what turned me on to the Porsche Boxster

[Smallblock454]

Well, first of all i never wanted a Porsche. I grew up near Weissach - 10 Km away and everbody drove a Porsche in the neighbourhood when i was young. Porsche - no way - boring. Sometimes i could hear the car on the Weissach race track when the wind did blow from west. But not attractive to me at that time.

Than one day - i was about 11 or 12 years old - a friend of my parents (no Porsche employee) visited us with a white 911 from the mid 70ties and i had to sit on the rear seats while we went to i don't know. That was a really great impression - i can still remember that sound in my ears.

Some years later a firend of my parents (and this time a Porsche development engineer) came up with a dark blue 928 GTS with black interior (he allways hat test cars). What a great car with a great exhaust note.

But than Porsche was out of the focus for a long long time. Had some VW and was looking for a convertible for the summer. Checked Honda S2000, Audi TT Roadster, Mercedes SLK, but nothing was fitting to my needs and my length. Tested a Lotus Elise, but i was too long.

So i went to the Porsche dealer and took a seat in a 986. And that really fitted. Did a test drive and was completely exited. That exhaust note and that drivability was really good. Also it seemed to be a very good daily driver and a car you can do long distances. But it was a little bit out of my financial opportunities. So it took a year, and than i signed the contract a bought me a new 986S. Still have it, still love it. Even if it is titeled as a housewifes car over here in Germany - as long as they didn't try to overtake you on a windy alps pass.

And at the end of the day i've also worked for Porsche for some years. So there seems to be something like hidden connection between me and the brand. But have to say that there are also other car manufacturers that build great cars and the quality of the Widekind era sometimes makes me really sad. Yes he saved the company, but the product quality of the cars before his management area was the one that buildt the brand myth.

Regards
Markus

[mikefocke]

I was always looking at the classifieds until one day my wife said "why don't you go out and just buy one". I thought it was a 928 I was looking for but when I drove one it wasn't. Jags, 'vettes, S2000s, BMWs, Miata ... none felt right. Some rejected within a block.

And then I drove my first Boxster and bought it. One mile out and drop the top and one mile back and I knew.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Smallblock454

So it took a year, and than i signed the contract a bought me a new 986S. Still have it, still love it. Even if it is titled as a housewifes car over here in Germany

I'm always surprised to hear how Boxster's are seen as a woman's car in Europe. At one time here in America the "chick car" was seen as a convertible. But now the chick or "housewife" car is an SUV. The dream car for most women is probably a Range Rover or Cayenne Turbo. And I really don't recall a time when manual transmission convertibles were popular with women. Stomping on a clutch in heels, changing their own gears while getting their hair all messed up with the top down is probably the exact opposite of what most women see as fun driving. More like a nightmare... I know some British people who say the Boxster is a hair dresser's cars. Which I find funny because my hair dresser drove a tiptronic Carrera Cabriolet. (before he switched to an SUV).

[VGM911]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

Which I find funny because my hair dresser drove a tiptronic Carrera Cabriolet. (before he switched to an SUV).

Wait a minute...you have a hair dresser??????

[Smallblock454]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

I'm always surprised to hear how Boxster's are seen as a woman's car in Europe.

Well this came up around two decades ago when "men" drove a 911 and gave a 986 to their woman as a cute birthday present. Same to Mercedes SL owners and SLKs for their housewifes. Times changed, but the myth is still alive.

Regards, Markus