Why does Boxster get a lukewarm reception?
 

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?

Empirically, it sounds like something car guys would love. Under 3000 lbs.
It has 3.2 engine like the 911. Base model has 200hp, and the S has 250hp. Was it overshadowed by the 300hp 996?
It is mid-engined which many say is the ideal weight distribution.

Is it the IMS/RMS that also burdens the 996 reputation?
Is it the water cooled aspect?
Do people not like the convertible aspect?

I DD a boxster and I have an SC, they are apples and oranges. I happen to love the (not so) little car, it is a tank and just flat out fun to drive. Mine is the 97 2.5, you know the one that you are NEVER supposed to buy, but in 170K is has been very very reliable, and more then proved itself as a suitable driver.
The main problem I see with the stigma that goes along with the car is 1 it was marketed to women 2 it isn't a 911, and because of those reasons many people won't drive one. You have to remember that a Porsche for many many people is a penial extension, and they don't want to deflate thier ego by driving a lesser vehicle. I just smile and keep going on, content in my manhood, getting 28mpg and shifting at 7K, all day every day.
Thay are great cars, solid and fun

Seems to have something in common with the Miata, in that regard.

It's an aspirational brand, people may scoff since it's a lesser model,
but that doesn't seem to apply to entry level BMW and Benz models.

Good post, spot on (corrected for spelling only).

I think the Boxster is more sexy and less macho than the current 911.

That does not appeal to the knuckle draggers which see themselves as top dogs.

Dude, I get an A for creative spelling. :D

Reminds me of a comment I read re: the Cayman, the Boxster's roofed sister, in one of the car mags. It was something to the effect of 'when a guy in a Cayman pulls up next to me, I immediately think 'couldn't afford a 911'

I have to admit being a bit dismissive of the Boxster's myself, until a friend who owns one let me auto cross his at Hershey last month. Never even sat in one prior to driving it to tech inspection. I found it to be one of the most balanced, well behaved cars I've ever driven. I hadn't autocrossed in 20 years (and when I did, it was in a Golf GTI; quite a different animal) and the Boxster's was so easy to drive at the limit that I wound up second in class and took home a trophy. I have a great deal more respect for the car since then.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432474496.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432474514.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432474543.jpg

I remember when the concept came out and thought it was beautiful.
Something got lost in final production and the headlights haven't aged well.
They aren't so much timeless, as they peg the car in a mid 90's point in time.
You also mention empirical- and the boxster is seen by some as a car that is produced to always be second fiddle to the 911. It's not as powerful, it's not quite up to snuff, even though is has a better layout. On paper, it's almost always one purposely one step behind 911.
Also, like many mid engined two seaters, they arent as practical as other cars- even a 944 has so much more room for storing stuff.

I wouldn't mind having one as an autocross project.

Agree with that comment. Loved the concept car as well.

It's interesting that the Boxster isn't more loved by Porschephiles. Isn't it the modern version of a 914-6 that's so respected by the air-cooled crowd?

This is dead on the money. I used to have the same car, just a 99. I did think it was a bit underpowered, but that was quickly remedied with the bump up to 2.7L with the next engine. I loved the car, and as soon as it's practical for us to have another 2-seater in the family (i.e. when we don't have to tote around kids in the back) I'm sure we'll get another one.

I really think the only people who dump on the boxster are those that are more concerned about image that substance, or those that have never driven one and just assume they're junk. A beautiful mid-engine convertible with a wonderful sound and superb handling - what's not to love?

Oh, and to add to that: if I had to choose between boxster and 996 it'd be a boxster all day long. Better looking, more nimble and more fun.

As said above, "couldn't afford a 911" is what the snobs would say. Richard Hammond said something similar, albeit jokingly, in one episode of Top Gear.

I actually like the 987, even the 981. The 986, not so much. I'm just not sure I am ready for a convertible either. I grew up in a country where opening the car windows would make you dirty and sweaty in a heartbeat. So owning a car without a top wasn't ever a dream of mine.

We covet the cars of our youth.

I had one. It was great to drive. Much better balance in corners than a 911. But the dreaded IMS spooked me so I sold it. I have a friend who had 2 engines blow in 2 different Boxsters. Now that they can be had for < $10k I would buy another, but I have too many toys right now.

only folks not pleased with a boxster/cayman are folks who have not driven them, or are not interested in driving cars hard.

always wanted to LS one. renegade hybrids makes a kit.

Back in the day....
It took me one look at a Boxster doing a hard launch at an AX. Some called it wheel hop but it was the whole engine/trans exhaust.....all the hangy down stuff....bouncing up & down with funny noises to convince me that I didn't need one. A Porsche fail IMO......meh... just more raw meat for my 914.

