Yeah, I want to ask you guys, my fellow air-cooled devotees: what are you thoughts about a 2000-04 Boxster S? I'm thinking sub $14k so "nice" but not perfect.

Rationale: I've got my main driver, my beloved 993, and it's a keeper. But I'm entertaining the idea --just a thought at this stage-- that my 82SC is a car I really dig and use as a fun car only, is starting to feel too "narrow" for this stage in my life: older but maybe still maybe 7 yrs to retirement, grown kids that are "basically" out of the house (in/out because of college) so it's me and the wife. And I'm simply not doing track events anymore. My SC, which I dig, really is a pain once every two years when I have to pay dearly to get a CA smog ...that has becomey a really sore spot with me as I'm getting sick of that! So now thinking what "fun car" can I have if I were to replace the SC, but MUST still be reliable (and I mean better be as rock-solid as these 911s have been). Ergo, my post to you fine folks. Let me have it: what are your thoughts?

Edward

 

Boxster are good cars. I’ve owned a couple, well, a 981 spider and a gt4. Thst gen you want has 996 era electronics. Decent. But. Getting older. The ims bearing tends to worry folks. Part of the reason these old cars are reliable is their simplicity. i don’t think I’d replace an sc with a boxster and be happy with it.

 

Thanks for the thoughts. I, too, wonder whether I will miss the rawness of the SC, particularly since it is "only" the fun car. Too civilized maybe??
I may just consider neutering it and retrofitting all the smog crap back on permanently ...tough thought as the SSI's tone is genuinely an addictive thing!

Edward

 

in the recent past I've owned a '87 911 Coupe and a '00 Boxster, I thought the combination was one of the best I've experienced, the raw original feel, sight and sounds of the 911 and the fun of a mid-engine beautifully balanced analog drop top, I love top down drives. If I were to repeat that combo, I'd stay with the 911 (maybe go for a 964 or 993) and combine it with a Boxster S. I did do the IMS fix. I sold the Boxster to my son-in-law who has a 996 Turbo, he loves the Boxster in combination with the Turbo. I believe there is nothing quite like the combination of a Porsche coupe partnered with a Porsche convertible, the added attraction of what you'd end up with is rear engine/mid-engine contrast. bestwishes with your decision/pursuit

 

I've had two Boxsters, love them. They're as bulletproof as a Porsche is every likely to get. A great three-season daily. Fun, cheap, easy to DIY. With ordinary maintenance, these cars will make it to 200k with ease. I just sold a '99 with 185k. It had 160k when I bought it three years ago, and it was absolutely trouble free for me. My current Boxster has 120k, it's lead a hard life in Florida and Texas, I'm the 10th owner, and the maintenance has all been wear-out stuff.

The IMS issues are overblown. It only affects a small portion, it almost always affects cars before they hit 80k, and it generally affects cars that haven't been driven hard enough.

Don't rule out the base Boxsters for the extra horsepower of the S. The Boxster is a momentum car, not a tire-scorcher. The price premium for the 'S' is about 50% over a similar base model.

The 986 forum on Rennlist is pretty active.

 

I went from an 88 Carrera to a 2000 Boxster S. They feel different for sure. Once you get over the fact that you’ll miss that old school driving feel, the Boxster is a great, fun car.

 

Boxsters are great.

If you can up your price slightly I would recommend one generation newer and get a 2005 or newer car. I believe a real nice 2005+ model S can be had around $20,000.

 

I currently have a 2008 Boxster Rs 60. I love it. I love both of my air cooled but the boxster is just a blast. A short wide stance compared to the older air cooled really makes a handling difference. Find S only not regular. 6 cylinder a must.

ken

 

Boxster's are quite simply remarkable cars. I've owned 2 and will own another one.
I prefer many of the Boxster driving characteristics over the 911 to be honest.
If you find one that you like, go for it!!!!

Oh and it's Boxster not Boxter.

 

Not a fan of any Boxster until the 981....then I bought one.

 

How many hours do you need to spend wrenching to put the smog stuff back on?
Can you just pay someone to do that every 2 years?
Is that the only reason you want to sell ?

 

such good deals on boxters right now. Ive seen Boxster S for under $10k. rare but there was one I almost bought in santa clarita but it quickly sold.
Im looking for an SC project myself. so let me know if your selling yours.

 

Well not the only reason, but certainly one of them. Exhaust studs are notorious for breaking on these cars, particularly with age. So it's not so much the wrenching (well, it is some of that) but more the high likelihood of a stud or something else going awry costing more money and time, and all for this stupid --absolutely asinine CA idiocy-- dance every two years. I gotta admit, I love diving my SC! And having just looked at a few Boxsters --looked, not driven as I didn't want to talk to any salesguy-- I think I'm leaning more and more to just keeping my SC. I'm seriously considering just finding/buying and retrofitting the smog crap back on, though shudder to think how much feel and "zip" I'm gonna lose because of it ...not to mention what that crap will cost me as I gotta weigh that in the equation. Though all told, it may be my best solution considering my SC is a very well-sorted car. And given the unknown entity of a new used car, I'm uncertain I will have as good reliability (let alone wrench-ability) with a Boxster.

Edward

 

Still wondering, how many hours does it take?
Exhaust studs probably won't break if you loosen them every 2 years.
Can you put anti-seize on the exhaust studs? Or does it bake off ?

 

You’ll never replace the raw emotional feel of an air cooled 911 with an early Boxster. However, based on your comments I presume you have some track experience. Boxsters are insanely fun in the handling department, and if your driving skills from track allow you to push the car, you’ll be amazed at how capable and confidence inspiring the Boxster is in the twisties at close to the limits. As for reliability, I am a huge fan of the 986 S based on my experience of tracking one for 10 years, mostly at Sebring where the track is brutal on a car. I even have a spare engine that has been sitting on the shelf for 4 years. This car is bullet proof.