Selling my 987.2 Boxster S for a Vantage - Am I mad?
Discussion
I listed my 987.2 Boxster S for sale today.

I did so with mixed emotions. It is a fantastic car to drive, it's in excellent shape, and I've got 18mths of warranty left. I'll be swapping this for an Aston Vantage of unknown pedigree and, in all probability, without a warranty. The Boxster is hands down the more engaging drive but I've always wanted as Aston and now I have the opportunity to get one.
I posted something similar on the PH Aston forum for advice. It was helpful but all those who responded were Aston fans. It seems only fair that I offer the same opportunity to the Porsche crowd. So, put simply, am I mad?
ETA
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I did so with mixed emotions. It is a fantastic car to drive, it's in excellent shape, and I've got 18mths of warranty left. I'll be swapping this for an Aston Vantage of unknown pedigree and, in all probability, without a warranty. The Boxster is hands down the more engaging drive but I've always wanted as Aston and now I have the opportunity to get one.
I posted something similar on the PH Aston forum for advice. It was helpful but all those who responded were Aston fans. It seems only fair that I offer the same opportunity to the Porsche crowd. So, put simply, am I mad?
Edited by HappyBoxster on Thursday 4th September 19:05
ETA
No links to ads please.
Edited by Big Al. on Friday 5th September 19:22
I have just bought a Boxster GTS after being lucky enough to have had two Aston Martin Vantage convertibles.
After 4 years of AM ownership I wanted a change looked at the F type and although it’s a very good drivers car it’s just too wide for B roads.
Previously I have owned Lotuses and TVR's, never really been interested in Porsche as always tried to buy British cars.
Looked at Lotus again but too sparse and I wanted a softop but something smaller than the AM and the Porsche GTS does everything that I wanted.
So if you are changing to an AM from a Porsche I would try and get a 4.7 AM with sports suspension, or get it modified as many do by Bamford Rose otherwise they are a little soft on the suspension and you need the extra BHP of the 4.7.
Do I miss the AM? well if AM had bought out a "new" Vantage I probably would have stayed with them. But I am having more fun in the GTS than the AM, it is more nimble, is faster than the AM both on top speeds where roads allow and cornering. Yes people do not always let me out at junctions in the Porsche like they did in the AM, or give the Porsche a second glance that the AM used to get, but so what.
But like you I had an itch to try a Porsche and the GTS fits very nicely for the next few years, give AM a go you will enjoy the experience.
After 4 years of AM ownership I wanted a change looked at the F type and although it’s a very good drivers car it’s just too wide for B roads.
Previously I have owned Lotuses and TVR's, never really been interested in Porsche as always tried to buy British cars.
Looked at Lotus again but too sparse and I wanted a softop but something smaller than the AM and the Porsche GTS does everything that I wanted.
So if you are changing to an AM from a Porsche I would try and get a 4.7 AM with sports suspension, or get it modified as many do by Bamford Rose otherwise they are a little soft on the suspension and you need the extra BHP of the 4.7.
Do I miss the AM? well if AM had bought out a "new" Vantage I probably would have stayed with them. But I am having more fun in the GTS than the AM, it is more nimble, is faster than the AM both on top speeds where roads allow and cornering. Yes people do not always let me out at junctions in the Porsche like they did in the AM, or give the Porsche a second glance that the AM used to get, but so what.
But like you I had an itch to try a Porsche and the GTS fits very nicely for the next few years, give AM a go you will enjoy the experience.
m33ufo said:
You'll love it for a few weeks and then wish you'd kept the 987.
Whys that?I'd quite like a Vantage to be honest and I did consider one before my Cayman, but as above I'd rather have an excellent Porsche than a ropey Aston.
But if you can find a nice one then surely it is worth a punt?
I did a similar thing several years ago. Initially revelled in the the beauty and delicious noise of the Vantage (mine was a 2006 4.3 manual), but ultimately I found it more show than go which was compounded by a poor manual box. AM fitted a revised gearbox linkage under warranty but it made a marginal difference. Generally a disappointing experience.
I can fully understand why you'd want to scratch the itch, but you'll probably miss the Box quite quickly IMHO.
I can fully understand why you'd want to scratch the itch, but you'll probably miss the Box quite quickly IMHO.
m33ufo said:
I did a similar thing several years ago. Initially revelled in the the beauty and delicious noise of the Vantage (mine was a 2006 4.3 manual), but ultimately I found it more show than go which was compounded by a poor manual box. AM fitted a revised gearbox linkage under warranty but it made a marginal difference. Generally a disappointing experience.
I can fully understand why you'd want to scratch the itch, but you'll probably miss the Box quite quickly IMHO.