Holy Schmoly!

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/THWKx2enwz0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I think some of it is because it's a convertible. Not seen as track-worthy by the DE crowd (although it is) and a car that the mainstream automotive press labeled "cute" in the early days.

I don't personally care for convertibles. Had a few over the years (British and Italian), just not my thing. I passed on some sweet 911s over the years, because I just preferred coupes...

Personally, I think that the Boxsters/Caymans are the "best bang for the buck" available in a "modern" Porsche out there. I love my old 911, but if I were to get something "almost new", I'd be looking for a Cayman. (Full-time convertible doesn't work well in Oregon, at least not for me.)

I think it is because most "enthusiasts" base their car buying decision on some criteria other than how it drives. Image to others, reputation, how it looks, how exclusive it is... anything other than what they can do with it. The reality is most people can't drive a car beyond about 70% of it's capability. The nuances of a car are lost on them.

Porsche never marketed the car specifically to women, so that argument is pointless. It was an entry level car, since it was the least expensive in the line-up, but you could argue that an entry level Porsche was always a used Porsche. For a few people, it was a completely different car to the 911 and all the better for it. Sadly, far too few people figured that out.

JR

I'm not a Boxster fan because:

For me, the shape hasn't aged well. Not enough character.
The production car lost much from the prototype.
Early Boxster interior materials seemed cheap and haven't aged well.
I'm just not a convertible guy.

I wish they'd come out with the Cayman at the same time. Then we'd be looking at some amazing $8000-$10,000 used cars right now.

Prototype cars draws one in but the bloat production vehicle is just that. Funny as I could probably live with and gamble along the stupid engineered IMS bearing, but wished the Boxster was Miata sized and stripped bare of half the garbage in them. Power windows, cupholders.... c'mon.

Every single review I have ever read on the Boxster just raves on the handling and overall fun to drive factors. That are cheap toys. I am just not into convertibles so I will not have one but that is just me.

Do you mean around here? On Pelican? I'd bet that if you asked that question at a PCA gathering or anywhere else (not on the Internet) you'd find all kinds of people who love the Boxter, males and females. It gets a lukewarm reception around here (by some but not all) because this is the Internet.

I'll bet that if you bought a Boxter and then stayed off of the Internet, and just drove the wheels off of your Boxter instead, you'd wonder why you ever asked the question.

This is part of it.
I never thought much about convertibles until I had a 380SL. I realized the fun of the top down but didn't care for the car: SLOW! heavy, poor gas mileage, expensive parts. But I digress.

Boxster: I, JUST, DON'T, LIKE, THE LINES, AND THE LOOK. OK, there, I said it. I don't like the look of it.
Hi, my name is Joe, and I don't like the Boxster's look.
Hi, Joe, thanks for coming and sharing...

I could care less about the whole hairdresser thing. I almost bought a used Cayman a while back but the price is way too high for me to have as a prev owned DD.

When I was looking for a two seater, I ended up with a Honda S2000 instead of the Boxster. The handling in the S2000 felt better then the Boxster at the time and I still think its a better looking car. The Boxster has grown up (fater and heavier also) with a ton more power. Honda, on the other hand keep true to their roots and continue to make the S2000 (now, no more)and keep it about the same weight without any increase in power. I think they all knew from the beginning that more power is needed for those cars. I love the Cayman, looks, feel, and everything else about it but we are not talking about that. I don't dislike the Boxster and could careless what others think. Hell I had a first gen Miata and a dirty truck.

The better question is, 996 or Boxster for same money? I take the Boxster any day of the week over the 996. Those early ones were ugly. I think the cartoon character in the movie Cars is better looking then the actual car itself. Sorry 996 owners.

What do the headlight haters think of those conversion kits?
http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/w...in996smoke.jpg

Serious question, are you able to articulate what you find ugly about the 996 ?
Looks exactly like a Boxster to me

If I wanted a covertable I'd prefer a boxster s over a 911 cab all else being similar

why do some people find chicks with huge tits so attractive? The look similar and both have nipples and full of fat.:rolleyes:

Same face, different ass. Here you go:D

looks much better, only IMO of course.

WARNING ***Scathing design esoterical BS post to follow**** WARNING

The 996 is ugly because it looks like a boxster.
And a boxster is ugly because they mucked up the production design compared to the concept.
I remember reading the whole front end was taken off the boxster because at the time the company didn't have the finances to redesign the 996 front.


