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My first Porsche was a 2010 base Boxster, manual. That car got me addicted, but when the 981 was released I knew I had to move on to the Boxster S in my avatar. The base was great in the twistys once you got the RPMS up, but slow off the line. Looks are of course a personal preference. I prefer the 987 Cayman but the 981 Boxster as far as looks go. Without a doubt the 987 Boxster is a good looking car, but the 981 Boxster roof is better, and less lumpy looking. I bet you can find a 987 S or 981 S in you're price range if you look hard enough. Sadly to us early 981 owners values have dropped like a stone, maybe cause they made a lot of them. The 987 was a bit more analogue as everyone says and when I first made the switch I felt it, but the 981 is much better in many other ways. Good luck with your search, I don't think you can go wrong with whatever you choose. Maybe stay away from the IMS cars for peace of mind though.
So after talking with my wife and doing some crunching I have dropped my budget :-(! I’m currently looking at 13-14’ Boxster base or “S” if I can find one within my budget. $33-$38k.
My question is base with the pdk a turd? I know “S” is the preference and that is all I have driven. There is a base with pdk at local bmw dealer I’m going to go drive. I’d really like base/s in manual! The cayman “S” I drove was all of ten min max on local streets. The only other car I have driven more than a block is the s2000 which I really enjoyed!!
Don’t cross-shop PDK if you want a manual. Stick to the stick, if that’s what you want.
Base or S doesn’t matter. If you love the color combo, options, condition, and price just pull the trigger. You really can’t go wrong with any clean 987, 997, or 981 that passes a PPI.
The IMS fears about 2005-2008 987.1 and 997.1 are overblown (which is reflected in their bargain prices) and there’s a simple $2-3k solution to put your mind at ease.
981 S will be hard to get for your budget, or it will be high miles or with stories or not in a great condition.
To me any Boxster looks and drives much better than a 911 convertible, so if open-top is a must, I’d stick with Boxsters. In your situation, with 6 and 8yr kids, a 997 would provide great backseat experiences to your kids that they will have for the rest of their lives. So get a clean 997 (coupe or cabriolet) if it fits the budget. Maybe consider even 996. They seem to have bottomed in prices as the red-haired Porsche step-children and seem to get bid up quite nicely on bringatrailer.com recently. (Include that website in your search — both educational and addictive.)
In short, get a clean car that pulls at your heartstrings and fits the budget. Fair warning, once you own/drive a Porsche you will be spoiled against almost any other car out there. I was. Good luck and keep us posted!
EDIT: More important than having an extended warranty is finding a good, reputable, independent Porsche shop in your area with whom you can build a relationship and trust. Ask around here or with your PCA region (website) for opinions and references.
You make some very good points. If I do go 997 or an “IMS” car I need to find a good Indy to trust here in Portland. I agree that cross shopping pdk and manual is not smart lol! Stick to stick! I guess there is a reason it takes a good while to find the right car.
i will deff keep the thread updated.
For example, this low miles, clean 996 beauty will be way under your budget — making you comfortable about driving it more often and about not getting a warranty for it since you could pay for fixes out of pocket. Has all issues (IMS) already resolved. Open top. Heated seats. Rear seats for the kids. Has bottomed in price and on its way up — very likely to appreciate over the years that you enjoy it. Worst case, sell it after 1-2yrs if you prefer smth else, with zero loss or even at a profit:
Yes, should have spell checked my post. 3.4 Carrera motor 340 hp in R and black edition not 3.6 (wish). Spyder 330 hp and a all around ball to drive and like a high end go cart. Tame though and civilized compared to raw 997.2 GT3. Frankly the 987 spyder is probably one of the best drop top sports cars ever built. Top install is a 3 minute affair and gives the whole look a sleek stance.
I agree with others on here, do the S if you can afford to do so. The only option that I would have to have is the Sport Chrono. IMO it really does make the car drive differently.
Yes, should have spell checked my post. 3.4 Carrera motor 340 hp in R and black edition not 3.6 (wish). Spyder 330 hp and a all around ball to drive and like a high end go cart. Tame though and civilized compared to raw 997.2 GT3. Frankly the 987 spyder is probably one of the best drop top sports cars ever built. Top install is a 3 minute affair and gives the whole look a sleek stance.
After doing the top enough, I find it only takes me about 90 seconds max. My preferred top-on ride now is no back window btw, that timing is even less.
I agree with others on here, do the S if you can afford to do so. The only option that I would have to have is the Sport Chrono. IMO it really does make the car drive differently.
I might add PSE, but that can be handled after-market. The sound an S with PSE makes, it really is almost perfection.
Well it looks like I have forgotten about this thread! I have not acquired a car yet…life happens.
However, I think this will happen within the next 6-8 months. My budget has been bumped up and I am looking in the $65k - $70k range now. I have been eyeing the 987 spyder. Must have is 6mt and a very high want maybe must have, are buckets.
This won’t be a daily driver but will be driven and not tracked. Let me hear your thoughts!
Well it looks like I have forgotten about this thread! I have not acquired a car yet…life happens.
However, I think this will happen within the next 6-8 months. My budget has been bumped up and I am looking in the $65k - $70k range now. I have been eyeing the 987 spyder. Must have is 6mt and a very high want maybe must have, are buckets.
This won’t be a daily driver but will be driven and not tracked. Let me hear your thoughts!
Congratulations on being in the market; however, I believe that your target price puts you in PDK territory with sofas, not a MT.
If you haven't already, you might post this in the Cayman R / Spyder forum. There are more than a few threads on the current market for these great cars.
I’ve thought about owning a Porsche for quite some time. Since I was a kid (like most of us).
I realized today, that I’ve been looking at used Caymans (and others) on the sales sites for 10 years. Convincing myself that I didn’t really NEED one, and that the money could be better utilised.
I bought a 987 S yesterday.
I took it for its first fun drive today.
1. I’m extremely glad I took the plunge and bought one.
2. I’m glad I bought an S. I’d convinced myself a 2.7 would be fine, and could have bought a 981 with that engine. I love the midrange, and like most people; I’ve never met a horsepower I didn’t like.
01-11-2019, 04:20 AM
