The Boxster, the poor man's porsche and Inferiority complex

[kashmir]

I love my Boxster, it is way cool, I grew up in L.A. and drove my Grandpa's Rover P4, at the time I thought it was uncool, but now I would trade one of my children for one.
I would buy this car before I get a 911

[kk2002s]

If having a Boxster vs: a 911 defines you, Then some self reflection is in order.
I do have to admit that when a new 911...something something with 16 tail pipes sticking out, the adhesive marks still on the window from the sales sticker.. (6 digits) - I contemplate if he/she looks down his nose at me
It still doesn't wipe the grin off my face while I drive my Boxster

A couple months back I was driving, top down, gorgeous sunny day. I slowly passed a very nice 911 something. Driver was a professional looking gentleman in his pin stripe, button down collar shirt.
I assumed he would not care about the Boxster sharing the highway. As I went by I reached to sky and gave him a Thumbs Up.
As he passed me at the next light , he gave a wave from within his air conditioned 911 something.
We bonded.
At least I like to think so
I like to think maybe he was a little envious of my top down starter P-car for a moment
Then the moment was gone

[stephen wilson]

Hell, for a year I hesitated to tell people I own a Porsche (Boxster), because I was uncomfortable with the fuss they made. "must be nice to be rich", "they're paying you too much" , etc.

[Coffinhunter]

I have only had one person say to me that I was driving a poor mans Porsche. My reply was simple and shut him up.

"Oh, what model do you drive?"

[Porsche Chick]

You know, some people think of Canada as the poor man's America . . .

And French Canadian . . . some say that's just a cheap version of REAL French . . .

Point is, anyone can insult someone, why would you DO that?

[Mark_T]

Originally Posted by Porsche Chick

You know, some people think of Canada as the poor man's America . . .

Hey, we're bigger and we're on top. If this was prison you'd be our b*tch!

[madmods]

..........................

[Coffinhunter]

Originally Posted by madmods

- sorry but for you, it's 25% more expansive-

Make sure to take it with you when buying a house then!!!!!!!

I know what you mean though. I usually take the wife's mini van if we are buying something where the car would be noticed. I also make sure the garage door is closed when a service guy comes to the house.

When someone does make a comment about being rich, I ask what kind of car they drive, and 90% of the time they paid more for it than mine is worth. They usually are very surprised to hear that.

[pothole]

In my experience, the people most likely to be disparaging are car guys who don't know as much as they think they do.

Non car people all think early Boxsters are lovely in my experience. Even quite knowledgeable people often think 986 Boxsters are girly and crap. Until you take them out in the car and they are typically fairly stunned.

Not because an early 986 has supercar performance, obviously it doesn't, not even close. But they very quickly realise that 986s sound fantastic and feel great. Put simply, they're fabulous driver's cars and anyone with even an ounce of appreciation for what makes a great driver's car recognises that very quickly when they actually experience them.

You can't really blame people for thinking what they do. Unless they've been in a 986, they've no particular reason to know what they're like.

Personally, I say long may it last. Keeps 986s nice and cheap.

[thom4782]

There is little anyone can say about my Boxster that will hurt my feelings now. I heard it all when I owned a 924 for 10 years. It was incredibly fun to drive especially after I puts carbs in it.

[black_box]

I seemed to get a lot more "nice car man"s in my 986 than my 987....

[Mark_T]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

Hell, for a year I hesitated to tell people I own a Porsche (Boxster), because I was uncomfortable with the fuss they made. "must be nice to be rich", "they're paying you too much" , etc.

I get a lot of "Sure wish I had your job". My response is always "Why, so you can drive a 14 year old car to work too?

[madmods]

.......................

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by madmods

Nah I don't spend much time on car forums... that would possibly be one reason. Another problem I have is I don't know where the ego sensor plugs into and afraid to ask anybody got wiring schematics for this?

I've visited all of them between the Boxster and previous cars. The interesting thing is that ignorance is not limited to any income or sticker price. The one constant seems to be that the less 'image' is involved and the more it has to do with actual driving, the racier the better, the more people actually discuss the car's performance merits and not the manufacturer's marketing B.S.
This B.S. soaks up the autoblogs and magazines which is then parrotted by people who have never driven any of the cars they claim to be 'chick cars', 'ricer cars', etc.

I think the thread you should consider starting is why Porsche's marketing strategy of casting a roadster as somehow being inferior to a grand touring has been so effective in the U.S. market. Simple sports car logic would say its the other way around, the roadster is the closer track/performance invention.

[particlewave]

Dude...go work on your car. Or drive it. Or something.
You're starting to show signs of internetsforumsitus

You need some air

[dbansal]

poor man's porsche my ass...the boxster may be cheaper but its still as expensive to maintain as a 911 or 944

[gregdacat]

MadMods:

You ain't seen noth'in. You should have been here in late 2008 and 2009. We had posters accusing other posters of giving out incorrect and incompetent advice under multiple screen names and all sorts of rudeness. It got so bad the moderator had to start locking out threads. I must admit I even put myself on a self imposed exile for a while because I just grew weary of it.

But this site is like 986-crack. There are so many awesome people with great information they willingly share. Prior to purchasing my Boxster about the only auto repair I ever completed was to change the oil and do a basic tune up on my 95 Dodge truck. And that was only because there was an acre and a half of space under the hood. However, since joining this forum I have completed an AOS replacement, a full brake and sensor replacement, an alternator and serp. belt replacement, an HVAC display screen replacement and this weekend I am tackling a two stalk turn signal replacement. I would not have had a clue how to do any of this if were not for the help from this forum

I will admit I have a bit of an inferiority complex because I do not have the experience or know-how to share, but I sure appreciate what others have to share.

[Van914]

"How many of you here lack of self-worth, a doubt and uncertainty, and feeling of not measuring up to modern car standards and trends being owner of the cheapest available Porsche?!"


As a former 914 Owner I know!

Van914@aol.com

[Coffinhunter]

I don't feel inferior in any way shape or form. I drive a car that I love. Would I like to have a 911? Absolutely! But that does not take away from my love of the Boxster. I would love to live in an ocean front house in Laguna Beach, but that's not happening, and I don't feel inferior in my home here in Florida. I recognize that financially I am not able to afford a new Boxster, that's ok, I drive an 03. Is my car inferior to a brand new Boxster? Yep. Do I care? Nope. I love it and that is all that matters.

As for people being nasty here, I haven't felt that much at all. I am not a mechanically inclined person and have asked what I am sure are stupid questions to members here. Everytime there have been responses that either A) helped me solve the problem on my own, or B) Informed me of what needed to be done and I realized that I would not be able to do it on my own. Either way I got an answer with little or no snarkyness.

Seems to me that you got upset that most of the possters here did not like the center caps that you posted, and you took their dislike for them personally. Realize it is just an opinion, and it doesn't have to mach yours. No harm, no foul.

[Crono0001]

When I am complete modifying my car, I will be faster, better looking, and more fun to drive than any 911.

And I'd have saved a ton of money in my pocket. More like superiority complex.