Take a look at those headlights- in the concept you can still see the round headlights which made a welcome resurgence in the 997. Secondly, in the headlights on the concept, the white part is shaped more like the 996.2, which was better than the 996.1. This has a lot to do with the front fender/bumper line, which gracefully curves up on the concept but goes more or less straight across on the production boxster.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432495756.jpg

versus bloated whale look:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432495893.jpg


It's the same problem on the rear bumper/fender line on the 996.
It goes straight back. On the 997, they angled that line into the rear lights much better:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432496272.jpg
versus:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432496303.jpg

That isn't the best pic perhaps, but that angled line from the rear wheel arch to the top of the brakes makes a huge difference. The 996 is also narrow in the rear hips. Any wider version of it like the c4 or 997 or anything looks better.

The stock wheels also don't help the Boxster or the 996. Infact, I think anything else is an improvement. Take the wheels on the concept, of any 18/19 variation- they all look better than the oe and can make a boxster or 996 look "right" versus the stock look.

The interior is dated too. The 997 is soooo much better.

I also like the front turn signals on the 997 better too, if for no other reason, they put them lower in about the same place as you would see them on an original 65-73 longhood.

Don't get me wrong, I like the 996's I've driven. I'm not trying to bust on it, because I wouldn't mind if one fell in my lap, but to me, the original 996 looks like a maxi pad.

I think they did best on the 997 design, and jumped the shark on the 991. By shortening the front fender lines on the 991, to keep the fender lines long in the profile, they had to make the headlamps bulbous, like on a MR2, and from some angles it just doesn't do it for me...
I wouldn't mind a 991 either though... I am just critical of everything!:D

The early 986 looks are actually growing on me. I think that the rear view of the 986 Boxster is the best of all the Boxster/Caymans (including the current ones). In front the looks used to bother me but now I see 550/718 spyder more than the newer cars.

The new Caymans look to bloated in the rear. They are too convex like a 911 vs. the earlier Caymans had the subtle flying butresses and made the car look leaner.

I am not sure whether I like early Cayman looks better or a Boxster with a hardtop... probably the 986. Not big on convertibles though.

I think the 996 GT3 is a really good looking car, partly because of the rear lights vs. the 997. It is so much cleaner than the later cars with vents and stuff. The 996.2 headlights are very good looking to me.

I do like how the 991 fenders and lights are so much more prominant than the 996, however. Probably the best since the 964.

But hey, I'm not a 993 fan (other than the GT2) so some might call me crazy.

Different strokes for different folks.

For me, the following issues come to mind.

a) I don't care for convertibles. Neither a 911 cab, nor a 986/987.

b) I did not want 'any' Porsche - I wanted a 911. Not a Cayenne, Not a Cayman, Not a 914, 924, 944, or 928. While I admit those are fun vehicles, I wanted a 911. I would rather buy a 12 year old 911 than a new Cayman. I mean, if somebody were giving me a free Cayman I would not turn them down, but if I am saving my couch coins for a car, then it has to be what I want - not what I settle for.

I'm not sure the opinion of an i3 owner holds much water here.:cool:

To answer the why - because 90% of the people here think anything water cooled is evil. Though as the air cooled stuff goes crazy I see that opinion slowly shifting out of necessity. Go to Rennlist and you'll find plenty of Boxster lovers. I've had a LOT of Porsches, the Boxster is still one of my all time favorites.

Had a 2002 2.7. Fantastic car. Just the right amount of power to make it a fun daily driver. Really practical car as well. The front trunk could hold a ton of groceries. My only complaint was that the convert top was pretty thin. Cold and loud in the winter. I got the hardtop for the winter months, and it was great.

I can only speak for myself on this subject. Have driven two 2001 and 2003 Boxster S's and a 98. The S's were fast and you could safely push them. But they were heavy. And modern. They felt sterile. I prefer the raw and nimble feeling of longhoods over anything else. When my 73 was on the road, it was a chunk of steel with a pair of fixed back buckets, some decent bars and a 3.2 with headers. That was the car. It was perfect for me. Have a lot of welding to do, so there a Boxster wins.

If you could get a Boxster down to 2200-2300 lbs with 250hp, that would be a fun car. Would only need to figure out what to do with the horrible headlights. Thank God most of the interior would be gone at that weight.

How popular was the 914 ?
The 944 ?
For the same reason, the boxster it is not popular
because as it has a face that should be on a iodine bottle .
It is plain fugly .
No fix for it.

The concept car was a work of art. The production version is a great chick's car.

Seriously though, I was never a Boxster fan but have always been a Cayman fan. In fact, I would love to get a GT4. I guess I just don't like convertible sports cars.

Have you seen 914 prices lately? Even the 944 is creeping upwards for nice examples.