718 Boxster GTS 4.0
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E90_M3Ross

Original Poster:

36,277 posts

230 months

At the ripe, old-man age of 36, I was feeling down about the future of cars. Fast but dull, big and heavy, full of nanny electronics and just not fun. When I bought my E90 M3 it was my only car so I needed something to be both practical and fun, and it was absolutely fantastic at that. I since bought an E46 325i as a runaround to keep the M3 for weekends and holidays. But I decided I wanted a special, new-ish 2 seater sports car.

Criteria were pretty strict..... Under 3-4 years old, still available with a warranty, at least as fast as the M3 in a straight line (I don't need much faster, for a B road blast it's more than enough), naturally aspirated, at least 6 cylinders, fun to drive but still tolerable for long road trips (where I can do 2.5k miles in 10 days) with a budget of about £60k. There weren't many options!

So..... I looked at 718s. I was happy with either a Cayman or a Boxster, I'd have preferred a Boxster because, by all reviews, on the road they drive identically, and even on track it's hard to tell the difference. Boxsters are typically a few £k more expensive, so I'd settled for a Cayman.

I tested a Cayman to see if it was what I wanted, and had to have one. A lovely Boxster was up for sale which I'd saved on my list on the Approved Used Porsche website but it was £67k. I kept my eye out. I looked again 1.5 weeks ago and on the Thursday it'd dropped to £64k. fk it.

I phoned the dealer, put down a deposit, having never driven a Boxster hehe

Over the next few days I kept paying off chunks and I paid the final amount Thursday just gone and collected it Friday. It was in Sheffield. I live in Portsmouth! Slept sod all, got a stupidly early train (left home at 0445!), the dealer collected me in a 992 911 GTS hybrid thing. Very fast, but confirmed that I'd definitely prefer the Boxster.

I did a slight detour to meet a fellow PHer, did a brief blast up on a few roads around the Peak District before heading home. 250 miles, I did the first 90mins with the roof down, and the final hour. What a car. I am chuffed.









The spec is fairly low but I am more into the driving experience so I preferred a lower spec Boxster to a higher spec Cayman. It was registered November 2022 and had 17480 miles on collection. It has the stuff I really wanted..... A 4.0 flat 6 in the middle. After testing a PDK I wanted that (amazing gearbox!). Apart from that it's got a few other bits like the full extended leather etc. Base audio but I'm not too fussed on that.

I love the colour, and it's the only one I've seen that has this interior combo. I love it.

Only plans for now are to fit some zunsport grilles - one issue they can occasionally suffer is road debris taking out the somewhat exposed radiators. These help protect them. I'll get those over the next month or two. Other than that it's just enjoy it!

jackcactii

259 posts

56 months

Fairly low spec maybe, but that interior sets it apart!

M1C

2,064 posts

129 months

Agreed, lovely to see the contrasting interior! Very nice indeed!

venster70

89 posts

56 months

Bose is a good option, I had a Boxster with the standard audio, it was truly awful.

But you've got the main sound system, flat 6 and a sports exhaust!

danb79

12,199 posts

90 months

Wow! Never saw that coming Ross...

Looks a superb car and a gorgeous colour cool

E90_M3Ross

Original Poster:

36,277 posts

230 months

danb79 said:
Wow! Never saw that coming Ross...

Looks a superb car and a gorgeous colour cool
You commented on the M3 Cutters for sale page and I think I mentioned I was after a Porsche? laugh

It's a very, very good steer!

danb79

12,199 posts

90 months

E90_M3Ross said:
danb79 said:
Wow! Never saw that coming Ross...

Looks a superb car and a gorgeous colour cool
You commented on the M3 Cutters for sale page and I think I mentioned I was after a Porsche? laugh

It's a very, very good steer!
I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning; never mind what I've written a week or so ago hehe

Northbrook

1,553 posts

81 months

Looks great! Enjoy.

Mr Tidy

27,780 posts

145 months

Having never driven one that was a brave buy!

