Boxster vs 911 - worth the extra?
Discussion
I've had many Boxsters and Caymans - 986/987 now in a really nice 2013 2.7 981, love it to bits.
However my head has been turned................same specialist I got my Boxster from has a lovely 991.1 2012 Carrera S Cabriolet, Platinum Silver with blue hood and interior.
Never even driven a 911, so I dont really know what the £20k extra gives me - lots more power, more toys and to some "its a 911" is enough?
If I were to test drive it, what should I expect?
A 911 has never really been on my radar but this particular one has got me thinking..........................
Any input would be great!
However my head has been turned................same specialist I got my Boxster from has a lovely 991.1 2012 Carrera S Cabriolet, Platinum Silver with blue hood and interior.
Never even driven a 911, so I dont really know what the £20k extra gives me - lots more power, more toys and to some "its a 911" is enough?
If I were to test drive it, what should I expect?
A 911 has never really been on my radar but this particular one has got me thinking..........................
Any input would be great!
I can give you my experience, but not in a 991...
I owned a 986 2.7 for 5 years and loved it. My first Porsche and used as a daily for the first 3 years. It was already 15 years old when I bought it. Had to sell it due to our wedding but later on bought a 987 2.7. The 987 was in excellent condition and again about 15 years old when I bought it. It was immaculate and although it was probably the nicer car, compared to the 986 it felt a little too polished and well planted. The limit of its ability in terms of the handling seemed very safe - or maybe I just didn't push it hard enough on the road.
A year ago I decided to sell the 987 and but a well used but mechanically looked after 996.2 911. C2 manual and pretty basic spec. Compared to the Boxsters it gets more comments and compliments which is nice but not important to me. What I do find it is you can feel it is a faster car, is a little more roomy for me (I'm 6'3) and the extra interior space is more practical that a small rear boot was. We can put 2 small cases in the back of the 911 with the rear seats down along with various other items such as camping chairs, coats etc. The front boot is the same size as the 986 so plenty of room (not as large if you opt for a C4/C4S).
The all round visibility is better than the Boxster was with the roof up and it is a better long distance GT car - could be be due to having more room for me to fit in. Driving the 911 feels more special. Very hard to explain why and the Boxster is an excellent car if taken in isolation. It's just the 996 feels like more of an event and is feels like you're driving an icon more of the time. It makes me feel I have something more interesting in the garage. I think the only way you'll know is to drive the 991. Very different to a 996 but you may still have the same conclusions.
Having said that I sometimes miss having the roof down and would still love another Boxster to sit alongside the 996... I owned the both the 996 and 987 in Seal Grey for about a week before the 987 was sold.
I owned a 986 2.7 for 5 years and loved it. My first Porsche and used as a daily for the first 3 years. It was already 15 years old when I bought it. Had to sell it due to our wedding but later on bought a 987 2.7. The 987 was in excellent condition and again about 15 years old when I bought it. It was immaculate and although it was probably the nicer car, compared to the 986 it felt a little too polished and well planted. The limit of its ability in terms of the handling seemed very safe - or maybe I just didn't push it hard enough on the road.
A year ago I decided to sell the 987 and but a well used but mechanically looked after 996.2 911. C2 manual and pretty basic spec. Compared to the Boxsters it gets more comments and compliments which is nice but not important to me. What I do find it is you can feel it is a faster car, is a little more roomy for me (I'm 6'3) and the extra interior space is more practical that a small rear boot was. We can put 2 small cases in the back of the 911 with the rear seats down along with various other items such as camping chairs, coats etc. The front boot is the same size as the 986 so plenty of room (not as large if you opt for a C4/C4S).
The all round visibility is better than the Boxster was with the roof up and it is a better long distance GT car - could be be due to having more room for me to fit in. Driving the 911 feels more special. Very hard to explain why and the Boxster is an excellent car if taken in isolation. It's just the 996 feels like more of an event and is feels like you're driving an icon more of the time. It makes me feel I have something more interesting in the garage. I think the only way you'll know is to drive the 991. Very different to a 996 but you may still have the same conclusions.
Having said that I sometimes miss having the roof down and would still love another Boxster to sit alongside the 996... I owned the both the 996 and 987 in Seal Grey for about a week before the 987 was sold.
A Cayman or Boxster won't try and send you off into the scenery as easily as a 911.
