looking to own a boxster S
 

new guy just wanted to know a few things from those who owned any boxster like

1) do i have to use premium unleaded or can i get away with it if i commute to school and back

2) is maintenance expensive, only thing i know that's expensive would be brakes and suspension

3) I'm an aggressive driver and coming from a mustang (v6) that never gave me a problem thrashing on it, can i do the same to the boxster. pretty much does it like being driven.

4) lastly does it matter what year boxster i get if i just want a daily driver that can also be a track car or should i save for a newer used boxster.

Ooof, so many things to address. The fact that you even ask question 1 makes me question whether or not you're ready to be owning a Porsche.
Which leads directly into question 2- unless you are a DIY kind of guy, you're going to be paying a lot. Parts are hard to come by and are downright murder sometimes.

As for question 3, you say "aggressive driver" coming from a mustang. Does that mean you like to drop the clutch a lot and do burnouts? If so, the Boxster is not the car for you. It is as 180 from an American muscle car as you can get. These badboys were made for corners, and you'll be disappointed if straight speed is what you want.

As for what year, I would suggest getting something with a dual row to avoid IMS issues.

Happy huntin'!

well i asked question 1 because i don't mind paying for premium, just asking if i can get away with regular

second question, yes i am a DIY guy, rebuilt the stangs motor no problem, as long as i have a manual or friendly people to tell me what to do.

third, i put coil overs on the stang for cornering, i know the boxster isn't fast in a straight line, but my local track doesn't have a drag strip, it's a roadcourse track.

lastly what is a dual row? does a specific year come with one.

i'm looking at getting atleast an 04 boxster S if not an 01 or newer.

also wanted t know if the boxster is mod friendly, though i think i doubt it.

Let me ask you something...

What are the top five reasons you want a Boxster and not another sports car or another Porsche?

top five

two doors

two seats

better fuel economy than my stang

can corner harder than my mustang, my friends RX-8, and cousins S2000 (though i test drove an 07 base boxster)

cheaper on my insurance ( surprisingly)

but honestly i need a new car since my mustang just hit 200,000 and the boxster just felt so good when i test drove one, especially compared to a 370z and a 2013 v6 mustang, camarao, challenger, BRZ/FR-S, GTI, WRX, and genesis coupe. but like i said i'm using an 07 base boxster test drive as a reference, and i don't think there would be much of a different feel from an 04 boxster S vs an 07 base

edit: also corvettes are overrated and uncomfortable to drive long distances or city. ntm louisiana roads suck

As far as what you like, you don't seem to mention anything specific to the essence of the car, which is that it's a purpose built convertible.

Why not consider an older 996 Carrera? It's essentially a two seater and although the upfront cost can be slightly higher (or lower depending on mileage) the maintenance costs are practically the same: high. And the costs of unexepected repairs are equally high since it's the price of parts and not so much much the labor that make owning the car pricey.
In other words if you're going to brave the Porsche waters and aren't really a roadster guy, then why consider it over a Carrera?
Some make the mistake of thinking that the Boxster will be more affordable way of getting into a Porsche than a 996/997 and base their decision to buy on that premise, but after a $5K repair bill for shocks, clutch/ims and water pump, they soon discover that's not really the case.

well i did forget to mention it was a purpose built convertible, but i see the convertible part an added charm, but even without it, it would be purpose built none the less. i thought of a carrera, but i heard that it is a bit harder to control on a track which i might see about 3- 6 times a year, and occasional "spirited" driving. just feels like a boxster is right and the initial cost for a boxster is cheaper than a carrera ( in my general area). personally i also think the boxster looks better than a carrera, but that's personal preference. i'm still wondering if i can "drive" the car harder than what most do on the back roads.

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

basically that's why i wanted a used boxster S, cheap (<17k) and performs better or on par with cars a bit pricier than it. also looks great and why not get a porsche. though i'm iffy about carreras, i've seen those on the track go off the track because i heard they're not beginner friendly. and i'm not looking forward to slamming into walls because of lift off oversteer.

The Boxster is a great car and yes it is a purpose built convertible! I bought it because I wanted a fun car with top down driving. This car has exceeded my expectations. Find a well cared for car and your maintence costs should be lower. Do some of the maintenance your self and your costs will be reasonable. These aren't hard cars to work on, if I can do it so can you. Lots of valuable information on this forum as well as other resources. Find a good indie mechanic to handle the things you don't want to do.

