ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Browsing Autotrader looking at old Porches as you do, noticed how cheap these Boxter's are and seems like a lot of car for the money. I know next to nothing about them but just wondered what peoples opinion of them are, now I don't need the usual hair dresser or can't afford a 911 comments as we have all heard them before and i'm not saying that i'd buy one either as I'd sooner an S2000 if I were after such a motor, just curious what they are like, which one is the best of the bunch and what to look out for on them from people that have owned or have a good knowledge of them.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...17ha?logcode=p

PlayFair

buy a 350z instead.
start at £4500, 3.5 v6 N/A RWD 276bhp for the pre 06. or 313 for after. 0.60 is about 5.5
I've owned 2. Fantastic cars on a motorway cruise as well as round a track.
I went round nurburgring on two trips with my 350z and loved it.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

The 3.2 facelift is the only one that's tempting, the other not really inspiring to drive, was gonna buy one a while back (2.5 prefaclift) and didn't really inspire me.
Bought a celica t-sport instead and felt more interesting.

Peter Pan

iTrader: (6)

Have you seen how cheap a 996 Carrera 2 and 4 are these days??

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Lol @ the 350z as said in my opening post if I were after a car like this for similar money it would 100% be an S2000 full stop, was just curious about the boxter but to be completely honest the only Porsche that i'd consider is one of these puppies, as I wouldn't want to spend more than this on one and this is the generation that really appeal to me.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi.../911?logcode=p

This is my idea of affordable car ****.

if only I had the cash now I'd be on a plane tomorrow going to get that one.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Interesting you mention the celica t-sport, I was looking at them a few months ago when I was a bit bored umming and arring about swapping the wagon, what was it like to own and drive?

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Yeah was ok tbh, nice and nimble, the VVT-LI kicked in around 6k revs and went mental (bit like type r power) raced a type r and tbh was neck and neck but the type r had the edge on cornering (hatch vs coupe).
Pretty reliable and decent on fuel (6speed) and would happily pick up speed in 6th from 40mph, but I broke the clutch and bent flywheel, £900 to fix at benfield.
The T-sport alloys are common for buckling due to crap metirial me thinks otherwise decent car.

Oh and the engine in them are made by yamaha hence the sound at full throttle

Matteeboy

FWD too so far less interesting than a Boxster or 996.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Depends how you drive a jap fwd. you've either got the nack or you haven't

Matteeboy

The ITR just gets away with it, the Celica doesn't. Yes I have driven both.

The Mk3 MR2 knocked spots off the Celica for handling.

zip106

It's a gheyers hairdresser car for those that can't afford a 911.


There.

Matteeboy

I have always found that those peasants that can only afford a £50k Boxster can't afford a £10k 996 911.

Funny innit?

I do really like the current one; the GTS is flipping lovely.

fat-thomas

iTrader: (4)

My mates mum had one years back an 02 s model I think, no idea about running costs or reliability but it was a bloody fun quick great sounding motor.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

I had a 2001 Porsche Boxster S in 2005 for about 10 months. Personally I never got it, it seemed planted to the road, but that was about it. It looked OK, but never seemed that quick and mine for some reason had a lot of electrical and brake issues. I got it as the then wife's sister was selling it cheap.... and I needed to do the Porsche thing for once in my life.

After 10 months I admitted defeat and chopped it in for a 2 year old S2000..... now that car was absolutely brilliant.... looked fantastic even with the roof up, revved like mad, went like stink, was utterly bombproof and probably the best car I have ever owned for an all round satisfying experience. Sold with140K on the clock five years later ... never missed a beat!

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Totally agree on the S2000, my best mate had one for 3/4yrs and I used to love giving it beans, which he would let me do all the time as he's not much of a driver but had it because he just likes drop top sports cars and has no aversion to going sideways, the only other car that comes close is the MX5 but it doesn't have the power. Incidentally he's been looking at Boxters but has settled on getting another S2000 as the Boxters seem to have a lot of problems.

