Not looking at Boxster's... but

[scottmandue]

Board and surfing autotrader and dang $7-8K?

Theoretically after I retire in May and no longer need commuter car I could sell my Versa and get back into a Porsche?

This one, air compressor out? Think he means air conditioning out? Not my favorite color but beggars can't be choosers.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=498843123&zip=90731&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fsearchresults.xhtml%3Fzip%3D90731%26startYe ar%3D1981%26sortBy%3DderivedpriceASC%26incremental %3Dall%26firstRecord%3D0%26marketExtension%3Don%26 endYear%3D2020%26modelCodeList%3DBOXSTE%252CPOR718 BOX%252CPOR718CAY%252CCAYMAN%26makeCodeList%3DPOR% 26searchRadius%3D50&startYear=1981&numRecords=25&firstRecord=0&endYear=2020&modelCodeList=BOXSTE%2CPOR718BOX%2CPOR718CAY%2CCAY MAN&makeCodeList=POR&searchRadius=50&makeCode1=POR&modelCode1=BOXSTE&clickType=listing

or

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=508669695&zip=90731&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fsearchresults.xhtml%3Fzip%3D90731%26startYe ar%3D1981%26sortBy%3DderivedpriceASC%26incremental %3Dall%26firstRecord%3D0%26marketExtension%3Don%26 endYear%3D2020%26modelCodeList%3DPOR718BOX%252CPOR 718CAY%252CBOXSTE%26makeCodeList%3DPOR%26searchRad ius%3D50&startYear=1981&numRecords=25&firstRecord=0&endYear=2020&modelCodeList=POR718BOX%2CPOR718CAY%2CBOXSTE&makeCodeList=POR&searchRadius=50&makeCode1=POR&modelCode1=BOXSTE&clickType=listing

[drcoastline]

Yeah tons of them out there. both of those cars need a red interior.

[look 171]

Hey Scott, my friend has one with about 100k miles but the AC and water pump is done so it should be a pretty good car. He's been talking about getting rid of it for some time but too lazy to actual do it. He had a Cayman S and older 911s so he's not attached to the car. Look me up when you are ready. get you guys in touch with each other. A bunch of local Pelican know him. Solid guy, no fuss and easy. We go up to renn sport together all the time.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by look 171

Hey Scott, my friend has one with about 100k miles but the AC and water pump is done so it should be a pretty good car. He's been talking about getting rid of it for some time but too lazy to actual do it. He had a Cayman S and older 911s so he's not attached to the car. Look me up when you are ready. get you guys in touch with each other. A bunch of local Pelican know him. Solid guy, no fuss and easy. We go up to renn sport together all the time.

Thanks! But only going to consider it as a retirement gift to myself in May. I'll get back to you then.

[sugarwood]

Both cars you posted are automatic.

One has 100k miles but is an S.
You rarely see S models under $12k unless high mileage

But, the base model has been a $5k-$8k car for a long time.
Conditions vary.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Both cars you posted are automatic.

One has 100k miles but is an S.
You rarely see S models under $12k unless high mileage

But, the base model has been a $5k-$8k car for a long time.
Conditions vary.

Would very much like an S with a manual but as I said beggars can't be choosers, don't have a lot (or any) disposable income.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Would very much like an S with a manual but as I said beggars can't be choosers, don't have a lot (or any) disposable income.

His isn't auto. Forget that but not an S. Its not fast by any means but fast enough to get stuck on the harbor fwy that's for sure. I rode up to Rennsport in it a few years ago.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Any flavor of Boxster is a good time. I had a 1997 base model with about 120k that was super solid and a LOT of fun. They are GREAT cars.

[RWebb]

great car - I had a 2000 S

not as great as an early 911 tho...

Cayman maybe looks better but the Boxster is a convertible...

only problem with a Boxster is size/wt.

I want a roadster the size of a Bug-eye & lighter than an Elan

[Noah930]

I came across a Boxster S for $5900 a year-and-a-half ago. Do not remember the mileage, but it wasn't bad. However, the IMS and water pump had not been done, so I factored an additional $4K into the purchase price. I still kick myself for not buying it.

Some guy in Marina del Rey was selling his deceased father's S awhile ago. Asking $12K, but was on Craigslist for a couple months.

There's been another S at a used car lot in Van Nuys for several months. Asking $12K, IIRC.

I see non-S' for sale under $10K often. Some ratty, some clean.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Would very much like an S with a manual but as I said beggars can't be choosers, don't have a lot (or any) disposable income.

I have an '11 Cayman S with 6 speed manual. It is the closest thing to the air cooled 911 that you'll find now. It really benefitted from a cat-back exhaust and GT-3 shifter. Heel and toe is not possible unless you ditch the stock muffler. I also put wheel spacers on the front and rear and I can tell you it's like my 914-6 but with a freak ton more power.

