new Boxster S vs. 2nd hand 996 convertible ?
Discussion
On Monday I test drove a Boxster S 3.4 (295 bhp) out of sheer curiosity. I was really impressed. Obviously it is no 996TT like I have at the moment, but for the power it was great. The Boxster did have the better ride, but not grip or cornering, excellent standard exhaust noise though. It's a serious contender if one wanted to calm down on the speed front a bit and go soft top. Basically a really gifted car.
Then I looked at the cost and availability. The car sensibly specked would be £43 K and earliest delivery was March / April 2007. Now I reckon that by then one might be able get a 997 convertible for about £52 to £55 K so why a Boxster S with 30 bhp less, 2 less seats, and not the car Porsche is famed for ?
Cyrus
Then I looked at the cost and availability. The car sensibly specked would be £43 K and earliest delivery was March / April 2007. Now I reckon that by then one might be able get a 997 convertible for about £52 to £55 K so why a Boxster S with 30 bhp less, 2 less seats, and not the car Porsche is famed for ?
Cyrus
cyrus1971 said:
On Monday I test drove a Boxster S 3.4 (295 bhp) out of sheer curiosity. I was really impressed. Obviously it is no 996TT like I have at the moment, but for the power it was great. The Boxster did have the better ride, but not grip or cornering, excellent standard exhaust noise though. It's a serious contender if one wanted to calm down on the speed front a bit and go soft top. Basically a really gifted car.
Then I looked at the cost and availability. The car sensibly specked would be £43 K and earliest delivery was March / April 2007. Now I reckon that by then one might be able get a 997 convertible for about £52 to £55 K so why a Boxster S with 30 bhp less, 2 less seats, and not the car Porsche is famed for ?
Cyrus
The main question imo is do you ever need the xtra 2 seats?Then I looked at the cost and availability. The car sensibly specked would be £43 K and earliest delivery was March / April 2007. Now I reckon that by then one might be able get a 997 convertible for about £52 to £55 K so why a Boxster S with 30 bhp less, 2 less seats, and not the car Porsche is famed for ?
Cyrus
cyrus1971 said:
On Monday I test drove a Boxster S 3.4 (295 bhp) out of sheer curiosity. I was really impressed. Obviously it is no 996TT like I have at the moment, but for the power it was great. The Boxster did have the better ride, but not grip or cornering, excellent standard exhaust noise though. It's a serious contender if one wanted to calm down on the speed front a bit and go soft top. Basically a really gifted car.
Then I looked at the cost and availability. The car sensibly specked would be £43 K and earliest delivery was March / April 2007. Now I reckon that by then one might be able get a 997 convertible for about £52 to £55 K so why a Boxster S with 30 bhp less, 2 less seats, and not the car Porsche is famed for ?
Cyrus
Crikey! - a Boxster with "no grip or cornering"?!. I'd steer well clear if I was you. Not sure why you need to ask the question here since you've already owned one. Went looking for one for my girlfriend a couple of days ago - most dealers can get one for Dec. delivery so I'd try a different OPC if I was you.Then I looked at the cost and availability. The car sensibly specked would be £43 K and earliest delivery was March / April 2007. Now I reckon that by then one might be able get a 997 convertible for about £52 to £55 K so why a Boxster S with 30 bhp less, 2 less seats, and not the car Porsche is famed for ?
Cyrus
I think it is also only fair to add the 997 would be another 10k as well! which is 25pct more than the boxster. Personaly, I dont like the look of the 911 convertible as it it looks too 'lumpy' at the back.
Edited by satans worm on Thursday 14th September because i just cant spell
Edited by satans worm on Thursday 14th September 08:43
Edited by satans worm on Thursday 14th September 08:44
An alternative would be. Buy year old BoxsterS (save a few bob) spend that saving plus 'saving' from not buying a 911Cab (which IMO looks to hunch backed anyway) and pop in a TTP twin turbo kit for approx £15k - I believe it gives you around 450bhp. The same people are currently offering to drop a new 3.8S engine in for around the same money too! You'll have to sort out that lack of "grip and cornering" though.................