Went around a roundabout in my 911 on a misty morning, slightly damp road, not doing anything silly, I assume I hit some diesel on the road which created an instant unexpected tank slapper
I found the Cayman just too competent and the 911 much more challenging/interesting.
Went around a roundabout in my 911 on a misty morning, slightly damp road, not doing anything silly, I assume I hit some diesel on the road which created an instant unexpected tank slapper
I found the Cayman just too competent and the 911 much more challenging/interesting.
FMOB said:
A Cayman or Boxster won't try and send you off into the scenery as easily as a 911.
Went around a roundabout in my 911 on a misty morning, slightly damp road, not doing anything silly, I assume I hit some diesel on the road which created an instant unexpected tank slapper
I found the Cayman just too competent and the 911 much more challenging/interesting.
Are you talking about the 991 there? I find their handling benign, like that of a 981 and every other modern car.Went around a roundabout in my 911 on a misty morning, slightly damp road, not doing anything silly, I assume I hit some diesel on the road which created an instant unexpected tank slapper
I found the Cayman just too competent and the 911 much more challenging/interesting.
I'm not saying thats a bad thing, mind.
Gerber1 said:
FMOB said:
A Cayman or Boxster won't try and send you off into the scenery as easily as a 911.
Went around a roundabout in my 911 on a misty morning, slightly damp road, not doing anything silly, I assume I hit some diesel on the road which created an instant unexpected tank slapper
I found the Cayman just too competent and the 911 much more challenging/interesting.
Are you talking about the 991 there? I find their handling benign, like that of a 981 and every other modern car.Went around a roundabout in my 911 on a misty morning, slightly damp road, not doing anything silly, I assume I hit some diesel on the road which created an instant unexpected tank slapper
I found the Cayman just too competent and the 911 much more challenging/interesting.
I'm not saying thats a bad thing, mind.
Still with the engine hanging out the back, it will dominate the handling dynamics, Porsche have been moving the engine further inboard with every generation trying to tame the natural tendency.
The 911 will be better as an all rounder. They cost almost double the price of a Boxster for a reason , because it is significantly better. Folk will say the Boxster handles better, you can jump in it and floor it everywhere safe in the knowledge that the superior dynamics will get you through. They’ll say it is more alive, the right size, perfect for country road hooning and they’ll probably be right.
What the 911 does so well is in its refinement, yes refinement. You can potter around listening to the stereo, enjoy the suspension, the exhaust, soaking in admiring glances because it’s an iconic 911. Then when you fancy a proper drive it’ll do that too, the way it makes you feel, the noise, the history. And then you’ll park it up walk away and turn your head round to take another look. That’s a 911 in a nutshell - Boxster, Caymans, Panamera, Cayenne, Macan, Taycan or whatever are all Porsches but the 911 is the first, the rest are following in its footsteps.
I honestly didn’t know what all the 911 fuss was about until I bought one, then another - I love them, honestly.
What the 911 does so well is in its refinement, yes refinement. You can potter around listening to the stereo, enjoy the suspension, the exhaust, soaking in admiring glances because it’s an iconic 911. Then when you fancy a proper drive it’ll do that too, the way it makes you feel, the noise, the history. And then you’ll park it up walk away and turn your head round to take another look. That’s a 911 in a nutshell - Boxster, Caymans, Panamera, Cayenne, Macan, Taycan or whatever are all Porsches but the 911 is the first, the rest are following in its footsteps.
I honestly didn’t know what all the 911 fuss was about until I bought one, then another - I love them, honestly.
You might want to test drive the 991 before committing - I understand they provide a more comfortable drive than earlier models.
I've not tried a Boxster but I knew someone with a 986 and a 996, and he said that the 986 was more fun to drive. Thing is, the 911 is iconic so it's something worthwhile trying... and you can sell it later, anyway.
Edit: you might prefer a 997. I understand these were the last 911 before Audi levels of driver comfort came into play for 911s.
I've not tried a Boxster but I knew someone with a 986 and a 996, and he said that the 986 was more fun to drive. Thing is, the 911 is iconic so it's something worthwhile trying... and you can sell it later, anyway.
Edit: you might prefer a 997. I understand these were the last 911 before Audi levels of driver comfort came into play for 911s.
Edited by Hoofy on Tuesday 20th August 09:59
Test drive it and then think about it over a weekend.
I sold my 981c 2.7 to move into a 991T for the rear seats and now I'm looking to get back into a 981. They are just great cars, the right size for UK roads, cheap to run and practical. If you need to scratch the 911 itch then do it and stomach the 10-20k it will cost in depreciation, running costs and dealer margin if you want to go back to a 981 in a year or so.
