I've been driving 911s since the 70s when I got out of school and made enough money to buy a used blue POS rusty 1967 T ... at least I think that was the year. Long time ago.

I've had quite a few since. Some "pre owned", some new. I really love the 911 cars in any form .... but, not Targas. Don't care for the "look".

I have a 993 C4S that is in terrific condition and a 997 C4S that is leased (daily driver). The 997 is the best car Porsche made IMO. Does everything well. But, a bit pricey.

Couple days ago, I bought a 2005 Boxster S with low miles. Traded the '02 Z3 car in on the Boxster. I had reservations regarding the B-car, but I have to tell ya, it's one fine handling car. Yes, a bit down on ponies vs the 911, but it handles better (IMO) in the twisties.

I'm thinking of keeping the Boxster ... returning my leased 997 and maybe ... maybe .... hmmmm .... ahhhh .... getting a new Boxster in 2010. Plus, it looks better (IMO) with the top down than the 911 cabs. Pretty much fun car to drive .... and at 40K USDs less as well.

I'm a damned heretic .... forgive me.

 

No need to apologize as far as I'm concerned. Forget what the obsessive compulsive and sometimes over-sensitive 911 owners think. Buy what you like. It is your money.

 

I love 911s too, but the mid-engine Cayman/Boxster design is excellent. Too bad PAG does not offer the same 911 engines in those cars.

I think that a very interesting car is the RUF Cayman 3.8l.

 

If they did, they'd lose a lot of 911 sales.

 

The expectation is that the new CaymanS w/ a new DI engine will have about 315HP. I figure that its weight/power ratio will be pretty close to the base 997.2. Not bad.

 

No, you're not a heretic. Enjoy your drive and don't worry about what other people may think.

This reminds me of my experience with PDE at Barber. Most of the class were 911 owners and the look on their faces after they got out of the Boxster after the autocross exercise was priceless. "Why didn't Porsche tell me about that thing!" They did, you just weren't listening.

 

Agree with all that has been said. I ran an 01 Boxster S for 6+ years before getting my current 997S. I cannot tell you the number of times that 911 owners of one sort or another would come up to me after a run session at the track and ask what I had done to the engine on the car. Answer was nothing -- R compound tires and good brake pads were all it needed to outrun most 911s with less experienced drivers.

I won't get into the story of the 996 GT3 owner who put his car into the wall rather than let me by at Thunderhill!

L

 

Bagger, you can do what a co-worker did, buy a Boxster S and replace the engine with an X51 997 engine, etc.

 

heretic-- and don't expect any more waves from 911 owners ; )

 

I agree with everything other than the fact that the Boxster looks better as a top down 'vert than the 911 boxster looks better with top up, but top down, the 997 looks unbeatable

 

Not crazy at all. I loved my Boxster as well, even with only a 2.7 powerplant. To a non-track driver like me, the Boxster's handling is more balanced and reassurring than the 911. It's a surgical scalpel compared to the 997's samurai sword. The 911 is my first love, but I'd love to have both. I do agree the Boxster looks better than the 911 with the top down.

 

Been there, too. I've been stuck behind GT3s at Road Atlanta, through 1, through the esses, all the way to 7 only to see them pull away down the back straight until I'm back on their butts again at 10a. Never had one put himself into a wall though, thankfully.

 

The Cayman/Boxster is a wonderful car and the handling is oh so sweet. That said I went the other way and traded my Cayman S for a C2S. No regrets. There is just something about a 911.............

 

I agree with you. I drove my leased '07 "daily driver" C4S to work today. The acceleration is pretty amazing. But, I knew that. The profile of the car is iconic. As is the unmistakable butt with those huge sneakers. Beautiful car as always. 911s rock !!

I really care for the 911s a great deal. Always have.

But, that said, I need to downsize from 3 Porsches to 2. I like the traditional look, feel and habits of the 993. And, I enjoy dropping the top of a B-car that is 1/2 the price of the 911, yet is inspired by the same/same car and seems to handle better than the 911, too. That means that in 10 months, I plan to bring my daily driver back to the P-store and drop off the keys. The next owner will be very fortunate, too. The car is flawless with only 7000 presently showing on the clock. All the bells and whistles are in place and extras were added as well.

We will see how I hold up. I may lose my mind and get a new 911 April '09. But, I doubt it. I can prolly wait another year after that. (sigh...) I tell ya, tho .... if the B-car gets anywhere near 325 ponies, it's gonna be difficult to move back to a $110K 911 in 2010.

 

If I weren't such a die-hard 911 romantic, I'd have a hard time justifying it over the Boxster S/Cayman S. Sure it's down 60 ponies (and soon to be 90) from the 997S, but 295hp is more than respectable with that lightweight chassis, not to mention the significant coin savings. Save for the TT and GT3/2 models, none of my friends can really see the value proposition of the 911 as compared to the Boxster S/Cayman S. They all acknowledge the 911 is "better" overall, but not for that kind of price delta. To them, I'm just a hopelessly irrational fool.

That's why it's called a love affair -- it doesn't have to make sense.