[WPOZZZ]

I love my Boxster! If you are looking at 986s, the 02+ got a glass rear window vs a plastic one. The S also come with bigger brakes (base 996 brakes), and of course more hp. Throughout the life of the 986 increases in hp were made to the base and S models. I'd look for an 02+ S model in stick, since you have quite a while.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I have an '11 Cayman S with 6 speed manual. It is the closest thing to the air cooled 911 that you'll find now. .

FRS is the closest thing.
2700lbs and 200hp.
But much more precise steering.

Cayman S has like 350hp and is a totally different beast.

[sugarwood]

Let's post some CA base boxsters for sale for Scott. You can find a gem for like $7k

[HardDrive]

I had a 2002 standard 986 with a manual. Its was an excellent car, and I would own one again.

My only advice would be that if you plan on using it as an all year round car, I would track down the factory hard top. I had one, and it made the car much more livable in the winter. Also much quieter. The rag tops on that generation were very thin. That changed with the 987.

[fastfredracing]

I just picked up an 02 tip for 2k. Transmission leaks like a sieve , Im betting I can fix the leak, do the ims, rms, and oil seperator for about 1k.
Nice little car other wise . Tiptronic would not be my first choice, but I grew to like it on my other boxster

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

FRS is the closest thing.
2700lbs and 200hp.
But much more precise steering.

Cayman S has like 350hp and is a totally different beast.

I get your point about power to weight. A 987.2 normal Cayman has around 11.06 lbs per BHP vs. a Carrera at around 13.8. I doubt there would be as much difference though, with a 986 Boxster or Cayman vs. a 3.2 air cooled 911. And the wheelbase is around 5" longer with a Cayman vs. a G series 911. The turning circle is 2' wider.


All that aside, you're saying that basically a front-engine 4-cylinder bargain Scion is more similar to a 911 than the Cayman? I can see if you said that a re-badged Subaru is AS MUCH FUN as the air cooled 911. I could not find issue with that, but the handling feel would be so different IMO. It would be like comparing a 914-6 to a BMW 2002 tii.

My own subjective opinion is that on initial turn-in, a 987.2 Cayman feel a lot like a 914-6. OTOH, if you get an "S" with Porsche's traction control (PASM) and Sport Chrono, limited slip, and 6-speed manual, then it is absolutely a sublime experience. Add a Borla exhaust, and you basically have the sound of a GTS or GT4 and enough power to get into trouble like a proper Porsche should. I would almost suggest trying to find an "S" with all of the go fast goodies with a salvage title.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Having had several of both, you don’t need the S to have fun. 200 HP in a 2800 lb car (1997 base is the lightest) is still a LOT of fun. I’ve always thought a cool project would be to find a base 1997, strip out the non-essential stuff, remove the heavy top and mechanism, and create a poor man’s Boxster Spyder. If it rains you just toss on a hard top. It’s pretty easy to get 200 more lbs out of a Boxster without stripping out carpet, AC, and other essentials.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

I love my Boxster! If you are looking at 986s, the 02+ got a glass rear window vs a plastic one. The S also come with bigger brakes (base 996 brakes), and of course more hp. Throughout the life of the 986 increases in hp were made to the base and S models. I'd look for an 02+ S model in stick, since you have quite a while.

I've had an '02 S for about four or five years now. It has the plastic rear window, not the glass. It is also lacking a glove compartment, which I think they received the next year, along with the glass rear window. Incidentally, I put a new top on mine about two years ago, and the shop very much recommended I stick with the plastic on a car that originally had it. Apparently the glass replacements, for those years, have to have a pretty small window for the whole mechanism to still function properly.

Mine now has about 120k on the clock. I've swapped the water pump for the steel impeller version and have replaced the infamous IMS bearing. Did both at about 80K, and both still looked brand new. These issues may be a tad overblown. Then again, I did swap out a water pump in a buddy's base model Boxster in a gas station parking lot in the middle of the night somewhere in bumfark Southern Oregon one time.

Anyway, great little cars. Compared to my '72 911 3.0 liter hot rod, they have about equal horsepower, but the Boxster weighs about 600 pounds more. It's not as quick as the 911 as a result, but the handling and braking are much, much better. It's not nearly as terrifying to drive at its limits as the old 911 is. Some would say "not as much fun", but it really is, in a different way. I plan on hanging onto mine for a good long time.

[RWebb]

ok, here is a tip Bosterites...

pull the grill off (IIRC from 19 years ago, it's the one behind the driver) and toss the air silencer for the induction

more enjoyment