Newbie Introduction and Question

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Slayer

Also a question about service, now that you brought it up - how often do you take your Boxsters in for service (not counting routine things like oil, tires, etc)?

Thanks again everyone.

I've had my boxster for 2 and half years. It has never had any problems and hasn't seen the dealer since it left the lot over 2 yrs ago. Hope this helps.

[RandallNeighbour]

Slayer, sounds like you are not financially strapped if you could afford a new one on your own.

Buy an 2004 S certified pre-owned Porsche warrantied Boxster if you can talk your mother into it. Then you'll have lots of warranty on the car and you will absolutely love driving it. If she's kicking in 30k or more, then buy a 2005 S and get the redesigned car, which I hear is much nicer all the way around with a zillion little improvements and a couple of big ones. If cash isn't your main concern, then shy away from the non-S cars as you'll wish you had bought an S later. Few don't regret buying the larger engine.

Just remember to be careful driving any sports car that is as small and powerful as a Boxster.

[Brucelee]

"Also a question about service, now that you brought it up - how often do you take your Boxsters in for service (not counting routine things like oil, tires, etc)?"

Porsche recommends service every 15K miles. What is done varies by mileage, from minor to major.

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Slayer, sounds like you are not financially strapped if you could afford a new one on your own.

Buy an 2004 S certified pre-owned Porsche warrantied Boxster if you can talk your mother into it. Then you'll have lots of warranty on the car and you will absolutely love driving it.

Slayer, this is great advice from Randall (as always!). If you really want to go with a 2004 there are actually new, untitled, cars out there. I would imagine the dealers are very motivated to get these off their lots/inventory. Let me know if you'd like help finding one. Most likely this will be an out-of-state purchase, FYI.

One thing you need to consider is having such a nice car in a college environment, is vandalism. So, make sure you have a very-very safe place to park your potential new $$$$$car!

[Ronzi]

15K or yearly for service. Just because I drive my car about 3k a year doesn't mean I can change the oil then forget about it for 5 yrs.

[denverpete]

Originally Posted by Ronzi

15K or yearly for service. Just because I drive my car about 3k a year doesn't mean I can change the oil then forget about it for 5 yrs.

Well, it works if after 5 years you take it in and get 5 straight oil changes.....

[Ronzi]

I tried that once with a Triumph Spitfire. When I bought it, it had 65,000 miles and no maintenance records. I changed the oil 13 times in two weeks, but it was still a piece of junk.

[denverpete]

Originally Posted by Ronzi

I tried that once with a Triumph Spitfire. When I bought it, it had 65,000 miles and no maintenance records. I changed the oil 13 times in two weeks, but it was still a piece of junk.

Ahhhh. I think I see your problem. Next time, change the oil once, then change the CAR after two weeks!

[Slayer]

Thanks

It sounds like it requires a little more attention than other cars, but as much as I love the Boxster, I don't think that will be a problem.

PS: Randall your answers are always very helpful. Kudos on your FAQ and guide as well

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by Adam

... It has never had any problems and hasn't seen the dealer since it left the lot over 2 yrs ago...

Hi,

BE CAREFUL not to rile the Boxster Gods... scary ******************** that...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[RandallNeighbour]

dbth, you do make a good point about a young man with parents who can afford it and the fact that he's a responsible high achiever.

However, I'd like to point out a couple of things that you didn't mention...
1) Doing this teaches the child little about the value of money and possessions. I've had numerous rich kid friends who made 4.0 averages in high school and would say things like, "Who gives a F**k? If I wreck this one, they'll buy me another." Yes, even the ones that look like little angels around their parents can turn into spoiled, arrogant brats the second they want to turn it on.
2) Giving a sports car with this much power to someone who's only been behind the wheel for 30 months is sheer stupidity to me. I'd never do it, no matter how wealthy I was. (Now before some of you hot rodding boys tell me you had a Chevelle or a Vette in high school, stop and think about traffic when you were a teen compared to today!)

I don't have kids, but I've thought a lot about how I'd help them mow lawns or babysit when they were 12 or 13 and help them learn how to save for their own car when they turned 17 or 18... they'd have a great deal of pride of ownership, probably wouldn't trash it, and would also be paying their own insurance, fuel and maintenance on the car, or walk or ride a bike or the bus.

[Brucelee]

Randall,

You are def. on the right track. Your children (when you have them) will thank you some day. Of course, when they are teens, they will mostly just complain all the time!

See what you have to look forward to!