I sold my 981c 2.7 to move into a 991T for the rear seats and now I'm looking to get back into a 981. They are just great cars, the right size for UK roads, cheap to run and practical. If you need to scratch the 911 itch then do it and stomach the 10-20k it will cost in depreciation, running costs and dealer margin if you want to go back to a 981 in a year or so.
Not a fair comparison given your scenario but I ran a 997 C2S for 3 years that I absolutely adored, loved that car, it was an absolute drivers delight.
But after that I had a 981 GTS and now have a 718 4.0 GTS…… and for pure driving thrills they’re on another level again.
So I think it depends on what you need and what means the most to you! For me personally I’m looking for the best road driving experienced, with reasonable practicality - and I don’t think there’s any contest for that, if you don’t need the seats and don’t have hang ups about it not being a 911.
But after that I had a 981 GTS and now have a 718 4.0 GTS…… and for pure driving thrills they’re on another level again.
So I think it depends on what you need and what means the most to you! For me personally I’m looking for the best road driving experienced, with reasonable practicality - and I don’t think there’s any contest for that, if you don’t need the seats and don’t have hang ups about it not being a 911.
maz8062 said:
The 911 will be better as an all rounder. They cost almost double the price of a Boxster for a reason , because it is significantly better. Folk will say the Boxster handles better, you can jump in it and floor it everywhere safe in the knowledge that the superior dynamics will get you through. They’ll say it is more alive, the right size, perfect for country road hooning and they’ll probably be right.
What the 911 does so well is in its refinement, yes refinement. You can potter around listening to the stereo, enjoy the suspension, the exhaust, soaking in admiring glances because it’s an iconic 911. Then when you fancy a proper drive it’ll do that too, the way it makes you feel, the noise, the history. And then you’ll park it up walk away and turn your head round to take another look. That’s a 911 in a nutshell - Boxster, Caymans, Panamera, Cayenne, Macan, Taycan or whatever are all Porsches but the 911 is the first, the rest are following in its footsteps.
I honestly didn’t know what all the 911 fuss was about until I bought one, then another - I love them, honestly.
I do like the 911 but the 356 was actually the first Porsche sportscar.What the 911 does so well is in its refinement, yes refinement. You can potter around listening to the stereo, enjoy the suspension, the exhaust, soaking in admiring glances because it’s an iconic 911. Then when you fancy a proper drive it’ll do that too, the way it makes you feel, the noise, the history. And then you’ll park it up walk away and turn your head round to take another look. That’s a 911 in a nutshell - Boxster, Caymans, Panamera, Cayenne, Macan, Taycan or whatever are all Porsches but the 911 is the first, the rest are following in its footsteps.
I honestly didn’t know what all the 911 fuss was about until I bought one, then another - I love them, honestly.
Aeons back I moved from after a 986 and a 986S to a 9971.S. The 911 was clearly a more mature and faster car with mroe interesting hadnling. Value for money, Boxsters are hard to beat. IMO you need to be willing to pay a premium for a car that is mostly different but not that much "better" when moving to a 911. It's a different story if you get into a GT3. Since I got my first in 2010, I never went back to vanilla 911s. To me GT3s are what 911s should be in the first place
7184c said:
Test drive it and then think about it over a weekend.
I sold my 981c 2.7 to move into a 991T for the rear seats and now I'm looking to get back into a 981. They are just great cars, the right size for UK roads, cheap to run and practical. If you need to scratch the 911 itch then do it and stomach the 10-20k it will cost in depreciation, running costs and dealer margin if you want to go back to a 981 in a year or so.
And don't take your wallet with you when visiting the dealer for the test drive, if you do you might come home with it.I sold my 981c 2.7 to move into a 991T for the rear seats and now I'm looking to get back into a 981. They are just great cars, the right size for UK roads, cheap to run and practical. If you need to scratch the 911 itch then do it and stomach the 10-20k it will cost in depreciation, running costs and dealer margin if you want to go back to a 981 in a year or so.
MOBB said:
I've had many Boxsters and Caymans - 986/987 now in a really nice 2013 2.7 981, love it to bits.
However my head has been turned................same specialist I got my Boxster from has a lovely 991.1 2012 Carrera S Cabriolet, Platinum Silver with blue hood and interior.
