10 Years Ago Today
 

I stopped at Woodhouse with a co-worker. I was in the mood for a newer Porsche than my 01 Boxster S. I had put together a list of years, options, and colors that I was interested in and wanted to give Woodhouse a chance to find me something.
But I also had another reason for stopping by...

Back in Nov 07, Porsche came out with a Limited Edition 08 Boxster. They only made 250 of the LEs in base and 250 in the S version. They came with lots of options, including Alcantara seats, steering wheel, and shifter. But what made these really different was the color - GT3 Orange. Woodhouse had 4 LEs when I went in to see them in early Nov. 3 were outside (2 base, 1 S) and the 4th was on the showroom floor. I didn't spend much time with the ones outside since it was VERY cold that day, but really checked over the S in the showroom. To my surprise, it was #005 of 250! That blew my mind that they would get such a low number car. However, it had a sticker price of a whopping $66K. That was twice what I'd spent on my 01S, which was by far the most I'd spent on a car. I'd also built my new house 20 yrs earlier for $75K, so that really added some perspective. But that LE really talked to me.

So I thought and thought about it. I was just starting a big project at work, so I felt my job was secure (I had been thru 4 downsizings in 27 yrs). My house was going to be paid off the following July, so I'd only have to make 2 big payments a mo for 7 mos. It was looking possible. I did some research and estimated what dealer invoice would be. I figured a 5% increase would enough to temp them.

I meet with Mitch, the sales mgr. I give him my list and we talk about it for 5-10 min. I start to walk out but passing by the LE, I said, "or you can sell me this one today for $58K". He makes some sound like "ouh, ouh" and runs over to his desk. He comes back and says he can sell it for $59. I was impressed, but said no, $58. He comes down to $58.5. I'm impressed, but said no, $58. He says OK. We spent a whole 10 min dealing on it. I knew what trade-in was on my 01S, so that only took a few min to hash out. As he was doing up the paperwork, he mentioned that he had wanted to close for NYE but his boss thought they should stay open in case someone wanted to buy a car.

Since it was late in the day, I wouldn't be able to pick up my new car until Jan 2. I went home and barricaded my 01S in the garage so no one would smash into it before the 2nd. I called my family and told them the good news. Everyone except my sister-in-law said I was making a mistake - I shouldn't trade my beautiful Lapis blue 01S in for an ugly orange car. Now I have 2 days to decide if I'm making a mistake. Would I make an expensive mistake and flame out on the color in 6 mo? I decide that my sister-in-law knows best and I'm going for it. I pick up the car on the 2nd. I take it over to mom's to show her. She folds her arms and says, "humph, it looks like a pumpkin". Hence the nickname 'Punkin'.

Obviously I haven't flamed out on the color. I love it just as much today as I did when I bought her. I get lots of thumbs up and people taking pics. I normally get the itch to sell after 4 yrs, but 10 yrs is the 2nd longest I've owned a car (had my 79 Mustang Pace Car for 34 yrs). No plans to sell Punkin at the moment. Got 25 more yrs to go before I break my Mustang record.

Attached are some pics of her on the showroom floor and when I picked her up.

Happy New Year!

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Very cool story, thanks for sharing, and nice car!

I love stories like this, safe travels.

You sir own my favorite Boxster ever :cheers:

Beautiful car.

Great story, great car!

I have a thing for orange cars. Perhaps because my MGB in college was orange. They just look so good.

There is one (an S) with 86K miles for sale in So Cal. Asking is $24,500. I am not sure if the sunglasses, air fresheners, travel mug, phone cable and window mount are included. It is a Tiptronic which would make it a no go for me. Others, not so much.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/d/porsche-boxster-convertible/6439918516.html

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Thanks everyone.

She looks just as good today as 10 yrs ago. I recently did a 4 step polish on her. I use Meguiar's products but was low on wax, so I used some Duragloss 111 that I'd won as a door prize at a car show in the summer. That 111 made the paint glow. It's never looked better. Think I'm now a Duragloss convert. Will see how it does on my CSS this spring.

Great story, beautiful car! Happy New Year :cheers:

It's -7 right now. Not Punkin weather.

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Great story. And what makes it great is that you are still so pleased 10 years later.

Great car. Now go buy that new 718. LOL


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Happy 10th Anniversary! They say if you can make to 10 you'll make it forever!

Wow, great story and beautiful car!

So, bright orange Boxster and bright green Cayman; what's next, maybe a 911 in Speed Yellow?

Taste the Rainbow. :)

That's what I tell people - that I have Skittles in my garage.

No Speed Yellow 911 or 718 Boxsters in my future (although I am looking at a C4S as my next Wheeler Dealer car). Last yr my new boss decided I'd become a bad employee (after 34 good yrs) and canned me. I'm hoping to make it to my 60th birthday in 15 mo, when my pension #s make sense. In the meantime, I'm scraping by. My house and both Porsches are paid for and I have no exs or kids (that I know of), so I'm in a good financial place. The biggest issue is trying to get both COTA and Indy squeezed into the DE schedule. Those are both expensive weekends.

I'm enjoying life and I don't miss the corp grind. I'm officially old since I only play golf with the retired guys during the week. $25 for 18 & a cart during the week is a whole lot better than $50 on the w/e.

"Life Live It!" in a Porsche. LOL. Inspiring story, best of luck to you.

Great story you have here.
We have very similar story. We are both debt free and it feels great. Both purchased 08 limited or special editions. I have two homes and all paid for. One is a rental property.

Cheers

13 yrs ago this afternoon.

She now has 71K mi and going strong.

Some of the thread text had me confused until I realized it was 2017 and not 2020. :o Incidentally December 2020 marked 10 years since I acquired my ‘04 base. Time sure flies like the miles. :)

Awesome story, I had a smile on my face halfway thru it :). Like Deserion, I only realized it was from 2017 after I finished reading it :o.