Another "help out a potiential Boxster owner" thread

[Adam]

I say go for it. Worst case scenario the car goes belly up with an expensive failure and you have to trade it in for a $2000 econo car that most college students drive anyway. Plus just think of all the trim you could be getting with a Porsche in college!

[spennybenny]

Originally Posted by Adam

I say go for it. Worst case scenario the car goes belly up with an expensive failure and you have to trade it in for a $2000 econo car that most college students drive anyway. Plus just think of all the trim you could be getting with a Porsche in college!

Haha! exactly my friend

I started with a 1993 Ford festiva... so it cant be too bad. With my Camaro, the engine could blow on that at anytime as well with 176k, so I can play the what if game with just about anything.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by spennybenny

With my Camaro, the engine could blow on that at anytime as well with 176k, so I can play the what if game with just about anything.

Exactly, life is full of risks. If I didn't like taking risks I would just stay in bed all day long with the sheet over my head. Who knows, you could fall down some stairs and break your neck or get run over by a bus or something. If people don't take some risks in life then they aren't really living.

[mikefocke]

And driving a car whose engine replacement is $3k is different than driving one that is $7-29k. Especially when you are a college student.

My first car was a PV544 Volvo. (was racing them in sedan racing at the time.) Thanks dad. You let me pick the car, I made a bad decision. Bought before my Sr year in college. Cost me about twice its cost in maintenance in the 9 months I had it and was a constant struggle to find someone who could repair it. Lost 80% on the resale. Second car was a red Alfa Giulietta Veloce Spyder 1300. Darn near a racing car. Bought from a Nash Rambler dealer. Never forget driving down to the Indy 500 and passing a truck at 100. Neat car. Sold at 2 years after the engine blew and I was somewhere there was no mechanic who knew what they were about. Sold for parts.

So I know the fun of a hot car in your youth. And the $ problems they can create...and hassle.

Yes, I'm 67 now and somewhat tempered by experience. Also financially so much better off because I stopped doing such things until the house and the colleges were paid off.

Even then I bought 5 year old Boxsters. If I need to, I could pay cash for the engine rebuild. But it isn't my only car, and can be put away when the weather is bad and it isn't safe to drive a car with summer tires. And my father is long gone and it creates no family problems...my wife suggested I buy it.

No matter what you do, I hope it works out for the best for you.

[spennybenny]

Both are valid arguments in my opinion. I am likely transferring to another school next year and will not be able to take whatever car I own at the time with me anyways. In the three years me and my best friend have car swapped numerous times: Ford festiva>92 ford SHO>93 Lifted Jeep Grand cherokee>1999 integra LS Turbo>91 Mustang coupe 5.0>2000 Z28 Convertible 6speed has been my car lineage. I worked on every single one of them and enjoyed each in their very own way.

[Adam]

Spenny, since you know your way around a car and a DIY'er the cost for maintence and parts isn't really much more than your average car. People who talk about high maintence costs are usually the ones taking it in to the stealerships. If things go south quick and something expensive breaks trade it in for an older Civic or something straight up. It's a calculated risk with a backup plan.

[Topless]

I don't know. Life is short, what have you got to lose? You can't lose your house cause you don't have one yet I have bought and sold a lot of cars over the years... close to 100 by now. Some were good investments, many were workhorses, some were pure joy. Few have brought as much joy as this little 986. The Boxster is a still lot of car for the money by any measure. If you had a wife and kids depending on your sober choice I might feel differently. As it is you have little to lose from the experience. If the car fails you can ride a bike, take the Nike highway, work weekends, get her fixed up again, no worries.

I drove a 69 Datsun Roadster briefly in college. It required almost daily tinkering to keep the carbs in sync, and it was totally impractical for my lifestyle at the time, but I loved every minute driving it. You are handy with tools and you are going into this with your eyes wide open. I say follow your heart even if only for a little while. The reality of responsible adulthood will catch up to you soon enough.