Maintanance costs for a Boxter 986?

[78F350]

If you look through the forums (as you probably have already), the $2k is a fair average. Sometimes you can go a year with just an oil change, the next year it's an AOS, suspension links, and top motor. It's a $60,000 car that you can pick up for under $10k. You are still maintaining the $60,000 car.
You can mitigate the cost quite a bit if you can do most of the work yourself. They are different from working on a Ford/Chevy/Honda, but not any more difficult.

[Porsche9]

In the case of any Porsche there is no such thing as free (or cheap) puppy.

Keep in mind that a 986 Boxster even with the maintenance costs is great bang for the buck. If you only want to spend $6,500 on a Boxster including maintainance over the next couple of years then it's not for you. I can't even suggest another Porsche as they will certainly cost in total as much of more then the Boxster but not be as good. A 944, which the Boxster replaced, is going to cost you as much for one in similar condition to the Boxster. A Miata may be a great alternate option but for the extra cost of maintanance the Boxster offers alot more.