Why does Boxster get a lukewarm reception?

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by joe payne

When a woman looks at a 911 they say 'that's so cool!" when they see a Boxster they say "that's so cute!"

#1 dumb idea ... selecting cars based on what a woman thinks.

in fact, basically making any decision based on what a woman thinks is poor reasoning.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

in fact, basically making any decision based on what a woman thinks is poor reasoning.

That should be framed and hung on the wall of every boy as they are growing up.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

#1 dumb idea ... selecting cars based on what a woman thinks.

in fact, basically making any decision based on what a woman thinks is poor reasoning.

Women are right at 50% of the population in this country. Believe it or not many women are intelligent humans with the means to buy cars and they don't need a man to make that or any decision for them

Any manufacturer that has a lot of competition for a product need the female buyers.

I do see the irony and humor in you statement however.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

#1 dumb idea ... selecting cars based on what a woman thinks.

in fact, basically making any decision based on what a woman thinks is poor reasoning.

I am sure from a woman's perspective she is making the correct decision for herself. I think you have got a male bias going on here....

[onewhippedpuppy]

You guys need to lighten up a bit. He clearly meant that a MAN making a decision to IMPRESS a woman is always a bad idea. I don't think there was any sexist intent. Because men who make their car choices based on impressing women are idiots, because most women could care less about cars.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

He clearly meant that a MAN making a decision to IMPRESS a woman is always a bad idea.

Anybody that buys a car and thinks, at all, about how his purchase will impress anybody, is an idiot.

Which is one reason cars like the Boxster don't get the respect they deserve. Too few people that have actually driven one, too many that care what other people think about them...

JR

[Macroni]

the spyders are very appealing........

[MMiller]

Originally Posted by Macroni

the spyders are very appealing........

Yes they are!

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by masraum

Absolutely, when I had my 911, it was always "cute" to the women. Think about it, tiny, big bug eyes, looks kind of like a frog.

+1

Whats even funnier, the early 911 is so dimensionally small, that even when parked to todays compact car, its called cute. Without a rear spoiler, its commonly refered to as an old VW!

As for two seater's, wifey has been wanting an Audi TT. No practical sense LOL (I'm going to get beat-up for that comment!)

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

At half to a third the cost of a 911, it seems like the Boxster is a lot of car for the money. Why did it have a lukewarm reception?

Lukewarm is relative (but I get your drift). Porsche did sell a ton of them. The fact they were cheaper means some of them have been less well maintained too. Less power also means less street cred in the eyes of most - same issue the excellent BRZ/FR-S has (great handling, not much power, no sales)

Most of the time I prefer the 986/987 handling, despite the lesser hp. But it's not a one way street: the 911s just put the power down better than any car on earth (this side of a quattro anyway) - exiting a turn right foot on the floor in a 911 and lifting an inside front wheel is a fantastic feeling too. That is is not something the 987/987s do as well (engine in the middle and less power) and it is very noticeable on track. How do you like your cake ? Shooting out of corners or getting into them faster and changing directions like a pinball ? Both attributes are *fun*.

You often read that Porsche put smaller engines in boxsters on purpose not to cannibalize the 911 - I'm sure that's true, but to a degree... I don't know that a boxster could put down 911-like power to the road as efficiently with its lesser traction. If someone would lend me the current boxster Spyder (might be the best car they make) -I'd like to check that theory in person, thanks ;-)

Another thing that's painfully obvious to me now that I bought a beater cabrio from another brand that shall remain unnamed, is how solid and well designd a boxster body is, vs other makes's cabriolets (aka wet noodles). The boxster feels rock solid !

[Z-man]

Pretty much all the entry-level Porsches have the same fate:
1. The posers and the elitists look down upon them.
2. Because they are entry level cars, Porsche dials out some power and handling so they don't compete head to head with the 911.
3. The bean-counters validate them and point to the financials: without entry-level cars, Porsche would not be able to financially sustain the 911 production.
4. The enthusiasts would recognize the handling characteristics of the car and praise it.
5. The track junkies would adopt the car, and modify it to the point where it can compete against a 911.
6. The masses (non-Porsche folks) are just confused about entry-level Porsches, since they spell Porsche: "n-i-n-e-e-l-e-v-e-n"
7. Years down the road, people of lesser means will be able to acquire the car, and will either water down the marque, or become a convert.

