Am I Crazy or is the Boxster More than Enough

[70Sixter]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

Whenver I hear someone say "Boxster nice but no 911" I know I'm talking to a guy who probably has never taken a trip around a track or autocross and the discussion will turn to styling vs. performance.

I've had a 911, and did not really realize that I'd been Boxstered until I calculated that I could afford to buy either. And there was no doubt in my mind I had to have a Box. Perfectlap hit a chord, but it isn't just the track aspect for me. The Boxster is a modern, mid-engined Speedster, and the spirit of the car is what I love.

Every bit of Porsche history that is in the 911/964/993/996/997 is also in the 986/7. Some Boxster owners might be posers and entry-level buyers waiting for "The Real Thing." But I think most of us know that the Boxster is more fun and the spiritual successor to the original mid-engined Porsche.

The 911 is a fine car, even if you don't need a 2+2. Just give me a Boxster.

[986Jim]

I have to whole heartily disagree. The 911 is a super car, and I would gladly trade in my Boxster for one if cash were to permit. They are better looking, faster, and all around better sports car than the boxster is. While the mid engine rear drive layout is superior, you just can't argue with 415hp from a NA rear engine rear drive car. The 911 GT3 is a super piece of machinery and purpose built for one thing. It's really hard to beat at any price point unless your into super cars which nobody really can afford.

I may afford a GT3 one day, I will not afford a Lambo or Enzo one day and they are not that much faster to justify 4x the price (or more).

I only have a Boxster because I can't afford a 911. If a 911 were the same price as a Boxster would any of us own one?

[Perfectlap]

ummm yeah.

I test drove Several 996's before buying my BoxsterS. Actually I didn't even consider a Boxster. I figured if I'm buying a Porsche it HAS to be a coupe.
My plan was to get a second hand S2000(track/autocross) and a 911S for daily driving. I wasn't comfortable with the idea of putting an expensive car on the track, especially a rear engine one.

Then I drove my 986S and no way was I going to pass it up.

If the 996 911 were a better car then 986 would have a 3.6 engine in it by now.
CaymanS with tall 1st gear just slow it down?

I think you get the picture.

Porsche wants people to think that the Boxster/S is a step down so that you'll buy up to a 911 some day. Keeps them in business, And some people actually "buy" that.

So yeah I could have easily gone for the 911 but
I'm A ROADSTER GUY 'TIL I DIE!

p.s.
I do plan on making my 'practical' car a 996 C4S but it will NOT replace my BoxsterS.

p.s.s.
I don't think anyone is arguing that a $100K GT3 isn't a better sports car than a $50K Boxster. We're are talking about more run of the mill 911's that aren't unpractical daily drivers that are dangerous in the rain when the alignment is off like the GT3.

[Rail26]

Why haven't they shoe-horned the new Cayenne Turbo S (520hp?) into the 911? That would be a monster!

By the way, I love all Porsche products. I wish Porsche would start making airplanes....yeah baby yeah!

Question: Is the wind in the cockpit of a 911 cabrio comparable to a Boxster? Didn't know if the aerodynamics of the 911 kept the cockpit calm without a wind deflector.

[mach schnell]

top down in 911 cabrio, though an exhilarating experience, is like being in a wind tunnel - a fun wind tunnel, mind you!

[AUDIOGUY]

For me, the decision was to make a step up from my prior BMW M roadster. I had always considered the Boxster S a step up to begin with. I considered a 2000 911 or even a 99, but for the money the Boxster S won hands down. I couldnt really afford the 911 Cab, nor was I totally in love with the looks of the car. I definately prefer the Boxster S styling to the 911 Cab. Having had 2 prior convertibles, I knew that I would be much happier in the Boxster S than a stripped vanilla 911 coupe.
So far so good!! My 1 year Boxster anniversary is in September!

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by Rail26

... By the way, I love all Porsche products. I wish Porsche would start making airplanes....yeah baby yeah! ....

Hi,

Well, there was the Porsche PFM in the late '80's. Full of promise, it was an utter disaster for Porsche and for Mooney. Plagued by a variety of issues, both mechanical/design as well as administrative, not the least of which was the simultaneous battle for control of the Porsche Empire by the Porsche and Piesch families. Porsche shut down all aviation development since that day.

