Looking for a Boxster, what to buy with my budget?

[RandallNeighbour]

The 987's got a serious interior quality upgrade and actually, a LOT was changed under the sheet metal. They touted it as an all new Boxster.

I just can't bring myself to think of buying a 987S from the 2005 or 2006 model years when the engine size bumped up so nicely in 2007.

I drove my buddy's 07 S about six months after he bought it and got it broken in and it was impressive. Never should have done that. To this day I still remember how nice it was.

Now here's an odd difference between the 986 and the 987 few will know to tell you:

The 986's have a true temperature gauge that moves as the motor heats and cools off. My buddy's 07S (and all the newer model years, from what I can assume) has a temp gauge that quickly goes to the center position like an idiot light and never moves after that (unless there's an overheating issue of some sort).