Recently had the urge to get into a Boxster spyder. Test drove the car, really enjoyed the driving dynamics and exhaust note. We got a great deal on the trade-in value of our '08 sidewalk and a decent chunk off MSRP on a brand new black 2011 Boxster spyder with a red interior. We drove three hours back to our hometown in our MINI. Spent the night thinking about letting go our beloved MINI which has served us so well for 30K miles. We bought the last available R52 Sidewalk in the PNW back in August '08 and have cleaned it, maintained it, driven it and enjoyed it ever since then. The car returned the favor to us (including my wife and my two daughters) by being flawless in it's performance and reliability. Called the Porsche sales manager and thanked him for the offer and told him that we will be keeping our MINI. How can we part with our fourth family member ....

 

... Just could not do it ...

 

... and glad that we made the decision that was right for us

 

Nice story and great pictures.

I think I have to go clean my Sidewalk now...............

 

Great pictures & I agree...the R52 is the best!
I can't even think about letting him go...he's a good boy!

 

You can always buy a Boxter, but that Mini will never be available again, sorta like trading the Mona Lisa for a Polaroid.

 

Went through the same thing with our 2007 Mini only was thinking about trading it for a Jeep!.......At the Jeep Dealership I noticed tears on the headlights of the Mini and when we didn't leave her there, a big ol' smile :-) came on her face.......She has 42,000 miles and is still a joy to drive.....Gonna put her some new feet on (take off the run flats and put on some Toyo's all seasonal tires) and keep driving the mini......Hard to part with it!!

 

I predict these venerable MinibCoopers will go down as one of the most enjoyable cars ever built. The old Porsche 356's are tough to beat for pure driving enjoyment/looks/performance but I like the Minis as well as the 356's I owned. I'm 68 years old and i get a smile every time I climb in and take a drive. I will hopefully keep the two I own and at some point get another one if I can find the right one in Yellow. My wife has a new MBZ and I wouldn't trade straight across.

 

Same for me. We have a very nice MB sedan with all the bells and whistles, but we fight over who gets to drive the Mini. I suspect we will eventually also get another one -- perhaps a yellow convertible. I'd love to find a yellow 2006 S convertible. Or a red one, or....

 

tthis is one beautiful cabrio! I love the sidewalk package. Add a couple performance goodies and you will never think twice about a Porsche again!

 

I know we all have different values but you do realize that the OP wasn't talking about a plain Jane Boxster, right? Boxster Spyder a Polaroid???

I like my MCSc. It's cute in a retro 60s sort. The Boxster Spyder is a composite of sexy Adriana Lima and athletic Lindsey Vonn wrapped in a see-through dress. The Mini's driving manner is quite fun but nowhere near a mid-engined chassis Boxster. Turn the steering wheel while cornering hard and the experience is bliss.

As limited as the Sidewalk package is, it's actually not difficult to find one in mint condition in the used market. You can easily buy 3 MCSc Sidewalks for the price of one new Boxster Spyder.

 

Thank you my fellow side walker. I have always admired your car's color combo and avatar.

Amen, long live R52. Yes the newer cabrios that MINI make will out perform the R52 but there is something about the original MINI cabrios ... they just get under your skin.

Nice.


Wow .. you really want to know the truth. I debated about getting the boxster spyder now vs getting the 356 speedster in 10 years when I turn 50. With the MINI staying put, the 356 cabrio vs speedster will likely be the one that would eventually replace it

Yellow is my wife's favorite MINI color too.

We love our sidewalk too. The quality of the malt brown leather is as good (if not better) than the Porsche leather. Somehow the bimmer's leather is not nearly as good to the touch.

Totally agree with you. The spyder is a totally different package compared to a Boxster S when compared to what the sidewalk is vs a MCSC. The sidewalk is all cosmetic upgrades with a few other parts thrown in as a bargain but the spyder is 80 kg lighter, has a gorgeous looking soft top, has LSD as standard along with other suspension upgrades when compared to a Boxster S and is clearly the best handling mid-engine Porsche. It was a very hard decision for us to let go a Boxster spyder for a MINI ... but that's what we did. IMO, the spyder and the Cayman R are the most evocative cars that Porsche makes and I love Porsches.

 

Where in Eastern Washington was that first picture taken? I'm going to guess a Columbia George winery.

Your sidewalk is a beautiful car. It always amazes me when somebody trades in their MINI. We've had more than one PSMINI member who sold/traded their MINI for something else and instantly regretted it, eventually getting another MINI.

As for me, you can have my '02 R50 when you pry it out of my hands, or pull me out from under it if it falls off the jacks. Other cars don't even catch my eye. Softer leather, more power, less falling apart, the name Porsche, BMW, Audi or Mercedes on it? Who cares. They're just not a MINI. No other way to explain it.

Val

 

Almost looks like the Lewiston grade.

 

Boxter is a Dr. wife's car. It's Ok but there are more fun options that will not break the bank
How do I know

my sidewalk (70)

my spyder

 

The highway is the Yakima river canyon road. Here is the link for one of the most scenic roads in state of WA.

http://byways.org/explore/byways/54773

BTW, beautiful cars sidewalk sam thanks for sharing.

 

Both MINI and Porsche have a cult following in general and more so in my family (my wife and pre-teen daughters included). Ultimately the all-weather ready baby won

 

...over a drop dead gorgeous car, the spyder which will go down in history books as one of the future classics without a doubt. The regular boxsters are very good but the overall package of the spyder is in a different league altogether.

 

That's a beautiful car w00tmini, but the all red interior is absolutely awful.

 

That is one of the most beautiful drives anywhere in my opinion. We went on a Mini run in the Yakima area back in 2009 after buying our Mini's. We drove that road on the way back to Seattle. Maybe you were on that run. A bunch of us from the Seattle Mini club met up with the Yakima club and had a great time.

 

Yup, just about anywhere in Eastern Wa, northern Id is absolutely fantastic for driving/riding and best of all.....no traffic. Riding in my 05 JCW Cabrio through the Palouse wheat fields can't be beat.

 

Yup, that was me. Had my 2008 R52 for 3 years, and sold it to pay off my house. Good financial move, but wow, was that ever a hard decision! I rationalized the hell out of it, but really missed my Mini all through the summer. Told my wife after Labor Day I "just wanted to look" through various online sources to see if there were any Mini convertible good deals available. Found one in mint condition on eBay, made my offer, and drove it home a week later.