thinking about selling my 03 S ?

[thstone]

Some of you guys are spending WAY too much time worrying.

The Boxster was just rated as one of the Top 10 Cars to Reach 200,000 Miles by Fortune Magazine based on 10 years of reliability data collected and analyzed by Consumer Reports. It beat out most Honda's and Toyota's.

Here is the opening statement:

"According to Consumer Reports' latest reliability survey, all cars and SUVs made by the Stuttgart, Germany-based automaker are rated average or better when it comes to longevity.

One car in particular--Porsche's $47,600 Boxster--stands above the rest. It has the best predicted reliability of any vehicle tested by Consumer Reports this year."

The prediction is based on the previous 10 years of owner survey data collected by Consumer Reports. This is about as good of an unbiased opinion that can be found.

Of course, this doesn't mean that engine (or transmission, or ...) failures don't occur, it just means that they aren't statistically significant (the number of failures is small compared to the total number of vehicles sold over the years).

[Reggie&Sue]

The Evo is a GREAT engine, tranny, and suspension - but wrapped in Boy Racer body, and a cheap plastic interior. However, if you want to go fast for relative few bucks then it's a good fit. I've owned a few econo-racers and motorcycles in the last few years, and none has provided the overall satisfaction and driving enjoyment as my Boxster 00 S.

I'm also surprised about the amount of angst over "perceived" reliability issues. Maybe folks are reading too many sour grapes reports on the Net, and then extrapolating these potential problems to their own Boxsters ? I've had several issues with my S, but all is forgotten and forgiven when I hear the Porsche wail at 4-6 K RPM.

[jcoit]

I suggest you hop off the fence, send me some pics and specs of your 03 s with a great move it immediately sale price attached and lets get on with making you an evo owner and myself a happy 03 s owner.

I grew up with an e type jag in my garage. For those that remember these nightmares it will come as no surprise that my fathers head was usually under the hood instead of behind the windshield. Seemed like a lot of work, but ohh how I remember that moment of sheer thrill when we cranked it up Sunday afternoons and pop said lets go burn up the Maryland countryside. Those were the finest times and thats what owning a real sports car gives IMO.

On the other hand 2 out of three of my children have had a souped up Honda with a suspension rim and tire package that cost a third of a buy in for an average used boxster. Two hondas later and I wont ride to the grocery store in them unless I am test driving them to insure they are suitable to make it back to campus. My youngest child likes hers just fine in a crowd of her peers, except when it breaks itself every other day as it is trying to be a sports car.

I feel I havent quite lived up to my fathers fine example by letting these kids of mine get it in their head that a sports car consists of rims tire and a chrome exhaust tip. I have to agree with the poster who said "apples and oranges".

[Dale_K]

I had an EVO VIII and it had the greatest driving experience of any car I've ever owned, including several Corvettes and the Boxster. I'm sorry I sold it. That car was magic it the way it communicated the road through the steering wheel and the seat.

I've never driven an EVO X and the reviews seem to indicate it's lost a little of the special feel that the previous generatioin cars had. If you keep the EVO stock it ought to be pretty reliable.

[demick]

None of the financial reasoning I'm reading here makes any sense.

It sounds more like you don't want to keep the Boxster and are looking for something else. If that's the case, by all means, get rid of the Boxster.

But if you really do like the car and would like to keep it, but are simply afraid of possible future costs, do this instead: Take the $25K that you would otherwise be out-of-pocket on your Boxster-Evo swap and put it in the bank. Anytime you have an unexpected expense on the Boxster, take it out of that account.

Chance are, 5 years from now, you still have more than $20K in that account. Even if you are very unlucky (total engine failure), you will still have $10K left in that account. Financially, there is almost no possible way for you to come out ahead by buying the Evo.

[Lobo1186]

Originally Posted by demick

None of the financial reasoning I'm reading here makes any sense.

It sounds more like you don't want to keep the Boxster and are looking for something else. If that's the case, by all means, get rid of the Boxster.

But if you really do like the car and would like to keep it, but are simply afraid of possible future costs, do this instead: Take the $25K that you would otherwise be out-of-pocket on your Boxster-Evo swap and put it in the bank. Anytime you have an unexpected expense on the Boxster, take it out of that account.

