I can offer another perspective on this issue. I sold my 2000 boxster for a 1999 Carrera. I fought with this for a while before making the trade. My boxster was an incredible looking car and it was a shame to get rid of it. What the boxster lacked in the 2.7 was power.
I bought a 99 996 with full evo intake, lowered, chipped, upgraded flywheel, no cats, custom exhaust, headers.. ect just for the power difference.
Driving perspectives are not comparable. The boxster is so much better handling it is amazing. The boxster is more fun to drive also. The 996 is cumbersome, loud, touchy, and mean. Which sometimes, is exactly what I need.
I honestly think the 3.2 boxster would be a great medium between the two cars, but since I rarely dropped the top, I am just as happy with open sunroof and windows. I recommend test driving the heck out of both of them. When the 987 boxster s/cayman s gets a little more affordable, I will be back in the mid engined platform.
