Does Boxster mean you couldn't afford a 911?

[Paul]

My 1998 Boxster with its 3.6 looks like a piece of crap, so much fun to blow off 911s.

[particlewave]

I bought the 986 because I wanted a convertible sports car and it's hands down the best looking and handling convertible sports car out there.
The 996 cab just doesn't look right, IMO.

I'm currently shopping 996's (non-cab) because I've got the bug and my DD is getting to be a pain @ 180,000 miles. Price never had anything to do with it.

[tnoice]

Unfortunately the idiots out there would tell you, oh you bought a 911, you should have bought a turbo. It is a never ending process of you should haves.

[pony13ca]

Originally Posted by particlewave

I bought the 986 because I wanted a convertible sports car and it's hands down the best looking and handling convertible sports car out there.
The 996 cab just doesn't look right, IMO.

I'm currently shopping 996's (non-cab) because I've got the bug and my DD is getting to be a pain @ 180,000 miles. Price never had anything to do with it.

+1 I like the looks of the 986 better too. And since a convertible sports car was what I had to have....But I haven't had anybody ask me why I didn't get a 911 or other Porsche. Comments about the car have been positive.

[Giller]

Originally Posted by BoxsterLS376

I've made a couple of asshats feel pretty good about themselves lately, most notably a 2009 Carrera 4S convertible...

NOTHING shocks a 911 owner more then when your Boxster LEAVES THEM FOR DEAD!!!

If I'm quite honest, and I'm sure this will piss a few folks off around here. It all comes down to your style and what you are looking for... Regarding 986 models, Base model Boxsters are really nothing special at all, could they be called poofsters or hairdressers cars or whatever, sure. Doesn't bother me at all. I mean have you ever driven a 2.5L Boxster? My grandmother can push her wheelchair faster then those damn things move.

Boxster S is a slightly different beast and while we all know they are quick and do everything really well, they are not overly special either. Great little cars when running, still underpowered.

Can you beat them bang for the buck, IMHO NO.

Could they all use about 350~ HP, YES. 480 would be even better

New Boxsters however are starting to learn... 315 HP is not bad but you will still get beaten by the higher end models, ie. the Cayman and 911. WHY? BECAUSE THEY PLANNED IT THAT WAY.

You don't buy a Boxster for its HP or straight line speed. That's what the North American Muscle is all about. You get a Boxster as it is a complete package of good HP, amazing handling, great looks and best dollar per smile ratio out there.
That being said, it still an extremely quick car off the line and more than one needs for street driving.

[flouese]

I feel slighted. Nobody mentioned the 911's younger brother; the 912. I own a 66 912 that is a scream to drive. It might not have the power or prestige that the 911 has, however, it nicely filled the gap for a guy who lived on enlisted mans pay for a whole lot of years in the Navy. It was my daily driver when I lived in Sardinia. Nothing better than "driving it like you stole it" through the mountains.

BTW
Go NAVY, beat ARMY!

[kk2002s]

I bought my Boxster because I couldn't financially justify buying a 911 or a Cayman. I probably could have but it would have been a really stupid purchase decision.

I didn't really want a convertible.

I just wanted a Porsche sports car.

It's been over 3 years with the Boxster and no regrets at all (Except not using it enough). Love putting the top down and driving.

I have come to the conclusion in that period that a 986 Boxster S or Base maybe the best sports car value for driving enjoyment there is - PERIOD

I still want a 911 hard top and maybe some day that will happen but as said before, having both would be the ticket

[cas951]

I've had my 944 turbo since 1993 and still have one today. A Boxster owner since 2006 and today I have two (986 and 987). Ive had this comments directed at me several times over the years and I'm sick of it. For the most part I just say I can't justify the cost of a GT2/GT3 or a 911 turbo so I bought the next best car the brand makes. The last time I was approached I gave the individual this comment.
Porsche pecking order and I walked away. No offense to the 996 owners here but at that time it was the only response I could think of and it just came out.

