPG. It's slightly lower when I have a second person in the car (27 or 28 MPG) Maybe it's because I have the 2.5 engine? I also use the cruise control a lot on these trips because they are so long. I'll be honest though, I don't keep track of my milage on shorter trips when I do more "spirited" driving.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by rteichman

I live in your region, and on long haul drives (PA to Cape Cod, PA to upstate NY, etc.) I routinely get 29 MPG. It's slightly lower when I have a second person in the car (27 or 28 MPG) Maybe it's because I have the 2.5 engine? I also use the cruise control a lot on these trips because they are so long..

Yep. The 2.5 is a highway sipper compared to the 3.2 and it is also a lighter car than the last of the 986's.

I've learned that using cruise control, and boring driving doesn't give you drastically better mileage in the S. I think sometimes people forget that even at 250 HP, the 3.2 was a bigger engine for a Porsche than what we've now become use to seeing. The focus was power and no one was thinking about mpg when gas was $1 and change in the late 90's.

[bar10dah]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

p.s.
regarding gas consumption from your list, the Escalade gets 18mpg highway. My Boxster does about 21 mpg.
The Ford Edge crossover/SUV thing gets 30 mpg higwhay.

EPA numbers?

'12 Escalade 2wd: 14 city, 18 hwy, 16 combined

'12 Boxster: 20 city, 29 hwy, 24 combined

Real world, I'm sure Escalade MPGs are less, as most Escalade drivers aren't shy with the throttle. Not a fair estimate, as there's just one entry for a 2003, but real world (where users input their own mileage) shows 17 MPG from one user.

Real world with a 1999 Boxster (they didn't have a 2003 listed, so I used '99 as that's what I drive) shows three cars with an average of 24 MPG. Mine is listed as #1, and as you can see, for the past 4,000 miles, mostly city driving, I've averaged 22 MPG. I've gotten as high as 26 and as low as 18.3.

And since you bought up the Ford Edge, I'll use the 2007 model, as it has the most cars (the more data points, the better the averages) shows 16 city, 23 hwy, and 19 combined for EPA. And it shows 18 MPG as an average for 15 vehicles. Far cry from 30 MPG.

I definitely didn't buy the Boxster for it's fuel economy, but it's nice to see I'm getting better fuel economy with my Boxster than I was getting from my '05 Accord. My city average in the Boxster is usually around 20 MPG. For the Accord, it was 17 MPG. And, the Boxster is just so much more fun to drive! Sure, I miss being able to take a third, maybe fourth, person to lunch. But I've never had this much fun "commuting" to work!