This car is a giant step up from a Mustang IMO. My son had a 2002 Mustang and there is just no comparison to my 2001. My sons Mustang had way more maintenance issues than my Boxster. These cars are a great value. Yes, I put in Premium, which in reality is not that much more than mid or regular. If you are worried about that cost, the Boxster may not be for you at this time. I also drive it aggressively so my gas mileage is not exactly stellar, but I am good with that:D Seriously, for what you get for your money with these cars, you can afford some maintenance and premium gas.

As my example before I got my 2001 Boxster base which I have had 2 years, I had a 99 Miata for 4 years. I would think that your Mustang was pretty cheap to run just like a Miata. I cannot run my Box for less than $2k a year - I do basic maintenance but most of the time I take it to the indy shop.

When I try a burnout at a green light I smell clutch smell(it smells expensive =$$$$). So I don't do it anymore. Cornering and acceleration once rolling are fun. This is not a car to run on a shoestring budget. Tracking would be fun but am sure it would be expensive. I could easily spend $6k on my car if I wanted to fix and replace. Spoiler is disabled, new ims, weepy rms, replace water pump etc but the essentials are running fine.

On the plus side the air cond. in my car works great and it has low mileage - 40k and it has proved to be reliable. I do change the oil at every 5k miles and put in the right octane fuel. Good luck with your search but luck has less to do with it than knowledge. Do all the internet searching/reading you can on the various Porsches/Boxsters/911's etc. I like the modern design of the Boxster, good heat, good air etc etc Drive different cars and once you find one you like a PPI is a must....

I don't think the Boxster will like rough roads on a regular basis and that could cause it to require more frequent maintenance, however it won't break, just get too loose.

On the track it can really handle a hard drive like a champ with no worries about having to tender foot it and you have some good class racing available just about everywhere.

There lots of DIY options as well if you visit the DIY section of the forum.

Its surprisingly easy to work on for the most part.

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

OP: Save up and buy the newest S for which you can pay cash. I do not recommend financing a used Porsche. The payment money will be needed for potential repairs and maintenance (rubber alone may need replacing annually if you use the car as a daily driver. The rear tires just don't last more than 12k and will run you $175 - $500 each). Plus, the older the car model, the more cheap and poorly made plastic parts it has on it that fall apart due to age or heat, even if the car has very few miles on it.

Info on the model range: The 03's and up had a rear glass window that is MUCH better than a plastic rear window one should manually fold during the closing operation (a pain in the a$$). The 07's and up have a redesigned interior that's much nicer. The mid 2009's got a new motor that is better than the previous one and doesn't have an intermediate shaft bearing that sometimes fails in our cars and it has the supposedly wonderful new automatic transmission in it if you want an auto-shifter.

.... and as a personal favor for me and the other readers here, and for the basic respect of the written word ... please capitalize the first words in your sentences. It makes your posts easier to read and I will personally guarantee that it will increase your income potential in years to come. Really. :D

I have owned many mustangs in the past, 1968 GT (302), 1990 GT convert, 1995 GT convert, 1999 V6 convert... So I can speak to the comparisons pretty well.

With that being said, there is no comparison. They are totally different cars. While the acceleration is great in the Porsche, it is not designed for 0-60 leave rubber at the red light kind of driving. However, you will find that it is quicker than your V6 mustang. Where you will REALLY feel it is in the handling. I never really understood the saying "handles like it is on rails" until I drove this car. The brakes are also considerably better.

As for your questions....
1) You don't HAVE to run premium, but there is no reason not to. If you don't think you can afford it, then you can't afford the car period. You are looking at maybe $5 more per fill up from empty to run premium. Better detonation, better performance. I go so far as to only run tier-1 gas.

2) Maintenance is more expensive. Not unbelievable, but more. Part of the reason is in the design. Your mustang takes maybe 5 1/2 qrt of oil. The Boxster takes almost twice that, and you need to run synthetic. That being said, my last oil change was $85.00, and Porsche's recommendation is every 12,000 miles (most do it more often though). You have to bleed the brake fluid every two years regardless of mileage. None of this is bank breaking, escpecially if you are at all a DYI'er. I am not.

3) I don't know what your definition of "thrashing on it" is. No, I would not be dumping the clutch at every red light, and trying to get that second gear chirp. This is a bit more of a finesse car. You will find that the sound near 4,500 rpm is intoxicating and love to be in that zone. And the car loves to be there too. Common statement on this board is "drive it like you stole it", or "drive it like the doctor ordered".

