Suggestions for the next Porsche
 

As some of you know my 944NA is now history thanks to a careless driver.

So the search is on for a new car I haven't decided yet what to get but the options are;

944 S2
944 Turbo
968
Boxster or Boxster S

The new car will be a daily (summer mostly) driver to the office and to customers. I like the practicality of the 944 / 968 for carrying a laptop and parts etc.

The other purpose of te vehicle is a test bed for new product ideas so the Boxster is appealing because of the number of cars out there.
If I go the Boxster route there would probably be a 944NA project car in my future to.

So the question, what's your opinions on the merits of the choices?

I think you should post a ballpark price range.
A nice well sorted 944S or S2 would be nice, 968....

Price range if flexible but no more than $15k for the right vehicle but prefer closer to $10k

http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/3085263338.html

A little bit of work required.. But you can saty under your price tag.

http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/3045093671.html

Beautiful Example.

http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/3099559688.html

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm looking for a tan interior and probably white or lighter paint color.
Partly my preferance and makes it a easier sell to my wife:) she hates the black leather on my Jeep in summer.

Any view on the merits of 944 v boxster?

Three words: Nine Five One. That is all.

make a few payments and get a 996 turbo =]

996 carrera 4 is on the wish list, but the business needs to grow (and sucks cash) and I don't do payments :) but it is a good idea :)

I owned both an '86 944 and '86 951. The 951 was somewhat costly to maintain. It was always a goal to get more power out of the turbo - but my wallet didn't agree.

I paid $9k for a 968 (with complete service records) this past December. Considering the intact dash and interior, 137k miles and decent (not monsterous) power, I'm glad I made the jump. I'm still getting used to those pop-ups however - I guess I do prefer the 951/S2 front end....

Good Luck,
___________________
-Robert
'94 968 - Aventurine Green
'86 944 NA - Alpine White, parting out (slow death)
'86 951 - Alpine White (sold)

+951

948=CFR

The Boxster is limp and has no torque and then there's the IMS problem. If you find a clean Boxster with a blown IMS and don't want to shell out $15K for a new gutless boxster engine I hear there is a valid V8 swap kit in the works.

Price constraints probably eliminate the Boxster S from consideration. The base Boxster is fun but will leaving you wanting for more power.

A well sorted 968 or 951 sound like just the ticket.

I have a boxster and 951. The boxster is 1000% more refined. For a DD, theres no comparison.
The 944 over an older 911 though, IMO. I've had both and even though the SC was a great, great car, its very much a drivers car, not the best DD

and my 2.7L boxster is not hurting for power. At all. Where do these things come from??

IMHO, an S2 coupe seems the best all-around 944-variant.
The perfect form factor for fun-driving practicality.
Not the explosive accel of the turbo but sufficient take-off and traffic tourque.
A beautiful front and rear-end; and a maint cost south of a 24yo 951, 18yo 968 or a 12yo Boxster.
As a Porsche novice, my impression of the S2's I've driven leave me smitten..
Next car is either an S2 or an S with recent camchain proof of service.
Good luck in your hunt!

I say S2, 68 or 51 if you like the 944 Family. A boxster is a great car as well, but I would want an S. As for a 951, they are very good cars if maintained and will be every bit as reliable as an NA, however most have been driven hard and not taken care of and can cost a fortune to sort. This is probably the only reason why I have not sold mine as I know I will want another one some day and mine is very well taken care of. The 951 is also a bit of pain in traffic and trying to pull out in front of traffic. They are very very quick, however they are also very laggy compared to modern turbo cars.

If you have to drive it everyday I'd be temped to stick with a 951/968 over a Boxter. I have owned a true two seater mid engine car and it really sucks for practical everyday type things. The hatchback makes the 944 chassis far more useful.

Not sure what the mod market for older Boxters is so not sure what to tell you there.

My BoxsterS definitely is not a daily driver, but that said I have to agree with it being a thousand times more refined than the other options. Granite my 924S had bone shattering suspension, but even driving a 951 or a 968 I would have to go with the Boxster. The 951 I didn't mind but for everyday I would have the 968 or the 986S. Find a S with a little bit of mileage and you'll meet your price gap. The IMS is an issue but as long as you find a well sorted example, and get IMS guardian much of the failure is relieved.

i agree with this from a DD standpoint .. but once yo u drive an ICOn youd be nuts to go back :)
i have never looked back after moving from 944s to 911 .. but admitedly its not my dd

I have a 951 for sale. Although it probably needs a tad bit more work than you are looking for.. :/
http://athensga.craigslist.org/cto/3105693274.html

Elliot I like those wheels on that 951....

