Price was a factor for me too, but after driving the S, I dug deeper and saved a while.
Brakes, HP, thicker cylinder walls, 6-speed, thicker roof and so on. You'll do better 03+ since you get glass window and glove box.
Rule of thumb is newest and fewest miles affordable, but mine had 119k when I bought it and zero regrets.
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'04 Boxster S 50 Jahre 550 Spyder Anniversary Special Edition, 851 of 1953, 6-sp, IMS/RMS, GT Metallic silver, cocoa brown leather SOLD to member Broken Linkage.
'08 VW Touareg T-3 wife's car
'13 F150 Super Crew long bed 4x4 w/ Ego Boost
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