So I'm glad you are chuffed. Lovely colour combo too. Enjoy. thumbup

E90_M3Ross

Original Poster:

36,277 posts

230 months

Mr Tidy said:
Having never driven one that was a brave buy!

So I'm glad you are chuffed. Lovely colour combo too. Enjoy. thumbup
In fairness all reviews basically say "on the road, you simply can't tell the difference between Boxster and Cayman" so I knew I wasn't going to be too disappointed. Having driven the Cayman GTS 4.0, I can say that neither can I. Even with the roof down the Boxster just feels so good to throw around.

Mr Tidy

27,780 posts

145 months

E90_M3Ross said:
In fairness all reviews basically say "on the road, you simply can't tell the difference between Boxster and Cayman" so I knew I wasn't going to be too disappointed. Having driven the Cayman GTS 4.0, I can say that neither can I. Even with the roof down the Boxster just feels so good to throw around.
OK, so you weren't going into it completely blind then!





Bright Halo

3,621 posts

253 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Very nice indeed!
Really like the interior colour and Boxster look great in red.

Hants PHer

6,337 posts

129 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Looks lovely, well done. The Boxster/Cayman 4.0 GTS is a dream car for me, but I do love my E92 M3 and a cost to change of £40k or so is something I just can't bring myself to do. Perhaps in a year or two. Anyway, enjoy the Porsche, cracking car!

E90_M3Ross

Original Poster:

36,277 posts

230 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Hants PHer said:
Looks lovely, well done. The Boxster/Cayman 4.0 GTS is a dream car for me, but I do love my E92 M3 and a cost to change of £40k or so is something I just can't bring myself to do. Perhaps in a year or two. Anyway, enjoy the Porsche, cracking car!
Yeah it's a big chunk to change up. Man maths said that the running costs won't be as high as my E90 M3, and come sale time it'll be worth more, so it's not costing £40k, it's just the entry cost is that much more.

The M3 handled well (and mine had the entire suspension refreshed) but the Porsche is absolutely in another league. Straight line.... It's definitely faster but not by loads. I suspect the Porsche is E60 M5 performance in a straight line.

MercedesClassic

970 posts

115 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Congratulations Ross, that’s a beautiful car, that interior and your driving observations really add to it.

Any road trips planned?

E90_M3Ross

Original Poster:

36,277 posts

230 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
MercedesClassic said:
Congratulations Ross, that s a beautiful car, that interior and your driving observations really add to it.

Any road trips planned?
Only thing I've got booked currently is a trip back to north Scotland next summer which I'm very much looking forward to.

limpsfield

6,384 posts

271 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
I do think these are amazing and I really want one! Particulary since watching the Harry video on it.



Be interesting to see how you get on with it. Fantastic cars in my eyes.


Its Just Adz

16,755 posts

227 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Bloody lovely, well done!!!

E90_M3Ross

Original Poster:

36,277 posts

230 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
limpsfield said:
I do think these are amazing and I really want one! Particulary since watching the Harry video on it.



Be interesting to see how you get on with it. Fantastic cars in my eyes.
I didn't manage to get out in it at the weekend, but went out for a quick blast this evening. It is a proper B road weapon! I absolutely love it, it drives so well!

Next week I'm taking it to my alignment guru who's already said I need to bring it with a full tank of fuel and he'll put weights on the seat to match my weight. Will be going for a fast road setup. It feels great as it is, but he may be able to improve it!

MercedesClassic

970 posts

115 months

E90_M3Ross said:
MercedesClassic said:
Congratulations Ross, that s a beautiful car, that interior and your driving observations really add to it.

Any road trips planned?
Only thing I've got booked currently is a trip back to north Scotland next summer which I'm very much looking forward to.
That will be fantastic. Back in 2002 after my mum died I jumped on the ferry to party in Glasgow. Then drove what’s now known as the NC500, I don’t think it has a tourism name in those days. I think I just followed the road as I don’t remember having a map and definitely before GPS.

It was an experience I’d love to repeat. Your car will be ace, especially if it’s dry to drop the roof. Health to enjoy.