[onewhippedpuppy]

Having owned both, Boxster all day long. The only edge I would give to the 951 is that it goes faster right out of the box and can easily be made to go even faster still. The mid-engined 986 is more agile, more fun to drive (my opinion of course), easier to work on, reliable, and has a flat-six so you still get the 911 engine character. They are also newer, so it is far easier to find one that hasn't been neglected. It's a real challenge to find a well-kept 951, and they are bringing better money than a few years ago.