Drove a boxter today...

[tobluforu]

This was the first time I drove a boxter so here are my thoughts. The car is a 2000. It was bone stock and is a chicago car. Not sure if the smog laws are different there than here in ca. so, is there less restrictions on this car?
The car pulled great in first all the way to 6500. When hitting second there was a little lag and off it went. Third was lots of fun up to 85 where i switched to fourth then fifth. I Only went 95. The tranny is awesome with effortless shifting. Brakes are great. When driving it I didn't really feal like I was in such a small car like I feel when I drive my 72.
Took it up mt. tam where there is only a couple words to express the handling: Mid engine! The car handled great!!
So, to compare to my lowered to the hilt 72 that rides like rattle bucket? There is none. I would take my 72 any day. My 72 FELT quicker and more agile, but my 72 can not be driven as a daily driver like the boxter can.
My car is faster off the line and out of turns, but in the long run the boxter will eat it. Still, the 72 rules!!! No offense boxter owners.

[boyo]

That's funny, I bought a Boxster back in '97, and last year I bought a '72 911T. And now the Boxster is going up for sale! Anybody need one?


I like the Boxster, it's a great car for top down on a weekend, or long highway trips. Took it to Oregon and back and got 35mpg at 85mph.

Smooth, with a capital "SMOOOOOOO"...

But even that it's got a little more power than my 911, and definitely corners better - but I like driving the 911 better!

If I'd had another $8K or so I would have thrown in a supercharger and beefed up the suspension. With that combo you could probably outperform a 993 Turbo at Nuremburg. But alas, I don't get to Nuremburg as often as I'd like.


Both the '72 and the Boxster leak oil... But I can fix the leaks on the 911! If it breaks I can fix it! It doesn't cost me $600 for a 30K mile tuneup!

I get more people asking me about the '72 than the Boxster. At my work there were 6 other Boxsters in the same parking lot. Haven't yet seen an early 911.

-Boyo

[pbs911]

I read the title of the thread and all I could think was . . . I'm sorry.

[DANNOV]

Funny thing, I was just thinking about this last night. How does my 1985 Carrera compare to a Boxster and Boxter S? I almost pulled the trigger on an S a few months ago, but the price was getting into the $60,000 range after taxes, options, delivery in Germany, etc. I finally decided that I don't need a new Porsche that much. I went back into my archives and found a Road & Track test of a 1984 Carrera and a Boxster and Boxster S. Here is the comparison:

Carrera 1984 1/4 mile sec and mph 14.6 96.0 mph
0 to 100 mph 16.2
Skidpad g's .831

Boxster 1/4 mile sec and mph 14.6 94.0 mph
0 to 100 mph 16.9
Skidpad g's .890

Boxster S 1/4 mile sec and mph 14.0 100.5 mph
0 to 100 mph 13.5
Skidpad g's .930

I suspect with some modern tires, stiffer bars and shocks, a performance chip, modified exhaust and removal of cat; the 1984 Carrera would certainly beat out the Boxster in acceleration and be a match in cornering. That is only about $3,500 in modification cost. The Boxster S is a different story, 2.7 sec faster to 100 mph and a .6 sec edge in a 1/4 mile. I guess the S would blow me away. At the Road America DE last year I noticed that the S was really a fast car while the Boxster normal was no threat at all. I had no trouble keeping pace with the normal Boxster. The cars that really blew my doors off were the 944 Turbos, you can get a nice one for under $15,000. My conclusion was that DE is for fun, its not racing, I just want to keep up with the pace, there is no prize for being fastest. I can do that very nicely with my 1985 Carrera with a few modifications. Also, I see many, many more Boxsters here in Chicago than nice old 911's. If you want a car that every over- paid jerk looking for instant prestige wants to own, buy a Boxster. If instead you want a car that is getting rarer by the minute and looks like a knock-out, keep your 911 and just keep it in great shape.

