Base Boxster vs. E46 330i ?

[Giller]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

That's called placebo effect.
A car drives no differently if people are or are not watching you.

That's right...it's called the Ownership Experience. A car is more than just how it drives, its also how it looks and how it makes you feel. That is all part of owning a Porches.

[Giller]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Just to interject with some reality:

* Porsche is the 24th best selling brand in Germany, right behind Suzuki and Smart car.
* In Germany, BMW outsells Porsche by a factor of 10 to 1.
* USA & China are Porsche's top markets.

2015 (Full Year) Germany: Best-Selling Car Brands

Which goes back to my original point that owning a Porsche is far more exclusive than your average, run of the mill car, like the BMW is.

[thstone]

I just sold my E46 325i (premium and sport packages) last month. I used it as a spare car; mostly for hauling people around and for long work trips up and down thru California. My younger son is studying in Europe this year so I have his E53 X5 as a spare car and didn't need the E46 anymore.

The E46 was probably the best sedan in the world for its time but its still a sedan, not a sports car. The Boxster is much more fun to drive. I'd take a Boxster every day over the BMW.

[That986]

Originally Posted by Quadcammer

lol, there is zero status in a 15 year old boxster. nobody stares or smiles. come on now.

You're comparing a mundane saloon with a sports car, it's like comparing Usain Bolt with the guy down the gym. Both worthy but the BMW is ultimately driven by ****************************s in the outside lane who think they own the earth and the Porsches are, well they're not.

At least in the UK that is. People who own an E46 or any other BMW tbh are immediately known as a lane-hogging, no indicating self important dick and normally turn out to be just that. And if you happen to be unfortunate to own an M3 even more so.

Also to this guy above, why are you actually on this forum?

[Quadcammer]

Originally Posted by That986

You're comparing a mundane saloon with a sports car, it's like comparing Usain Bolt with the guy down the gym. Both worthy but the BMW is ultimately driven by ****************************s in the outside lane who think they own the earth and the Porsches are, well they're not.

At least in the UK that is. People who own an E46 or any other BMW tbh are immediately known as a lane-hogging, no indicating self important dick and normally turn out to be just that. And if you happen to be unfortunate to own an M3 even more so.

Also to this guy above, why are you actually on this forum?

um, no. An E46 330ci will give a boxster a pretty good run for the money anywhere. And lets be real, porsche drivers aren't known to be brilliant. Both have plenty of bad stereotypes.

I'm on this forum for technical content. I'm not so delusional to think that anyone is impressed with my boxster, which can basically be purchased for the change found under the couch. I'm using it for a DE car, thats basically it. Its a decent looking, nice driving car, but I certainly don't fawn over it or think its anything tremendous.

sorry if this hurts your ego.

[Giller]

Originally Posted by Quadcammer

um, no. An E46 330ci will give a boxster a pretty good run for the money anywhere. And lets be real, porsche drivers aren't known to be brilliant. Both have plenty of bad stereotypes.

I'm on this forum for technical content. I'm not so delusional to think that anyone is impressed with my boxster, which can basically be purchased for the change found under the couch. I'm using it for a DE car, thats basically it. Its a decent looking, nice driving car, but I certainly don't fawn over it or think its anything tremendous.

sorry if this hurts your ego.

Wow....do you eat at the Cheesecake Factory much? Apparently you used all your spare change to buy the Boxster....maybe should have saved some and bought some manners. What a dink.

[That986]

Originally Posted by Quadcammer

um, no. An E46 330ci will give a boxster a pretty good run for the money anywhere. And lets be real, porsche drivers aren't known to be brilliant. Both have plenty of bad stereotypes.

I'm on this forum for technical content. I'm not so delusional to think that anyone is impressed with my boxster, which can basically be purchased for the change found under the couch. I'm using it for a DE car, thats basically it. Its a decent looking, nice driving car, but I certainly don't fawn over it or think its anything tremendous.

sorry if this hurts your ego.

Takes a lot more than a forum troll to hurt my "ego"

And also your "change under the couch" is someone's life savings and what they've worked hard for, you'd do well to remember that. There's no real reason to come on an enthusiast forum and denounce the car to be "nothing tremendous"unless you're just looking to be a vapid troll and bait people.

As the old saying goes "if you've nothing nice to say, don't bother saying anything at all"

[Quadcammer]

Originally Posted by Giller

Wow....do you eat at the Cheesecake Factory much? Apparently you used all your spare change to buy the Boxster....maybe should have saved some and bought some manners. What a dink.

No, I haven't been to cheesecake factory in a decade. What that has to do with the price of boxsters, i'm not sure.

Its a $5,000 car. Literally high school children can buy this car in cash with their babysitting money. I didn't think you guys would get so offended here.

Then again, you seem very obsessed with the "porsche" name and believe that you get stares and smiles, so I guess it cuts a bit deeper.