[steved0x]

I like the 911s and the 996 - my friend Ed has a Red 996 with the GT3 aero kit and it is a sweet machine and he is fast as heck on the track with it. He let me drive it once and the extra horsepower was a major kick in the pants when I hit the gas. For me it was always the Boxster, mid engine 2 seat was what I was looking for. (When I was first looking the air cooled 911s were still reasonable and some were priced about the same or even a little lower than some of the Boxsters I was looking at...)

I've been lucky in that I haven't had any 911>Boxster type of talk my way - where I get it is when I am at autocross and gridded up next to a BRZ or something and they are beating my times.... They really seem to like that

On the track, I really like passing 911's, especially the older ones.

[rexcramer]

No. It means I can't afford an Aston Martin DB9.

[BIGJake111]

It means you can't afford the Cheesecake Factory.

[RandallNeighbour]

I'm with KK2000s on this question. I bought my Boxster because I wanted a Porsche and enjoyed my mid-engine Toyota MR2, but frankly, I originally wanted and still want a 911 coupe. Always have. I just did not have the patience to keep saving my money.

The Boxster has been a great learning experience and I got 3 years of DE's in it before I decided not to track it any longer. I will sell it when I can afford to buy a CPO 991S and not negatively impact my retirement lifestyle plans. No significant regrets other than dumping $42,000 and counting into what's become the most expensive 1997 2.5 Boxster I've found so far.

[eicheldp]

I have always wanted a Boxster ever since I saw my first one back in 1999. We finally reached a point in our lives where I was able to indulge myself and I found an 04S, which I fell in love with. The car is everything I hoped it would be.
I look at my car as the first entry into my future Porsche stable. I haven't decided which is next, but it is fun looking.

[Chuck W.]

I've had 911s. Great cars. I like the Boxster because it is smaller, more nibble and mid engine.

[Perfectlap]

I find that whole line of thinking (that the Boxster is settling for less) amusing in that its a product of Porsche's own making. So you can't really blame the uniformed passerby who parrots it. Take any other roadster from any other brand and no one is saying that you are settling by buying that model. I've never heard someone say to a Z4 driver "oh you couldn't afford an M series", never heard someone say to a TT roadsters driver say "oh you couldn't afford S whatever", nor did I ever hear someone say to an SLK driver "oh can't afford the S class bla bla bla". Even the little Z3 when it came out didn't get any grief whatsoever in fact it got nothing but compliments. It really is amazing to me how that whole forced hierarchy by Porsche was hard-wired into the sports car masses and more amazingly how they went along with it without realizing this was all part of the Porsche plan. Brilliantly done when you think about it.
I always say to friends this is the best roadster Porsche will sell you and perhaps the best that has ever been built by any brand. But don't think you can buy one for $10K and you've beaten the game. Can't have your cake and eat it too...there's nothing inexpensive about owning a Porsche modern or antique. If you can afford to maintain a Boxster you can afford to buy a 911, maybe not just the very newest ones. But smart money lets those depreciate by virtue of excessive mass production vs. the shrinking pool of second hand Porsche buyers.

[mikefocke]

Why is the Boxster/Cayman one of Car and Driver's 10 best for the 11th year in a row? The 911 isn't.

[jb92563]

I bought the Boxster because I wanted a second car and then discovered that for the $15K I budgeted to spend I could get a new KIA or any number of other crappy looking square box shaped boring cars, or I could buy a sexy, seasoned Porsche.

Ya baby.....that was the easiest car buying decision I ever made.

Unfortunately the Porsche addiction has grown on me and now I also lust after this.


The price is probably out of reach, and replacement parts too pricey for a fixer-DIY.

So I have been considering this instead, out of a salvaged Boxster.


So Yaa, I bought the Boxster because I could not justify spending big bucks on this new Porsche.

[JayG]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

Why is the Boxster/Cayman one of Car and Driver's 10 best for the 11th year in a row? The 911 isn't.

there is a MSRP limit IIRC

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by JayG

there is a MSRP limit IIRC

C&D should screw with Porsche and set the limit $1 above the base 991



I think we need more downforce!!

[amagalla]

Originally Posted by BrokenLinkage

Who is Jeremy Clarkson?

no one...now.