I received a private message asking me if I would mind comparing owning a Boxster, which I did until October '09, to owning a Mini Convertible, which I have since then.

My Boxster was a 2001 S model with the Sport Package, meaning upgraded everything and an unbelievable Bose stereo. My Mini Cabrio is fairly basic. Both were/are six speed manuals.

Q: A Boxster costs at least twice as much as a Mini. Is it twice as good of a car?

A: It is more than twice as good, if you can afford the ongoing cost differentials. Driving a Boxster, especially an S, is an experience unlike any other. Do not test drive one unless you are prepared to buy it, as you will fall in love.

Q: So why didn't you buy another? Was it just the up front costs?

A: Well, in my specific case, I may relocate overseas in the near future, so short-term resale value (or potential money lost) was a big factor.

For most people, I think the biggest concern should be the ongoing costs of ownership. Maintenance is breathtakingly expensive. Repairs are breathtakingly expensive. Once your warranty ends, it is not unrealisitic to be prepared to spend $2,000 to $4,000 per year on average on maintenance and repairs, especially as your car passes the 50,000 mile mark, and especially if you must use the dealer. During my last year of ownership, repairs and maintenance for me was $6,000. For instance, the 60,000 mile servicing costs $1,000+. Oil changes are $100-$300, but you only need to do that once a year. New tires are $1,000+ installed. Flywheel problems are infamously common and expensive. Even while your car is under warranty, it will be in the shop more than you planned.

A cont'd: The other isssue is fuel prices. I only averaged about 15-16 mpg. For a while, gas in California was about five bucks a gallon. It adds up.

Q: Other issues with a Boxter?

A: Well, there ain't much space to carry things. The front trunk holds a small suitcase, but it gets dangerously hot, so don't put anything there that will spoil or melt. The rear trunk doesn't really hold much. No rear seats, of course.

Also, if you have knee problems, Boxsters can be tricky to get in and out of.

Q: And yet. . .

A: If I hadn't possibly been moving overseas, I would have bought another in a heartbeat. The Mini is fun, and it's nice to be able to carry all the groceries I need, but the ride is rough, I need to hold onto the steering wheel like crazy when I hit a pot hole, and, even with a wind deflector, it is fairly windy with the top down. I once drove 500 miles in my Boxster with the top down. It was one of the happiest days of my life.

Q: Anything else?

A: Boxsters hydroplane. It turns out they are quite famous for that, thanks to the wide wide tires and the very light body. I'm lucky I'm alive. It says something for the car that I wasn't injured.

 

I like the balance of the boxter over the Mini. But the Mini is more useful. Pure driving pleasure? Boxter. If you need a really fun, engaging car that can cover many more bases? Mini.

Matt

 

Matt: I agree. The Mini is practical and economical while being fun. The Boxster is impractical and expensive but even more fun.

My only real gripe with the Mini is the stereo. Cruising around this site, I realize I have a lot of company.

 

i think ist 2 differnt car..

 

I've only driven a Boxster S at a couple of Porsche track events, so I don't have any of the top down experience, but they are a fantastic car, even with the PDK transmission. Handling is very confidence inspiring, very quick, amazing sound, ect.

If you can afford this completely different car and can live with it, it's totally worth it I think. MINI simply doesn't compare in any aspect except maybe affordability and utility. Of course, they're completely different...

 

The Boxter costing at least twice as much as a MINI is a bit of an exaggeration. MINI's can run past 50k loaded and an R57 JCW starts at almost 38k bare bones. Both cars are great but completely different animals.

 

A FULLY loaded Boxster S could easily be double that of the loaded JCW Cabrio if you add everything like Ceramic Brakes, Aero Kit, ect.

 

interesting comments. i test drove a couple of boxsters a few years ago, and had my 1st mini test drive a couple of weeks ago. i don't remember being as thrilled with the boxster experience as i was with the mini experience. the boxster impressed me as a car that would need room/freeway to tap its potential, while the mini seemed like it would be exciting almost literally at every turn.

i guess i need a refresher ... trusting my memory has gotten me in trouble more than once.

 

A FULLY loaded Boxter S also moves into 911 pricing at that level which at the depreciation level the Boxter has would be a much better choice if one wanted to spend that amount of cash. There's no step up from a R57 JCW. At least not yet.

 

TM 255: Great comment. The Boxster is a great car for open roads, curvy roads, country roads. My commute here in Hawaii is 18 miles on the prettiest freeway in America, so the Boxster was perfect -- until it decided to learn to swim. For city and town driving, the Mini is better, easier, and far more economical. (City driving in my Porsche was 14 mpg. Really.) So I guess the comments that these are completely different cars are spot on.