I'm not sure that moving from a Box to a 911 cabriolet will be worth it unless you want to use the back seats. Whereas a C2 Coupe might press your buttons. It will also depend on how you use your cars - how often you might use the extra pace, space and long-distance refinement of the 911.However my head has been turned................same specialist I got my Boxster from has a lovely 991.1 2012 Carrera S Cabriolet, Platinum Silver with blue hood and interior.
braddo said:
MOBB said:
I've had many Boxsters and Caymans - 986/987 now in a really nice 2013 2.7 981, love it to bits.
However my head has been turned................same specialist I got my Boxster from has a lovely 991.1 2012 Carrera S Cabriolet, Platinum Silver with blue hood and interior.
I'm not sure that moving from a Box to a 911 cabriolet will be worth it unless you want to use the back seats. Whereas a C2 Coupe might press your buttons. It will also depend on how you use your cars - how often you might use the extra pace, space and long-distance refinement of the 911.However my head has been turned................same specialist I got my Boxster from has a lovely 991.1 2012 Carrera S Cabriolet, Platinum Silver with blue hood and interior.
Coming from a 2.7 though, I think you will notice the fairly significant power bump but would it really be double the fun for double the price? Not so sure.
Well it's all purely subjective but if anyone was building the ultimate sports car now it's likely to be mid-engined.
So I do not think a £20k premium would be worth it. But alas, cars are largely emotive purchases and you can have all the stats & 'on paper' points on the world, it's unlikely to override how you feel about a car. I guess it's the definition of how strongly you, and others feel about that to justify the extra cash.
Ultimately we can all argue until we are blue in the face but the market indicates both models continue to perform strongly, so there's a market for both
So I do not think a £20k premium would be worth it. But alas, cars are largely emotive purchases and you can have all the stats & 'on paper' points on the world, it's unlikely to override how you feel about a car. I guess it's the definition of how strongly you, and others feel about that to justify the extra cash.
Ultimately we can all argue until we are blue in the face but the market indicates both models continue to perform strongly, so there's a market for both
911 cabrio vs Boxtser? Boxster.
911 vs Cayman or Boxster? Well...
After a 993 some while back I had a 981 Cayman S, followed by a 981 CGTS. Both Caymans great cars. After the GTS I fancied a 911 again. Liked the idea of a sunroof as opposed to a full top-down Boxster experience, plus manual as opposed to PDK. Currently have a 991 Carrera T with the right spec for me. I don't think I'd go back to a Cayman, not least because whatever comes after the current generation will be electric.
The 911 is special, although the heavy-looking 992 is less so in my view. But they are all great cars. Drive some and see what you get off on. You may find the 911 worth the 'premium'. On the other hand you might not.
911 vs Cayman or Boxster? Well...
After a 993 some while back I had a 981 Cayman S, followed by a 981 CGTS. Both Caymans great cars. After the GTS I fancied a 911 again. Liked the idea of a sunroof as opposed to a full top-down Boxster experience, plus manual as opposed to PDK. Currently have a 991 Carrera T with the right spec for me. I don't think I'd go back to a Cayman, not least because whatever comes after the current generation will be electric.
The 911 is special, although the heavy-looking 992 is less so in my view. But they are all great cars. Drive some and see what you get off on. You may find the 911 worth the 'premium'. On the other hand you might not.
I’ve had my 981 CS for 4 years. It’s got more or less every option bar PCCB, so I’m very hesitant at the idea of letting it go, as it’s just such a good, good thing, and as good an example of the car as you’ll find.
I tested a 991.1S last summer, prepared to make the leap. Honestly, I preferred it less - for my purposes. The engine was great, and as a daily proposition it is less noisy in the cabin and has back seats (which I don’t care about). It really didn’t feel as playful as my cayman.
Everyone’s needs are different, but this highlights the need to test them, ideally as close to back to back as you can. They are all very different and we all crave different things.
I’m happy with my choice. Once you’ve driven one, you’ll know what the answer is.
I tested a 991.1S last summer, prepared to make the leap. Honestly, I preferred it less - for my purposes. The engine was great, and as a daily proposition it is less noisy in the cabin and has back seats (which I don’t care about). It really didn’t feel as playful as my cayman.
Everyone’s needs are different, but this highlights the need to test them, ideally as close to back to back as you can. They are all very different and we all crave different things.
I’m happy with my choice. Once you’ve driven one, you’ll know what the answer is.
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