Instead of a Boxster I wish I would have bought....

[johnsimion]

Instead of my 08 Cayman, I wish I had bought a Mini Cooper S. I enjoy the Cayman ... beautiful car, runs great, fun to drive ... but at the end of the day, it's really just another car, and an expensive, impractical one that ends up sitting in my garage through the week and through six months of winter. It also has the IMS issue hanging over it once the warranty is over with and the dealer is incompetent and 40 miles away. My battery just went dead after three years and just like every time it does need some kind of service, it becomes a major ordeal. And this state hits me up for a ton of personal property tax each year just for the privilege of owning an expensive car.

By contrast the Cooper is also a beautiful car (no Cayman, but not bad, either) and would be equally fun on the city streets where I almost always have to drive. I coulda had a whole lot of fun with the extra $20K. The Cooper would be driveable in winter due to front-wheel drive -- you don't baby a $30K car the way you do a $60K car -- and my wife could drive it to the dealer for service (with automatic).

I kinda sorta also regret not getting the 370Z because the dealer is just 3 miles from my house, but that would have a lot of the same problems I have with the Cayman, plus it's relatively ugly to look at.

Regardless of the regrets, however, I made my decision and there are enough merits to the Cayman that I plan to stay the course rather than get soaked again in selling or trading.

[vitaminC]

Originally Posted by johnsimion

Instead of my 08 Cayman, I wish I had bought a Mini Cooper S. I enjoy the Cayman ... beautiful car, runs great, fun to drive ... but at the end of the day, it's really just another car, and an expensive, impractical one that ends up sitting in my garage through the week and through six months of winter.

Seems like you could just drive the Cayman more... that will keep the battery charged and the bearings happy. It's just a car (and not a collectible), and it's still getting older even just sitting in your garage.

I'm quite happy with my purchase. However, I had some issues with the bank I intended to use when buying the Box that resulted in me paying cash. If I had known I was going to pay cash, I probably would have looked for an air cooled 911 instead.

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by johnsimion

My battery just went dead after three years

+3 years on a Porsche battery is pretty common. Buy a battery maintainer. If not being driven, be plugged in.

[nicecar]

Porsche is the bench mark. Drive the car........ alot! yes machines break just like my boat, motorcycles,bicycles house,camper ,truck,wifes s.u.v.. Its like fishing,you have to believe in the bait choice. Well believe in the car they are extremely reliable fairly easy to take care of and hands down the best driving experience.I am a salesman who drives alot,was driving a big truck, looked for something alot better on gas 17,000 for Toyota, Hyundai I opted for a blk. box S 02 88,000 miles for 17 grand, within 60 days 3800 dollars in wear items then 4 months later water pump window regulator oil change cabin filter air filter... 1300 dollars.........needles to say I was discouraged.Then I realized I no longer dreaded driving anywhere just the opposite I always am sad when I reached my destination.Also realized that basically it is just a car, ever since then and 20,000 miles trouble free couldn't be happier as well as thinking that the box S in some respect is faster and handles better than some more expensive models. I must also mention that cosmetically this car is almost perfect inside and out. this particular model is a 911 from rear wheels forward IDENTICAL.Please drive the car it wont break if so fix it like you fix any machine.

[nicecar]

A cooper is just as fun as a porsche ? Really?

[johnsimion]

Originally Posted by nicecar

A cooper is just as fun as a porsche ? Really?

The statement was that a Cooper S would be equally fun as the Cayman on city streets. I'll stand by that. Of course the Porsche would be far superior on a curvy country road ... but I don't get many chances to drive such roads and I almost always end up with Uncle Joe in his old pickup truck driving 45 mph right in front of me. Most of my driving ends up being commuting and errand-running on city streets and interstates. If anything could be fun under those conditions, it seems to me that a turbocharged tiny, nimble car costing $25K would be a hoot to weave in and out of traffic compared to constantly worrying that some idiot would run into your $50K Porsche or worse, vandalize your car in a parking lot because they think you are rich.

[DenverSteve]

Originally Posted by johnsimion

Instead of my 08 Cayman, I wish I had bought a Mini Cooper S. I enjoy the Cayman ... beautiful car, runs great, fun to drive ... but at the end of the day, it's really just another car, and an expensive, impractical one that ends up sitting in my garage through the week and through six months of winter.

The Cayman will out handle the Mini rain, shine or snow. The front-wheel drive doesn't surpass the Cayman's mid-engine balanced handling - if you know what you're doing. When I was a cop I drove Caprices and Crown Vic which are both rear-wheel, V8 vehicles (with not the best balance) 12 months a year in ALL weather and never got stuck or had any issues. And, of course, this is Denver. Your Cayman doesn't have to sit for 6 months unless you choose it to (dude, you're in Missouri). Of course, your car has traction control. If I wasn't happy with the choice I made, I would sell or trade and move on.