Anyone here know anything about Porsche Boxsters?

[Jesda]

Have I lost my mind? I can't help turning my head when I see them. Its the poser's Porsche, but I'm a sucker for anything with a removable top, and Porsche is one brand I've never experienced or owned anything from.

I'm thinking late-90s, used. $6k-$10k.

The parents have offered to pay my student loans, so I figure its a great opportunity to be irresponsible and acquire a vehicle I don't need.

I mean, it can't be worse to live with than a Crossfire, right? RIGHT?

[ADDirishboy]

My uncle used to own own. It was a 2002 IIRC. Actually not a bad car. I quite liked driving it around.

Yes, you will be mocked by enthusiasts for not owning a REAL Porsche, but who gives a damn. It's a fun car.

And yes, it will be nicer than that god-awful thing you call a Crossfire.

[93coupe]

You will be mocked by me as well.

[HashiriyaS14]

You will not be mocked by me, they're brilliant cars.

Buy the newest one you can afford, they got better every year. I've actually acquired the same bug, but I'm going to wait until I'm done with grad school.

Get a GOOD inspection done by a legit Porsche mechanic, but they're very reliable.

[nismoracingsx]

It may be the poor man's porsche, but then what is the 240? Just a poor man's Z ^_^

[HashiriyaS14]

I also don't think you're going to get much hate from the Porsche crowd for a boxster. They're very popular and the Boxster/Cayman chassis is generally accepted as being superior to the 911, which is why I don't think Porsche will ever sell a turbo Cayman (too much cannibalization).

The only two "blacklisted" Porsches are really the 924 and the 914.

[nismoracingsx]

I used to see lots of them when I lived in Tallahassee, FL. I think they have a nice clean enough look to them. I'd drive one, but the question left for me
would be the maintenance costs..

[Bubba1]

You will not be mocked by me, they're brilliant cars.

Buy the newest one you can afford, they got better every year. I've actually acquired the same bug, but I'm going to wait until I'm done with grad school.

Get a GOOD inspection done by a legit Porsche mechanic, but they're very reliable.

I have a friend who bought an early Boxster S new and ran it a few years on the track before upgrading to a carerra. He loved it.

I completely agree with Hash's recommendations about getting as new as possible and having it checked by a porsche expert. I'd also recommend going with an S version instead of the base, (significantly more power, better brakes, bigger wheels) and get a stick instead of the automatic.

On the downside, Porsches, even the low end Boxsters, are a lot more expensive to repair compared to it's competition. That said, if you're going with an old one, I'd suggest overpaying for a garage queen to minimize the big buck repair risk.

[Red coupe]

DO IT NOW.

GO TO PUBLIC PLACES THEN EXCUSE YOURSELF TO GET SOMETHING FROM YOUR PORSCHE.

Seriously, Porsche is good and they are not an inferior car.
Buy one, if only to fill the gap in your auto history

[PoorManQ45]

I mean, it can't be worse to live with than a Crossfire, right? RIGHT?

Remember repair costs on the Q? Just multiply that by ~3.

A used car still requires the same amount of maintenance as if it were purchased at full value. Isn't that like $40k for these things?

[Jesda]

DO IT NOW.

GO TO PUBLIC PLACES THEN EXCUSE YOURSELF TO GET SOMETHING FROM YOUR PORSCHE.

I've also got an itch for a late 90s Jag XK convertible, but I'm a bit tired of autos. Sometimes my left foot reaches for the clutch pedal but there's nothing there.

[Razi]

Do eeeeet

[MellowZ32]

Anyone here know anything about Porsche Boxsters?

this fat kid owns one.
http://www.geekologie.com/2010/07/kid_c ... om_old.php

I've also got an itch for a late 90s Jag XK convertible:

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Early ones popped engines. They fixed that. I'd buy one.

[Loki]

I would vote for the Jag. And then look up the stuff Jeremy Clarkson has said about Jag owners

[hbpignosePA]

never cared for them..... id say if u want a low end porsche, look for a 914; amazing car, but amazingly tight inside.

[Solar_Runner]

I too, like the 914. Fun little skates. Poo on 914 haters.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

I've also got an itch for a late 90s Jag XK convertible, but I'm a bit tired of autos. Sometimes my left foot reaches for the clutch pedal but there's nothing there.

Bring that xk8 up to portland and my gf's shop will fix you up with a nice euro-market 3 pedal set-up.

[marlin29311]

I also don't think you're going to get much hate from the Porsche crowd for a boxster. They're very popular and the Boxster/Cayman chassis is generally accepted as being superior to the 911, which is why I don't think Porsche will ever sell a turbo Cayman (too much cannibalization).

The only two "blacklisted" Porsches are really the 924 and the 914.

+1

The only people who hate on Boxter's for being the low end porsche are the ones that don't actually own them.

Anyone in the track crown knows the Boxster/Cayman platform is actually better than the 911 chassis - my buddy at work sold his 2002 GT2 for a 2007 Cayman S and loves every minute of it.