4) The year is a touchy one. I wouldn't want anything earlier than an 03 for the glass window and glove box. Of course the top can be replaced with one that has glass. The IMS is another issue, there is a ton of debate, and will just say do research and make your own decision.

Whatever you do, get a PPI. Once you drive one all else will pale by comparison.

You just became one of my heroes! :D:cheers:

Reading you guys replies helped. I'm unwavered on obtaining my boxster, as I'm in need of another two door (can't stand being in a vehicle with four doors) and after being in an 07 I was sold, but I can't fork out 07 money, but can afford the 04 S or base 05/06. I'm also coming from an auto stang to a manual boxster ( as autos suck) so I won't be dumping the clutch and killing the tires. Basically need a great daily driver for college and a great track car for the summer. So premium gas, no prob. DIY maintenance, no prob (as I already run full synthetic in the mustang) and I guess a PPI would help spotting the ims failure. So hopefully I find the right one and enjoy driving with the top down and superb handling.

I think a boxster s is a great choice for you. However the $17K may be a problem. Pay a bit more, get a later model, preferably 2005 or newer. More HP, more efficient, better fuel milage, etc. Learn how to do much of the periodic maintenance yourselk and you will be a happy camper.

i read that there were issues with an 05/06 since they were redesigned boxster and new. thats why i stop at 04 or continue with 07, but an 07 (locally) i'm looking at 30K while 04 i'm looking at <17K lowest 13K all under 100K miles.

PPI spotting the ims failure? A ppi does not cover taking the engine apart to find a defective ims. The oil filter can be removed by the mechanic to check for metal(visual inspection plus if the metal is magnetic?). So if you find a Boxster that has had the ims replaced that would be a great benefit if it had been done as a preventive action.
Or else get a solid Boxster and have it replaced after you purchase it or else get the Ims Guardian which I did to let you know of an impending failure. I personally like the older Boxsters because you don't have to split the case to replace the ims. 2009 Boxsters and newer don't have the ims bearing. Read up on the various year Boxsters and failure levels. Double row bearings vs. single row etc and probability of failure of ims according to year. Don't rush into buying the first one you try. Make sure you get the options you want. PSM, heated seats, color etc. Not trying to scare you but it is important to get as much info as possible to make a sound decision....:)

Sorry. I would not recommend Boxster ownership to someone in college unless they also happened to be an excellent stock investor or trader on the side. You don't want to be all hat no cattle as they say in TX.

Case in point, I could have easily been able to own a Porsche in college but I quickly realized I would p1ssing away the time value of money that would have otherwise gone into the car. That means 10 year's worth of growth invested in companies like Apple, Genentech and Intel. Also, a Boxster or Carrera is a car that you have to have $5-10K liquid ready to go cash (ie parked money doing nothing for you) in the event of major repairs that often come in waves. And of course this is on top of $10K real life emergency cash fund. Obviously this a free country and you can do whatever you like with your money. But I would think twice about making the same mistake that every other young adult makes while it's the rare young person that defers instant gratification in the name of having a large investment portfolio within their first 10 years of working. <--- This will pay huge dividends during the course of the next 20 years of working. Boxster is a nice car but not worth giving up that once in a life time oppourtunity. You only have that 'time advantage of money' once in your life. The longer your money stays invested the more it will grow.

If you get one with traction control you can't hardly let it get away from you. If you don't have it, it's like anything else, you have to be able t drive and know when to keep your foot in it and steer out of trouble. I've had both. I prefer to have traction control but my 3.6 Boxster has no nannies, other that anti lock brakes.

Already considered that. Would be dumb to blow all my funds on a car, that's why I would like to stay with the 986 boxster. Already poured about 5k into the mustang, if that's any sign I would have to have 3x as much ready for the porsche. Did a few research for the car and I know what I'm getting into as far as "if" something were to break. Being in college as no affect on my finances as tuition exemption and all other scholarships/grants are more than enough. With that said, I feel I deserve a better car due to my hard work both education wise and financially. if i couldn't afford the boxster i wouldn't consider it at all, just saying. also my mindset is different from yours but similar, as in i love to save money until i get to the goal of spending what i saved on something i waited so long for, two years ago i wanted a vette, hated and kept saving, last year wanted a 2013 mustang GT, didn't like the driving feel, didn't finance it, the last 6 months, been wanting a boxster and i been looking into it and next spring plan on buying one. so instead of saving my money to invest in... i don't know what. i will just spend it on a upgrade of a vehicle.

also i hate traction control, pulled the fuse on my mustang because it didn't like me sliding when i wanted to, and pressing a button was getting annoying.