All of these have occurred on every entry-level Porsche thus car: the 912, 914, 924/944/968, and the Boxster/Cayman. (Note: the 912 to a lesser extent, given its low production numbers compared to the rest of the entry-level Porsches...)

If anyone has a right to be snobbish and look down on other Porsches, it is the owner of the 4-cyl air-cooled rear engine 356 - the first and purest Porsche!

-Z-man.

[pavulon]

People want a car that stirs things inside of them when they look at it. IMO, the Boxster is so ovoid in almost every dimension that it fails to make many neurons squirt much of their stuff and I think the 996 has a similar issue. Of course, driving them is a totally different thing. As always, YMMV.

[recycled sixtie]

The Boxster until about 2009 still has the IMS issue similar to the 911 and its variants.
However the styling from its inception has evolved into a car that is very attractive. The Cayman coming out later was attractive to begin with. The 1997 Boxster was an ugly duckling but came out as a very competent driver.

Now buying an early Boxster as a first time Porsche was an impressive driving machine and the novice could look beyond its looks. The early 911's and on were always attractive
to begin with.

Guy

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

I am sure from a woman's perspective she is making the correct decision for herself. I think you have got a male bias going on here....I am sure from a woman's perspective she is making the correct decision for herself. I think you have got a male bias going on here....

The stupid in the second part of CP's statement is strong. The car industry trains the dealer sales dept that you talk to the man but the woman makes the the decision. As a rule, the woman decides. "I wear the pants in my family but my wife tells me which is the better pair of pants to put on".

I will grant you that my wife will chose pretty over practical so when it comes to choosing something mechanical I will usually make a better choice. That said, my wife has brought up many good ideas that I never thought of. She gives wise advice and I would be a fool to not have her as a sounding board, proof reader, fact checker. To the person who won't listen to the advice of a woman "on any decision" (especially his wife) I would state that it is what you learn after you know it all that counts.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

You guys need to lighten up a bit. He clearly meant that a MAN making a decision to IMPRESS a woman is always a bad idea.

And how are you so sure of this? We are talking CP here.

[Craig T]

Some of the best racing in the POC. Watch the video. Enough said about the Boxster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dyAWDyk9VY

[sugarwood]

Can someone explain why the 996 has "fried egg" headlights
and is said to look like a Taurus? I'm not seeing either.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

The 911s just put the power down better than any car on earth (this side of a quattro anyway) - exiting a turn right foot on the floor in a 911 and lifting an inside front wheel is a fantastic feeling too. That is is not something the 987/987s do as well (engine in the middle and less power) and it is very noticeable on track. How do you like your cake ? Shooting out of corners or getting into them faster and changing directions like a pinball ? Both attributes are *fun*.

This was an interesting and passionate post!

Everyone knows the oversteer liability issues of the rear engine 911,
but can you review the concept behind the advantages of the 911 ?

Are you basically saying:
rear engine weight in the back + RWD = significant rear wheel traction during acceleration.

This means the 911 can power out of a turn better than most cars?
Is this the opposite of all the supercar fail videos where the guy punches the gas while turning into an intersection and loses rear wheel traction?

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

This means the 911 can power out of a turn better than most cars?
Is this the opposite of all the supercar fail videos where the guy punches the gas while turning into an intersection and loses rear wheel traction?

The fail video is less of an indication that mid-engine cars like the Lamborghini are ill-handling, but more of an indication that idiots can buy said Lambo and do stupid things. That is all that video proves.

-Z

PS: I can post 100's of videos similar to that one, but instead of a Lambo, there's a 911 in it. Or a Boxster, or a Toyota Camry. Stupid has no preference.

[javadog]

FWIW, that Lambo was AWD.

JR