How many would ... sell Boxster & buy Boxster S - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

AKnowles · 09-01-2013, 08:10 PM

After learing more about the Boxster I'm considering selling my 19999 Boxster with 76K miles and buying a low milage Boxster S. How many of you would do the same?

Eric G · 09-01-2013, 08:15 PM

Nope, after a full rebuild I love the way the car performs and the purpose of the car is more for enjoyment of the convertible design and running the twisties around the mountains in the PNW.

Topless · 09-01-2013, 08:40 PM

I might someday. I have owned my 98 for 8 years (7 yrs longer than planned) and a 2009 987S PDK looks interesting to me. So many cars, so little time.

Would I swap for a 986S ?? Not likely. My base car is really pretty sorted out and dead nuts reliable.

Timco · 09-01-2013, 09:06 PM

And, have you driven an S?

It rocks. The base had decent pickup, but the S was instantly what I wanted and bought. No regrets whatsoever. Huge brakes, way better off the line.

2003S · 09-02-2013, 03:07 AM

986? Absolutely. Drove both, would not have been satisfied with the base.
987? I would be fine with a base...

Topless · 09-02-2013, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timco

And, have you driven an S?

Yep, I have driven them all... at the track.
986S, 987S, 981S, 997C4S, 996 GT3, 997 TT, 997 GT2RS, BMW M3, M5, MBZ C63 AMG, Corvette C6 Z06... Each car has it's merits.

ChrisZang · 09-02-2013, 08:53 AM

Yes, I would but I probably would go for a 987S or consider a 1999 ~ 2001 996 convertible, they are getting *very* inexpensive

recycledsixtie · 09-02-2013, 09:06 AM

I likely would not buy an S. Perhaps a 2009 Cayman base but if the price was right who knows.

black_box · 09-02-2013, 09:23 AM

I would not buy a 996 Cab.... had one briefly and it felt felt powerful, but ponderous, cheap and bulky without much luggage space, 986S or 9x7 (for the way better build quality) any day.

gregdacat · 09-02-2013, 10:10 AM

I'm with Recycledsixtie. When the day comes that my 2002 base gives up the ghost, I will most likely be looking at a Cayman. I would miss the convertible. However, around here between the high humidity in the Summer and the cold Winters I only get to go top down a couple months out of the year, anyway. I really like the styling of the Cayman and I would still have the mid-engine handling.

recycledsixtie · 09-02-2013, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregdacat

I'm with Recycledsixtie. When the day comes that my 2002 base gives up the ghost, I will most likely be looking at a Cayman. I would miss the convertible. However, around here between the high humidity in the Summer and the cold Winters I only get to go top down a couple months out of the year, anyway. I really like the styling of the Cayman and I would still have the mid-engine handling.

I was down at the Porsche dealership today(good day as there are no salespeople around). Just looking at the new and old .I was like a kid in a candy store. They had only new Caymans with the PDK which does not interest me anyway. No used Caymans. They had second hand Boxsters and new Boxsters. I am the same way - I really don't need a convertible top. Have been gently car shopping . My daughter's boyfriend says if you sell your Porsche you need something exciting to drive! Another Porsche?

Sorry to sideswipe your thread......

AKnowles · 09-02-2013, 10:50 AM

Well, that is a coincidental thought as I'd already mentioned to my wife that a Caymen also has a mid-engine layout. But she really does like the lines of a Boxster.

Perfectlap · 09-02-2013, 01:24 PM

Well some of the 2.5's were the lightest, just a few light mods away from being 'race weight' or ~2,600 lbs.
While some of the 3.2's were porkers. But at these prices and this much supply I don't see a reason not to move to a bigger engine. Maintenance and repairs are going to run the same as The 2.5 so why not.

black_falcon · 09-02-2013, 02:20 PM

I drove a 2000 "S" on my Boxster search and didn't think it felt 50hp faster than the '99 I ended up with.

I'm probably in the minority here but I opted for a 2.5 due to the shorter gearing and I love the more mechanical sound of the original Boxster motor; sounds a lot like an air-cooled 911 and with the top down has the best exhaust note of the Boxster line-up as well.

pothole · 09-02-2013, 02:48 PM

It's a tough question.

The problem is known vs unknown. I've had my 2.5 for three years, so while it could blow up tomorrow, if feels like a known quantity. If I were to buy a 3.2, it would be unknown.

Put it this way, if I were to buy a 3.2 and it blew up in short order, I would at least a little bit feel like it was punishment for being greedy. I would enjoy the extra performance of the 3.2, but overall the car would likely only give me a little more pleasure.

Conversely, if my 2.5 blows up in short order I'll feel like I had a reasonable innings, did everything I could reasonably afford to keep it running well and, well, **************** happens.

pothole · 09-02-2013, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by black_falcon

I'm probably in the minority here but I opted for a 2.5 due to the shorter gearing and I love the more mechanical sound of the original Boxster motor; sounds a lot like an air-cooled 911 and with the top down has the best exhaust note of the Boxster line-up as well.

I've often wondered whether an early 2.7 with the gearbox from a 2.5 might be the perfect 986...

Daniel R · 09-02-2013, 05:46 PM

I bought an S in the first place. Why? I'm not sure I remember. It was within my budget and the one I bought was a very good deal at the time... and of course I had always wanted a Porsche, not that I really knew much about them from a technical standpoint at that time but the S was the "faster" one.

In hindsight, I probably should have bought a 993 for more or less the same money at the time. It would have held it's value rather than halving and then some over my 5 years of ownership. Live and learn I suppose, although the Boxster has been a lot of fun and I do not regret buying it.