 

i have to add my comments when i saw this. Boxster vs Mini. intersting comments from Tsippi. Well, i would like to share my comments. I have had a 2007 Porsche Boxster S 3.4L from 2007 till Dec. 2009. I agree 100% with Tsippi... you do not go test drive a Porsche unless you are ready to buy one. When I did test drive one, I was sold and ordered the silver color i wanted. Like they say, Porsche...there is no substitute. For me, the only reason why I now, since Jan. 2010 i have a new 2010 Mini Cabrio, drive a Mini Cabrio is because business has been very bad for me lately and I had to sell the Porsche as cost was an issue. Now i know you guys have it so much easier in the US than we do in Europe. I am a Canadian and know how much things are cheaper over in North America. I paid for my new Boxster S fully loaded $120,000... which I can buy 4 Mini Cabrios. My servicing costs $900 each time. my winter tires costs $7,000! So, if you want a Porsche, be prepared for the cost. But the driving experience is like no other. there is no comparison to a Mini. So, do not be confused or even think about that question. a porsche is a porsche. i chose a Mini now because i did not want to give up a cabrio. price was cheap and it is fun to drive. I love the Mini, but it will never compare to a porsche. i wait for business to get up again and i will buy another Porsche Boxster S because i love the design more than the 911. the shape is just lovely. hope that helps. if you have any questions, just ask.

 

i will agree that the Mini is far more economical than the Porsche...that is a given

 

The reason I went crazy with all my mods was because as I was getting on the freeway by my house soon after I bought mine, some Boxster smoked me!!! They are fast, I will give them that.

 

it's lower, better balanced and RWD. Really, the Boxter and Cayman are two really, really,, really fun cars to drive. Even thoug it pisses all the 911 folks off, the Boxter/Cayman balance is perfect.

Even if you'll never own one, everyone should drive one to feel what it's like. But then again, that's like getting a hand job from a really hot chick, without getting to fully consumate. Glass half full or half empty... You choose!

Matt

 

 

I agree with Dr. Obnxs...it pisses 911 people off, but the truth of the matter is the Boxster/Cayman are more well balanced than the 911. The 911 is the trade mark of Porsche and that would crush their image if a cheaper Boxster/Cayman was better than the high priced 911. So, even though people know the Boxster/Cayman is a better well balanced car for Porsche, a 911 will always be the true Porsche. But that is why I will buy a 2nd Boxster S when I have the money again over a 911. The design is much better and the driving balance of the car is perfect. and the 0-60mph.. doesn't really matter when it is 0.4-0.8seconds difference. We are not professional drivers and that amount of time is a mere pull of the gearshift or step of the clutch.

 

Tsippi...i agree with you about the Mini stereo. have you done the X9331 swap with the speakers? i did that and it sounds a bit better now. But i will say, it will never compare to my stock system i had in my Porsche of the Bose 10 speaker system with separate Bose sub between my the 2 seats. i love that system and miss it everyday i drive my Mini.

 

Got my MINI S Cab for fun, a different driving experiwnce from my daily driver M6. Was looking for a 911S cab but when I drove the MCS I was hooked.

Coudda afforded the P but got it over the P for FUN reason.

MCS ain't a racecar, it's a bounce around town and have a ball car. For that it's hard to beat.

 

i agree that the Mini S cab is fun. 100% agree with you. the Mini is a fun car to boot around town in...easy to park.. go cart feeling when you drive....4 seats. BUT...it still is not a Porsche. A 911S cab that you wanted to get there psybj...drives so much nicer than the Mini. But like you said...for a fun bounce around town car...the Mini is the way to go. I've had both and although Mini is fun, I will take my Porsche back anyday of the week. Now i'm just waiting for the economy to go back up, my company makes money again, and then i'll keep my Mini for daily driving for work and buy another Porsche again for the weekend.

 

They're different classes of cars in almost every way, including the price. Like the OP said be prepared to pour $4-500/month into your Porsche to keep it up, an extra $100/month in gas, and at least that much per month to insure. That's buying another lightly equipped MCS every 3 years of Porsche ownership. My friend had a 911, and it was cool, but only rarely were we ever able to use the power and handling. The thing was really a harsh ride too. I'd rather have a Boxster or Cayman than a 911 due to the mid engine layout. You can't even get 2 sets of golf clubs in the 911. That sux!

 

I'm only 27 and insurance for an '08 Cayman S was a bit cheaper than my MINI... Even my R32 is much cheaper (less than 2/3 the price) than the MINI for some reason.

 

hey velourfrog.. i'm a little lost. i think something is wrong with your insurance company if you are paying more for your Mini insurance than for a Cayman S or R32? that's not right as the Cayman and R32 have bigger engines and are high performance cars. you better price check with your insurance company again. With my Porsche i pay a lot more than i do with my Mini now and i also own a '08 Audi S3 and i pay more for that than the Mini too.. which is normal as it is a high performance car level.

 

I'm not complaining too much, my insurance is fairly inexpensive for both cars considering my wife has a point on her license...

I'm not sure how insurance is in Switzerland, but here they often charge more for stupid things like a car being turbo or 2 door vs 4 door...

 

hey velour...i used to live in Pasadena Now i'm working and living in Switzerland. Anyways, insurance is like that here in Swiss too.. charge more for turbo and 2 vs 4 doors. But how can your Mini be more expensive than the Porsche or R32? that's not possible, especially with the Mini smaller engine.

 

Wow, small world. What area did you live in? I must say I'd rather be in Switzerland...

I don't know how or why it is the way it is, but my rates are super low compared to other carriers I've gotten quotes from, so I'm not going to complain! (Have Mercury) My R32 with 6k extra mileage per year over the MINI is much cheaper and has the same coverage. When I nearly bought the Cayman S, I got a quote and it was somewhere in-between the MINI and R.