Time to move from Boxster - Opinions appreciated
 

My 2001 Boxster has been just awesome. It's only left me stranded twice in the past 11 years. It's been so easy to work on. I could do a set of brakes in less than 30 minutes with a floor jack which I think is pretty good for someone who's nearly 60 years old. The cost of repairs has been very reasonable. Now I think it's probably time to move on to something else. Since I know there are "car" people here, I'm looking for some direction about what to get next.

Background
I'm three years out from retiring and won't be able to afford to get a new car after I retire on my teacher's pension so I need to purchase something soon. I live in San Diego where I can drive top down nearly 85% of the year so I'd like to get another convertible under 30,000 miles and under $30k. I'm looking for something that my wife can drive, too, and while she can drive stick, she'd prefer to have an automatic. She's not a fan of something as small as a 986.

Knowing that my funds are a bit limited, that I like to work on my own cars, and that I'm looking for a convertible car that will last another 15+ years like my Boxster, do any of these choices sound good? I'm not looking to buy a brand new car, just a late model car with low mileage.

1. Audi A5
2. BMW 228i
3. BMW 428i

Do you have a different suggestion? Thanks in advance for any help.

I've never owned a BMW, but am sure they are great vehicles. I currently own an Audi A4. I perform most all my own maintenance on the Audi: Oil/filter changes, fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, brake pads, flushed brake fluid, replaced coils, etc. I purchased new in 2006 and has 144,000 miles with no issues. I did get factory to replace timing belt based on manual recommendations. I get 26 - 29 Mpg average. It has a turbo and no issues. I have never missed an oil change (100% synthetic) every 5K miles. It's great for the snow here in Colorado. I would consider getting another one, but this one is like new interior/exterior and runs like new.

2009 or 2010 base Boxster with PDK.

While I'd love to get another Boxster, I need to consider something bigger even if the back seat is just a glorified shelf.

A5
 

I have an A5, and will be unloading it.
It's a good driving car, and very solid, but I consider it a time bomb with a lit fuse.
The direct injection means at some point, it will need an intake cleaning. Then there's the turbo. I understand many cars have them now, but when and if they go, there's another chunk of money.
Nothing will drive like your Porsche, and I have an older BMW 540i which I love. But if you think anything else is going to feel as good, some disappointment lurks around the corner--literally.

I seriously suggest the new generation Mazda MX-5 aka the Miata.

I had a 2016 MX-5 C/S for a while, and I absolutely loved that car. It has a manual top, but it is absolutely effortless to operate the top. The car has good power, is fuel efficient if you baby it, and will tear through the canyons like it is on rails. If you can swing it I had the club sport, big breaks, bigger sways, Bilstiens on all corners. Sadly I sold it for a more commuter friendly car (something with an automatic :( )

If it wasn't for the fact that I always wanted a Porsche at some point in my life, I would have purchased the newer MX-5

edit: just realized you need something with the possibility of a rear shelf.... My vote would be BMW, had an E46 325CiC (convertible) The car was heavy in the corners, but never hinted that it was about to loose grip. Decent power, and easy to work on. Again another great car of my past. (bought it on the cheap from the dealership I worked at, fixed some issues, and flipped it for profit a year later).

9-1-1 ?
 

I would try to stay with a Boxster, albeit a newer gen. But if you had to have a 'shelf' or backseat of some kind, a 911 would be a good option. Or a quick online check of the Macan S's in my area has them starting right at the 30K amount.

In years of BMW ownership, I would not recommend a BMW if the plan is to own one for the next 15+ years. If you are set in getting a BMW, lease one for the first while, and then buy out the vehicle if you find that you enjoy them enough.

I lost patience working on my BMW and having to send it to the shop for repairs when I needed the car the most. The worst things would happen, and when my cooling system exploded without warning, it was the last straw for me and I got rid of it. I'm happy to have moved away from BMW, as much as I enjoy their driving dynamics. But to own one, was a royal pain in the ass. Best of luck.

My 2 cents ......... based on internet gossip/forums it seems a lot of folks say Audi and BMW are great cars to own while under warranty , out of warranty not so much . No personal experience . I know this suggestion will pi$$ off some folks but go rent a newer Mustang convertible and see how you like it . Good power , decent handling , good fuel mileage , solid automatic transmission and rear seats . Dirt cheap to maintain compared to Euro makes .

