1st Boxster purchase

[Anker]

Use Cargurus.com, their price analysis is pretty accurate.

You have two choices that I would consider: Either an early 1998/99 2.5l or a 2003/04 S. The first if you are looking for a classic and not concerned about acceleration, the latter if you want the best acceleration and a glove box. Try both before you decide.

Early Boxsters are simply the best value in sports cars.

And then, off course, have a thorough PPI. Don't fall in love until you know what you are looking at. The bodies will normally be in terrific shape because all the steel is galvanized, but looks can be deceiving.

Good luck!

[husker boxster]

Price on 986s can be depend greatly on how much maintenance has been done or needs to be done. The price guides just average them out.

[78F350]

My usual DD is a '99 Tip'. I've had a couple '99 Tiptronics and the transmission control is biased more to fuel economy and smooth driving. For an easy drive to work, it will typically shift to a high gear than I want, and keep the rpms around 1800-2200. Not sporty. I have read that if you drive it hard in auto-mode, it will sense it and change to a sportier program, but I find that it quickly reverts back to dull.

The same cars, driven in manual mode are a different animal. For a fun drive, you can put it in (M) and take over control. High revs and sharp shifting up and down with no worry of over-revving. Take one out for a test drive and (possibly terrify the owner) put it in (M) at a stop and FLOOR the gas. ***Make sure the car has been warmed up first*** The car will run up through the gears, shifting at redline. From speed, downshift repeatedly for a hard deceleration. This is not abusing the car, it's a 'function check'.

My '01 Tip', behaves a little differently than the '99s. It naturally revs higher and feels sportier in normal driving. I think the TCMs in the '00 and later have better programming. I still miss the tactile feel of a shifter. The only way to manually change gears is with the +/- on the steering wheel. I wish they had a +/- stick like many other cars. Still my favorite weekend driver is my '99 manual.