Edited by Pugsey on Thursday 14th September 08:57
magic torch said:
Some people prefer them. 
Rob will be along shortly...
Ah, my thread has arrived Rob will be along shortly...
I adore Boxsters and I'm a bit surprised about the grip and cornering thing, I could have run rings around my 996 cab in my old Boxster through the twisties. The thing I love about the Boxster is it's razor sharp and accurate steering combined with the sheer amount of front end grip.
The Boxster is always going to feel more composed as it started life as a soft top whereas the 997 is a compromised (however well done) coupe.
The most obvious question for me would be do you really need the rear seats of the 997? It was only when I had kids I needed rear seats, before that someone else could drive if we were goin out in a foursome.
The Boxster is much less windy at speed with the top down and on the roads round here would probably be quicker than a 911. I would swap back to one in a heartbeat.
You'll get more depreciation with a brand new Boxster but have you considered one just off new? Let someone else take the forecourt hit and get yourself a great car and save a bundle of money in the process.
I would personally go for the Boxster, they are fantastic cars.
The only thing wrong with the 987S 3.2 I drove was it lacked torque (compared to a 3.6 911). 3.4 motor should fix that. Probably the best value car in the range at the moment, if there can be such a thing.
Edit: Not sure what spec you can get for 43k though, using the configurator I'm ending up over 45 with just the basic stuff.
The only thing wrong with the 987S 3.2 I drove was it lacked torque (compared to a 3.6 911). 3.4 motor should fix that. Probably the best value car in the range at the moment, if there can be such a thing.
Edit: Not sure what spec you can get for 43k though, using the configurator I'm ending up over 45 with just the basic stuff.
Edited by abarber on Thursday 14th September 11:15
Pugsey said:
cyrus1971 said:
On Monday I test drove a Boxster S 3.4 (295 bhp) out of sheer curiosity. I was really impressed. Obviously it is no 996TT like I have at the moment, but for the power it was great. The Boxster did have the better ride, but not grip or cornering, excellent standard exhaust noise though. It's a serious contender if one wanted to calm down on the speed front a bit and go soft top. Basically a really gifted car.
Then I looked at the cost and availability. The car sensibly specked would be £43 K and earliest delivery was March / April 2007. Now I reckon that by then one might be able get a 997 convertible for about £52 to £55 K so why a Boxster S with 30 bhp less, 2 less seats, and not the car Porsche is famed for ?
Cyrus
Crikey! - a Boxster with "no grip or cornering"?!. I'd steer well clear if I was you. Not sure why you need to ask the question here since you've already owned one. Went looking for one for my girlfriend a couple of days ago - most dealers can get one for Dec. delivery so I'd try a different OPC if I was you.Then I looked at the cost and availability. The car sensibly specked would be £43 K and earliest delivery was March / April 2007. Now I reckon that by then one might be able get a 997 convertible for about £52 to £55 K so why a Boxster S with 30 bhp less, 2 less seats, and not the car Porsche is famed for ?
Cyrus
Thanks for all your comments.
errr... I didn't say Boxsters have NO cornering or grip, (in fact it is excellent on both + good ballance) I was comparing it to the 996TT which has bags of said cornering and grip and feels more planted. In other words I was saying the ride overall in the Boxster was better than a 996TT but a Boxster was not "better" at cornering or grip than a 996TT.... and yes it may be stating the obvious and I know it's an unfair comparrison. The real "driver" behind my post was the "value" for money point. Box' S vs. 997 convertible. I do use the +2 seats in a 911 but not often, but when I do I really need them.
C
cyrus1971 said:
Pugsey said:
cyrus1971 said:
On Monday I test drove a Boxster S 3.4 (295 bhp) out of sheer curiosity. I was really impressed. Obviously it is no 996TT like I have at the moment, but for the power it was great. The Boxster did have the better ride, but not grip or cornering, excellent standard exhaust noise though. It's a serious contender if one wanted to calm down on the speed front a bit and go soft top. Basically a really gifted car.
