Test Drove an '05 Boxster today

[legion]

Nice car, I liked it.

I was driving past the MB/Subaru/Volkswagon dealership today and they had one on the lot. I stopped by and said "What the hell..." More low end torque than my 951. Also a much shorter throw on the shifter. I didn't get into it too hard, and I didn't have a chance to see how it corners. (We stayed around town...it was also the salesman's second day on the job. I didn't want to scare the poor guy.)

I can't afford a new Boxster. I might be able to swing a '96/'97 model, but I need to sort out some other financial obligations first. Realistically, I'm 2 years away from owning one at the earliest.

They also had a 996 C4S on the lot. I think it was a 2003 and they were asking something like $62 for it.

[fastpat]

I'm toying with the idea of buying an '05 or '06 model (the gen II Boxster) next Jan-Feb time frame. Must have the 280 hp 3.2 liter motor, and maybe (gasp!) tiptronic. I have to sell one car first, probably the 325i cab. I don't want to sell the '88 911, it's too much fun.

[legion]

This one had the 2.7. It had enough pep for my tastes. More is always good, but I don't think I'll have the dough for it....

[HardDrive]

I am driving a 2002 Boxster for my daily driver. I LOVE the car. Plenty of power of my purposes. Makes some lovely sounds above 5000rpm. The handling is awesome. Its a razor.

2 bonuses: It gets good mileage, and the front trunk can hold a ton of groceries. Not impractical at all.

Down side if you are in the snow belt: you might want to invest in a hard top for the winter months. About $1500.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

For far less you can get a "slightly used" model or even an "S" model. I test drove an "S" a few months ago - world of difference between the base model and it. Almost as much as between the n/a 944 and the 951.

Boxsters have absolutely horrid depreciation - I'd be awfully hard-pressed for a reason to get a brand new one and eat $10,000+ a year in depreciation for the first three years.

[efhughes3]

If you have long legs, be careful. The mid-engine just won't fit me comfortably. Need about 2" more seat travel.

[legion]

I'm 6' 1" and I found it much roomier than my little 951. Then again, I didn't have the steering wheel on my thighs...

[CRH911S]

The base Boxster rides on standard 17-inch rubber and is powered by a 2.7-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder rated at 240 hp at 6,400 rpm and 199 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. Add the S and everything goes up. Tire diameter is now 18 inches, displacement is bumped to 3.2 liters, and power is a more respectable 280 hp at 6,200 rpm and 236 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm. Many parts used on the 05 Carrera are shared with the 05 Boxster as well.
In a couple of years there should be some nice garage queens. The 05 sounds like a good year.

Clinton

[dd74]

I'm hoping the Cayman S will go the way of the Boxster S, as in a good steady depreciation.

[Noah930]

I'm hoping the Cayman S will go the way of the Boxster S, as in a good steady depreciation.

+1

Considering that Porsche's selling a bazillion of them right now, I don't see how that won't be true. I'm saving my pennies.

[Tervuren]

Originally posted by CRH911S
The base Boxster rides on standard 17-inch rubber Add the S and everything goes up. Tire diameter is now 18 inches

Bit confused here. 17" of rubber in terms of width between two tires? So 8.5" wide tread per tire? or what? A tire diameter of 18 inches is fairly short for a sportscar, I've got about 25" tire diameter on my 17" wheel. I've seen Boxter S's, and they most certainly are not on tires with an 18 inche diameter.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to wheel size. Wider is typically better, but larger diameter isn't.

[Drago]

Originally posted by Tervuren
Bit confused here. 17" of rubber in terms of width between two tires? So 8.5" wide tread per tire? or what? A tire diameter of 18 inches is fairly short for a sportscar, I've got about 25" tire diameter on my 17" wheel. I've seen Boxter S's, and they most certainly are not on tires with an 18 inche diameter.

Pretty sure he means wheel diameter, not tire.

[Nathans_Dad]

I sat in an 02 Boxster S today (didn't drive it as I had both kids with me) and seemed to have decent room with the seat all the way back and all the way to the floor. I was concerned that I wouldn't have room for my 6'4" frame. It certainly isn't as roomy as my Chevy Tahoe, but I was quite comfortable.

Anyone know if a hardtop increases or decreases the headroom?

[Tervuren]

Originally posted by Nathans_Dad
I sat in an 02 Boxster S today (didn't drive it as I had both kids with me) and seemed to have decent room with the seat all the way back and all the way to the floor. I was concerned that I wouldn't have room for my 6'4" frame. It certainly isn't as roomy as my Chevy Tahoe, but I was quite comfortable.

Anyone know if a hardtop increases or decreases the headroom?

Same, I'm 6' 2", dealer let me try the driver's seat on, and I found it quite comfortable.

[deathpunk dan]

Legion-
I see 97 Boxsters for 14-17k all the time. I used to drive a highly modified VW Corrado VR6, and my neighbor let me drive his Boxster for a day (literally, the whole day). My p/p head, hot cam, chip, lightened flywheel, modded throttle body, exhaust, mkiv head gasket Corrado VR6 was faster in straight line accleration, but its pss9 bilstein coilovers with Shine Racing sway bar etc could not disguise the fact that the Boxster made it feel like the squashed Golf VR6 it was. The Boxster was so SOLID -like carved out of a single piece of steel - or aluminum. I know that every talks **** about the 2.5l gen 1 boxster, for it's lowly 200ish hp rating to its supposed crappy interior, but the truth is that it is a phenomenal grin machine.

Check one out sometime if you see one for sale. Much more pleasing to drive on the street than the Honda S2000.

[legion]

I'm thinking I might have to pick one up at some point...

[legion]

It's been almost one week and I'm still obsessing over that car. I need to figure out a way to make it happen. (Though it will still be a year off at earliest.)