Chance are, 5 years from now, you still have more than $20K in that account. Even if you are very unlucky (total engine failure), you will still have $10K left in that account. Financially, there is almost no possible way for you to come out ahead by buying the Evo.

+1 :dance:

[gschotland]

Uh, you're making one big (likely faulty) assumption, that his Boxster's paid for and that the Evo will be paid for with cash. Someone who's able to buy an '03 Boxster or any $40k car for cash probably isn't sweating maintenance costs. If your life is about "monflee" payments (as in "What's the monflee on that car?"), then I can see the prospect of a big repair being unnerving. Think in these terms and you'll get the reasoning.

That's why many (not all) people who want fancy cars that they either can't really afford to buy and/or can't afford to maintain after the warranty's over choose to lease. I'm not totally knocking leasing, people have their reasons for doing it, a big one being fixing their monthly transportation costs.

Buy new and you pay out the ass in depreciation and interest, but you have minimal maintenance. Or buy used, have less depreciation and more maintenance - more expensive maintenance if it's a Boxster. If you want to play you've gotta pay. Porsches have never been Toyota/Honda/Mitsu money to maintain. All cars are a losing proposition. How do you want to lose your $?

High maintenance costs aside, I adore my '02 S (purchased for $17k cash last year) and have no regrets. I can't think of a car that's even close in overall value for money.

Every time I see a Subie STi, Mitsu Evo or similar "performance car" with those idiotic dual Coke can tailpipes, droning exhaust note and goofy picnic table wing I just shake my head and chuckle. Yeah it'll "blow the doors off" my S, but those are hopped up econo-cars with no finesse, just great numbers. If that's your thing...

Originally Posted by demick

None of the financial reasoning I'm reading here makes any sense.

But if you really do like the car and would like to keep it, but are simply afraid of possible future costs, do this instead: Take the $25K that you would otherwise be out-of-pocket on your Boxster-Evo swap and put it in the bank. Anytime you have an unexpected expense on the Boxster, take it out of that account.

Chance are, 5 years from now, you still have more than $20K in that account. Even if you are very unlucky (total engine failure), you will still have $10K left in that account. Financially, there is almost no possible way for you to come out ahead by buying the Evo.

[jcoit]

So my wife says, "Ooooh theres one in the parking lot". So we stopped and looked at the 03 s that was parked in the grocery store parking lot. No other car has ever made her do that! Most definitely not the two racey looking hondas that have lived in our driveway over the kids teenage years. Case closed for me. Of course there never was a case for me, I got the go ahead to buy a sports car and thirty minutes into my search I found the boxster market and have been homing in on one ever since.

You know I got to say in this thread in particular there is alot of talk about performance car vs car. That has never played a very large part in my thinking about this car. Everytime I see the rear end of a boxster I see a car with unmatched styling and design. From any angle it gives this impression. Its like looking at a fine lady in an evening dress thats just a tad too tight. You know underneath it has all the performance it needs to make for a thrilling ride. No doubt about it, Im sold.

[demick]

Originally Posted by gschotland

Uh, you're making one big (likely faulty) assumption, that his Boxster's paid for and that the Evo will be paid for with cash. ...

Fundamentally, it make no difference if he has the $25K cash or will make payments, as his out-of-pocket costs will be roughly the same. Take the $500 or $600 per month in payments for the Evo and put them in the bank instead and he'll very quickly have a big 'maintenance' stash.

No matter how you look at it, over the next 5 years, the Evo will depreciate by $25K. The Boxster will depreciate by about $5K-$7K. That's close to a $20K difference that anyone would be hard pressed to spend in maintenance on a Boxster (yes possible, but very unlikely).

However, in more recent posts he has made it more obvious that he just doesn't want the Boxster anymore. Initially, he made it sound like his reasoning was financial - which was why I posted this. But more recently it just sounds like he's done with the Boxster and wants a newer car with more HP. If that's what he wants, then thats what he should do. But he shouldn't kid himself into thinking he will save money in the process.