987 owners...no offence

[blue2000s]

What I find interesting is how much better the 986 looks have held up than the 996. They have the same face but it's not right on the 911, while it's got alot of character on the Boxster. I think partially I expect a 911 to have flared fenders and the car looks dumpy without them. Both the 993 and 997 look so much better. For some reason, the 986 doesn't need the flared fenders.

[extanker]

no offence taken but isnt gen 1 parking around the servants entrance or dumpster

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by extanker

no offence taken but isnt gen 1 parking around the servants entrance or dumpster

Only if they are equipped with a TIP.

[unklekraker]

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

Only if they are equipped with a TIP.

OUCH! *running away screaming but not embarass about my TIP Tranny

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by unklekraker

OUCH! *running away screaming but not embarass about my TIP Tranny

Haha. I was just kiddin. I just knew Extanker had a TIP, so was poking fun at him. It's all good.

[unklekraker]

LOL..same here..it's all good

[Mauiboxster]

I do believe the Boxster 986's will be worth money in the next 30 years. Good luck keeping one that long. when I bought mine I was very picky about everything being original and the inside being mint. I will always try to keep all original parts and keeps numbers matching God willing. I am going to have the motor rebuilt at 100k and do any refining and refinishing at that time. By that time I will be able to purchase another without finacing and will go for a much newer model under warranty and I am parking the 986 and saving it for the weekend drives. Funny you guys talking about this because this has been my plan from the beginning. Hopefully one day you will see a 99 boxster with plates that say MAUIBOX selling on Mecums or Barretts for 100k Plus. :dance:

[extanker]

[QUOTE=Boxtaboy]Haha. I was just kiddin. I just knew Extanker had a TIP, so was poking fun at him. It's all good.[/QUOTEi have the PDK ...i can park in front

[Boxtaboy]

[QUOTE=extanker]

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

Haha. I was just kiddin. I just knew Extanker had a TIP, so was poking fun at him. It's all good.[/QUOTEi have the PDK ...i can park in front

LOL. In front of the dumpster?

the boxster 986 years 97-2005 are outstanding shape and design.
this was my dream many years ago when I first bought it, a 1998 for £31,400 driving home was something special noone had one
now I have a RUF 996 black monster, but still always will keep the boxster the 987 does nothing for me.

[fusionist]

I love them both.... they are my favorite and second favorite cars in the world... but I agree the 986 is the purest expression of a roadster.

The Boxster's evolution reminds me of the original Nissan Z. The 986 is a lot like the 240z. It's smaller, lighter, slower, simpler, less refined than the 260z or 280z that followed.... but somehow the 240z is the purest expression of a sports car.

[pierre shags]

"Today I parked my white 1998 boxster next to a similar white 2009 987...
more agressive lines, lower, so much sleeker, sexier... the 986, of course"
edbelton

Aesthetic preferences are personal, of course, but I think the word 'aggressive' could be more objectively applied to the 987. Aggressive should be applied primarily to cars that look fast.

Wider and thinner tires do look fast and increase the size of the 'shoulders' and 'hips' of the car. This makes the 987 less smooth and rounded, but more muscular - definitely more aggressive looking.

The taller, tapered side vent looks more like supercars that are really fast; the little round one of the 986 looks like a throwback to some slower time. The vent is more angular; sharp edges look more aggressive than rounded ones and this has been the design trend for the last ten years. So yes the 987 looks more modern than classic. The line of the front & rear bumpers below the plates where it turns under is smooth on the 986 but has a definite crease on the 987 - muscle car looking if you must - but aggressive.

"I must say there is not a single point of the 986 I preferred...986 headlights looking "more Porsche" I have to roll on the floor laughing." says Kurt the Quick, and for once we agree.

The first thing that distinguished the two models for me was the vent, the second was the squatty L-shaped headlights of the 986. For aesthetics the 986 lost me right there. They are - I hope strong language won't get me kicked off the list - UGLY. They mess up the beautiful clean lines of the hood and fenders typical of all new Porsches - a real mistake.

[pothole]

Originally Posted by pierre shags

The first thing that distinguished the two models for me was the vent, the second was the squatty L-shaped headlights of the 986. For aesthetics the 986 lost me right there. They are - I hope strong language won't get me kicked off the list - UGLY. They mess up the beautiful clean lines of the hood and fenders typical of all new Porsches - a real mistake.

Hmm, speaking of objectivity...the fact is that the 986 lights, like them or loathe them, actually integrate more smoothly and neatly with the bodywork than the 987's units. Look at shut lines and intersections around the light units, the hood, the fender/wing and the front bumper on a 986:



Now look at the 987. Just inside the headlight unit, it's all very busy/messy/clumsy where the fender, hood, bumper intersect (I'm particularly talking about the awkward looking slither of fender that extends down to meet the bumper):



I do agree that the 987 looks more "aggressive". But for my money the 986 is so much cleaner, lither and prettier - it's a clever update of what it is to be Porsche. The 987 is relatively unsubtle. That said, I do very much like the rear end of the new gen 2 987:



My perfect Box would probably be front 3/4 of the 986 with the 987.2 rear 1/4. Actually my perfect Box is the original concept:





Stunning. Shame neither the 986 nor the 987 is as pretty. But the 986 comes a lot closer.

[Quickurt]

Originally Posted by pierre shags

"I must say there is not a single point of the 986 I preferred...986 headlights looking "more Porsche" I have to roll on the floor laughing." says Kurt the Quick, and for once we agree.

Damn!!

Pick me off the floor and get out those smelling salts!!

Back in the day of early exotics and only sealed beam round headlights, all exotic, or "aero" designs had faired in covers over the sealed beams like the 987. 356's were somewhat of a trend setter in this design concept and hence the 987 lights are very close to truly "Classic Porsche."
The first gen 911 ('66 thru '73) had the trim ring of the clear fairings but, for a while, the cover lenses were illegal in US.

[eightsandaces]

Originally Posted by extanker

no offence taken but isnt gen 1 parking around the servants entrance or dumpster

Maybe but wherever she's parked she's sitting "lighter" than the second generation....

PS Never been door dung by a dumpster

[extanker]

Originally Posted by eightsandaces

Maybe but wherever she's parked she's sitting "lighter" than the second generation....

PS Never been door dung by a dumpster

people could get confused about where to put the refuse

[eightsandaces]

Originally Posted by extanker

people could get confused about where to put the refuse

Yeah because a model year influences that over say excellent care and quality treatment....The problem with your suggested brinksmanship is there is always a richer brinksman looking down on your ride....

[The Radium King]

987 looks like a modern sports car.

986 looks like a classic sports car.

[rick3000]

I like both the 986 and 987. And while the 987 is probably the better car, the 986 is truer to the Boxsters inspiration the 550 Spyder. Every update like the larger vents on the 987 is a departure from that original concept.

If I had to guess, in 20 more years the '03-'04 986 will be the most collectable, followed by the other 986's. And with engine failures affecting the majority of Boxster's (like 99%), the surviving few will be worth a fortune by then.

[keithl]

Originally Posted by extanker

no offence taken but isnt gen 1 parking around the servants entrance or dumpster

I'm offended by the spelling of offense.