914 or Boxster

[racer]

Having had both 914 (2 of them) and 986 boxster, they are both Porsches and mid-engine, but everything else is different.

As others have mentioned, the 914 is simple. a little loud, a little slow, more "fun" when used as a weekend backroads car. Do you really want to do valve adjustments? gap plugs? gap distributors? track down 30+ year old replacement parts? Now, these aren't everyday issues, but they will crop up.. and they will only crop up when you want to use it.

The Boxster is a great car. modern. Fast. Safe. Relatively reliable should the IMS issue not pop up. Great DD. Great HEAT (not smelly) and AC. And even heated seats.. and you don't have to leave the car to put the top down.

Last I checked, "decent" 914's on the east side of the US are $8-15K ( I sold my last one in 2009 for almost $12k) and even more depending how nice you want. And don't be fooled, those cars all have 100K+ miles as the 5 digit odometers have surely been around once.

A 100K mile boxster doesn't sound enticing cause its so new.. no charm.. you know its been a 3-4-5 owner car and the first 2 were lease owners. No love. No history. Just durable and perhaps a little too common.

I hate to say it, as lover of the aircooled cars, but my current 944 has been the best "compromise" Porsche I've had. It is old enough it has none of the safety nanny items (ABS, Airbags, PSM, TC, Bla Blah) so it rewards good driving, and cause its a little old, it lets you tinker as needed. It has a large sunroof that does make it feel quite open. Its got great AC and Heat.

[Baz]

[greglepore]

Lots of good input here. Only you can judge whether you want a .66 scale version of your S or a car you can comfortably use both to run creekside roads and go for groceries in. Nothing replaces a 70's Porsche but a 70's Porsche, but we were all a lot younger then.

Neither will disappoint you, but you'll use the Boxster more than the 914, particularly given that it has real heat and a/c. Guess it comes down to whether you're looking for a toy or a sports "car"-and there's less judgement in that than it sounds.

[MBAtarga]

Originally Posted by Craig T

914 without a doubt. They're going to skyrocket in value.

Shhh! Don't say that too loud. I haven't found one for me yet...

[targa911S]

we should expand this conversation to include the 996 as well I think ..

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Lots of good input here. Only you can judge whether you want a .66 scale version of your S or a car you can comfortably use both to run creekside roads and go for groceries in. Nothing replaces a 70's Porsche but a 70's Porsche, but we were all a lot younger then.

Neither will disappoint you, but you'll use the Boxster more than the 914, particularly given that it has real heat and a/c. Guess it comes down to whether you're looking for a toy or a sports "car"-and there's less judgement in that than it sounds.

this is good..

[patssle]

A Boxster is a refined sports car with some luxury. A 914 is raw with no compromise and no luxury. There are other cars similar to a Boxster (911, Cayman, and probably some non-Porsche models that aren't as good but somewhat similar). There is nothing else like a 914.

I own both. The 914 puts a smile on my face in ways a Boxster never will. Force me to sell one and I'd choose the Boxster every single time.

[targa911S]

There is something about all those smells, sounds and smiles that are our/my heritage as a Porsche owner. I will take the smells and smiles over the heated seats any day.

[Nostril Cheese]

I'd highly doubt you'll find a nice 914 for $10K these days. Even then, they are slow, loud, uncomfortable. The only saving grace is the handling.

I've owned three 914's. I'd take a Boxster S every time now. Power, comfort, handling..

[herr_oberst]

I see David pulling up in front of the venue for his latest gig. He opens the door of the spiffy classic roadster, unfolds his long legs, steps out and walks around to the passenger side to retrieve the vintage t-bird that he himself lovingly refinished. He gives a smile and a nod to all the fans queued up in line while he makes his way to the stage door.

Later that evening, with his ears still ringing from the music that filled the arena, he lovingly straps the Fender into the passenger seat, drops into the drivers chair, and with the top down and the night spilling into the cockpit, he steers that pretty little sports car towards home - but MJ knows he'll be a little late tonight, because he drove the Porsche, he'll be taking the back roads, and there will be a different kind of music filling the Pennsylvania farmland - the symphony from an air-cooled flat 4 that happens between 3500 and 7000.

Life is good.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Something to consider.

If you get a 914 and ultimately decide it's not for you, you can probably break-even, maybe make a few bucks and then get Boxster.

If you get a Boxster and ultimately decide it's not for you, you can only lose money and then get a 914.

[Steve Carlton]

Look for both and jump on the one that looks best.

[J P Stein]

I sold my 914 a couple-3 years back.
At one point in our life we got together with 2 2.7L, mildly built 6. I was a hoot for a street car......even had fun building it.

It was too good as an AXer to leave it alone. Now being a bit more wise, I shoulda left it alone. With some more fooling around it became a 1700 lb AX killer. Our street days were over......cept for reeely early Sunday mornings.

So now, I too am in the market for a 2 chair sporty type car. A really good 914 needs around 200 HP......out of my price range, My heavy duty wrenching days are over. An S2000, Miata, Boxster, Cayman, Lotus 7 clone.....who knows?, I sure as hell don't. A good buy on any of the above will make me happy, but I'm leaning towards the J cars.

[aigel]

I would only do it with a souped up drivetrain. Preferably a flat six. That may up the budget by a lot though.

Why not try for an SC? Something that is a little rough around the edges, what is that now? 18?

If it had to be under 10, I'd get a 928 before I'd get a 914. Shaun's thread really has me thinking ...

G

[wdfifteen]

The purpose for owning the car has to be considered. If I added another sports car to the fleet it would only get driven 1000 miles a year. I would want something fun that I could maintain myself - which is the 914. For daily driving I couldn't choose a sports car - I haul too much stuff for a car that small. Had the Volt packed to the gunnels and wishing I had more space on a trip to Canada a couple weeks ago.

[Arizona_928]

Y'all forgetting subie swaps for the 914. You throw in a sti turbo motor/trans in... Well you're looking at something that is faster then those v8 swap teens.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I see David pulling up in front of the venue for his latest gig. He opens the door of the spiffy classic roadster, unfolds his long legs, steps out and walks around to the passenger side to retrieve the vintage t-bird that he himself lovingly refinished. He gives a smile and a nod to all the fans queued up in line while he makes his way to the stage door.

Later that evening, with his ears still ringing from the music that filled the arena, he lovingly straps the Fender into the passenger seat, drops into the drivers chair, and with the top down and the night spilling into the cockpit, he steers that pretty little sports car towards home - but MJ knows he'll be a little late tonight, because he drove the Porsche, he'll be taking the back roads, and there will be a different kind of music filling the Pennsylvania farmland - the symphony from an air-cooled flat 4 that happens between 3500 and 7000.

Life is good.

i wish my life was that romantic...but a teener in Amish country would be fun...

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

The purpose for owning the car has to be considered. If I added another sports car to the fleet it would only get driven 1000 miles a year. I would want something fun that I could maintain myself - which is the 914. For daily driving I couldn't choose a sports car - I haul too much stuff for a car that small. Had the Volt packed to the gunnels and wishing I had more space on a trip to Canada a couple weeks ago.

This. the car won't get a 1000 miles a year and I want to maintain it myself that is part of the fun. Now I haven't thrown this into the mix yet, but the British cars are a bargain now. MGB's for $3-4 K.....hmm..

[javadog]

If you want to actually drive it, as opposed to watching it sit in the garage while you hope it funds your retirement, the Boxster is the only choice.

JR

[targa911S]

well of coarse I want to drive it. I don't need it to "fund" anything. I just want something fun to drive and that I can tinker with...