Originally Posted by That986

Takes a lot more than a forum troll to hurt my "ego"

And also your "change under the couch" is someone's life savings and what they've worked hard for, you'd do well to remember that. There's no real reason to come on an enthusiast forum and denounce the car to be "nothing tremendous"unless you're just looking to be a vapid troll and bait people.

As the old saying goes "if you've nothing nice to say, don't bother saying anything at all"

Oh jeez, its a figure of speech. I don't have any change under my couch cause I clean that sucker religiously. That said, we are talking about $5,000 to $7,000 vehicles here. Its just reality.

vapid troll...ouch that stings

[boxxster]

I think it depends on the boxster. I can see what you're saying if you want to generalize all 986 boxsters as really beat up, high mileage, poorly kept 97-99s. I'm not impressed by cars like that either. A really well kept, low mileage facelift S on the other hand still gets some looks IMO and isn't a 5-7k car.

[Jgkram]

Many opinions stated here and we all know about opinions... Sure our Boxster's are not worth a lot of money but don't make the mistake of using monetary worth as a valid measure of their "worth". As I've gotten older (hopefully wiser) I've found that folks who try to use price as a valid measurement of worth are really missing the mark.

As far as the headlights go, I for one really like their shape and the amber color. the shape is so unique. Nobody and I mean nobody else has them. Honestly, how cool is that. the way they flow meld with the shape of the car. C'mon you gotta love them. As far as the amber goes, as these cars age more people will respect their age and what they did for the turnaround and (I think) want to see them as they really were designed not made to look like something they just weren't meant to be when they were created.

[Quadcammer]

Originally Posted by Jgkram

Many opinions stated here and we all know about opinions... Sure our Boxster's are not worth a lot of money but don't make the mistake of using monetary worth as a valid measure of their "worth". As I've gotten older (hopefully wiser) I've found that folks who try to use price as a valid measurement of worth are really missing the mark.

As far as the headlights go, I for one really like their shape and the amber color. the shape is so unique. Nobody and I mean nobody else has them. Honestly, how cool is that. the way they flow meld with the shape of the car. C'mon you gotta love them. As far as the amber goes, as these cars age more people will respect their age and what they did for the turnaround and (I think) want to see them as they really were designed not made to look like something they just weren't meant to be when they were created.

Yeah, no I don't love the headlights. They are unattractive.

As for the "worth" argument. If a car possesses such wonderful characteristics, it will be in demand. If the car is both in possession of these wonderful characteristics and available at a low price, demand should be strong. Even with a high level of production, after so many years, if demand is very strong due to great characteristics, prices rise (see vintage ferraris, 993s, etc).

So, while the 986 is a nice driving, decent looking, and somewhat high quality vehicle, there are reasons that its value hasn't risen, be that looks, concerns regarding reliability, or perhaps lack of power.

[nicecar]

I NEVER go out in the car and do not get a positive comment, especially when the spyder humps are on. My wifes 2016 BMW GT...different car as well as the 3 series I have owned. Porsche got their slogan right "there is no substitute". The look , handling, sound, smell, is like no other. Down side for me is people think that I have alot of money, which usually I paid way less than they did for their car or truck.

[RandallNeighbour]

Comparing the BMW and the Porsche from a reliability standpoint, the BMW will start costing the owner thousands of dollars a year EVERY year after it turns about 7 years old if the owner addresses quick-wear suspension bushings and oil leaks and various other motor bits like coil packs.

I really thought I had experienced the worst when I bought my 9 year old boxster that had been driven hard and neglected, but that was not true. The CPO BMW 550i (2007, bought in 2009 with 15k on the odometer) was hands down the biggest money pit I have ever owned. The day it turned 5 years old and was out of CPO warrant it started costing me big bucks to drive daily. I'm sure Houston heat and humidity and crappy roads contributed, but still... ugh!

The first few years of Boxster ownership were brutal, but it's been smooth sailing since... oil changes and the odd repair here and there.

Do I hate BMWs? No. Amazing cars. Just do not own one outside of a bumper to bumper factory warranty scenario. They just do not make these cars to be dependable and long lasting like they used to make them in the 70s and 80s.

[Quadcammer]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Comparing the BMW and the Porsche from a reliability standpoint, the BMW will start costing the owner thousands of dollars a year EVERY year after it turns about 7 years old if the owner addresses quick-wear suspension bushings and oil leaks and various other motor bits like coil packs.

I really thought I had experienced the worst when I bought my 9 year old boxster that had been driven hard and neglected, but that was not true. The CPO BMW 550i (2007, bought in 2009 with 15k on the odometer) was hands down the biggest money pit I have ever owned. The day it turned 5 years old and was out of CPO warrant it started costing me big bucks to drive daily. I'm sure Houston heat and humidity and crappy roads contributed, but still... ugh!

The first few years of Boxster ownership were brutal, but it's been smooth sailing since... oil changes and the odd repair here and there.

