2002 With 28,000 Miles - Pricing

[Brucelee]

The original poster is silent as the grave!

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

The original poster is silent as the grave!

No I'm not - I just had a busy day.

My friend corrected me - he said the car only has 24k on the clock. It passed the PPI with flying colors, so he is closing the deal tomorrow. I hope to get off work early enough to take him to pick it up.

The car I'm considering is a 98 with 17k and a hardtop. The consensus on the price is between $18,500 and $19,000. If my friend can buy a nice 02 for $26,000, that gives me hope that I can pick up the 98 for a good price. The 02 has the upgraded interior and bigger engine after all.

I'm talking to the mechanic who replaced the engine in the 98 tonight. I need to get a better feel for the circumstances that led to the replacement.

I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the feedback - even if some of it was off topic.

[Perfectlap]

my advice to you would be hold off on this Boxster purchase.
Acrue some more capital and buy at least a 2000 S.
In two years time a low mileage 2000S - 2003S will be an outstanding deal.

I wanted three things in the following order of importance

1- S power (this cannot be over emphasized).
2. low miles (ditto, there are allot of former garage queens out there to buy)
3. my favorite color.

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

my advice to you would be hold off on this Boxster purchase.
Acrue some more capital and buy at least a 2000 S.
In two years time a low mileage 2000S - 2003S will be an outstanding deal.

I wanted three things in the following order of importance

1- S power (this cannot be over emphasized).
2. low miles (ditto, there are allot of former garage queens out there to buy)
3. my favorite color.

I considered the Boxster S, and wouldn't rule it out if a nice one came along. Unfortunately the nice ones seem to be $8-10k above my price range right now. If I buy the 98, I could always sell it and buy an S later.

Here's my thinking: To buy a Boxster now, I need to sell my 94 Miata with 118k miles on it. If I buy a Boxster S in two years, I will still need to sell the Miata, and it will have depreciated more than it has now. If I buy the 98 Boxster now and decide to sell it in two years to buy the S, it will probably have depreciated about the same amount as my Miata would. So, instead of selling a 14 year old Miata in 2008, I would have to sell a 10-year old Boxster. If I drive the cars at the same rate (approximately 11k miles per year), I would be trying to sell a Boxster with 40k on it versus a Miata with 138k on it.

So, under this scenario, I would enjoy the 98 Boxster for 2 years and probably be only a little worse off financially from a depreciation standpoint. Of course, operation and maintenance costs on the Boxster are higher as well, but that comes with the territory.

While it is true that the S has more power, the 98 Boxster is significantly quicker than a 94 Miata. So, I would be experiencing a significant upgrade. If I should need more power later, I will have something to look forward to. Also, I think I might be tempted to treat an S more gingerly and not drive it as much. In my view, I would rather buy a garage queen than sell one.

Of course you guys are more experienced than me with these issues, so I am willing to modify my point of view. I haven't spent any money yet and I am still in a research mode.

[Perfectlap]

[QUOTE=KevinH1990]
While it is true that the S has more power, the 98 Boxster is significantly quicker than a 94 Miata. So, I would be experiencing a significant upgrade. If I should need more power later, I will have something to look forward to. Also, I think I might be tempted to treat an S more gingerly and not drive it as much. In my view, I would rather buy a garage queen than sell one.

[QUOTE]

my last convertible was also a 94 miata (lots of upgrades). The 98 Boxster is a 2.5? (I think 2000 was the first year with a 2.7 in a non-S) My Miata had some mods and it was 150 HP the 2.5 Boxster engine is not quiet 200 hp but a bigger and heavier car. For the money I think my Miata was not really a huge step down in the hanlding and acceleration department and that's comparing a 1.8 Miata to a 3.2 Boxster.

But I hear your concerns about a depreciating Miata. I made sure to make mods at bargain prices and it worked out in the end. I sold the little bullet proof autocross favorite with 110K miles for $7,000 in Nov. 2004. And had offers for more. I stole it for $5K and added another $4500 in mods after owning it for 5 years. If the S is out of your reach I would urge you to buy at least the 2.7
lots of redesign to the engine beginig in 2000 after complaints on some 2.5's.

I'm not sure how the 2nd hand s2000's are selling but I highly recommend that car to hold you over until you step into the BoxsterS. I not sure I would have ever sold the S2000 if I had. Its like the Miata: bulletproof, nice gearbox, great handling (engine sits behind the front shock mounts), and good resale.
The most knowledgeable sports car guy I know had a BoxsterS, now has a GT3 and decided to pick up an S2000 as his daily driver. He'll probably be selling the S2000 for the CaymanS.

[98Boxster98]

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

I considered the Boxster S, and wouldn't rule it out if a nice one came along. Unfortunately the nice ones seem to be $8-10k above my price range right now. If I buy the 98, I could always sell it and buy an S later.

