Boxster or TT?
 

A friend of mine wants to buy a newish car, 2007+.

She's considering a 2008 Audi TT now, has a full Audi warrantee.

I'm suggesting she look at Boxsters as well and she's open to it.

I assume a Boxster is an all around better car, more reliable, same cost to repair, etc.

Any input?

I test drove the TT and the Boxster S. Both are nice solid and have adequate power/performance to be fun. I'd say it's a toss-up and it'll come down to personal preference. If it's a base Boxster, I'd probably give the TT a slight edge (esp. if it's Quattro) If it's the "S", I'd probably go with the Boxster.

Just based on what I've heard though, I'd be more inclined to go with the Boxster. Plus it's a Porsche. What's not to love? Audi anything scares the heck out of me based on some of the horror stories I've read here and elsewhere. Even if it has a warranty, some day it won't. Advantage: Boxster.

Having worked in a Porsche/Audi dealership, I can only offer the following advice. You can't run fast enough to give me the TT. They are fun but they are very high maintenance, and poorly built. (Plastic sleeve in throwout bearing, just one example)

I had a 2.7 Boxster and I loved the car. Very high quality, and it was actually very practical as well! The front trunk on them can hold an ocean of groceries. The new tops (post 05 models) are much better than they used to be, but she still may want to get a hard top if she is going to be leaving it outside in the winter. It makes it quieter on the freeway as well.

Only thing I would NOT get is the 'sports' suspension option. My car had it, and I felt the springs were way to stiff for day to day driving. That being said, mine was a 986, and it sounds like she is looking at a 987.

Everyone I know with an Audi complains about it.

Night and Day Shaun, if would suggest an A4 Cabriolet. If she's in New England the quatro is the way to go.. Can't see a rwd car ragtop running around in Feb in Boston...

Friend of mine dumped his 08' TT for a loss last year. Was a beautiful car, fully loaded, had every possible option, nicest TT I've seen.

He picked up a used S2000 and is generally happier with the Honda.

I really don't care for either but given the choice I would go Porsche. Audis are a rolling R&D experiment and scare the hell out of me. The Boxster, although not my personal choice, is still the BETTER choice.

Not a TT, but I had an A4 for several months. I breathed a sigh of relief when I dumped that thing, I didn't even care about the loss. All the little things that aren't worth fixing broke almost immediately. Cup holders, radio knobs, etc. Then the windshield wipers went out and the dealership wanted 900 to fix, Hello copious amounts of rainex. Then the Air bag light came on and I put that POS on craigslist. Never again....

Ohhhh and the MAF failed causing it to stall frequently, the oil level sensor freaked out occasionally and it liked to blow tail lights.....................

Hurmmm... I have a '01 TT. It's the 225 HP quattro coupe. Bought it with 32K miles and now at 70K. Yes I did the timing belt & other stuff at 65K miles to the tune of $1400 (including 60K service). At this point I still need to address the dash pod...it's definitely on it's way out. New replacements are in the $1500 range but I found some highly recommended repair folks that will fix the existing unit and replace the LCD with a better quality one for $350 including warranty. Other than those things the car has been dead nuts great. Fun to drive, 30 mpg on the highway, honestly I have no complaints with this car.

I have not driven a Boxster but would bet the S is really nice. The boxster shares the same hair dresser/female stereotype as my TT. Oh well.

In 2004 I almost bought a TT, the higher horsepower version. Then drove a Boxster S. No comparison, I bought the Boxster. I loved that car but got started down the track day path and didn't want to own 2 Porsches ( now have 4 in various states of condition) and bought an 82 SC and sold the Boxster :-( The Boxster ended up being a very practical DD with the two trunks, great top, etc. Great car.

Boxsters are a good deal faster than TT's.

I've never driven a Boxster, and they may in fact be fine cars, but I don't like the concept. If you can't afford a Carrera, don't buy a Porsche.

buy the TT to look at the interior

buy the Boxster to drive

Thanks for the input. With 4 snow tires, how are Boxsters in the snow?

She rarely drives in the snow, if ever, and roads here are pre-salted these days hours before it actually snows. It's rare I put the 4Runner into 4WD. But still something to think about.

Dunno, mine has yet to play in the snow, the lack of ground clearance alone is enough to keep it off the road.

I say Boxster only because I think the TT is ass ugly.

I love it when people diss the Boxster who've never driven it as somehow not a real Porsche. You don't like the concept of an open top, two seat, mid engine sports car with great handling and power to weight ratio?

I have to disagree with some of what's been said. I drove both (along with a '99 996) and decided to buy the TT. I liked the 996 best, but to be in my price range it had to have ~60 K miles on the odometer. The Boxster was nimble and the gearbox was amazing, but it definitely did not have the level of options the TT had for the price. The TT feels a little heavier than the Boxster, but it is loaded for the price. I've never regretted my TT, except on long trips since I'm 6 ft. tall. What the Audi has going for it that the Porsches don't is value. You get a turbo 225hp I-4, AWD, heated seats, 6 disc, more aft storage, and a better interior (in my opinion) for roughly the same price as a less-well-equipped Boxster. The newer TT and TT S are amazing and have even more power. While you sacrifice a little speed, you gain in handling with the AWD. Okay, I'm done with my sales pitch. I think I will go for a larger Audi next time, the wife and I are ready for a sedan. I wonder if an A8L is enough of a sedan for her. :)

The TT is just a warmed over VW Golf platform, not even a A4 or A6. They are 'cheaper' in every way. If your idea of value is less for less, not more for less, the TT is for you.

The Quattro system in the TT is NOT true Quattro. It's a decent system, but nowhere near what you'd get in a real longitudinal transaxle system (the TT, being Golf-based, is transverse)

The Porsche is a 'real' Porsche.

If you need All Wheel Drive, why not consider a 996 C4 Cab? They start in the mid to upper twenties nowadays.

To me, badge engineering is taking a car and sticking a new grill and trim bits on it, i.e. Ford Fusion to Mercury Milan. Platform sharing is using new sheet-metal, new interior, different engine, different components while maybe sharing a few (in the TTs case about 1/3) of it's mechanical components with its donor. I would hesitate to say a TT is merely a warmed over Golf. And yes, it does use Haldex AWD and it works well. I've experienced icy/snow conditions many times and have never been stuck, even reversing up a very steep driveway. IMO, the Audi TT is a 'real' Audi and is superior to the Golf it shares a platform with.