But as my OP they do seem like a lot of car for the money, quite a few sub 60k for less than £8k which seems like a steal, although as above £10k seems to buy a 911 these days which is tempting if you can find one that's recently had a bucket load of cash thrown at it.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

S2000 with a rotrex charger FTW!

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

It does but 2 doors, no rear seats and bugger all boot space means it's in a different class. I do sometimes wish I'd have bought one of these or an MX5 instead of my Type R, both of which I was looking at but went for the Type R because of the 4x4 and the power, could have bought one of each and still had change for an S2000 with what I've spent on the Type R.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Well 50/50 weight distribution vs 64/36 shouldn't be that hard.
P.s who was comparing celicas to mr2s??

However put a mx5 with a turbo against a mr2 turbo as they are both 50/50 WD and see the outcome. The Mazda it more tuneable handling wise stock.

theboy

I looked at them before buying my RS, cracking looking motor & of course its a Porsche but the running costs put me off.

Tidgy

I had a boxster s for a week before i got my M3, have to say found it pretty guttless, e46 M3's are only 2k more and a much better car imo

b3nmw

Driven the boxster 3.2 s. Really nice car, but I think u would get bored of it quickly compared to an impreza

Fabioso

The Boxster vs 911 running cost debates are a fallacy.......

Either you can afford to run whatever car you have chosen or you ****ing can't...........

That is all.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Not so sure about that Fabisio, with the price's of some 911's being sub £10k there are many that can afford to buy them, but if the worst happens it's not so much about if you can afford to fix it, I'd say it's more a case of 'is it worth fixing' a bit like a Turbo 2000 with a blown engine, the cars worth £2k at best in decent nick when running so why spend £3k on a re-build, I bet 911's are worth a few quid in parts too, I'd say the body panels and rag tops fetch a tidy sum, never mind all the other bits and bobs.

Paben

iTrader: (5)

A friend traded his 5 year old 997 Carrera S for a new Boxter S and has never really enjoyed the car as much as he had hoped he would. It handles very well but it's not as fast, he rarely has the top down and it lacks what the 911 has in spades: kudos. But at least his wife loves it.

I sold my 996 Turbo a few years ago and regretted it the moment I watched it disappearing up the road. I'm looking for another 996 Turbo now but wouldn't give a Boxter garage room.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Haven't you got a GT?

zip106

No, Boxster Spyder.

I disliked my 996 turbo immensely and would never go back to a 911 unless a GT3.
The Boxster (well mine anyway) is much, much more fun.

Afraid I don't know enough about the early ones to help you.
Only thing I'd say though is if you can afford a 3.4 with the DFi engine then they're the best ones to have (no engine issues so far).

zip106

No, Boxster Spyder.

I disliked my 996 turbo immensely and would never go back to a 911 unless a GT3.
The Boxster (well mine anyway) is much, much more fun.

Afraid I don't know enough about the early ones to help you.
Only thing I'd say though is if you can afford a 3.4 with the DFi engine then they're the best ones to have (no engine issues so far).

Miller-SoT

iTrader: (2)

There are lots of horror stories about the Boxsters engine problems.

XDevil666

I was looking at the Boxster S at one point, but then won a Subaru in a bet lol - the new version I really do like

the old school ones I think are nice but would require some alterations to remove the "girly look"

never drove the boxster though and only been inside one when they first launched so cant even remember how quick it felt

my uncle does own a porsche cayman s - though he lives right down south and I haven't felt the need for 600+ mile trip for a spin in it lol

But whatever you do - don't compare a ****ing Toyota to a porsche lol

Matteeboy

It does show how vital good handling is over just raw power (except to those that pretend they like cars but actually just want pub bragging rights).

You absolutely cannot beat RWD for fun and you'd struggle to beat a sort six cylinders for all round ability - flexibility, throttle response but vaguely acceptable mpg.