All the more reason NOT to put money into a Porsche or BMW or Merc or an Audi.

My point is not that you are in college and dealing with education expenses. Not at all. It is a very different point, that you have a huge luxury that most will never see:
the investor self-made millionaire 'two-for". What is that? Simple. 1) being in a position to be able to accept a higher level of investment risk because you are young, and 2) having the cold cash to act on it. You have both of these at your disposal now.

Large fortunes have been thrown out, never to be reclaimed, because those who could have taken advantage of both these things chose not to. The biggest mistake we make in educating young people today is that we do not teach people what can be done with money as investment. They only learn what it can do as consumption. And the next biggest mistake, and equally criminal, is that we allow young people to think that they need a large pile of money to begin the process of turning it into a mountain of money. Quiet the opposite, even if later in life you came by hefty sums of money, you could only replicate what you could have had as a young investor if you achieved an usually unattainable level of performance in your investments. Financially speaking, time is by far the most valuable asset you have now.

what your saying is invest my money instead of spending it... and i'm not that young. 23 is an experienced youngster... didn't think of getting a life lesson vs "hey this car kicks ass" as i expected. still, they don't teach investing in college, they teach pointless things like jazz, judo, and reading & critical thinking, plus alot more useless electives.

I say buy the car if it makes you happy , if you can wrench on it. having something that you really like when your young is much better than having it when your old . even if you have tons of cash when your old , it is not as much fun and you could die before then . I see lots of old timers who worked and saved there whole lives and then realize they are to old to enjoy what they worked so hard for . then they die or go into some home and their kids pilfer everything they worked for .

i told my friend/roommate that (who's an accountant) and would call me a dumb for even considering this car, he wants to buy his "first" sports car in his 30s, i have a sports coupe at 19 and working on a roadster at 23, next see if i can get a GT before 30 and a supercar before 40. but that's just a dream.

Being 23 is a fetus in investment years.

I was not taught in about investing in college either. Well sort of, I had an econ professor who basically ignored the syllabus and told us about the stocks he lost money on and those he made money on. Half the class paid absolutely no attention to any of it, they were too busy dreaming about 5.0 Mustangs or Acura NSX's.
Those of who did pay attention ran with it. See no one is ever going to teach you what you need to know to become financially wealthy. NEVER. They want you working for them, either the bank wants you owing them, or your boss wants you making just barely enough to never quit. But today you have this miracle invention that I never had called Wikipedia. What used to take me weeks, months if not years to figure out by asking in person, over the phone, digging through out-dated books, newspapers and magazines can now be learned/profited from in a matter of a few clicks - in real time. I would have been making six figures in highschool... probably spending it too. but at least the frontal lobe can rescue you by 25 so you stop being foolishly impulsive.

Here's an example. Tesla motors was trading at $30 last year. It recently went to $150. Your tax bill for selling that stake a year later? 15%. The commission you pay to the broker? As little as $5. -- As in you keep just about all of it. It's not about making that particular trade, its about understanding how it happened in the first place. These are things that everyone who ever wants to stop working for the bank or a boss who thinks they are expendable must learn but few ever do.

hmmm so, i should say.... buy some of fords stock, and hopefully when the 2015 mustang releases and succeeds, pull out with a profit.

nope. It means keeping your cash in cash. And not spending it on something that is only going to lead to more spending. In the interim learn the very basics of investing. Investing for dummies, read about Warren Buffett, go to wikipedia, talk to a friend whose in the investment business, just get started in some way. Stop talking to only young people who only care about Range Rovers and iPhones.

Don't invest a dime until you've covered that ground. And even then don't make any big moves. Then learn the difference between investing and trading(gambling/speculation). Buy 1 share here 1 share there. 1 ETF here 1 ETF there. Learn about the process. There is no "plan" for learngin to become wealthy from investment while young and avoiding consumption. It's the sum total of all your efforts.

^That there is more than enough to keep you busy. Remember when it comes to handling your money, you always want to be the smartest person in your group of friends, not the most conspicuous spender.

I can't speak for you personally because I don't know your financial situation, but I bought my boxster at 18 and have been in school since (22 now). No issues relating to school, no scratches, vandalism, etc.

