The Boxster "Affair"

[Reddy Head]

Originally Posted by Wulf190

Wife has shown ZERO signs of softening on this stance. She is going hard on the "it needs to have 4 seats." Also mentioning "it would be nice if the top would come down also." I am not onboard with her ideas. I told her that in order for me to get that done with little money, I am going to have to find a better deal on a better car and that is NOT going to be easy to do. Also said that if she didn't like my first choice, that she is highly unlikely to like my second choice either. Seeing how this might actually be an opportunity to explore the market further, I DID look at a few other cars that might satisfy her.

What get's more practical than having TWO trunks?!

Since purchase in July, I have been daily driving my Boxster. Living in El Paso, Tx the weather is what I like to call bi-polar. The sun will be out and it's 95 degrees and within hours it'll be extremely windy and raining! Needless to say, good ol' Snow White handles everything like a champ, I have had absolutely no problems!

I am a teenager so my vision of practicality might not carry any weight on your decision making process. However, I must say my Boxster has proven to be just as practical as any other car I've driven - if not more... with one exception: The lack of cup holders! but as BIGjake111 said "Trust zee Germans!". I like to think that here in the US the cup holders are likely going to be used to carry a beverage from a fast food joint(namely soda) - and the lack of them often detracts me from going and scooping up fast food as it's a pain driving stick with a soda in-between your legs... And in the rare chance that I do go, I'll get a bottled water to save me the trouble. So I can truthfully argue the point that my Boxster has helped me lead a more healthy lifestyle.

Bottom line - DO NOT LET YOUR BOX GO! Hahaha, I hope your wife will cave soon and appreciate the little marvel. Cheers!

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by Reddy Head

I like to think that here in the US the cup holders are likely going to be used to carry a beverage from a fast food joint(namely soda) - and the lack of them often detracts me from going and scooping up fast food as it's a pain driving stick with a soda in-between your legs... And in the rare chance that I do go, I'll get a bottled water to save me the trouble. So I can truthfully argue the point that my Boxster has helped me lead a more healthy lifestyle.

Porsche obviously frowns on people snacking in their cars. I think there are two reasons:

1. If you have ever been in a car where the occupants have spilled drinks and left crumbs and food wrappers it is messy. If you have ever been to Germany, you know the Germans liker order.
2. It detracts from the driving experience. Snacking while driving a Porsche would be like going on a date with a beautiful woman and spending your time reading texts.

[BIGJake111]

You can get 996s cheap, but if your wife is okay with a 996 there is no way she shouldn't be okay with a boxster. It's too cold for top down right now anyways. The rear seats in the 911 can only fit amputees. You would be happy with a 911 but it's more money for not much more car, and anything non porsche will really disappoint you at this point and likely please the wife even less. No convertible is really as practicle as the boxster, and most alternatives are mechanical nightmares.

[Wulf190]

Originally Posted by BIGJake111

You can get 996s cheap, but if your wife is okay with a 996 there is no way she shouldn't be okay with a boxster. It's too cold for top down right now anyways. The rear seats in the 911 can only fit amputees. You would be happy with a 911 but it's more money for not much more car, and anything non porsche will really disappoint you at this point and likely please the wife even less. No convertible is really as practicle as the boxster, and most alternatives are mechanical nightmares.

Thank you Jake. I am beginning to see that with some looking. I also remember that I have driven the 2000 911 and, yes, nice car, but I liked the Boxster more I have to say. I think it will work out eventually, but it sure is difficult in the mean time.

That said, it snowed last night and I had to take my trusty steed to work this morning with the temp being -4 when I left. First time in extreme conditions perhaps. Roads were plowed and mostly clear of ice, but had some patches, and with the tires that cold, I was curious to see what kind of limitations that would put on it. I figured it would be pretty much as disabled as a Mustang or other similar car knowing others statements about this. Definitely it isn't good...but--as it has done so far in all other things--it does better than I thought it would. It gets me the 8 minutes to work and back despite that it might be frowning at me the whole time between warm up to shut down. Today was about as bad as it would get and still have to go to work in it. Anything more and I think I'm carpooling it.

[JayG]

Giller, Since you are Canadian, you must mean beer

[Retroman1969]

It's a beautiful car Wulf, and I'm happy to see you're sticking to your guns.
You've worked hard, you bought it, you take care of it, you appear to enjoy it. If it brings you pleasure, then you deserve it! Life is just too short!
I wonder.... If you spent the same amount of money on a big ring for her would she refuse to wear it and complain of its impracticality?