It failed as an initial offering and no further development was pursued by either Porsche or Mooney who switched their classic design over to a Lycoming 6-Cyl. powerplant the following model year.

I've flown the Mooney 4-cyl. extensively and a bigger squirrel cage would be ideal, but the poor cowling design and stretched fuselage of the PFM proved to be the wrong combination or at least an underdeveloped one. Love to try the Lycoming 6 sometime though...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[Rail26]

I remember seeing one of those years ago. I would love to see Porsche follow in the footsteps of the HondaJet...that would be a sweet looking airplane. A Burt Rutan and Porsche project would be awesome....

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by Rail26

I remember seeing one of those years ago. I would love to see Porsche follow in the footsteps of the HondaJet...that would be a sweet looking airplane. A Burt Rutan and Porsche project would be awesome....

Hi,

I dunno... while Burt Rutan and his designs appear radical to most of us, to him it's all about practicality. He may be too conventional to work with Porsche or vice-versa. I mean, he lives in a Pyramid with 3 cats and drives a Dodge Mini-Van. I personally think he secretly suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (Vietnam era F-100 USAF Pilot) and his design work is his therapy...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[eslai]

Originally Posted by 986Jim

I only have a Boxster because I can't afford a 911. If a 911 were the same price as a Boxster would any of us own one?

See, here's the problem--some of you like the way the 911 looks, while others don't.

Money aside, I would still choose a Boxster S over a 911, simply because I think 911's are ugly.

BUT, for $80,000 I'd be looking outside of Porsche.

[SD987]

BUT, for $80,000 I'd be looking outside of Porsche.

I wish Honda would hurry up and finish development on the next NSX. That was a pretty bad-ass automobile back in the day. Kind of like the Carrera GT of the 90s...only, more practical as a daily driver.

[mjw930]

You can love the Boxster and still love and own a 911 without there being any contradiction.

I've owned a couple 911's including the car nicknamed the Widow Maker (930) as well as Corvettes and various sport sedans and no matter what I'm in I always find myself drawn back to the 911. Driven properly the experience is so visceral and rewarding that it's impossible to put into words.

In the $80K range (and there are hundreds of brand new $80K 911's siting in dealer's stock) you really only have a few competitors. Corvette Z-06 and Viper come to mind and while they have great numbers I think you'll find the daily drive ability of the Vette and Viper to be far less than the 911. In that price range (under $100K) there really isn't any other car that can give you both the luxury and performance of a 911.

In my perfect world my garage would have my Boxster S, a 996/997 turbo or GT3, a Cayenne Turbo and a late 70's 911SC track car. I have no desire at this point in my life to waste my hard earned money on pretenders........

[Brucelee]

I am a big fan of the 911 C2.. Sweet car.

For the money, the ZO6 is simply going to eat the 911 alive and still be civilized to drive everyday.

Gets 29 MPG on the highway too!

C'mon, Porsche, get cracking!

[mjw930]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

I am a big fan of the 911 C2.. Sweet car.

For the money, the ZO6 is simply going to eat the 911 alive and still be civilized to drive everyday.

Gets 29 MPG on the highway too!

C'mon, Porsche, get cracking!

Yep, every decade or so Chevy has to one up Porsche.

Of course what would happen if you put the new GT3 or Turbo up against the Z-06. Drop a stock C6 on the track against a stock 997 and see what happens. The Z-06 is the pinnacle of Vette development, you have to step up to the GT3 if you want a comparable Porsche.

Cost is always going to be miles apart, it has been since the beginning. Then again one manufacturer has one foot in bankruptcy court and the other is the most successfully independent car builder in the world.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by mjw930

You can love the Boxster and still love and own a 911 without there being any contradiction.

I've owned a couple 911's including the car nicknamed the Widow Maker (930) as well as Corvettes and various sport sedans and no matter what I'm in I always find myself drawn back to the 911. Driven properly the experience is so visceral and rewarding that it's impossible to put into words.

