pissedpuppy

wasn't it on the sopranos where someone called the boxster a porsche in panties?

can never get that out of my head now

garyinseattle

Had the same choice, coming off a 987. All the comments are appropriate, the 911 is a much more serious and passionate car. Faster and harder edged. Better looking in my opinion. The Boxster is softer, rides and handles better, but is more tame, and almost boring after a while (I mean this in a good way).

One is a nice sports car, the other is a high performance car. even though the numbers are not that much different, it's like comparing a Honda Civic to a Corvette.

Rocco07

Practical arguements aside, let's face it, there are less expensive cars to go from A to B with much more room. So explanations of more room, etc are considerations, but we'll suffer those for what we want in the long run.
With that said, all of us wanted or want to be in a Porsche for one reason or another, none of them practical. The question is, which Porsche. Needs may drive us to a particular model like a Cayenne or a Panamera. But the decision between the Boxster and the 911 usually comes down to cost (wearing flame suit). I contend, people in Boxsters didn't want the expense of a 911 regardless of any performance particulars. But to quote another person here, I'm sure they wish the one that just drove by was thier's. The 911 is THE Porsche and everyone knows it. My father used to say, "get what you really want, or you won't really be happy." I realize my post is my opinion. But I'm sure there are others who absolutely share it.

phily911

I just went through a similar decision, wait for the new cayman or get a 997. After driving a bunch of 997s and looking for 6 months it was a no brainer for me. Found one a few months ago, 2006 with 26K miles. I was looking for an S but this was in such amazing condition I couldn't pass on it and like others say, it will hold its value.

USMC_DS1

Some 20 yrs ago my wife and I learned that valuable lesson. With one infant in tow I needed to trade in my 2 seater, a Fiero, for something that would accommodate a growing family... my solution was a 4Runner. My wife, the accountant, deemed it fiscally responsible, however, to purchase an extend cab p/u truck. I could only guess at what would happen next at the time but I capitulated... 9 months later she insisted that we trade in the p/u truck for the 4Runner. Lost 20% value on the trade-in.

In hindsight it was a valuable lesson learned while we were young so we've lived ever since by the motto... "get what you want upfront, save and pay cash for it, if it takes longer wait for it." It took me 10 years while raising a family(purchased 2 trucks for the boys and 2 BMW's for wifey) to save enough cash for my 911 dream to align the financial stars and planets... to replace my M3. BTW, we still have the 4Runner... she's 20 yrs old, loyally takes me to the airport, rarely complains, starts up every time.

GL with the selection and let us know what you end up with and why.

mdrobc1213

I've had both cars and I like the Boxster and had gone from my 997.1 to the 987 and eventhough it was my favorite color porsche (Speed yellow) and outfitted nicely...I must say that each time I saw a 911 I had "Carrera withdrawal!" I mean I like the Boxster style and it drove great but it wasn't a 911 and I found myself just wanting my Carrera back. So 6 mos later I traded the Boxster back in for a demo 997.2 in Racing Green. When I did that my sales guys then admitted that he had expected me back in to get a 911 again soon when he sold me the Boxster...saying "people go from Boxster's to Carrera's but rarely do they go the reverse!" So he'd been expecting me! lol

X51

mdrobc1213 summed it up best. You'll never regret getting a 911, but you may always wish you had gotten a 911 if you get a Boxster.

yemenmocha

Both are underpowered, so go with the less underpowered one?

Bob Rouleau

FWIW up here at least the new Boxster is selling like mad whereas the 991 is slow moving off the showroom floor.

PCC

I drove the new Boxster S on the track recently at a Porsche event. I admit, I was impressed. Plenty of power and great handling. That said, I cringed the second time my wife said "it's so cute"

911Dave

Also worth mentioning is that the 2009 997.2, being 4 years old, will be far less expensive to own over the same period as a new 981, due to most of the depreciation already being taken on the 911. I'm currently struggling with the same decision, and I've done the math. A 2009 911S or 4S are both significantly less expensive over a 3 year period than buying a brand new 981. And 3 years from now, the 911 will be just about done depreciating, whereas the 2013 Boxster will still have farther to go.

JonasJ

This, the Boxster will be more expensive, make sure you like it more if you get it. If you like them both equally take the 911

Targa Tim

If you already have a 911 in garage, then new Boxster is a good buy and will compliment the 911 nicely.

Otherwise, I strongly believe that every man who loves car should have a 911 in his stable. More will be better.

Mr Ping

I've been recently wondering about going from my old warhorse (98 996 Cab, 101k miles and only a single IMS failure/ engine rebuild required and Porsche did it for free when out of warranty!!) to a new Boxster but then decided that if I go the Boxster route the only one I would go for is the Spyder.

I think a 997s Cab is most likely going to be my next car but also don't want to ditch the 996 as it has served my family so well over the years (no major repair bills apart from engine rebuild which we didn't pay for and we've had it since 5k on the clock!

Oh and I am new and this is my first post! yay for me!

rodsky

The new boxster is really great. Having said that I'd get the 997. You can likely get CPO so 2-3 years of warranty. You've taken the new car financial hit out with the 997. The 911 is just a special car. I'd always want one. I'd like a boxster as a second Porsche for very specific circumstances. So financially and emotionally I'd lean to the 997. If you want a 2 seat roadster and are going to keep it forever, then 981.