Keep driving and smiling.

[Wulf190]

Originally Posted by Retroman1969

It's a beautiful car Wulf, and I'm happy to see you're sticking to your guns.
You've worked hard, you bought it, you take care of it, you appear to enjoy it. If it brings you pleasure, then you deserve it! Life is just too short!
I wonder.... If you spent the same amount of money on a big ring for her would she refuse to wear it and complain of its impracticality?

Keep driving and smiling.

Thanks! A week of real winter here this past week made things a little difficult. Then, finally, this morning, after five days of waiting impatiently for the roads and weather to clear, was able to break free of the stable and take it out at sunrise. It's a pretty therapeutic experience behind that wheel. Hopefully old man winter shows some mercy on my tortured soul. it is unfortunate that I think so highly of the driving experience. I find the slogan very fitting. There really is no substitute.

[Wulf190]

The "affair" continues. Just couldn't manage to get home after work, taking me over 2 hours to get home on an 8 minute drive. Really put the foot into it on a couple of empty S curves and got to know it's actual limits VERY clearly. Last time I had that much fun behind the wheel was driving my pretty fast go kart as a kid, and even that doesn't compare to the handling of this thing. Like I suspected it might, when the back end breaks free, it's really going to start sliding quick..but, very predictable and correctible I found, even after spinning it 180 degrees. Not planning any more of these kind of thrill rides in the future I think. I see why there's plenty of mashed up ones to get parts from. But, man, what a machine.

[Wulf190]

Have put on a few thousand miles now, and took the Box out for the 120 mile ride to the parents house for first time yesterday. First extended interstate driving and took a few blacktop roads out near where I grew up that I knew well. Kind of living the dream I have to say taking those roads in the Box. Nice long sweeping S curves. The thing makes quick and easy work of driving in fast moving traffic. It was really windy and 'the wedge' --as my wife now calls the car--cut through it like a hot knife through butter. For those that have followed, "the wedge", might be a step forward from what she could, or has, called it, so perhaps a step forward. Still after six months this car does not fail to inspire behind the wheel. A great thing.

[Dgnarvs]

I hope your wife has now ridden in the car by now? It's a shame she's being too harsh on something you enjoy so much.

I'm lucky my wife was the one who really encouraged me to buy the car. She wasn't so thrilled when the repair bills came in though. Still, every time she rides on it and receives the look of appreciation from onlookers (on the car not my wife...I hope), she kinda understands.

She won't be driving it ever though...and that's probably a good thing for the both of them!

[Wulf190]

Originally Posted by Dgnarvs

I hope your wife has now ridden in the car by now? It's a shame she's being too harsh on something you enjoy so much.

I'm lucky my wife was the one who really encouraged me to buy the car. She wasn't so thrilled when the repair bills came in though. Still, every time she rides on it and receives the look of appreciation from onlookers (on the car not my wife...I hope), she kinda understands.

She won't be driving it ever though...and that's probably a good thing for the both of them!

The ride: No, Still holding out...but I have made strides at dispelling the notion of repair costs by snagging parts online and doing my own work, which so far is saving me hundreds of dollars on more than one occasion. I see that they like to be maintained, so no problem doing it as I enjoy the work as long as I am not doing something like pulling the engine or trans or something that is impossible in my driveway.

I dont ask if she wants to get in and she doesn't ask to...so I just get in myself..it's a drivers car anyway, so fine by me.

Replacing my own ignition coil tomorrow which hopefully cures a cylinder 3 misfire cel code. Will ride the scooter to work instead

Spent a couple hours polishing an aluminum trim ring on one of the front rims where the clear coat is missing. Refinishing this myself too. It already looks 100% better and I am only done with most of the surface prep part of the job. Also restored the surface of the center caps which look a ton better. And de-greased the bottom of the oil pan area and variocam which looked like it hadn't been done in a long time.

[Wulf190]

Yanked the #3 ignition coil and found that it looked like many others I looked at online, all cracked and trashed. Put a new one in it and after a minute or so of 'figuring itself out again' the engine once again runs like a sewing machine. Most excellent.

To clear the code out of the OBC, I hooked up the Durametric tool to it for the first time. Very cool accessory to have I must say. It doused the CEL, cleared the misfire codes and while I was at it, I killed off the Airbag light from passenger seat relay fault....Nice. I knew that thing would come in handy. Too bad I accidentally switched my speedo/odo to Kilometers..oops. Just a reason to use the tool again I think.