Super Bargain vs. Supercar: How Does a 1999 Boxster Compare to a 2018 911 Turbo S?
Speed Advantage
The old saying driving a slow car fast is more fun than driving a fast car slow could not be more evident when jumping between my Boxster and Turbo S. My modified 911 is blindingly quick. But in the real world it is mostly useless speed. Driving the Turbo S feels like driving a caged animal most of the time.
And on the rare occasion that I can get into the gas a little bit I get to enjoy it for just a second or two before arriving at go directly to jail speeds. And a purple Turbo S with a Soul Performance exhaust system is not exactly discreet heading down the road. But the Boxster on the other hand is a joy on the street.
I can actually floor the accelerator in the Boxster and listen to the engine howl especially as it climbs over 5,000 rpm. Then I can bang in the next gear and keep going. It is quick enough to be fun but not so overwhelming. It puts a smile on my face with essentially no fear of losing my license over it.
It has just the right amount of speed for almost every situation. Will I be able to beat a new Corvette to the next stop light? No. Did I buy this Porsche to beat Corvettes at stoplights? Also no. So, as counterintuitive as it may seem, the Boxster has a real-world speed advantage over the 911 Turbo S.
Simplicity Advantage
My Turbo S has AWD, four-wheel steering, heated and ventilated 18-way power seats, keyless entry and start, front axle lift, and a lot more. The Boxster has none of those things. The Turbo feels a little like being in a jet on the road. The Boxster (especially with the top down) feels more like being on a motorcycle. The Boxster is simple.
It is light at right around 2,800 pounds. And in many ways that is refreshing. Especially as cars get more and more complex as the years go on. My Boxster uses hydraulic steering and was the last year of the throttle cable before going to an electronic throttle. Not that newer technology is bad, but the older stuff has a bit of charm to it that can be lacking in the newer cars.
Price Advantage
Do I even need to say this? I could buy about a dozen of these 1999 Boxsters for the price of what a single 2018 911 Turbo S equipped like mine goes for. You can buy a well-kept mid-engine, flat-six, convertible Porsche for less than $15K all day long.
It may be the greatest value in the world of Porsche right now. In fact, it may be one of the best sports car values in the world full stop. Are there some concerns with these cars? Sure, but most are preventable. And because of the low value these cars are cheap to insure, especially compared to a 911 Turbo S.
