sapman

I have had two Boxsters and both were great, but I bought a 991 cab this time around and am more than happy with it. My order went in before the details of the 981 were announced and, though I did think about switching to the 981, am happy that I didn't. The 911 is an itch that I have wanted to scratch for a while and this 991 C2 Cab is just about perfect for my needs at the moment.

Charlie C

Isn't great to have choices!!!

tmg57

C'mon guys, you all know the answer because it's basic marketing: They charge $30k more for the 911 because they CAN. Porsche 911 is an iconic brand and, like all such brands, will command premium in the market. The amount of the premium is, generally speaking, whatever the market will bear.

The premium is not necessarily gouging by Porsche. Significant benefit can accrue to the buyer who perceives greater pride of ownership, public approval, etc., in the 911. Every buyer will evaluate the value proposition differently.

dethman

Actually i thought the 911's were designed now cab first and the coupe added onto the cab design, not the other way around, since the 997.

clutchplate

If they only charged $20,000 for the "911 snob appeal", I'd take the 911. I paid around $95K for my 997S Cab, the equivalent 991S is around $125K. If all things were equal, I would go with the 991, but at $125K plus tax etc. choosing the 981 was an easy decision. Maybe I'll buy some facebook stock with the extra $70K.

10 GT3

I found the same thing whenever I drove a 986. With the 987, I have no problems with having more than adequate legroom while reclining the seat. The 981 is supposed to have about 2" additional legroom over the 987.

This is absolutely true! Just look at the rediculous price Porsche suckered people into paying for the 911 Speedster last year. It was just a GTS Cab with a shorter windscreen, yet was $80K more than a GTS Cab. The Speedster didn't even have much lower of a production volume than the GTS Cab. Regardless of the price, people bought in because they put a "Speedster" name on the back.

Looking at the features for both the 981 S and 991 Carrera, what is really unique about going to the 991 (just in terms of features)? The only 2 options I could find that were unique to the 991 are the Burmester audio and PDCC, both options on the 991. As an experiment, I went ahead and configured both with the same equipment (same basic build with mostly sport options and BOSE stereo). I came up with a $34K differential between the 2 models. According to the technical specs, the 991 Cab weighs 3241 versus 2976 for the 981 giving them near identical power to weight ratios. This means you pay about 50% more to get the 911 without a real performance advantage. Keep in mind that the performance gap was greater with previous models (996 > 986 S and 997.1 > 987.1 S), the gap has just been narrowing with each model change. There is obviously a much greater gap in performance if you look at a 991 S versus a 981 S, but that is also an additional $14,300. The worst part about all this is that the new Boxster looks so much better than the new 911.

skinzy

Whats missing in these arguments are the price of substitutes for the 911 cab. When I did my research I found its main competitors to be the Audi R8 and Mercedes SL. Neither has a rear seat and are perhaps 10K less expensive but in my research could not match the 911 in overall performance. Thus their are limits to "what the market will bear" as set by competitors.

SSST

I did the same experiment with the similar results. The 911 is still the flagship, but on purely objective measures, the new Boxster S seems a much better buy for the money than the base 911. Of course I haven't driven the new Boxster yet. It could suck, but I doubt it.

As for styling, it is a purely subjective thing. But for me the new Boxster is stunning. I could do with more subdued side scoops, but I still thought Wow! when I first saw it (still not digging on the VW inspired interior though). The base and S versions of the 991 are nice looking but a bit ho hum for a flagship, and I trend to the conservative side of things. Conservative and plain are not the same thing. I do see potential for the GT and TTT versions though.

Still digging the 996tt and waiting to see how all this evolves.

gota911

Post the same question on the Box Forum and you will come away with this general answer ==> "it's a Boxster so it's okay that it cost $30k less."

speed21

Even funnier how the topic of money even came up to begin with.

These are essentially two different cars to suit two separate requirements and market segments. It also stands to reason that the more expensive model would substantiate in areas over the lesser priced car. And if model recognition is one of them, then that also stands to reason. Guys do the obvious differences really need to be spelled out? To base everything purely off performance as being the sole point of justification for why the 911 is more expensive than the Boxster is about as absurd as suggesting the 30k extra is only for the snobbery associated to the 911 name.

Let's all get real. Money/price often gets argued about when there is a lack of it, and that's when the points of difference/justification usually surface why one is not worth more than the other....usually easily defeated at one point in the discussion. This discussion will prove no different... no doubt .

PS. There may be a valid point to argue over the dated appearance of the 997 cabriolet being not as attractive as the current 981 Boxster. But to say the new 991 cab isn't a substantially better looking car in comparison to the 997 cab, and new 981, would be a minority opinion, and possibly one from persons with green issues .