Here's my thinking: To buy a Boxster now, I need to sell my 94 Miata with 118k miles on it. If I buy a Boxster S in two years, I will still need to sell the Miata, and it will have depreciated more than it has now. If I buy the 98 Boxster now and decide to sell it in two years to buy the S, it will probably have depreciated about the same amount as my Miata would. So, instead of selling a 14 year old Miata in 2008, I would have to sell a 10-year old Boxster. If I drive the cars at the same rate (approximately 11k miles per year), I would be trying to sell a Boxster with 40k on it versus a Miata with 138k on it.

So, under this scenario, I would enjoy the 98 Boxster for 2 years and probably be only a little worse off financially from a depreciation standpoint. Of course, operation and maintenance costs on the Boxster are higher as well, but that comes with the territory.

While it is true that the S has more power, the 98 Boxster is significantly quicker than a 94 Miata. So, I would be experiencing a significant upgrade. If I should need more power later, I will have something to look forward to. Also, I think I might be tempted to treat an S more gingerly and not drive it as much. In my view, I would rather buy a garage queen than sell one.

Of course you guys are more experienced than me with these issues, so I am willing to modify my point of view. I haven't spent any money yet and I am still in a research mode.

I believe your logic is sound as any. I have a 98 Boxster bought used and I'm happy with it. I wanted a car that I would drive and not become too obsessed with how pretty and clean it was (okay, so I struggle with the second part.) I also wanted a fun car that I could still use to run errands that might require me to go to the not so great parts of town and not worry about it. I tried out the Toyota MR2 and Mazda Miata but for whatever reason, it just didn't get my blood boiling and visually neither are satisfying. For me, $8 to $10k is significant at this point in my life. I lay no claims to being the world's greatest driver and I don't want to fall into the trap of the poor carpenter blaming his tools. The 98 Boxster possesses the great handling of a Porsche and I need to master control of that before complaining that I don't have enough power. Sure, I'm disappointed in the launch but it's a great car in traffic, dodging oblivious SUV, minivan, and pickup drivers that dominate the roads I drive. I get a kick out of driving in 2nd or 3rd gear around town, top down, sun shining down on me. I enjoy taking it out in the country experiencing the sights and sounds. Underpowered as it is, I still find roads where I can give it enough gas to quicken my heart. The driver enjoyment is there for me right now with the 98.

[99-Boxster-MK]

Originally Posted by 98Boxster98

I believe your logic is sound as any. I have a 98 Boxster bought used and I'm happy with it. I wanted a car that I would drive and not become too obsessed with how pretty and clean it was (okay, so I struggle with the second part.) I also wanted a fun car that I could still use to run errands that might require me to go to the not so great parts of town and not worry about it. I tried out the Toyota MR2 and Mazda Miata but for whatever reason, it just didn't get my blood boiling and visually neither are satisfying. For me, $8 to $10k is significant at this point in my life. I lay no claims to being the world's greatest driver and I don't want to fall into the trap of the poor carpenter blaming his tools. The 98 Boxster possesses the great handling of a Porsche and I need to master control of that before complaining that I don't have enough power. Sure, I'm disappointed in the launch but it's a great car in traffic, dodging oblivious SUV, minivan, and pickup drivers that dominate the roads I drive. I get a kick out of driving in 2nd or 3rd gear around town, top down, sun shining down on me. I enjoy taking it out in the country experiencing the sights and sounds. Underpowered as it is, I still find roads where I can give it enough gas to quicken my heart. The driver enjoyment is there for me right now with the 98.

Very well said.... I have a 99, non-S and love the car.. Would I want more power, sure, do I want to pay 10K for it no ehehhe

I will probably get a new 2005/06 in a few years when they start coming off lease, but for now I am more then happy with my ride.

Mike

[denverpete]

Kevin,

It really sounds to me like you've got a good plan and I'm sure you'll find a vehicle you will truly enjoy. I wouldn't worry too much about the S, although it would probably hold its value better.

I love my 99. I love the way it looks top up or down, the sound as you punch through 4000 RPMs, and most definately the way it handles.

More power? Sure, I suppose that'd be nice - but it wouldn't change all those things I already love about the car. If you got an S, you'd probably still want more power - or haven't you noticed all the talk about superchargers and engine swaps? That ain't just the non-S crowd!

Can't wait to see what you get!

[Brucelee]

Sorry, I mislead. I meant the fellow that posted the off topic issue on service reliability.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

No I'm not - I just had a busy day.

My friend corrected me - he said the car only has 24k on the clock. It passed the PPI with flying colors, so he is closing the deal tomorrow. I hope to get off work early enough to take him to pick it up.

The car I'm considering is a 98 with 17k and a hardtop. The consensus on the price is between $18,500 and $19,000. If my friend can buy a nice 02 for $26,000, that gives me hope that I can pick up the 98 for a good price. The 02 has the upgraded interior and bigger engine after all.

I'm talking to the mechanic who replaced the engine in the 98 tonight. I need to get a better feel for the circumstances that led to the replacement.

I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the feedback - even if some of it was off topic.