The Boxster has never appealed to my eye. I don't know why. The looks of the thing turn me off.

Today I saw a Cayman and that is a much better looking automobile.

 

But it will never carry 4 people.
It will never carry flooring home from home depot.

and the base car just didn't give me a rush unless I really pushed the motor. I'm sure it handles better than a Mini, no question.

But it's just not as usefull as a Mini. The Mini is fun pretty much no matter what you do with it.

The Boxter would be more fun, much less of the time. And the base car just screams for more power, it's there in the Boxter S (the BS?), but it's gonna cost you for sure.

The owner of the car I drove (he and I traded for a weekend so he could check out the Mini for his son) was going to trade in the Boxter until his son had a fit that it would be gone for good. So he kept it, but even he admits that he wishes the son would leave the Mini at home for him to drive more often.

Whatever. Given the choice of a base Boxter and a MCS, I still vote for the MCS.

Matt

 

I agree.......I think the Boxster design is a love-it-or-hate-it affair. I also don't think it's aged well either.

I was underwhelmed with the build quality of my '99 too (performance also, come to that). Compared to the '89 911 Coupe I used to own, I think the materials' quality has really gone down hill in "recent" years.

 

Side question... I don't know a whole lot about Porsches... but I was under the impression that the Boxster was a poor substitute for a 911.

And yet I hear how the Boxster holds the slalom record, and it surprises me. How could Porsche let the cheaper model outperform the more expensive one? Why would anyone buy a non-Turbo 911 at that point? Simply to get a hardtop?

 

The rear weight bias of the 911 series allows the cars to brake later and get power down earlier. So a slolom time doesn't tell the whole story. The price paid for this is that if the rear steps out, it's a lot harder to deal with.

The mid engine layout sure does provide a lot of benefit. Look at the new hardtop lap times at some of the tracks, and it's pretty impressive.

different strokes for different folks...

Matt

 

no time in the forseeable future...... just not a priority right now..... but there will come a time and then I will see what is available..... for now I'll get my "sports car" rocks off with the Mini.... and be very satisfied

 

I would love to own a Boxster. A good friend of mine has one. For my body, it offers me a perfect driving position. The car just begs to be driven. I get the satisfaction of a good drive. I feel content. Also, I own another mid-engined car. The Boxster is better than my V6 Fiero in every way. But nothing compares with the handling balance and the sound and vibrations of "the engine right behind you" feels of a mid-engined car. and it's RWD.

Having said that, my MCS' seating position and pedal positions are not quite perfect. But like the Porsche, the car just begs to be driven. More like flogged. The MINI changes direction like no FWD car has any right to. I get out of my car with a big grin on my face. Not necessarily the same feeling as driving the Porsche but I had a lot more fun doing whatever it was I was doing.

The Porsche, before taxes, costs a bit over double the cost of my MCS. A lot more once you factor in taxes as the sales tax rate is higher for cars over a particular price (luxury tax, they call it). Either car, you shouldn't have to service it that often. But when you do have to service it, prepare to pay a lot more for the Porsche.

 

The Boxster's spark plugs are not hard to change. One has to remove the passenger side rear tire, but beyond that...

Engine is accessible via the engine cover located under the rear window. To gain access takes just a minute or two: Open powered top part way (approx. 4 inches), unclip top, raise rear of top, remove carpet/sound deadening cover, remove engine cover, admire (dusty) flat 6 engine...

Fluid checks are done from the rear trunk (or in the case of the engine oil level, the in-dash oil level gage informs me of the engine's oil level every time I turn the key on prior to starting the engine). Battery's located under easy to access cover in front trunk.

As for trunk space, check out the Boxster's front (and rear) trunk volume. There's more trunk space than you might initially think. I've taken my Boxster on cross country road trips and have had plenty of room for (soft) suitcases, laptop, and a bunch of other stuff.

I even have a bicycle that will fit (folded up) in the front trunk and the (space saver) spare tire and tool kit remain in place in the front trunk.

Sincerely,

RockC.

 

Poor substitute? Hardly. The Boxster S consistently is ranked #1 or #2 as the best all-around sports car beating cars easily twice its price. That doesn't mean other cars can't be faster or have a higher top speed ... its all-around. The Boxster is the 356 or 550 Spyder replacement. Open air. Porsche dumped its front engined cars (944, 928) and went with mid-engined replacement. There is simply no better handling than mid-engined. The difference between a Boxster S and Base 911 in accelaration isnt much at all 0.3 secs. Between a 911S its much bigger but then again, thats about low 90s.

With the recent introduction of the Cayman, there is some stink because it cost $5K more than the convertable which is the opposite of how most coupes/convertables run (i.e., convertable is always more money).

Porsche is in a totally other world here. Their ceramic brakes run $8200 for the set. The Porsche factory test driver took a new Cayman out around the Ring and was 4 seconds faster than the base 911 (using the ceramic brakes, adjustable suspension and aggresive engine maps). Supposedly, "the word" is that a Cayman with 100 more HP would blow away all but the 911 Turbos. Porsche knows that and won't let it happen. You got to remember the 911 is their flagship model. It will ALWAYS have more HP but if you never drove one, having the tail come around aint fun. Best bumper sticker on 911 Turbo is "My other car is a Tow truck"

So why would anyone buy a 911 anymore. EXCELLENT Question that has been asked by several magazines. If the Cayman is SO good, and $11K less than 911, whats the point? The base 911 WILL pull away from the cayman but in real life driving ... probably about equal. Porsche supposedly expect little cannabilism from the 911 line because the 911 is STILL the flagship but in reality, far more ppl buy the 911S than base car which further bumps up the price another $10K. Then forget about a mere $6K for JCW. Porsches version is the X51 option for another $17K gets you another 25HP

Bottom line ... word getting around is that a Cayman is the steal (if you wanna call Low $70s a steal and the Boxster S the best deal if you want a roadster).

BTW, we have had both the 944 and a 911 Carrera new back in the mid-80s and if you think MINI maintenaince costs are high, don't even think about buying a Porsche.

I might add about what Beken mentioned. There is NOTHING like have the engine RIGHT behind you right ear. You think a MCS sounds good ... no contest. (from my experience with a SC and MR Turbos). I Can't imagine how a Porsche flat 6 sounds right there).

BTW, "they" say that 60% of ALL Porshes ever built are still registered on the road. Thats pretty impressive.