Drove a 2007 S today...

[dghii]

As I mentioned in my original post, not pissing on 987's at all. I just wanted to compare and contrast.
Funny thing's I noticed in the newer car....
1. Still had foam blowing out vents, at least mine seems to have run out of foam at this point!
2. Although the 987 interior has a very nice look, Porsche continues to use that soft touch finish on trim. This car had a somewhat chewed up door sill and a few other spots. Not bad and overall the interior was in great shape, especially the seats. I wish the trim was made of something more robust to everyday use.
3. TPMS...Not interested in this feature at all. Seems like something that will simply be unreliable or need replacement at some point.
4. Car felt bigger. Not so big that it was hard to get use to, but when I got back in my 986 this afternoon, I really noticed the difference.

Here's the thing...The first time I drove a Boxster, a 20K mile 1999 model in 2001, I liked it but it really didn't blow me away. I had been driving a 99 M Roadster that I had just sold.

A few years later, 2005 or so, I test drive a 2003 S. I didn't make it more that a half mile or so before I thought "Holy crap, this is fun and I want one!" It took me 3 years before I bought my current car. It still blows me away and puts a smile on my face.

So far, I haven't had that same feeling from any newer cars I drove, including the one the other day. I just don't see the newer car being $10K better. YMMV.

[10/10ths]

...."Bashing" intended. I do NOT mean to come across as "bashing" the 987 or other newer cars either.

They ARE great cars.

They just are not better choices for ME and my biases on how things should work.

A couple of folks posted above about owning BOTH their 986 AND a late gen 981, that sounds good to me as well, but unfortunately, I'm not in that tax bracket.

One thing I wanted to comment on, is this notion that interior trim is so cheap and flimsy on the early Boxsters. I bought a 2004 "50 Years of 550 Spyder Edition" 986 Boxster S, and this car has a full leather interior. The only really flimsy trim is the coating on the door arm rest pocket covers, and the doors on the sun visors. All of the switch gear and everything else appears to be of high quality. I solved the arm rest door issue with $45 leather covers off eBay and am efforting a sun visor fix.

It wasn't until I met "Boxster Woody" in Bastrop, Texas that I discovered how cheap the early Boxster interiors were. I remember reading the complaints about that in "Road & Track" and such back in the late 90's, but FWIW, the 2003/4 Boxsters with the upgraded materials appear to be FAR better built.

So, if anyone out in forum world is searching for a 986, my two cents: Buy an '03/'04 model.

All the best!