Maybe if you throw a bit of a fuss with the last mechanic you can get some help. You went to him with a problem and the problem persists. Of course this could be one of many problems you may have...but the mechanic should have made sure all was well with the electrical system prior to handing the car back to you. It sounds as if they just replaced the battery without finding the root cause of the problem. The tow should be free, the diagnasosis should be at least discounted, and then...any parts/labor can/will vary tremendously. I think the rule of thumb around here is 1) Buy the most current Boxster you can afford and 2) when buying an older or first model year, such as yours, make sure you have the cash to back it up when problems do arrive. The Boxster will become VERY expensive to maintain if you have the dealership do all the work...but if you learn to do certain things the car can become quite reasonable. On the downside...your $900 is about to go away very quickly. Sorry and good luck!
