Just a thought provoking question. I am faced with this decision and wondered what others might do.

I have the opportunity to trade my 03 MINI for a 97 Porsche Boxster in excellent condition both mechanically and exterior. Mini has 15K, Boxster has 50k. The Boxster was a pure joy to drive, especially with the top down. I love my MINI but have always thought a Boxster would be a true sportscar. Any comments or comparisions would be interesting to read.

 

I cannot speak to the differences in ride between Boxter and MINI, but I will say that in my early screening for the ultimate car I was going to acquire when my former one died, given my budget (no Testerosas...) all the alternatives came down to a Boxter versus a MINI. At that point I hadn't even sat in either, but was going purely from reviews and everything I could research.

What made my decision was the fact that I could get a fully loaded MINI Cabrio (full JCW but no suspension since it is a Cab - topping $47k with all the damn stuff I put in the car) for the price of an entry Boxter. And I had to beleive I wouldn't be happy with the entry Boxter without adding on a bunch, taking it into an uncomfortable zone for my budget.

Since then I have compared notes with a good friend who has a recent Boxter and he complains that while he loves the ride, the car seems much more impractical than the MINI, because while larger there is just zero room to carry anything but yourself and a friend. I continue to love the styling of the Boxter but - at the end of the day - when I stare out in the driveway at my new MINI I think I have really achieved my ultimate car. Personal preference perhaps but that was my evaluation of the two - which probably is not worth much since I have never driven the Boxter.

Bill

 

Nice to have that option, and if you accept it you'll certainly have the opportunity to experience the "there is no substitute" aspect of Porsche ownership.

But be advised, Porsche ownership is much more expensive than MINI ownership. The early Boxsters are renowned for being a little troublesome (less than average Porsche reliability). Just be prepared to deal with it, and budget accordingly. Boxsters are really nice sportscars when in tune and properly maintained. It just costs a bit more than you might suspect. I'd check with boxster owners in your local chapter of the Porsche Club of America to find out dealership costs/competence/honesty as well as independent shop alternatives.

 

Having owned several Porsches and looking towards the future, it all depends upon what you want. The Boxster is a real sportscar. MINI is not. Being mid-engined, it should dance around a MINI. Being mid-engined it will have little trunk space. So what? Like I said, it all depends upon what your looking for. If its your only car, then you might want to consider practicality. If you got another car to haul stuff in ... no contest.

Take a look at Road and Tracks 10 best sportscars. Boxster is always #1 or #2 behind cars costing twice as much. Look at their recent slalom times. MINI is like 67 mph while Boxster set the record, beating out the Ferrari Enzo times at something like 73 seconds (you can do the research at R&T website). I don't know how comparable the 06 cars are to 1997 but I would bey the 97 Boxster handle far better than the MINI. That said, it might not be the fastest sports car in town if 0 -60 is your thing,

That Boxster is meant to run all day, every day at 120+. Can the MINI do that reliably? It all depends upon what you want.

They are more money to maintain. Ppl complain about MINI labor rates ... LOL. It aint pretty.

best of luck with your decision.

 

Having had a Boxster, I can tell you that it is an absolutely phenomenal car. That said, it gives up a lot to the MINI in terms of every day useability. Also, the 1997 and 1998 models are quite problematic and look quite dated, especially the interior IMHO.

 

you can change your own sparkplugs in the mini. try that with a boxter.

 

Good point about servicing the engine. It's big bucks in the Boxster, you can't just open the hood or trunk, b/c there is no engine in either place

 

That hit the nail on the head. I love the Boxster; it is a phenomenal drive (Really want to drive a Cayman now too, but haven't had the opportunity). Of all crazy things, it came down to a Boxster, S2000 or a Mini for me. I went for the Mini for a couple of reasons: I live in an area where winter is long--I drive the Mini all the time in the winter; I'd probably garage the Boxster. I also use the Mini as my everyday car, and my big ol' gas guzzling SUV for hauling/very snowy weather. I can fit lots of stuff in the Mini (In fact I just went out this morning and bought two bar stools, computer speakers, and a kitchen garbage can; it all fit with minimal fuss--along with my gym bag); it allows me to drive it all the time.

I have a friend (ex race car driver) who owns a few Porsche's, and loves them--but it's a labor of love to keep them running. Interestingly, he used to give me a bunch of grief for not having a sports car. One day I sheepishly told him I was going to get a Mini--he's eyes got wide, and he told me he used to race the classic Mini's as a lark--and loved them. His quote to me was something along the lines of "It's about time you got yourself a real car!!" It got his juices flowing; he ended up getting an JCW MCS before I did!! He still loves his Porsche's; they're still his favorite cars, but he sold one of them after getting the Mini, and uses them more for recreational track days now that he's got the Mini..

The Boxster just wouldn't get driven nearly as much as a Mini would with my lifestyle; it kind of came down to that. I drive the Mini at every opportunity.

A JCW mini is really a split personality; you can drive it tame, and it acts tame. When you want to thrash it, Mr. Hyde comes out--just a total blast of a car to own.

If all you're after is a pure sportscar, and don't have any concerns about high maintainence or the need to throw an occasional load in the car, the Boxster is the way to go. If you're going to want to use the car as an every day driver, I'd stick with the Mini.

 

When I was looking I narrowed it down to S2000 or Mini. I wanted the mini more but the insurance rates decided it for me. The S2000 was going to cost me between $400-$600 a year more to insure than the Mini. You might want to check out the insurance cost for a boxster

 

I'm sure the Boxster is way up there. But for me, money really wasn't the issue (I'm not trying to sound elitist; I'm very lucky to be financially secure); in the end, it was the Mini that really, really wanted, despite the significantly lower pricetag. My wife thought I was crazy, but she's really taken a liking to the Mini too.