Might also consider a Nissan 370Z convertible . Neither of these cars or many others are not going to handle like a Boxster , a Boxster is a slot car on rails for handling . But that is just one aspect of the driving experience . Good luck with your decision .

BMW and Audi are pretty sweet for 3 years, then all the parts start falling off as you leave your driveway. Fun to drive, much less reliable than Porsche.

With your need for longevity, price point, and soft top I'd say Lexus IS Convertible. Still fun to drive and dead nuts reliable, a decent back seat, and looks sorta BMWish if you take your glasses off. :)

My daughter had a 2014 IS hardtop and it was a great car.

Here is one:
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/JTHFF2C25C2525984

Or an older SC430:
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/JTHFN45Y399020526

I own a 2009 Mercedes CLK convertible in addition to two Boxsters. The CLK 350 fits your bill exactly. It has rear seats that are great for kids and OK for adults. A trunk that hods a decent amount of luggage if you keep the top up and it has been incredibly reliable.

I'm curious why the e46 m3 is not on your short list?

I’m using a 2005 Mercedes C230 on the days the Boxster doesn’t work for me. A CLK convertible would be a great compromise vehicle if you want just one car.

If you buy a car with sports suspension the handling is enjoyable. I have a 6-speed manual in my C230. Unfortunately, Mercedes stopped offering manuals in the U.S sedans after the 2009 model year. I think they stopped offering them in the coupes earlier than 2009. So if you don’t want an automatic, this may not work for you.

I have an older car than Anker’s and I bought it used. I wouldn’t call it “incredibly reliable,” but if you can do your own maintenance and minor repairs it won’t put a huge dent in your wallet. One plus is that depreciation on the cars is significant and used cars are available at attractive prices.

I enjoyed “reviving” mine after I bought it. You can read about it here: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w203/680651-2005-c230-revival.html

How about....
 

...Infinity G37 retractable hardtop?


https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F37 2673053299

I was thinking a 2013 to 2016 Boxster... They are a larger car than the 986.

Be certain not to overlook the Alfa Romeo Giulia line.

Lots of different models and options, depending upon your interests and budget. And compared to their more traditional German model competitors which the OP has already noted, they are a true bargain.

I have had mine for some time now, and it is a joy.

I would be happy to answer any questions that you might have.

I second this. And, if you're budget allows, the quadrifoglio is truly bad ass.

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As much as I love Alfa Romeo (I owned a few) I could not recommend them for reliability. I know a few guys at work who had the latest Giulia, and all have had catastrophic failures with less than 20,000 miles on the clock. The dealerships bought the cars back, and they have moved on to Lexus.

@ Dave80GTSi - I hope you are enjoying your Alfa, and that nothing goes wrong with it! know that I am in envy!

I just purchased a 2016 Nissan 370Z Touring Sport 6speed with 3600KM. For handling it's just as good as any other car and is very fast.

I agree. BMW is garbage after about 6 years. The worst car I ever owned was a 3 series. They are going after a segment that would never own a car that is more than 5 years old, or after the 3 year lease ends, so nothing is built to last longer than that.

Anyone have experience with the Mercedes SLK 350?

I do.
Very hard to find as a manual. Not really intended to be a sports car. I love them, and I'm a big Mercedes fan..... but that car doesn't fit in the same category as the boxster. It's certainly BETTER than the boxster at some things.... like long haul cruising, or sedate driving with a client, or a date. But it's not a sports car.

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Same. Had an X5.... worst build quality of any car I've ever owned. Jumped for joy when I slid into a curb in the snow and TOTALED it!

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Wow, kind of surprised about the BMW comments.

I've had several BMWs (2002 X5, 2003 X5, 2001 E46, 2003 E46, and my son has a E36 M3 which I still pay for all of the repairs) and they were all equal to Porsche in terms of reliability. They run great, drive excellent, and were very reliable. Definitely not cheap to repair (a lot like a Porsche!). Maybe the newer BMWs aren't as reliable as some of the older models that I owned.

One of my future cars will be an E46 M3.

I would say your E36 M3 and E46 are exceptions. Anything beyond those are just...*insert adjective*

+ 1

The 981 is slightly larger than the 987/986 and inside yo Do feel the difference, I am 6'2" w/230 and the 981 is much more comfortable than my old 987CS.