Do I hate BMWs? No. Amazing cars. Just do not own one outside of a bumper to bumper factory warranty scenario. They just do not make these cars to be dependable and long lasting like they used to make them in the 70s and 80s.

please. E46 parts cost about 50 to 75% less than porsche parts. They are stupid easy to work on. Once you do the common repairs, VCG, CCV, water pump, expansion tank, and thermostat, along with some vac lines and hoses, the car should be very reliable.

Bmw waterpump...$40
Porsche waterpump...$200

[Anker]

Why don't you just ignore the troll so he will get bored and go away?

[ksjohn]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Comparing the BMW and the Porsche from a reliability standpoint, the BMW will start costing the owner thousands of dollars a year EVERY year after it turns about 7 years old if the owner addresses quick-wear suspension bushings and oil leaks and various other motor bits like coil packs.

I really thought I had experienced the worst when I bought my 9 year old boxster that had been driven hard and neglected, but that was not true. The CPO BMW 550i (2007, bought in 2009 with 15k on the odometer) was hands down the biggest money pit I have ever owned. The day it turned 5 years old and was out of CPO warrant it started costing me big bucks to drive daily. I'm sure Houston heat and humidity and crappy roads contributed, but still... ugh!

The first few years of Boxster ownership were brutal, but it's been smooth sailing since... oil changes and the odd repair here and there.

Do I hate BMWs? No. Amazing cars. Just do not own one outside of a bumper to bumper factory warranty scenario. They just do not make these cars to be dependable and long lasting like they used to make them in the 70s and 80s.

Sorry to hear you had such bad luck with your Bimmer! But, it also kind of sounds like stealership maintenance. (that is an assumption of course)

A friend of mine took his immaculate e46 330ci in for new air bags recently. The stealership quoted him $700 to replace the front control arm bushings and windshield wipers. I don't know what they charge for wipers, but the bushings run around $150 for the parts.

I have driven BMWs for about 35 years. I have never replaced a coil pack yet. I recently had my 330ci suspension checked by my indi mechanic. No need to replace any bushings. It has 234K miles on it. Sure things wear out and need replacing. I recently replaced the alternator, $240 installed. PS pump, $80, did that myself. I do save a lot as I do most work myself.

In general, I am going to say good quality aftermarket parts for my BMW do cost less than comparable parts for my P car. But that is to be expected as the manufacturing runs are much larger for the BMW parts, driving down the cost. A P car is much more exclusive and parts are just typically going to be more expensive.

I know I will need to do struts and some bushings on my P car before too long. Not looking forward to that at $250 per corner just for the struts. But, that is simply the cost of ownership. And I am willing to pay that in order to drive a car I enjoy very, very much!

I consider a BMW to be a very, very reliable and long lasting car. Will my P car last as long with good maintenance? I hope so, but in reality, I doubt a P car motor will typically last as long as BMW straight 6. They are just different animals.

BTW, I drove my P car to work today. Mostly highway, just there and back. But I enjoyed it all the same. I am driving it tomorrow too!

[Giller]

Originally Posted by Anker

Why don't you just ignore the troll so he will get bored and go away?

But what fun is that? It can be quite fun and refreshing when these Cheesecake Factory eating know it alls come on here and try to show us how special they are.

I love how the car went from $15000 to $7000 to $5000.

I stand by my Dink comment!

[Topless]

Bottom line... Both are great cars. For a trip to the grocery store or visit to the dog park, take the Beemer. For a top-down romp in the canyons, take the Boxster.














Hey, it's a Boxster forum

[Quadcammer]

Originally Posted by Giller

But what fun is that? It can be quite fun and refreshing when these Cheesecake Factory eating know it alls come on here and try to show us how special they are.

I love how the car went from $15000 to $7000 to $5000.

I stand by my Dink comment!

I believe it was you who felt all special when someone commented on your boxster. Self esteem concerns? Who knows...

I paid $5k for a 99 boxster in good shape with a new clutch, LN Engineering bearing, whiz bang double din Kenwood unit, full fabspeed exhaust, 997 shifter, and a few other goodies. 106k miles. Maybe I got a great deal or maybe the cars are just plain cheap.

Also, dink in my world stands for: dual income, no kids. Perhaps you mean dick? or dork? or Douche? All three are acceptable, but dink doesn't appear to be insulting from my seats, so you may need to work harder.

[B6T]

I had an E46 330ci in the past. It required a few bushings, a crank case vent valve, and a valve cover gasket. Nothing else really beyond that. The Boxster is a whole order of magnitude more expensive than the BMW was to keep going. Brake parts, suspension parts, etc all have the same life span and are much more expensive than the BMW. Once you factor in the preventative maintenance required for the M96 it only widens the gap.

If you pop an engine on an E46, you can find a replacement for a few hundred dollars. The same event in the Boxster, only made more likely because of the weaknesses of the M96, spells certain death for the car.

However, the two cars aren't really comparable anyway. The BMW has four seats, the Boxster has a convertible top.

My daily driver is a 2009 BMW 135 M-Sport, so in some ways comparable to the E46, but with its own separate purpose than the Boxster.

If the M96 wasn't such a steaming pile I think Boxsters would be much more valuable than they are now.