Looking in to getting a Box...

[haninman]

Well since I gave my 2003 Audi A4 1.8t to my little sister, I'm looking forward to getting into a new car.

I'm looking at two cars (narrowed down from like 15): The boxster and the S2000. Both are excellent car in all their rights, but I've owned a Porsche before and I know the feeling of owning one- although it was a beat up one that I had to restore. Anyways, the S2000 provide best bang for the buck performance and looks sleek as well. The Porsche has the low-end grunt (the S2000 has no torque what-so-ever.

Only thing is, I heard that the Boxster can be very expensive to do routine maintenance like an oil change at a dealer can cost 150+ dollars. With those kinds of figures, I'm a little scared to step into the boxster. The 944 was cheap, but replacing a water pump costed 1300 including new belts, tensioners, and rollers.

What should I do? Let me know some of your maintenance procedures and the costs to maintain the cars.

[bmweuro]

Boxster should have a better resale and there is nothing like the sound of a Porsche at 6500 RPM. I di a lot of reseach before I bought my '99. The '99 and newer seem to be less problem-matic.

[Ad Sach]

re: "An oil change at a dealer can cost 150+ dollars" - on the Boxster S that is 13qts of synthetic oil. At $5/qt that is $65 for oil + filter + labor. This happens every 15,000 miles.

Repair costs are reportedly a little less on the Boxster than the 944.

Over time, the difference in Gas mileage between an S2000 and a Boxster is likely to be larger than the difference in maintenance costs.

I liked the S2000 fine, but the handling, top down air motion, exterior styling, real roll hoops, interior fit and finish, etc. just made the Boxster a better choice for me.

After driving an A4, you might find the interior of the S2000 a little too plastic/japanese. You might find the Boxster more familiar- same air conditioner unit and a sister 5-speed, as well as other relays, etc shared between the cars. Audi produces the most luxurious interiors I have ever seen, so having a family resemblance is good!

I'd buy my Boxster S again in a heartbeat - 2 yrs, 33K and still in love.

re: "nothing like the sound of a Porsche at 6500 RPM" - try the S2000 at 8000 RPM, or the Z06 at 6500 RPM - those are good sounds too!

[Stryke]

Only two corrections:

1. 6-speed, not 5, and
2. Lexus makes the nicest interiors.

[Pilot2519j]

I don't agree with your Lexus choice I believe that the Audi interiors are much nicer and better made than the Lexus. The attention to detail and the workmanship is superior. My last car before the Boxster was 2001 S-4 and that interior was the most luxorious yet, then I got for my wife the All Road 2004 and that interior was even posher. Supposedly the A-8 is even better made.

[Ad Sach]

re: "Lexus makes the nicest interiors."

Lexus dealerships do such a great job sucking up to customers I'm sure they can convince them they make "the nicest interiors."

BTW - I've got no dog in the fight, never owned an Audi or a Lexus. These days we have an 01 BMW 530i(w/angel eyes) and an 02 Boxster S(daily driver). Both cars are keepers .