[RandallNeighbour]

Richard, I celebrate my 44th b-day next month. Wife is 48. We're not planning to have kids at all. But we do plan on retiring early and I plan on driving a Porsche the rest of my life

Others will have to enjoy my unexperienced parental advice!

[Brucelee]

Enjoy the dream!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Slayer]

Very good points about spoiled rich kids. I hate it when people get things and take them for granted, or act like they're better than everyone else just because they have an M3 when they're 16.

Luckily, I wasn't brought up this way. To be honest, I wouldn't view my family as "rich," and I wouldn't say we are too different from anyone else. My mom isn't putting in too much money for this one, and I'm paying for all other car related costs. I refuse to be the snobby spoiled kid who is unappreciative and a general a-hole. I just enjoy Porsche like you guys

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by dbth

Good points Randall!
However,since the parents are fairly wealthy , the young man will always have a different perspective on the value of money than the rest of the world.
But his chances of being an as*hole are about the same or less than the rest of society.
More will notice if he f*cks up , because higher visibility.Hopefully the parents have instilled the proper respect for all things ,material and otherwise.

As for the power of the car , very valid point , and I hope he doesn't take driving lessons from donjuan143 from bahrain!

My teenage daughters will be getting used cars Hondas when they start driving in a few years.They will not drive my Boxster!!!
After they learn to drive , I will do my very best to get them into a used and safe BMW 3.

I agree, although Randall...saying "I don't have kids" kind of negates a lot of it. I've had 4, on my last one and he was bought a car....a '91 Mazda 323. Not pretty, not 'fast and furious' but very reliable, easy on fuel and cheap to keep. One before that got an '89 Ford Aerostar. If I could afford one, I still would not buy them anything fancier than that for a first car. I agree on letting them learn responsibility on something less than a Boxster, for instance. But if Slayer here is 21, he has hopefully already demonstrated his ability to be and act responsibly. I hope you get one, buddy! One thing to suggest would be a driving school geared toward safety so you can learn the Boxster's limits on a track, not under a semi!

[denverpete]

The worst part about getting a Boxster as your first vehicle is that it will also likely be the one you screw-up! That's not a great feeling when it's a vehicle as nice as a Porsche. Dents in your first POS just don't mean as much.

I just went out to my Boxster to run some errands and found the passenger side had huge scrapes along the rear quarter panel in front of the duct. It looks like someone nailed it last night while I was parked on a one-way street. No real dents, but it's scratched up something fierce!

I feel like I want to throw-up.

Anyone know where I just take it in Denver?

Why couldn't they have nailed my 95 Montero? I could give a crap about that vehicle.

[Slayer]

Actually, the driving school is a great idea. If I end up with a Boxster, I'm definitely going to do that, and I'm sure it would make my parents feel better about getting that vehicle. Plus I think it would be fun to take the Boxster out on the track and safely learn what it can do.

I also agree with starting on cars that are less of a risk. Until i was 19, I wasn't allowed to touch my mom's E420. Mostly I've driven cheaper SUV's.

Thanks for the continued replies. Did any of you guys have a nice car like this when you were younger? What did you think of the experience? Do you regret it in any way?

I know, lots of questions. I'm just trying to make sure I decide correctly - a car is a rather major decision!

[70Sixter]

Originally Posted by Slayer

Did any of you guys have a nice car like this when you were younger? What did you think of the experience? Do you regret it in any way?

I had a few: new 65 Mustang & 67.5 Firebird 400 in high school. Traded 'Bird for 66 912. Then new 914-6 after college in 70. Followed by a year-old 911 in 71. And the rest of my history does not qualify as "young." If your real question is "Do I regret blowing money on cars?" the answer is an emphatic NO! You'll never enjoy cars as much as when you are young - at least that is my story. If you have the means or have to stretch your finances a bit, then do it.

I've never had kids so that means a lot in terms of being able to waste money on cars, women, and booze. I know a lot of guys delay nice cars until they push families thru life and then become financially able to afford the finer things. I admire them for it. But for me the memories of the enjoyment and excitement of my early cars cannot be replaced. I wish my Box could do the same for me, but it does not. I love it, but not in the same way as I felt about cars at your age.

The only regrets I've had are the "ones that got away." The 57 T-Bird for $1795. A 289 Cobra for $6500. A 904 (with a 911 engine) for $6500. A Gullwing Mercedes for $30k.

Advice - go for it if you can and enjoy it.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

BE CAREFUL not to rile the Boxster Gods... scary ******************** that...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

lol..you're right...I better go knock on some wood.