I haven't once regretted it.

actually i have cheap ass friends who drive hondas and mazdas with flip phones, on the other hand i have the sports coupe/ pony car and a cousin with a s2000 and soon a carrera ( once he comes back from Ft benning). though i do prefer to have my money work for me, but until i find out how to make it work, then i might as well spend some, not all. also range rovers are overrated just like iphones. suburbans and samsung S4s is where it's at. shoot after i get my bachelors i would prefer to open my own car dealership which seems to be a good gamble, but everyone needs used/ new cars.

i did the stupid thing and spent too much money with my fellow soldiers on alcohol, food, and girls, came home only with enough money for a low mileage v6 mustang or a high mileage GT, took the v6 and been beating myself for buying it, and recently learn to love it knowing that mustangs can suprisingly handle. not great, but good enough to stay on a similar year miata... with a few upgrades.

Well Perfectlap you do have a point. I see both sides. I never started saving/investing money until I was 40 yo. I bought secondhand sports cars when I was in my 20's. Some were junk, some not so much. My first P car the Boxster I bought in my 60s'. No regrets because I did not want to be faced with big repair bills earlier in life associated with high end cars like the Porsche.

Each person has to find their comfort level in terms of how much they want to risk in terms of a major failure of their car. I won't get so upset in my stage of life if I have an Ims failure(but have the Ims Guardian installed). If I was 20 yo I likely would just park it until I had the cash together to get it running. I do not believe in car loans but that is just me. Every time I go to the indy shop I spend a $1k a visit. I cringe, my wife cringes but that for me is the price of admission. You do have a valid point Perfectlap about investing early but that was never in my mind at age 20! Each person has to make their own decision and find what they are comfortable with.....

just looked up e IMS guardian, is it simple to install or get installed. also any other info because i think the only concern i have about getting a boxster is the IMS failure.

I had it installed including the unit cost for $1k. You can buy the unit for around $400 or less and install it yourself. Mind you we pay more for everything up here . It was of a big concern for me as well. I sleep easier because of it and I do not like installing parts until they break. Many would disagree with my philosophy on the latter....

saw it on the LN engineering website for 131.00 problem is finding someone in my area to work on a porsche. and your not the only one who believes in installing parts until they break.

I wouldn't worry about doing anything IMS-related off the bat..... Chances are pretty slim that it will actually break. Wait til it needs a clutch, then get in there if you must.

Also, be aware of which cars are covered by the IMS class action settlement, it could be helpful in your buying decision.

It's your money dude, but I see a lot of dying boxsters for sale cheap because someone bought them without really understanding the upkeep costs and got caught by a wave of issues that wound up crippling the car.

Miata's on the other hand, will be more fun on the track and on the road if you stay legal (because you can actually drive them at 10/10ths), cost 1/4 as much to buy and even less to maintain with all the parts available.

Exactly what I ended up buying when I first gave serious though to buying a Porsche. For the grand sum of what my Boxster Fabspeed exhaust alone runs I instead bought a Miata project that cost peanuts to upgrade and maintain. Hmm... whole car that is a fixture at track days and autocross or an exhaust minus the whole car? Tough choice. But difference was I didn't need to drive my toy car every day. Had that been the case I probably would have gone with an older Japanese car. Some of those like the Civic Si and MR2 are very reliable and make for capable autocross/track cars with better crash-worthyness than the Miata. If I were in that position today, I'd probably go with an S2000. Most mechanics can work on them, they don't have complicated preventative maintenace like a Boxster, they're a fairly rare car and with that type of engine, it can run for decent fuel economy in normal traffic.

actually i haven't seen that many cheap boxsters, most are dealership certified or owned by someone who garage kept them and only drove them on the weeked (mostly the S). i would consider a miata or a civic Si but everyone in my area has them. an S2000 on the other hand is OK, but i prefer to avoid being a copycat. also considered a Z3/4 but they lack a truck space, and getting called for mobilization or deployments, i would need some kind of truck for my bags and gear.

If its not evident or hasn't been mentioned yet, hold off on your purchase a few months. Roadster prices should tend to go down in the winter when they cannot be driven with the top down. I'm not sure the price difference but you might be able to score a good deal on an even later year car for what you'd pay for an 05 now in the fall.

And speaking of winter driving, buying the Hardtop is never a bad idea -- it transform the car for the winter.