Will there always be a Porsche in your...

[recycledsixtie]

life? And if not what would you replace it with?If so what is the next move? For myself I am still enjoying my 2001 Box base and might replace it with another P car in about two years. I would consider a newer Boxster, or a Cayman or a water pumper 911.

[Coffinhunter]

Yes.

I hope to keep this one forever and eventually garage queen her. Would like to get a 911 one day, but that might take some serious negotiations with the wife

[BYprodriver]

Yes, as long as finances allow. I've had my Box for 10 years now & plan to keep it as long as I can still row the gears. I would like to have a Cayenne or Macan as soon as Porsche makes a RWD version. With the coming CAFE fuel economy requirements I believe the window of opportunity is closing on obtaining a Porsche or any vehicle that a DIY can maintain mechanically & cosmetically until their "golden years"

[darknight]

Living where it is winter six months of the year, my Box will never be a primary ride. My other tool of choice is an A8. They both serve a purpose and I will probably replace both with newer versions when the time comes.

[stephen wilson]

I would say yes. Before my next purchase I'll test out a 911 and Lotus Evora, though I don't think the Lotus will have enough storage space, compared to the Boxster.

[particlewave]

Probably not. I love my car, but not all of the attention that it draws, living in a small city in the Midwest.

[schnellman]

I've been driving P cars since my first one bought From Glöckler Porsche in Frankfurt, Germany in 1981. I may have to go to a Tiptronic, or maybe even a Cayenne (if getting in an out of a Boxster becomes too much of a problem when I get to be 100). But, there will always be a Porsche in the garage.

[southernstar]

Not sure. It seems that Porsche is abandoning manual transmissions as one is not even available in the new RS and there are rumblings that they will be unavailable in the rest of their models in a few years. Certainly they have made a standard transmissions much less enjoyable in the new cars: the raised console requires one to elevate your arm for shifting and reports indicate that you can hit your knuckles on the dash during upshifts! In addition, the automatic throttle blips on downshifts mean that double clutching is already done for you - eliminating the need for one of the skills that separates the men from the boys and makes mastering (and driving) a manual transmission so enjoyable, IMO.

Frankly, I guess that I will therefore become a 'vintage' car owner and will keep my current 986. Yes, I could go to a 987, but I actually prefer the lines of the original 986 and could care less about the improved creature comforts of the 987.
The only thing that might encourage me to buy a 987 would be the elimination of the IMS over the last few years; however, as mine has a dual-row bearing I am much less concerned about IMS bearing failure than I would be with a later 986, or early 987.

Brad

[stephen wilson]

I don't think the new 'Box blips the throttle for you unless it's a PDK ?

[southernstar]

I may be mistaken, but in a recent test I believe I read that it also blips on the standard transmission. We have some owners of the new 981 - does anyone know the answer?

Brad

[thstone]

Probably yes. My 986 was recently totaled and I'm already test driving 996's.

[rick3000]

Never planning to sell my 986. Not sure what my next DD will be in a few years.

[jbs986]

I sold my 99 and replaced it with a 2006 Lotus Elise. I love my Lotus and it does everything better then my old 99 Box. that being said, last year I bought a 2002 Base Boxster.I am still keeping my Lotus, but I also did miss my old Boxster, Now I own two sports cars, I am a every happy man.

[fusionist]

I will try to keep my 986 forever. There is something special about the design of the 986.

[Grim1ock77]

I just purchased my first Porsche in November, so I can't image replacing it any time soon. But if I did, I would have to seriously consider another Porsche (Cayman, Boxster, or 911)

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by fusionist

I will try to keep my 986 forever. There is something special about the design of the 986.

I agree, everything you need & nothing you don't. I believe in 10 years the 986 value will go way up for well maintained cars.

[southernstar]

Byprodiriver, while I suspect that the prices for 986's have now just about bottomed out, I'm not sure that in future they will go 'way' up. Too many were produced and they will always have the stigma of being the 'entry level Porsche' of their time.

Having said that, I do expect to see the prices rise over time for well-maintained examples and further, expect that they will ultimately be more valuable than some of the other entry level Porshce's, such as the 914, the 924 and the 944. The 914 (except the rather rare 914-6) had unmodified Volkswagen engines, pedestrian performance, dubious build quality (including flat seats, dashboard covers that were susceptible to warping and rips, etc.), useless HVAC systems and a body design that - well, let's just say it was and is an acquired taste. The 924 was boring, albeit not ugly, and made ues of an uninspiring engine from Audi. Both the 914 and 924 have the additional stigma of being VW-Porsches, as they were initially a joint project. The 944 had much more interesting and aggressive styling (to my eye) and much better performance. The handling, with a 49/51% fore/aft weight balance was exceptional for the time (I know, I owned one). However, even with all that, it has the engine in the 'wrong' place for most Porsche enthusiasts- and this is especially true since they have moved away from front engines for all of their sports cars in the last 25 years.

The 986 Boxster was purely an in-house Porsche design. Its engine is not derived from a VW or an Audi. Its body design harkens back to the famous (and in James Dean's case, infamous) Porsche 550 Spyder and with that, instant recognition as a Porsche. It is still known for one of the best engine sounds of any production sports car and I can virtually guarantee that any new 4 cylinder Baby-Boxster, or 4 cylinder Turbo Boxsters will have a very hard time equalling it.
The handling is still incredibly nimble and precise and it does so without a bone-rattling ride. The braking is still tremendous ( 4 piston calipers over front and rear vented discs and better fore/aft balance than front engine, or rear engined cars).
Road trips are more pleasurable than in many sports cars as there is decent trunk space, decent seats, better than decent HVAC and, as already mentioned, a decent ride. And its acceleration and top speed, while never breath-taking, was certainly fun and sporting. It was for many people who grew up around the millenium, the car of their dreams. And some day I believe that all of these things (and the likelihood of reasonable parts availability due to the numbers produced) will make them sought-after, if not extraordinarily valuable, collector's cars.

So yes, I plan on keeping mine. And while waiting for prices to go back up, I'll maintain her well and continue to experience pure joy every time I take her on the open road.

Brad

[BYprodriver]

[QUOTE=southernstar;337882]Byprodiriver, while I suspect that the prices for 986's have now just about bottomed out, I'm not sure that in future they will go 'way' up. Too many were produced and they will always have the stigma of being the 'entry level Porsche' of their time.

Once the CAFE mpg laws get so ridiculous that most people will be unable to afford to buy a new Hi-performance car the value of most remaining hi-performance cars will increase especially if it has a manual transmission & more than 4 cylinders. I belive if my Box is in the same condition 10yrs from now the value will a least double. Nothing removes "stigma" like being left behind by 914s & Boxsters whether it's on the road or track!

[sam c.]

No. After the increasing levels of nonsense with this one, its obvious I can find higher performance and driving satisfaction for less headache and cost. About the only benefit of this car is the public attention and artificially inflated sense of self worth - both of which I'm pretty comfortable with on my own without the marque.

[AKnowles]

So long as I can't drive motorcycles I'll have a manual Porsche. What model, who can say.