[RandallNeighbour]

Bizmark, let me guess, you're an engineer, right?

That's the most exhaustive purchase exercise I've seen yet (or shared on this forum!)

FWIW, If I were you I would completely ignore all 986 base models below the 2003 model year. Get an 03 or newer S model and you will not regret it. The glass window is so much better than the plastic window you have to get out and chop to fold it right every time you drop the top. The interior is nicer too. Plus, Porsche fixed little niggly problems every year they manufactured the boxster. And last, the bigger motor and increased HP make a world of difference in daily driving.

When I'm at the track I always think "any more HP and I would kill myself in this car" but that's 2 weekends out of the year. The rest of the time I'm on the streets of Houston wishing I had more HP because the car is SLOW compared to modern sedans and even base Mustangs.