[quote=caveatesq1;9507801]The 997 had at that stage been out well over 3 years and many rival Brands had appeared with newer models at that stage. I would agree the 911 is not as balanced as a mid mount boxster however, a 911 person appreciates those characteristics as positives rather than a straight negative. I think once you have been skilled in the art of driving a 911 properly you will come to understand what all the fuss is about with the rear engine layout. Sure it may not be for everyone. As much as i enjoy the characteristics there are certain traits even i am happy to have seen dialed out of the car in the new 991 model. 911 is an ever evolving/improving animal. I guess the easiest solution would be to do away with the rear seats and make the car mid mount. Who knows, we all may wind up prefering it even more..

I would agree the M3 is a brilliant all rounder. But a track day car it is not. And, it is no 911 either. A 911 is a very special car when you learn to appreciate its traits and unique character.

No kidding.

Then it's obvious due to your family position that you bought your 997 for all the wrong reasons when in fact you actually required a car that catered better for your young family. The M3 makes a lot of sense in that situation.

I think your above comment again identifies the precise reason why it suits you not to rationalise why it isn't just "snob appeal" that is behind the reason for the extra money. Your family issues are still clearly there (as you have stated) therefore, it makes logical sense to spend less on a car that has limited use for the amount of time you may actually get to spend in it. I would also question if the price of the cars were identical which one you would actually choose, putting aside the fact the 991 has been voted worlds best sports car.

You would also sit in a minority group that would think the 991 911 is worth no more money than a 981 Boxster S, when in reality there is a whole lot more to the car, particularly in terms of practicality, styling, speciality and overall substance of the offering under question.

Let me put this question to you for an honest answer. Price the two models the same and ask yourself which model Porsche would sell more of. Something tells me we already have the answer to that.


I basically agree with what you say, but there is more to it. Like i said above; Price the two models the same and see which one sells more than the other. The reality is, there is more to a 991 911 than the 981 than just performance alone. A Porsche person should be (particularly) able to intelligently rationalise and determine these areas easily. A BMW person with clear family practicality requirements may not. To say the extra $ is all just "snob" money as some have suggested, is at best fanciful thinking or at worst, $green envy.

Some folk may be prepared to pay for snob appeal, some may not. That is why when two models are compared, all the differences should be put on the table and rationalised correctly. The 991 911 cabriolet has a lot more going for it than the Boxster than just 911's iconic name. ie; it's roomier inside (larger air space when the roof is up) has ability to put items behind you instead of on the passenger seat, ability to squeeze someone in the back on those isolated occasions (and having that option to do so is moreso important) Superior exterior styling, 40+ years honing and engineering, and so it goes on....

The way i see it, the Boxster is essentially a "run about" or short distance type specialty sports car whereas the 911 has greater all round practicality and appeal for most drivers....and that's not including the specialty appeal associated to owning what is claimed as the worlds best sports car.

I honestly don't see it as the "worst" part of anything. The 991 cab is clearly a more substantial car in terms of both offering, general practicality and speciality.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion to which car looks the better, and while the Boxster is certainly a significant styling improvement over the outgoing car I personal don't find it as attractive against the simplistic clean sweeping lines of the 991 cab. Just stand at the rear of a 981 and a 991 and tell me 911's wide rear flanks don't drown out the presence of any Boxster

I would agree with another member here who commented that the 981 Boxster is quite busy in design, and it therefore stands to lose its appeal far quicker than any 911. The car is very new in the market also, so while it is receiving a lot of attention now, once the market settles down things are likely to change in that level of excitement and attention, after all the dust has settled. It could also be said the styling of 981 is a bit MR2 ish (so not as clean as the outgoing car), needless to say it is both visually and physically smaller than the 911 and therefore attracts the small man, girls car, hairdresser car, gays car etc comments which (for right or wrong) always seem to follow these types of vehicles around. It would personally not stop me from buying a Boxster, even if that was all i could afford, and if i did either way, it would be for my wife (as a nice little run around fun sports car) rather than for myself as again the household still requires a dedicated family SUV type vehicle. But to each is own.

cmb13

As far as looks are concerned, I think the 991 is just about perfect; iconic, refined, and a terrific update on a classic design. The 981, while I'm sure it drives great, does look way too much like the MR2 or S2000 to me. I liked the way the Boxster looked before better.

Galion

[QUOTE=cmb13;9510607]As far as looks are concerned, I think the 991 is just about perfect; iconic, refined, and a terrific update on a classic design. The 981, while I'm sure it drives great, does look way too much like the MR2 or S2000 to me. I liked the way the Boxster looked before better.[/QUOTY]

^^^^ Yes!

packwest

With the Boxster, you get 90% of the fun at 50% of the price, give or take. Objectively and purely from a sports car perspective, it is a better sports car. It has most things the 991 possesses that is required of a sports car, yet doesn't lolad up on the impurities that isn't typically associated with a sports car.

Thus, the extra $30k does really boil down to subjective things like heritage, prestige, brand, etc.

speed21

^^ Funny how it's now the Germans copying.....whereas before it was everyone else copying the Germans. I guess they must have thought "if you cant beat em join em"

SSST

[quote=Galion;9510695]You really think that looks like the new Boxter? Time to break down and get those readers you've been avoiding. It's okay. It happens to all of us.