[pwd72s]

Good comments all, DANNOV. Bottom line is how much are YOU willing to pay for "improvements" (?) in performance? How much are you willing to pay in order to have a new car? In this regard, financial logic moves ahead of the purely loving cars emotion, right? Or...maybe not. Trite phrase, but trite phrases are often true ones. "Been there, done that." Who knows where that decision line lies.......Anybody care to weigh in?

[Saffs]

To be fair, the comparable now a day car to a 3.2 Carrera is a 996 not a Boxster. But, I do get what you mean....
Funnily, I drove a Boxster S very recently, for the first time. I've got to say, it was great. Amazing handling. Great performance. It made my T seem like Beetle running on 2 cylinders - my old 2.7 would compare better, but....
Well, although it was totally great, I'd still prefer to drive - and be seen in - an old 911. The sound of it, the raw feeling, the simplicity (I love CIS esp. the simplified one on a 73.5 T, I don't care what anyone says, it's great for all round, everyday use), I would rather have my T. Albeit with a 3.0 litre engine in it, which is my plan....

[DANNOV]

Originally posted by pwd72s
Good comments all, DANNOV. Bottom line is how much are YOU willing to pay for "improvements" (?) in performance? How much are you willing to pay in order to have a new car? In this regard, financial logic moves ahead of the purely loving cars emotion, right? Or...maybe not. Trite phrase, but trite phrases are often true ones. "Been there, done that." Who knows where that decision line lies.......Anybody care to weigh in?

Not willing to pay $40,000 cash and my car for a new Boxster S. Everyone has the urge to buy a new car once in a while but I don't let emotion overrule common sense. Buying a car can be viewed in the same way that I invest in common stocks, i.e. buy good ones as cheap as possible and never be swayed into paying too much. If I ever buy a Boxster S it will be a used one a couple years old just off a lease. Got my 1985 that way, let someone else absorb the depreciation.

[clnilsen]

Funny, this is how I got my 911. I was really set to get a boxster. At the dealership, papers ready. I decided not to, because I just couldn't look at all the $$ to sink into a new one. Next day a guy tranded in his 1980 911 SC. Bought it 3 hours later.

best thing that ever happened to me..!

Chuck

[pwd72s]

Yes...my thought is that with Porsche at least, the performance numbers increase very slowly, if at all. The price however, it goes into the stratosphere.

[island911]

Originally posted by boyo
I like the Boxster, . . .
Smooth, with a capital "SMOOOOOOO"...

yes . . .be calm. . .embrace the numbness. . .numbness is your friend. . .

[BlkBird]

I too test drove a Boxster (not the "S" model). Nice car, very very smooth power band. And best of all, a cabriolet!

Then I tried two 1995 993s. Nice cars, tight handling with refined suspension. Definitely a car that does what you tell it to do. And best of all, both cabriolets.

But... there was something missing. These were my first test drives in a Porsche and I guess I was expecting more. Not sure what more was, but it sure was missing.

Then I test drove a 1989 911 Turbo. Sure figured out what was missing in the other cars. The 911 Turbo is like a big nasty dog - it will bite you if you don't prove who is boss. And keep proving it. Same nice tight feel as the 993s, same smooth revving motor. But when the turbo cuts in... and the best part... say it with me... she is a cabriolet.

Happy in Atlanta!

[Hellgate]

I sold my '87 in October to help finance my '02 desires.

I had spent about 25K or so on the '87 and the performance level I wanted was not there. The motor was trick, about 245 hp, the supension trick and the vechicle was in perfect condition. Strangers (non p-car types) though it was a '90's vintage car.

Yes I ate Boxsters and B-S's for lunch at DE and could just hang with 993's, but 996's could out run me regardless of drive out I had out of the corner. This summer I was considering about another 5K in motor work (993 MFS, fuel injectors, etc) and then I received the Christopherus with the red '02 996 on the cover. I fell in love. The problems with the orignal 996 seem to be solved and the car is even faster and handles even better. I also wanted a more modern car than my '87 offered. Here in Texas the Carrera A/C was not cutting it.

I love the old 911's. Someday I'll build an early S track car. Until then I wait until May 2nd for the '02.

As far as Boxsters, yuck. They are great cars but the engine is in the wrong place and they look funny.

Pete