951 is awesome. I love mine.

Eh.....I love going to Porsche meets and not being like everyone else with a 911:cheers:

A few years back I looked at:
924S, 944S, 944S2 and 968. I found the 968 and 924S the most appealing, but both were sold before I could come to my decisions....

I ended up buying a 2000 Boxster (2.7). What a really nice car. Very qick. Well balanced. Had a blast autocrossing it etc. But to me, it wasn't a real "porsche" so I bought another 914 (my first porsche was a 914).. but it was slow.. and I couldn't fit both kids with me..

So I sold it and bought a 944 (87, 2.5, 8V). Its been a wonderful car. I like it more than I thought or wanted too. Fun to AX... no safety nannies.. room for the whole family. But, underpowered.

You've done the 8V N/A already.. consider an S2 or 968, but I think jumping to the more modern Boxster platform would be the more enjoyable route. Plenty of trunk space for the "work" items.

Thanks guys, great input.
I have some thinking to do.

I bought a base 2.5 boxster with plans to use it as a dd for a couple years then make a spec boxster.

I've had all the 44 variants except the 968.

The chassis on the boxster is definitely a step up. Mid engine makes tinkering a bit tougher. I've never really felt space constrained. Lots of aftermarket parts available.

While more power would be nice, I enjoy wringing the 2.5 out and staying in the power band. Brakes are great

My next step will be a Cayman after I convert this.

Most boxsters seem to have a weight distribution of 45 percent front & 55 percent rear...

coming from the 944's near 50/50, was there a noticeable improvement in the 986 mid-apex transition ? Or was the 944 (any variant) more stable?
TIA

Well sorted 951, hands down. Your budget can perfectly accommodate one of the nicest examples out there and still leave a little maintenance wiggle room. You won't regret it! And you won't be wanting for power. I just have a chip in mine and am satisfied with the performance. Upkeep shouldn't be terrible if you find one like the low mileage black example above. Mine has been moderate with the higher mileage, and coming from an occassionally-driven life to a nearly daily-driven life so parts are wearing.

Sentinelist, I agree with you on everything with exception of the low mileage part. You don't want a low mileage example, a higher mileage-maintained example is MUCH MUCH better unless it will be a show car. I know this from personal experience. Most of the problems these cars are having are from lack of use and maintance (again attributed to little use). You can find some higher mileage cars that are as nice if not nicer cosmetically than a low mileage car and it will cost you less to run them.

Virginia F1, recall that the 944 50-50 weight distribution is when the car is static.. Add gas, brakes or cornering and it all goes off from there. The boxster is more stable at any part of the cornering story. Also consider that its multilink suspension in the rear is more advanced and better able to handle corners. F1 cars are also closer to a 46/54 WD.. because its better ;)

I say try em out.. don't have to buy the first car you test drive afterall..

I agree with above. Have given some thought to getting another variant of Porsche in a couple of years. The Boxster and the Cayman are easy the front runners. If I ran across a old 911 at a sweat price I would be tempted just because it is an iconic car. But the Boxster and Cayman have the engines in the right spots. As years pass fewer upgrades will be out there for the 944 family, while the Boxster is becoming the entry level used Porsche IMHO. I am the chairman for tech session in my area of the PCA and see it all the time. dont get me wrong will always love the 944. Even though half the people who ask me about it at the gas stations assume it is a MAzda at first.

michael

Cool.. yes, as an avid F1 fan I'm looking forward to driving a 986 for a comparison myself one day.. I find many 1997-1999 Boxster prices (IMS Bearing prone admittedly) to be near equal to 10-year older 944 prices at similar mileage.

The DD/practicality and coupe solidity of the 944's still means that affording only one Porsche at the moment compels its ownership over a Boxster for me.

And back to Andy's OP, check this one out mate:
http://www.autotrader.com/dealers/in...er_id=65965377

Could this price be for a running 951?