What other cars did you consider before settling on 986 purchase?

[Perfectlap]

This was actually the first car I ever financed. I always paid cash for everything and still do but the rates were attractive. I got a good loan. But I still had a hard time justifying a great deal of money in a sports car when so many excellent cars could be had second hand in the $20-40K range.

Back then no one had any real interest in bidding up the prices of air-cooled Porsches so they were plenty of excellent examples to be had. By this point I'd seen and driven a ton of Porsches either through friends or with the local autocross clubs. the Boxster was not my first choice of Porsche simply because it ended up being the very last Porsche model I'd ever driven. Visually I thought the 996 was fantastic but it struck me a bit 'loose', the C4 seemed too heavy/pushy, the Cab looked weird to me, the Turbo was down the road proposition when depreciation set in some more and the bullet proof engine was still tight, GT3 Mk1 was still too steep for the budget. I was most impressed with the E46 M3, then the Honda S2000, STi, EVO, a Mazdaspeed Miata, Lotus Elise (a bit of hike on the budget but worth it I figured), third gen RX7, BMW M Coupe and on the vintage front I considered (for a second) a BMW 2002 and a 964 (would probably have bought an RS if I had made the mistake of actually driving one), Z4 and I don't remember if I'd drive a JCW Mini then yet but it's still high on my list.

Then I watched an episode of 5th Gear where they crowned the Boxster the best sports car. Something about former F1 driver Tiff N. sliding it all over while laughing all the way that won me over. I started looking for one that day. A few days later my car shows up on Ebay from an Acura dealer 10 minutes away, still sitting in the showroom with barely 9K miles. There was a super clean yellow 996 up the road for sale by a private owner for only $10K more, but I'd already driven a C2. I never made it to see the 996, the Boxster S was perfect. No need to spend anymore money this car does everything.

[flaps10]

I'm sort of in line with the OP. I've owned an E36 (325iS) and an e46 (328 coupe) and an e46 sedan (330i). All were outstanding cars, with the E36 the best drivers car - less refined but lighter and easier to drive fast. I had always wanted an M3 version of either of the first two.

I've owned two Miatas (both great cars).

This time around my woman was trying to get me off of my motorcycles (not going to happen, but I did sell two in order to swing the boxster).

I did have my heart set on a 996 for a while. The affordable ones were tiptronic (I still have use of both legs and do not have a vagina, so no tiptronic for me) or they had some seriously bad color choices. Or both.

Decided to give the S model a drive. Fell in love and made it happen.

[BrokenLinkage]

996 C4s / cab
Maserati spyder
Miata
Honda S2K
TR6 fully restored
Mercedes SLK

For various reasons, the boxster trumped them all.
After 3 yrs of enjoying it, think I made the right choice. (Despite my first cel 2 days ago. Think I may need an aos.)

[Blackcloud]

I chose the blue one.

[BYprodriver]

It was fall of 2002 & I was working as a new car test driver for 80% of the brands for sale in the U.S. Over the last 2 years I had predetermined the Porsche's had the best handling feel. Then the 2003 Z06 debuted with 405HP, this car was a blast to drive with instantaneous massive torque. The titanium exhaust sounded great but so loud, is it 1970 again?? I didn't trust myself with this for a DD. Vipers fell in this same category + very uncomfortable after 30 min. drive. Drove every Porsche from base Box to GT2 & determined Box "S" was the funnest just needed more power. Management change took the enjoyment out of the job so I quit meaning I was back to my own DD a Mustang conv I bought when I worked for Saleen.
Last 2 cars I wanted to check since my former company didn't have BMW or Honda account were M3 & S2000. Rented a S2000 for a day, fun car simular to Box's just not as good & there's no easy cruising in them, just constant shifting. Test drove a few M3's, hated the SMG trans & sound of the straight 6. Finally rented a 330i conv on 3/2/2003, date of the 1st drifting competition in U.S. Nice all around car,does everything well, (even drifting), but it's no Boxster.
In the end it came down to Box "S" or C5 conv. The C5 is alot more comfortable & powerful. If I lived in a more rural area than So CA I may have gone the C5 route. I have always loved the way the Box is so nimble, it's the funnest thing I have ever driven, especially after fixing that lack of power issue!

[Alfieg23]

I wasn't actively looking. I was just surfing the Internet and looking at different Porsche's on ebay and AutoTrader. When I saw how low the prices were for Boxsters, I began looking closer until I found my 2000 Arena Red / Beige 986. It has turned out great and led me to purchase a 1972 914 as a project car and a low-mile 955 Cayenne S for my daily driver. Purchased all three for less than what my wife's Audi A4 cost.

[coreseller]

I did it backwards......I bought a Boxster S, then a 993, then a Miata. Still have the latter two.............

[Jinx]

Here what Bill and I had before the Boxster
As strange as this sounds bill had been away
From cars for years. He wanted to back into
The car club sene. Contacted the local Porsche
Club found out to join you had to own a Porsche.
All were out of his price range. Plus the Audi was
A fully optioned TT with 70,000 miles on it.
It was a 3.2 Quattro s-line.roadster.
One night on EBay just Looking at different
Car prices. He put our zip code in the search
Field and it brought one up for a rather cheap
Price about four hours away.
Next day the dealer called the rest is history.

[woodsman]

Originally Posted by coreseller

I did it backwards......I bought a Boxster S, then a 993, then a Miata. Still have the latter two.............

What a tease!