[craig2148]

Hi Everyone,

I am currently in the market for a Boxster. I have owned and driven a 1992 Miata daily since 1996. It's got 188,000 miles on the clock and is close to retirement. Good sense and experience (and Consumer Reports) are telling me to replace it with another Miata but raw lust is telling me to replace it with a Boxster. I'm going with lust. I am, however, unsure of a specific year that I should be in search of, years that I should avoid and an answer to a peculiar thing that I read once regarding wheels/ tires.

Given my budget I figure I can go as new as maybe a 2001 standard issue Boxster with around 50K on the clock. Consumer Reports says that 1999 is the year to buy based on reliability data and 2001 is a year to avoid. Any experience out there to rejoin or rebut this claim?

A second issue involves which wheels to get. The wild-eyed teenager in me wants 18" Turbo Twist wheels but the practical adult in me (the one that has to live with ride quality and pay for tire replacement) is inclined to go with 17" wheels. I read some strange thing in a buyer's guide that the 18" wheels cause chassis stress and resultant windshield cracking in the 996's. Has anyone experienced this problem with a Boxster? Any other advice regarding 18" vs. 17" wheels?

Thank you for your help and advice.