Appearance? I like more the looks of the 987, specially the 3/4 rear end :-)

And so I was able to get a CPO Audi A4 S Line Quattro sedan with 33k miles for $20k. No, it's no where near the drive of the Boxster. Hopefully it'll serve me well. I did add an extended warranty for some extra piece of mind. If it becomes a money pit, I'll just have to let it go and try something else. In the meantime, it's a beautiful car IMO and my wife loves it too.

However, I never thought letting go of a car would be so hard. The 986 was awesome and truly a great car. I'm going to miss driving it top down all the time.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. This message board was my savior many times when I was trying to figure out how to fix something. Cheers!:cheers:

We bought an 07 Audi A4 Cabriolet quattro 58k miles for 9800 and I have an 05 same as wifes 7500. Bought them little over 2 years ago. More room than a Boxster still fun to drive and comfortable. No major issues. I wrench my own cars too. Keep us posted.

I have driven several new 2000-2003 SLK-350s & a AMG model. They are more comfortable to ride & drive in with the exception of the balky manual shifter & pedal placement The handling is good & quick but much less feel than a Boxster. The AMG will leave any Boxster behind in a drag race but that is the only time it would be as fun to drive.

I had an e36 m3 for many years and found it to be very reliable. The e46 m3 is probably going to be my next car.

Maybe I'm the exception here, but I've owned three BMW 3 Series -- 1995, 2003, 2010. All three were pretty reliable. A few odds and ends here and there, most were covered by warranty. Post-warranty repairs were rather minimal. And I owned the '95 for 100k miles, and the 2010 for 72k miles.

I LOVE BMWs. My 2nd favorite car besides the Porsche.

Also, I own, and have owned several VW's. Incredibly good reliability, real nice driving cars and German engineering. My 2013 Jetta TDI had nearly 100k miles on it when I turned it in to the Buyback program (and made out like a bandit, btw), and I never needed anything other than normal scheduled maintenance. Brake pads and rotors were original and there was still 40% left on the pads (and I don't do all hwy driving).

As I've mentioned before, the boxster is car #74 in my life. So, I've had what I'd consider a fair amount of experience.

Worst car, hands down, was a mid-90's Ford aerostar. But the '06 BMW X5 is a close second. Bought it with fewer than 20k miles on it, and it was junk.

Best car? Hands down, not even close: Mercedes benz W163 (the ML430). I bought that one with 70k miles on it, and put an additional 200k on it personally, before rotating it to the "family fleet".

I'll never consider another beemer. Ever.

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These opinions are all anecdotal, not scientific, including mine.

No matter what car you pick, ANY CAR, you'll always find 1,000 guys who loved it and had no problems, and you'll find 1,000 guys who hated it and had tons of problems.

agreed.
So, a quick google of "consumer reliability report - BMW" nets this result:

"BMW’s midsized luxury sedan dropped to worse-than-average reliability. CR members told us that they experienced multiple problems with power equipment, including areas such as the keyless entry system and the lights, along with the in-car electronics systems, such as the screen going blank and the navigation system failing. BMW didn't reply to repeated requests for comment. "

so it seems, at least with that particular model, that the statistical data bear-out the same: BMW isn't among the recommended cars for build-quality.

Is the Miata too small?

I've never had one, but I understand they're pretty reliable and you can get a 2017 with 10K miles for $23K:

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-Mazda-MX-5-Miata-d221#listing=228025138

I don't think the OP needs further assistance on what to buy since he bought an Audi last week (see post #27).

Ah! didn't see that. Thanks!

Whoops, I missed it too.

After reading your situation twice I can think of two cars not on your list but would be good suggestions:

2001-10 Lexus SC430 and
2002-05 Ford Thunderbird.

Glad to hear you bought an A4.

I own 3...all are solid cars.

The key is join an Audi forum (try Audizine...excellent), learn up on them and change the oil with synthetic regularly and keep the maintenance up to date.

My 2005 has 265,000 kms (youngest son), my 2006 has 345,000 kms (oldest son) and mine is a 2013 with 223,000 kms.

All are 6 speed manual Sline quattros with go-fast mods.

NONE have ever let me down.

A big plus with A4 turbos...you can have a ton of fun modding and grabbing a ton of extra fun HP with tuning.

Enjoy sir!

:cheers: