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

[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!

[renzop]

I'd get the '05. Low miles on an older boxster is something to steer away from not embrace. The '03 is 5 years old and has 20K. Probably more miles on it when it was new than the last few years. That means probably only 3K per year for the last several.

I don't trust a used car that has under 4K miles per year put on it. Were there long times spent in the shop? Was it stored and if so was it properly prepared for storage? If the car is so good, why didn't the owner drive it more?

The '05 with 34K sounds better to me. 3 years old means 11-12K per year. This car was driven regularly which means it wasn't babied to death. I'd rather have a car that the user drove and maintained than one that was garage sculpture and was polished and caressed as a love object.

As far as the perfomance difference goes, you're talking about 25 hp. The '05 is plenty fast, handles better and has a much nicer interior. Buy it!

Regards,
Alan