In the $80K range (and there are hundreds of brand new $80K 911's siting in dealer's stock) you really only have a few competitors. Corvette Z-06 and Viper come to mind and while they have great numbers I think you'll find the daily drive ability of the Vette and Viper to be far less than the 911. In that price range (under $100K) there really isn't any other car that can give you both the luxury and performance of a 911.

In my perfect world my garage would have my Boxster S, a 996/997 turbo or GT3, a Cayenne Turbo and a late 70's 911SC track car. I have no desire at this point in my life to waste my hard earned money on pretenders........

Hi,

I respect your opinion, but glancing at your signature and it's probably fair to say you possess a fairly pronounced bias. Nothing wrong with that. But, how many other types of cars have you been intimate with? There're lots of great cars out there with lots of different feels to them, neither right or wrong, Greater or Lesser, just different.

In my Perfect Garage I'd have, in addition to my Boxster, an '06 Z06, a '58 Speedster, a '66 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII, a '69 Lotus Elan SE, a '68 Fiat Dino Spyder, a '99 Dodge Viper GTS, a '72 Lamborghini Miura SV, and as my Track Car either a '07 Lotus Exige or an '86 Toyota MR2 SC - Variety is the Spice of Life...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[mjw930]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

I respect your opinion, but glancing at your signature and it's probably fair to say you possess a fairly pronounced bias. Nothing wrong with that. But, how many other types of cars have you been intimate with? There're lots of great cars out there with lots of different feels to them, neither right or wrong, Greater or Lesser, just different.

In my Perfect Garage I'd have, in addition to my Boxster, an '06 Z06, a '58 Speedster, a '66 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII, a '69 Lotus Elan SE, a '68 Fiat Dino Spyder, a '99 Dodge Viper GTS, a '72 Lamborghini Miura SV, and as my Track Car either a '07 Lotus Exige or an '86 Toyota MR2 SC - Variety is the Spice of Life...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Jim, I've owned over 30 cars in my lifetime with the majority of them sport or sport oriented. I've owned Corvettes, Mustangs, Vipers, BMW's, Volvo's and driven Ferrari's, Mazeratti's, Lamborghini's, Lotus' and Jag's. And yes, I have a Porsche bias, not because I haven't had access or been intimate with other cars but because after driving these other cars I feel "at home" in my Porsche's.

Also, my ideal garage is a listing of cars that I can or will be able afford in the foreseeable future. It isn't a list of "dream" cars that without hitting the lottery I have no chance of acquiring. I appreciate your list and they are fine examples of classics but those are not cars the I would spend my limited resources on. That doesn't make them any less desirable.

[eslai]

Originally Posted by mjw930

In the $80K range (and there are hundreds of brand new $80K 911's siting in dealer's stock) you really only have a few competitors. Corvette Z-06 and Viper come to mind and while they have great numbers I think you'll find the daily drive ability of the Vette and Viper to be far less than the 911. In that price range (under $100K) there really isn't any other car that can give you both the luxury and performance of a 911.

SD987 is really reading my mind in this thread. I'm waiting for the next NSX, or maybe the Nissan GT-R...

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by eslai

SD987 is really reading my mind in this thread. I'm waiting for the next NSX, or maybe the Nissan GT-R...

Hi,

I had the opportunity to House Sit for a '96 NSX which the owner wanted driven regularly while he was away on assignment to the Middle East for a year.

In that time, at his instruction, I put 3k+ mi. on the Car. My observations: The Car is a nice package on par, but certainly not greater than the Boxster Base. All the power came on waay too high in the Power Band - not until the VTEC did it's thing could you distinguish it from any Honda Civic. From 8 of 9 angles, it looked like any other Acura. It was lacking in any kind of Soul - it didn't elicit any feelings of driving something challenging or special. For me, it defined Automotive Boredom...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[BuffaloBoxster]

Originally Posted by 986Jim

I only have a Boxster because I can't afford a 911. If a 911 were the same price as a Boxster would any of us own one?

I certainly would. All you're doing is making the distinction between not fast enough and fast enough. We all know that the Boxster has the potential to be the better car. If the a hypothetical Boxster had the same wheel/tire package and the same drivetrain as a hypothetical 911, the Boxster would be the better car.

Porsche is crippling the Boxster in order keep the 911 alive.

I'd rather see it die personally.