I'm another one who went through this; don't get me wrong I enjoyed my AM ownership (tho not the cost as it was as the market tanked) but it really made me appreciate what a great driving car the Boxster is...I can fully understand why you'd want to scratch the itch, but you'll probably miss the Box quite quickly IMHO.
Trikster said:
m33ufo said:
I did a similar thing several years ago. Initially revelled in the the beauty and delicious noise of the Vantage (mine was a 2006 4.3 manual), but ultimately I found it more show than go which was compounded by a poor manual box. AM fitted a revised gearbox linkage under warranty but it made a marginal difference. Generally a disappointing experience.
I can fully understand why you'd want to scratch the itch, but you'll probably miss the Box quite quickly IMHO.
I'm another one who went through this; don't get me wrong I enjoyed my AM ownership (tho not the cost as it was as the market tanked) but it really made me appreciate what a great driving car the Boxster is...I can fully understand why you'd want to scratch the itch, but you'll probably miss the Box quite quickly IMHO.
SHIFTY said:
I have just bought a Boxster GTS after being lucky enough to have had two Aston Martin Vantage convertibles.
After 4 years of AM ownership I wanted a change looked at the F type and although it’s a very good drivers car it’s just too wide for B roads.
Previously I have owned Lotuses and TVR's, never really been interested in Porsche as always tried to buy British cars.
Looked at Lotus again but too sparse and I wanted a softop but something smaller than the AM and the Porsche GTS does everything that I wanted.
So if you are changing to an AM from a Porsche I would try and get a 4.7 AM with sports suspension, or get it modified as many do by Bamford Rose otherwise they are a little soft on the suspension and you need the extra BHP of the 4.7.
Do I miss the AM? well if AM had bought out a "new" Vantage I probably would have stayed with them. But I am having more fun in the GTS than the AM, it is more nimble, is faster than the AM both on top speeds where roads allow and cornering. Yes people do not always let me out at junctions in the Porsche like they did in the AM, or give the Porsche a second glance that the AM used to get, but so what.
But like you I had an itch to try a Porsche and the GTS fits very nicely for the next few years, give AM a go you will enjoy the experience.
And I had a Cayman R, sold that (one of the few cars I regret parting with), purchased a Vantage v12v, just sold that, and as Shifty knows, ordered a Boxster GTS. Yes, the Aston itch must be scratched, which I have now done, but to the broader point the Cayman/Boxster duo is a more relaxed and enjoyable drive at lower speeds, with the ability to whip around a track more quickly than any AM Vantage. The nimble enjoyment of the Porsche is in my view what was missing in the v12v. Also, the Vantages are very low and old tech. But, as my dear lady would say, the Astons stand out in a crowd, and you don't notice Porsches, which, as I reminded her, is why my new Boxster GTS is racing yellow! (Not sure that held any water as an argument, but... ;-)After 4 years of AM ownership I wanted a change looked at the F type and although it’s a very good drivers car it’s just too wide for B roads.
Previously I have owned Lotuses and TVR's, never really been interested in Porsche as always tried to buy British cars.
Looked at Lotus again but too sparse and I wanted a softop but something smaller than the AM and the Porsche GTS does everything that I wanted.
So if you are changing to an AM from a Porsche I would try and get a 4.7 AM with sports suspension, or get it modified as many do by Bamford Rose otherwise they are a little soft on the suspension and you need the extra BHP of the 4.7.
Do I miss the AM? well if AM had bought out a "new" Vantage I probably would have stayed with them. But I am having more fun in the GTS than the AM, it is more nimble, is faster than the AM both on top speeds where roads allow and cornering. Yes people do not always let me out at junctions in the Porsche like they did in the AM, or give the Porsche a second glance that the AM used to get, but so what.
But like you I had an itch to try a Porsche and the GTS fits very nicely for the next few years, give AM a go you will enjoy the experience.
I WOULD recommend you buying an AM warranty, at least for the first year if you can, so you have peace of mind. My v12v was mint with 5k miles, and in the last year (4th year) had a new fuel pump, door handles resprayed, front skirt resprayed, inside boot leather handle replaced, oh, and a new clutch which took a week to fit, a known issue with model...
I WILL miss the v12 starting up, and the looks, which in my view, cannot be beaten (v12v in titanium silver)
I went from a 911 C4S to my now present 4.7 Vantage....no regrets. Its a manual so if going to a SS Vantage you may be a bit jaded, especially coming from PDK. I love it. Yes a 911/987 would "drive" better but its all about the sense of occasion with the Aston. And contrary to what others may say, you get treated better in a Aston!!!
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