As many men as opinions so it seems.
One of the reasons I ask is that I may well be leaving Australia at the end of this year, and of course forced to part with my beloved Boxster S. I will be in Europe, and I will most likely buy a car in the US (will need some advice on that one) and have it shipped over. Since I will not be paying ridiculously high Australian prices, the cars cost is less (albeit slightly) of an issue. All this means is that my budget will allow for me to buy a 996 Carrera, or if I stretch it right out, a 996 Mk11 GT3 or a 996 turbo.
The alternative is this however. Buy another Boxster S, either bore it out or just buy a 3.6 and drop that in there. Go nuts on the suspension, basically buy everything Tarrett has for sale for the Box, coupled with a decent set of coilovers. Go on a weight saving mission, replacing some panels with CF, removing all sound deadening and replacing with normal carpet etc... I think you guys get the picture now.
The second alternative is easily achievable as I know a very reliable and thorough mechanic over there who works for around $400 USD per week, so labour costs are essentially not even a factor in the decision.
My point is this. I understand that the value of the Box would never reflect what I spent, but I do not see my car as an investment, so I do not really care about this. Which alternative would make for the most enjoyable sports car experience? That is all I am after.