"poor man's" Porsche...a RANT.

[M31]

I've have had only one negative comment in the 5 years since I got mine. The guy said he wouldn't waste his money on a Boxster when a 911 was superior. I agreed that the 911 is the pinnacle of German engineering and asked him what year his 911 is and he told me he didn't own one. I asked him what car he drove and he told me a Dodge Caravan so I took the high road by saying the Caravan was the pinnacle of American engineering and that they were definitely chick bait with the back seat for groceries and stuff. He had been giving me advice on how to drive my 986 up to that point but strangely clammed up after that.

[imon_2nd]

The whole "Poor Man's Porsche" business is funny. Ever since the 918 Spyder came out, 99.9% of all Porsche owners have been relegated to the "Poor" category. Given that most of us don't know a 918 owner, who cares what they think?

[MWS]

Originally Posted by M31

I've have had only one negative comment in the 5 years since I got mine. The guy said he wouldn't waste his money on a Boxster when a 911 was superior. I agreed that the 911 is the pinnacle of German engineering and asked him what year his 911 is and he told me he didn't own one. I asked him what car he drove and he told me a Dodge Caravan so I took the high road by saying the Caravan was the pinnacle of American engineering and that they were definitely chick bait with the back seat for groceries and stuff. He had been giving me advice on how to drive my 986 up to that point but strangely clammed up after that.

This made me chuckle...and pretty on point with pinnacle of American engineering.

[MWS]

BTW, I also own a v8 Audi S5, and not once have I been accused of driving a poor mans R8. Maybe it's something about the look of the 986...sometimes I feel like sticking on a bunch of "awful" body kit mods (just kidding).

But seriously, how long do we have to wait until the 986 reaches the "collector" status of the much ridiculed 914?

[seningen]

Originally Posted by MWS

BTW, I also own a v8 Audi S5, and not once have I been accused of driving a poor mans R8. Maybe it's something about the look of the 986...sometimes I feel like sticking on a bunch of "awful" body kit mods (just kidding).

But seriously, how long do we have to wait until the 986 reaches the "collector" status of the much ridiculed 914?

There are just too many Boxsters relative to 914's and they certainly don't rust away as quickly :-)

I don't think the Boxster will ever be a collectors car, but it's a great platform and I love mine.

Mike

[Xpit77]

Hell I thought a 944 was the poor mans Porsche. Had one loved it.Now I have another poor mans Porsche the 986. I`m so hard done by.

[Ben006]

I think they made too many for that :/

I had only one bad comment for my boxster... A kid, with four other guys, in dad's Escalade, told me "Boxster is gay, get a 911". I gave him my best smile and left while laughing a them.

[rexcramer]

No disrespect was meant towards the rest of the marque's line-up. It was my, perhaps poorly made, point of what this company has evolved in to. I would happily drive anyone of the offerings. And snooty 911 owners need to be reminded of how the success of the Boxster helped bring the financially troubled company back to profitability.

[Porsche9]

I've had many Porsches and not one of them was not a real Porsche. If someone doesn't think a Boxster is a real Porsche it very liking they know very little about Porsche.

[jb92563]

I feel like a Boxster is really a poor mans race car.

When I get into it and drive I just keep on thinking, this is not an expensive road car, its a friggen race car that people can drive onto a track as is and have a perfectly good race.

Then I wonder why all the other cars I have driven now feel like junk and wonder what lame designers were hired to produce such crappy handling cars and that adding gobs of HP to these to make them "Sporty" just makes them more dangerous and even worse handling.

My Response to "Poor Mans Porsche" ...I would laugh and keep the secret to myself, but so far no one has said that, and they think Im lying when I tell them the car is 15 years old and inexpensive, so I stopped saying that and let them assume I paid $70k and bought it new.

[DWBOX2000]

There is a good write up on this in the off topic discussion on pelican. Take a look, you'll appreciate your car even more.

[Deserion]

I've gotten the "that's not a real Porsche" comment behind my back, but the originator likely didn't even own a car.

Did get a "gay car" comment once on the way back from a range trip when I let my friend drive it. His witty retort was one for the record books.

One time I had the 964 out recently I waved to a Boxster driver, and he waved back enthusiastically, sort of in a "Holy crap a 911 owner acknowledged me!" sort of way.

[BIGJake111]

The not a real Porsche's stems from some sort of insecurity, I can see someone saying that about a badge engineered Toregue with a vr6 VAG engine. (Butchered the spelling on that)

Although I would still say that's a real Porsche graced by the Porsche engineeres.

But I don't see how anyone could look at a car with a flat 6 anywhere behind the seats, ignition on the left, and such crisp handling isn't a Porsche lol.

There is just no argument to it, at that point I guess only the CGT and maybe GT3 are Porsche's, idk because what's more Porsche than a flat 6 anywhere behind the seats.

[dghii]

I'm use to it.
Owned a few fiat spiders...not an Alfa!
Owned a Miata...after Italian sports cars, the Miata was heaven on earth to drive and own, yet the comments of it being a girls car...
Bought my Box S. Best car I've ever owned.....I've educated a few about what a great car this is. Heck, a few guys I know that bought 996's didn't even realize that the Box basically has the same engine, just turned to face the right way!

I just don't care..never really did.

[MWS]

Regarding pecking order, I once asked a German colleague abut the rules on the Autobahn...he responded "There is an unwritten rule that all drivers MUST adhere to; VW's MUST move right for an Audi, Audis MUST move right for Mercedes, and all MUST move right for a Porsche." As a proud Boxster owner, I had to ask if this included Boxsters, to which he replied "Well, there is some latitude..."

[Timco]

Couldn't possibly care less about someone's dislike, negative opinion, or bash of my Porsche.

100x's more exotic than 90% of what's (sometimes barely) on the road. If you're keeping up a Porsche, you're doing something right.

[fridsten]

I used to own a 924 and would occasionally get the remarks that it's not a real Porsche.
A friend of mine pointed out that, well, if you own a 911 or perhaps a 928, you might have the right to make that claim, but if you're driving a Volvo, you should just STFU!

Most other Porsche owners are actually great in their view of the 924.

[BIGJake111]

I have to say, these are chicks cars.

I impress way more girls with my car than men. What a shame.

(Speaking of which as of today my girlfriend is unmotivatedly in the market for a 986!)

[Giller]

Interesting....for all the posts and views - very few actual examples where anyone has insulted our cars. We all seem to be worried that it's happening - but in reality, it appears it's mostly in our heads.

We just need to relax and enjoy our cars and not be so worried what others might think.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Giller

Interesting....for all the posts and views - very few actual examples where anyone has insulted our cars.

Car enthusiasts rarely hold back their opinions. Here are a few direct quotes about the Boxster said to my face;

"Oh, that's a girls car"
"A Boxster? You should have bought a 911"
"An overpriced Miata"
"He races a Boxster" to a group of 911 racers
"I will never race another hair dressers car" said by another Boxster racer

But as I said, the comments about the 996 were even worse;

"You bought a 996? Are you fudking crazy?"
"The 996 is a complete piece of crap. Oh, is that the car you just bought? ... Sorry dude."
"The 996 is what ruined Porsche"
"You need to sell the 996 and either get a 997 or an air cooled 911."