Should I buy 2003 S or 2005 (986 or 987)?

[Bob O]

LOL.. you're going to confuse yourself to the point of going mad! Have you made a decision about WHAT you want.. in other words, among other things, which is more important to you: the mileage or the warranty?

When I searched for mine I went through much the same hair pulling as you. It helped a lot when I prioritized what I was looking for. Set a top price you're willing to pay, set a maximum amount of mileage you'll accept, what color do you want???, what options MUST it have and which are, well, optional. THEN go looking for the newest one you can find with your stated criteria. I don't know if it will work for you but it certainly did for me.

Bob

ps.. do you really want 18's? I know a lot (most?) people think they look better, and I do too, but....have you compared the ride with 18 vs 17's? Have you priced new tires 18 vs 17's? If you live in an area with a lot of potholes you should consider the greater possibility of wheel damage since you've got less sidewall height to protect the wheel when you hit one. Just something else to consider. Just mho.

Bob

[super66]

rahl.....reads like color is a big factor for you....I wouldn't forget that...options, warranties...all things you can fix....

but driving a grayish blue boxster wont replace the black one you want....I would never sacrifice color....I could have got a couple different boxsters but stuck to my white on black...passed up a couple white on blue and white on tans with tips....stuck to my colors and learned to drive stick.....

at the end of the day you have to look at it and love it....if the guy is a porsche freak, then I wouldn't worry as much get the one you want and dont look back, you will go crazy

[Sloan]

Based on the additional information you supplied, it seems like the CPO status of the '04 is the only real benefit of that car. The '03 has the preferred appearance, options, lower miles, etc.. I can also sense that you are more interested in / excited about the '03.

I'd suggest you get quotes for the best possible aftermarket warranty for the '03, compare the coverage to CPO coverage, and see if that helps with the decision. Also consider that the lower mileage '03 with all service records may be less likely to actually need serious work than the car with more miles and less known pedigree. I always keep in mind that even if service does not cost you $ out-of-pocket, it still takes your time and is usually a big hassle too.

As for the comments about the 18" wheels - I can tell you the car still rides very comfortably with the 18"'s, but the roads here are not too bad (worse than you might think though). So, unless you have real problems with the roads in your area or where you need to drive, I would not be too worried about that. I'm acutally surprised at how comfortable the ride is even with such low-profile tires.

[eqs]

This is my first post here. Is the 05 out of the question then?

[rahlstrom]

Originally Posted by eqs

This is my first post here. Is the 05 out of the question then?

I decided to go with the 2003 Boxster S. I will be picking it up tomorrow.

It ended up being $3K lower in price after negotiation than the 2005 and I really liked the features/color of the '03 much more than the '04. It has virtually everything I want with the exception of the Bose stereo but that is no longer a factor as I will be installing a Pioneer Avic D3 this weekend using the install kit mentioned elsewhere on this forum.

By the way, there is a $200 rebate from Pioneer on the AVIC through the end of April.

Sloan, super66 and Bob O hit the nail on the head in that when I really thought about which car excited me, the black on black '03 quickly came to the top! The '03 was also much easier to upgrade to the AVIC and I love gadgets.

Can't wait to get behind the wheel. I'll post some pictures once it's mine!

Thanks everyone for the great advice!

[Sloan]

Well rahlstrom, this is great news and I'm excited for you. Please tell us about your initial impressions and thoughts once you actually have the car. Of course, photos will be great too, but don't let that hold up your initial report. Hopefully you're out picking it up now.

Congratulations!

[rahlstrom]

Originally Posted by Sloan

Well rahlstrom, this is great news and I'm excited for you. Please tell us about your initial impressions and thoughts once you actually have the car. Of course, photos will be great too, but don't let that hold up your initial report. Hopefully you're out picking it up now.

Congratulations!

I've had the car for about a month now and I have to say I'm thrilled. The power, handling and sheer fun of driving it is fantastic. I'm always the first to volunteer if the kids need to be dropped off somewhere or if a grocery trip is in order. Not sure when that will wear off but one thing's for sure, i will always own a Porsche after driving this one!

By the way, I posted a DIY on this forum for an AVIC D3 install as a way of thanking all of those that helped me with my decision.

Cheers!