Are Boxsters Safe For A Teen?

[Danimal]

I would vote no for several reasons.

1. Like you said, its low and could go under a large truck/SUV.

2. The rear visibility/blind spot visibility is pretty poor with the top up. I think this is the biggest issue, especially during "spirited" driving. The Boxster is our third "fun" car, so I can just drive it when the weather is nice and the top can come down if needed.

3. Not safety related - The storage kind of sucks, especially if this is your only car. I mean, I have to put my golf clubs in the passenger seat!

4. Not safety related - Repair costs are high unless you do it yourself.

For a fun slightly more practical car, I would probably go with a BMW 3 series of some sort. That was my first "driver's car." It was great and plenty fast enough to get in to trouble on occasion.

[Deccmber]

Thanks for the response, I guess I should clear somethings up that I forgot to include. The Toyota is a gift car from my parents, so it would be my practical haul stuff around and "Off Road" car. I am pretty mechanically inclined and your right, Boxsters can get expensive but I'm prepared to spend the time and money on it. This would be my project/driving car.

1. I have considered buying a hard top, does it change any of the blind spots, structural integrity, etc?

2. Besides from getting run over, I also wanted to know how it preforms on collisions. I've only seen the videos on Youtube of frontal collisions, but not side on, or rollovers.

[husker boxster]

Originally Posted by Danimal

2. The rear visibility/blind spot visibility is pretty poor with the top up.

+1, esp if your drive includes multi-lane roads. Gotta check your mirrors carefully before changing lanes.

As far as safety goes, all cars have to pass govt safety requirements so a Boxster is safe. Sure, you're not going to fare well in a collision with something bigger going at a high rate of speed. That's where you have to always be the best defensive driver on the road. There are always things you can do to mitigate the consequences of a situation. Always be on guard, always anticipate a problem. Assume they don't see you, assume someone is going to run the red light. Your anticipation can give you enough time (even if it's just seconds) to make some sort of correction to make things survivable.

I'm typing this response having lived thru a life or death situation. My girlfriend and I were driving home from a night of dancing and were traveling on a 2 lane highway. I noticed the car approaching weaved a little bit, which got my spidey senses alerted. 2 car lengths between us, he pulled entirely into my lane. There wasn't enough time to totally avoid an accident, but I got enough out of the way to only be side swiped. We would not have survived a head on. He was driving a full sized pickup, I had a Chrysler Laser. We met in Oct 1987. I wasn't drinking that night. That gave me an extra second or two to react. Seconds matter. He blew a .17 and fell asleep. He was incapable of defensive driving.

Should you buy a Boxster? I say yes, but understand the responsibility that comes with it. I'd suggest when you turn 18 to join your local PCA and do a DE. The novice training you'll receive will give you a much better understanding of how to drive your car.

Best of luck, whichever path you choose.

[seningen]

I daily drove a Boxster for years -- there is actually a lot of space, you just have to get creative.

While you can't do an HPDE yet -- look for

Find one of these events and sign up -- you'll love it and it will make you a safer driver.

https://streetsurvival.org

As everyone else mentioned -- the blind spots are bad on convertibles -- but with the top down
you will be able to see a lot better.

I would not waste my money on a hard top -- it does not help from a visibility perspective.

A boxster is light an nimble -- and a pretty tough little car. I race a couple.

You do have to be careful in the wet -- until you get comfortable driving --- remember the back end will want to step out -- so learn about weight transfer and teach yourself to be smooth with inputs and "don't lift!"