Then I looked at the cost and availability. The car sensibly specked would be £43 K and earliest delivery was March / April 2007. Now I reckon that by then one might be able get a 997 convertible for about £52 to £55 K so why a Boxster S with 30 bhp less, 2 less seats, and not the car Porsche is famed for ?
Cyrus
Crikey! - a Boxster with "no grip or cornering"?!. I'd steer well clear if I was you. Not sure why you need to ask the question here since you've already owned one. Went looking for one for my girlfriend a couple of days ago - most dealers can get one for Dec. delivery so I'd try a different OPC if I was you.Then I looked at the cost and availability. The car sensibly specked would be £43 K and earliest delivery was March / April 2007. Now I reckon that by then one might be able get a 997 convertible for about £52 to £55 K so why a Boxster S with 30 bhp less, 2 less seats, and not the car Porsche is famed for ?
Cyrus
Thanks for all your comments.
errr... I didn't say Boxsters have NO cornering or grip, (in fact it is excellent on both + good ballance) I was comparing it to the 996TT which has bags of said cornering and grip and feels more planted. In other words I was saying the ride overall in the Boxster was better than a 996TT but a Boxster was not "better" at cornering or grip than a 996TT.... and yes it may be stating the obvious and I know it's an unfair comparrison. The real "driver" behind my post was the "value" for money point. Box' S vs. 997 convertible. I do use the +2 seats in a 911 but not often, but when I do I really need them.
C
cyrus1971 said:
The real "driver" behind my post was the "value" for money point. Box' S vs. 997 convertible. I do use the +2 seats in a 911 but not often, but when I do I really need them.
so bit strange to compare new with second hand
bit fairer to compare your £43k 295bhp Boxster v reasonable spec £75k (!!!!) 325bhp 997 C2 cab
now which looks better value (whatever you do don't get another tip
)
Go for it!I have been toying with the idea of the 295BHP Boxster S as well. I like Boxsters, always have, mainly because they are a really good car and with a good spec of say late mid-late £40K - it may just be the answer for an excellent convertible Sports Car. My OPC is going to loan me their demo when it comes in.
I currently have a 997S Coupe and I love it - but can't understand the comments that the 996/7 Cab gets over it lack of ability.
I took my old 996 C2 Cab to a track day at Bedford, where I was lapping a lot faster than a C2 Coupe and a C4 Coupe... Sure there must be some loss of torsional rigidity - but at my driving level I don't suppose it hinders progress, it still has all the rear-end grip and drive qualities of a 911.
I agree with most people that the Coupe 911 has better lines... but the 911 Cab I used to own I really enjoyed and thought it was a very accomplished car... it is worthy of so much more than what it is often labelled 'a Poseurs Car'.
I currently have a 997S Coupe and I love it - but can't understand the comments that the 996/7 Cab gets over it lack of ability.
I took my old 996 C2 Cab to a track day at Bedford, where I was lapping a lot faster than a C2 Coupe and a C4 Coupe... Sure there must be some loss of torsional rigidity - but at my driving level I don't suppose it hinders progress, it still has all the rear-end grip and drive qualities of a 911.
I agree with most people that the Coupe 911 has better lines... but the 911 Cab I used to own I really enjoyed and thought it was a very accomplished car... it is worthy of so much more than what it is often labelled 'a Poseurs Car'.
CatherineJ said:
Ive never driven a 996 convertible, but I have driven a 997 C4S convertible and I would rather keep my Boxster, although with more power.
drove a 996 4S convertible and, if I wanted a convertible and didn't need the rear seats for all my friends with no legs, I'd get the BoxsterS too.
It flips the usual prejudices in that the Boxster feels more focussed as a roadster designed from scratch rather than a 911 for posing rather than driving (and it ruins the lovely 911 coupe lines)
IMVHO
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