Hola,

I have a company car but have just come into some cash, paid a chunk off the mortgage and want a weekend/high day/day off car. Budget is up to 8 grand, it must be a convertible, 15 years old or more (classic insurance!) and I'm currently (change my mind daily) quite sold on a boxster 2.5 and looked at a couple. I know the hairdresser image etc (frankly dont give a toss) but (just like the Mazda mx-5) they are a great drivers car. Now I'm expecting "buy a 911" posts etc but frankly, I cannot justify spending 911 money on a "toy"

The only spanner in the works is that a customer at work has suggested a 944.... 4 seats, more reliable allegedly and substantially cheaper too....

I'm not interested in break neck speed any more tbh...

 

Does anYone have any experience or advice for me?

 

never liked the look of 944's myself, deciding how much do you want to spend is prob a good start?

 

Up to 8grand....

 

looking at boxster territory, or leggy (tintop) 996.....

Head over to 911uk.com - great bunch of people. I found Porsche club a little bit elitist (albeit quite friendly), or Pistonheads' Porsche forum.....

The only downside with the Boxster is the IMS/RMS issue (the same issue that dogs the 996 and some early 997s).....

I'm looking at a Carrera 2 or 4 at the moment, so am in "homework"/knowledge-mode.

Dan

 

In truth my budget is £10k but I need a couple of grand on the hip in case something goes pop..... This means a 911 is a no-go because if it breaks, It'll be a lot more than 2k!!!!

 

Hi mate, thx for advice, I dunno if you read the original post or just skimmed it??? I already said boxster but a 944 has entered the equation...


Anybody here have experience or advice on a boxster or a 944???

 

i too have been 996 shopping on the weekdend but find them pretty poor compared to my M.

The Boxster S i would think is a great contender. Fantastic power, handling, and looks good.

IMS, RMS & cylinder liner failures seem common, bore egging too.

Im 6'1, so not exactly massive, but i didnt really fit the 996 911. So something to consider also...

 

Yeh RJM, read the post, but I'd still be looking at the Boxster imho. Only been in one 944 (S2)..... wasn't overly impressed tbh. But that's me.

The IMS/RMS is still an issue with the Boxster though.
Aside from that, I've found out that (as with the rest of the Porsche-range) you tend to buy on condition rather than mileage......

Dan

 

I have a 944 Cab, its ok, not mega fast but has a decent amount of shove, my money would be a a tidy Boxster or you have the pick of modded , sorted 944 turbo's, forget 911's at that money, you are bang on with the slush fund as even a 944 can generate some eye watering bills,.

Would be a Boxster for me, close tie with a 300 bhp 944 on sorted suspension though, seriously capable car.

My Cab is kind of a Grande MX5, its still 208 bhp so its not slow, its just not super fast, especially by modern standards, a Turbo is still quick by todays standards, especially coupled with the handling.

Never driven a Boxster but people rave about them, especially the early 2.5, but again, quick-ish, not fast, people buy 300 bhp tdi's and totally miss the point, I am not bothered anbout somethign being faster, I could do that if I was bothered, I have no need to get anywhere faster than a BMW driving rep, its enjoying the drive and the 944 mostly does that, hankering after Chimaera now though.

 

Www.boxa.net

 

Seriously, ask this question over on 911uk or Porsche section on Pistonheads.

Unfortunately, traffic on 911uk can be very slow but you should get near enough immediate answers on PH.

I can't help you with either as I've never had a 944 or a 986 Boxster.

 

Had two 944's. 2.5 litre is so so, but the turbo is an absolute hoot and I wish I had never sold mine. Get the right one (1988 on) and you get a genuine sub 6 second to 60 and over 150 flat out (mine did over 160) with air con. The handling is sublime and the brakes are absolutely awesome. Come to think of it, why did I sell mine and by a slow as ****, understeering, underbraked Scoob???

http://s469.photobucket.com/albums/r...coobs/Porsche/




Forget the back seats tho. My son was too big at 10 years old

 

Tried that, they all told me to manup and buy a 911! **** jockeys!

 

Seriously?
On PH?

There's as many on there who have Boxsters as have 911's.

 

Impatient dude, you only waited a minute between posts

TX.

 

Scaremongering, 1 in 20 cars max so unlikely to bite you ...

TX.

 

I don't fancy the odds tbh! An 8-10k 911 is not likely to be the best.....

It's 14million to one to win the lottery but beople still buy tickets!

 

Hi have had a couple of Boxster 3.2s and a 944 turbo cab.

Both models very good, boxster as you would expect feels more modern - has more more boot space being mid engined.

I found performance and handling good on both.

Boxster a bit of a pain for maintenance being mid engined - but manageable.

At 8-10k - you will have your choice or 944/968 (not cs)

If Boxster would go for glass rear window if possible.

 

Cheers. I work at a Vw main dealer so maintenance ain't an issue but what's the 944 like to drive? I've driven a 3.2 and 2.7 boxster and they're not quick (I have had mk 5 golf gti, r32, imprezas, cossies, rs turbos, red top novas etc etc so nothing feels fast anymore....) so speed ain't an issue....

 

Its been about 6 years since I owned the 944 and been quite a few cars in between.
But from memory it was quite a neutral car, wasn't as bad as a Subaru for understeer nor as tail happy as a Sierra Cos.
They feel pretty solid with regards build quality, although the body is galvanised one thing to look for is rust in the lower front wings between the door sills and wheel arch. its quite a common problem with 944s - I finished up having two new wings and a full respray - 2k.
I recently bought my other half a 3.2s Boxster so I guess that would be my preference - always enjoy borrowing it on a sunny day

 

I had a 944 turbo in the 90s...and I bought a 944S 16v last year as a weekend car(see my profile).
great chassie(was voted best handling car in the world back in the day ), but nowadays really under powered .....unless you go for the 250bhp turbo
very good build quailty .....look for rust in the lower side sill section (inside and out), engine seals tends to leak on high mileage cars ...as with any porsche they are high on repair cost !!

 

Just a word of warning, just because a vehicle is 15 years old or over that doesn't automatically qualify it for a classic car policy. Classic car insurance is more about you than the vehicle, eg usually it needs to be a second car, limited mileage, garaged, no modifications etc

http://www.skyinsurance.co.uk/car-club-insurance.html

 

I usually insure with Heritage and though they exclude impreza and evos, they class 15yrs plus as classic, even if it's a nova! I had my cossies with them and paid under £200....

 

Some say the Boxster is as good a drivers car as the 911.

 

I had a 1992 944S2 with ~169,000 miles on it for 2 years. Brilliant handling, decent turn of speed and the late ones still look good.

There are a few turbo cabs around that might be worth looking out for otherwise look very hard for rusting panels, gearbox linkages and suspension bushes

 

HAS to be a 968 convertable for that money rare, reliable and great to drive, I should know I have one and its the ****ing bollocks.

 

It also has to be in guards red all the other colours are crap here is a photo of mine which may be for sale in the summer for 7k

 

Stunning car mate, looks really well kept!

 

cheers it used to belong to finlay quaye.