 

Shhhhhh . . . we all know that JCW cars are craptastic . . . Don't tell too many secrets.

 

You know the answer that already ... have both

 

LOL. But for me, it was either the Mini or the Boxster. If I was going to add another car to the stable with the Mini, it wouldn't be a boxster--I'd still use the Mini more. What I'd really like to get to add with the Mini, once the kids are out of the house is a Lotus Elise, but it's just not feasible with no dealers close by (Too much maintainence on that puppy not to be close to a dealer). Elkhart lake is just up the road; I'm going to do a couple of driving schools hopefully this summer, and that would be a great place for a Lotus, but it's just not realistic.

The Porsche Cayman is very, very intriguing too.

But in the end, what I'll probably do is keep the Mini forever, and get a Mini Classic too--I can fit both in one stall in the garage, and it will give me something to tinker with--and not feel too bad about if I totally screw it up.

 

Boxsters are cool, almost bought one a few years ago. In this instance though, getting into a nine year old sports car with 50K miles is asking for high maintenance and repair bills. If you can't get a newer one, I wouldn't do it.

 

I want a new Boxster S or Elise.... one of those will be my next car..... when my son gets out of school (college) The Mini is here to stay...... the next car will be an addition when I can afford it.

 

and I'd get a MCS over a boxter any day. Boxter just doesn't have the HP that the chassis screams for. Combine that with the usability issues, and the Mini S was the clear winner for me, and not even a hard decision.

Boxter S, and it would be a whole nother story.

But the Boxter is a well balanced car, that can be used for only some of your motoring needs. The Mini is a poorly balanced car that is a blast to drive almost all the time.

Matt

 

I stopped by the dealership last week to pick up some touch up paint when I noticed a Porsche sitting outside. I joked to the sales manager about it, asking if someone traded it in on a MINI. He replied with a smile, "Yes."

 

My nephew has an 02 Boxster. We swapped keys a few weeks ago and headed to a lonly stretch of HWY. I was initialy disappointed. Cruising through town it felt sluggish and awkward. Once I got it up to speed and hit some twisties it felt like I was driving a driving a different car. The Mini handles well at speed but is no comparison to the Boxster.

Loved the Boxster but the Mini is staying in the garage. IMO the Mini is a good compromise btween a true sports car and an every day driver.

 

I had that same decision 3 years ago when the with the 2003 MCS and the Boxter S. It was such a difficult decision that I did not get either car at that time, but I just ordered a '06 MCS.

The reasons I decided not to get a Boxster S:

As noted previously, the early year Boxsters (97-99) were VERY problematic and did not have the HP as the later years. If I remember correctly the '97 was pretty low (for a Porsche) ~190.

Big problem with rear seals on in the early years also. Very $$ to fix, so something to look out for. Rear seal problems still occur, but seems to be fixed.

If you want to work on your own car, e.g. change the oil, it is doable but tough. There is a way to access the engine via the top, but you don't have much room. It helps if you are small and skinny. If you don't want to do some basic service expect to pay >$75 for an oil change at the dealer.

The 2005 is the first year to have a glass window in the softtop. One of the best handling cars I have ever driven with phemonomal pick up (2005 Boxster S) and you get that Porsche flat engine exhaust sound when you jump on it. Very stiff in the twisties and I have heard that the Cayman is actually stiffer because of the hardtop.

The cost to maintain the car was the biggest reason I decided not to get a Boxster, outside of the >$50k for the car itself.

If you opt for older year Boxsters go for at least a 2002, many of the rear seal problems were fixed by then and the HP is around 212 (I could be off on this so don't quote me). I can tell you how to access the engine from the top if you decide to get one. Good luck!

 

Well put

A friend of ours had a regular Boxter awhile back and he, as well as everyone who borrowed it, felt it lacking in horsepower quite a bit during normal driving (he ended up selling it)- it seems to be a much more satisfying balance in the Boxter S though.

Of course if you like it and have no concerns about the maint then do what makes you happy.

 

I'm starting to get feelings of lust for a Cayman too! -- Tom

 

If you do decide you want to trade for the boxster and you find it lacking in power you could retrofit it with a 3.4 motor from a 996. It's a bit pricey but you'll be king of the boxsters and some 996s as well.

of course, with the addtional money you spent to upgrade you could put down a nice down payment on a Cayman. Or get pretty close to a 1st year 996.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=4798

 

I've got a BMW Z4 3.0 6-speed and I'm buying an MCS. The Z4 is a great car, but it's only slightly better than a motorcycle when it comes to practicality. I.e., you can't travel with more than one person, or load it up with much of anything. I need the MCS for its folding back seat, etc. If you've got something else to haul stuff (or if you have no need to haul stuff) then the Boxster might be fine. If not, you might regret getting rid of the MINI.

Do what I'm doing: Have both.

 

If your seriously looking at these two cars, the price differences are in two different leagues.

A well-equiped Elise (w/out the adjustable track package) is about $53K list. Expect in one year it to be worth about $39K

A well-equiped Boxster S is looking at High 60s. Much higher top end speed. Better handling than the Elise (holds the R&T record for the slalom better than a Ferrari Enzo). Expect in one year to be worth low 60s. Porsche options ain't cheap.

 

Base Boxster is about a 6 second car. Probably not that much faster than a reasonably modified MCS but the mid-engine, rear drive layout is so much better.

When you say "some" of your needs, do you mean storage space. If you need to haul stuff and only have one car, then yeah, don't get a real sports car.