Hell if I had the money to waste, I would totally buy a Cayman right now.

Agreed on the S too - get a boxter S - you'll enjoy it that much more.

[frapjap]

I know that they're a ton of fun to drive and are becoming absurdly affordable.

However, the repair costs are astronomical in comparison to the initial investment of the vehicle. Ryanawesome (haven't seen him lately, but he is on the board somewhere and thats also his AIM) works for a Porsche dealer in Florida. We used to chat about the boxter S a bit and one thing I recall him saying is
"I hate having to repair the aluminum suspension because some idiot decided that he could hit a pothole the size of Texas and thought the car would be alright, only to find that it pulled hard to the right and rendered it undriveable. They're usually fixed under insurance, but even when I have dialouge with the insurance company they're reluctant to suck up the cost and call claims like this 'stupid people insurance.'"

The main thing to remember is that this is not a cheap car to maintain or repair and while you could do it yourself, theoretically; should you really be repairing this car yourself?

I say go get a new Miata!

[themadscientist]

You would be fine in one because you wouldn't try to get an attitude about it. Those owners that strut like they have a 911 are more to blame for the car's stigma as anything to do with the car itself.

[HashiriyaS14]

I've also got an itch for a late 90s Jag XK convertible, but I'm a bit tired of autos. Sometimes my left foot reaches for the clutch pedal but there's nothing there.

You and me both, actually (the XK8 part). I hear that if you do the tensioners they're pretty reliable.


Get the Porsche and then also go find an SBC-swapped early XJ. It's the perfect daily. Should be able to find one for $4-5k. Looks great, easy to fix, runs forever.

[Razi]

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

You and me both, actually (the XK8 part). I hear that if you do the tensioners they're pretty reliable.

Tensioners were fixed on 01'+, along with steel cylinder liners.. However the hydraulically powered top never really got resolved. The latch jams... Lines split all the time, leaking hydraulic fluid all over those nice Connoly hides.

[Mr1der]

I also don't think you're going to get much hate from the Porsche crowd for a boxster. They're very popular and the Boxster/Cayman chassis is generally accepted as being superior to the 911, which is why I don't think Porsche will ever sell a turbo Cayman (too much cannibalization).

The only two "blacklisted" Porsches are really the 924 and the 914.

f*** that dude!

the 914 was a great car...until you need to work on the engine.

I've been looking at them lately. I'd love to get a 914-6 but they pull a considerably premium over the 4 cyl cars.



haters gonna hate.

[Watermelonwarrior]

I also don't think you're going to get much hate from the Porsche crowd for a boxster. They're very popular and the Boxster/Cayman chassis is generally accepted as being superior to the 911, which is why I don't think Porsche will ever sell a turbo Cayman (too much cannibalization).

The only two "blacklisted" Porsches are really the 924 and the 914.

+1

The only people who hate on Boxter's for being the low end porsche are the ones that don't actually own them.

Anyone in the track crown knows the Boxster/Cayman platform is actually better than the 911 chassis - my buddy at work sold his 2002 GT2 for a 2007 Cayman S and loves every minute of it.

Hell if I had the money to waste, I would totally buy a Cayman right now.

Agreed on the S too - get a boxter S - you'll enjoy it that much more.

Agreed. Porsche owners will love you since you have a Porsche. Doesn't matter if its a Boxster, Cayman or GT3. Personally I wasn't a fan of the Boxster until i saw it perform at the track. But you definitely want to go with the S.

[wingFeather]

Go ahead, but... you will have to put up with EVERYONE making fun of you. They even made fun of this car on Two & A Half Men. Everyone thinks it is a girl's car.

[BusyBadger]

I completely agree with Hash's recommendations about getting as new as possible and having it checked by a porsche expert. I'd also recommend going with an S version instead of the base, (significantly more power, better brakes, bigger wheels) and get a stick instead of the automatic.

This in spades. Best steering feedback I've ever experienced in a car was in Boxster S.

Here's a decent trouble area checklist.

[PoorManQ45]

I've also got an itch for a late 90s Jag XK convertible, but I'm a bit tired of autos. Sometimes my left foot reaches for the clutch pedal but there's nothing there.

You and me both, actually (the XK8 part). I hear that if you do the tensioners they're pretty reliable.


Get the Porsche and then also go find an SBC-swapped early XJ. It's the perfect daily. Should be able to find one for $4-5k. Looks great, easy to fix, runs forever.

http://www.jaguarv8conversions.com/

[Jesda]

Here's a decent trouble area checklist.

Well, s***. That's a lot of red. But the repair costs are about what I expected.

I'm sure most of the Boxsters on the road are running well, satisfying their owners, but its "potential" issues from design flaws that bug me. Similar to the head gaskets on a Northstar V8, its one of those things where you're likely to be just fine, but the failure could happen, and you don't know when or where. I hate surprises.