bigbass37

I have a 944 S2 Cabrio and thinking about Boxster, When did it first come out, how long in production, any changes over the years, etc. ? Pricing?

I'm just trying to learn all I can about this model. I love my 944S2, but maybe an up-grade is in the works. Joe

Viken

For the US:

1997: Boxster, 2.5 liter, 201 BHP, 5-speed...$39,980
1998: Boxster, 2.5 liter, 201 BHP, 5-speed...$41,000
1999: Boxster, 2.5 liter, 201 BHP, 5-speed...$41,000
2000: Boxster, 2.7 liter, 217 BHP, 5-speed...$41,430
2000: Boxster S, 3.2 liter, 250 BHP, 6-speed...49,930
2001: Boxster, 2.7 liter, 217 BHP, 5-speed...$42,100
2001: Boxster S, 3.2 liter, 250 BHP, 6-speed...$50,200
2002: Boxster, 2.7 liter, 217 BHP, 5-speed...$42,600
2002: Boxster S, 3.2 liter, 250 BHP, 6-speed...$51,600
2003: Boxster, 2.7 liter, 225 BHP, 5-speed...$42,600
2003: Boxster S, 3.2 liter, 258 BHP, 6-speed...$51,600

For more info, do a Google search.

sasilverbullet

I owned two 944's, a 87 NA and a 87 Turbo. I think the Boxster is a MUCH better car. You really need to take it out and push it to the limit to appreciate the way it handles!

You'll like it, don't hesitate!

Luis de Prat

Yes, but no 944 cabrios. Lets talk prices. The 944 cabs are older cars, but they're better value than the Boxster and have 2+2 seating, FWIW.

Now let's talk production numbers. Over 20,000 Boxsters have been built annually since the model first came out in 1996. That's a lot of cars. They're everywhere.

OTOH, a mere 5,640 Porsche 944 cabriolets were ever built, and they won't be making any more.

Lastly, lets talk racing. The Boxster was a marketing-derived model. No iteration of the car ever competed on the racetrack before entering production. OTOH, the 944 chassis was a fair performer on the racetrack in the Porsche tradition, albeit in turbocharged form, before entering production. Porsche must have done something right, because today, many enthusiasts regularly track 944 cars with success.

Don't get me wrong, the Boxster is a great Porsche in its own right, but IMHO the 944 cabriolet is one of the most underrated Porsches ever. Largely because not many were built in the first place before the 944 line was overhauled due financial reasons and advances in automotive technology.

Would I own a Boxster? Probably yes. Would I give up a 944 cabrio for a Boxster? Never. Someday, people will value these cars for what they are. Until then, it's up to you and me!

Sean M.

Hi Joe...

Well, I own a 944 and a Boxster S. Love 'em both.

I can give you lots of info on the Boxster, but the best would probably be a drive. ;-) Since we are both in Birmingham, it's do-able!

We may be having a "tech session" on my 944 later this month (working on a stubborn oil seal). Perhaps you can attend and we can talk Boxster shop at that time. Hey, I'd like to see your 944 cab too.

While I agree with Luis that the 944 Cab is a great value proposition, so is the Boxster these days. A test drive is the best research!

Tour18

Glad to see others who think the Boxster and 944 are right up there with the best automobiles ever made. Jewels both...

Chris Picklo

I don't agree with a 2.7 boxster being a better car than a 951. The 951 is a monster!

I'd recommend getting an S - awesome brakes, more torque and much better handling. The H/R springs also are a great upgrade, especially on the track!

HBacura

Now I could be wrong, but wasn't the 944 pretty much a VW?

sweanders

Not any more than the 993 is a VW Bug.

Luis de Prat

Speaking from memory, the 944 derived from a project started by VW that was going to be carried out by the Audi branch of the Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG).

This was during the '70s in the midst of the second major oil crisis, so VW put off the project and Porsche bought it from them to complete the development in-house and carry it out at the Audi production facilities in Neckarsulm, Germany, as had been planned. Porsche named the car the 924.

Thus, the car was not really a VW, although it shared many parts with other VAG models as had always been the case with Porsches since the days of the 356, as Anders pointed out! The engine, however, was not made by Porsche, hence its ill fated reputation among long-time enthusiasts of the marque. Although a decent little car in its own right with an innovative chassis that held great potential, its Audi engine lacked the performance luster that the automotive public had come to associate with a Porsche.

Looking to save face with its new customers, Porsche went back to the drawing board and developed a new engine for the car, drawing largely from its biggest development project at the time, the 928. The redesigned car was named the 944 and its engine has sometimes been called "half a 928" because of this unique origin. When the 944 was first introduced, Porsche released an aggressive advertising campaign stressing that the model was a real Porsche, this time with an engine made by Porsche.

The response from the general public of buyers in the market for a sportscar at the time as well as from the automotive press was phenomenal. The 944 was the best deal on wheels when it came to German sportscars and best of all, it lived up to the marque's legendary reputation in performance and handling. The turbocharged version introduced in 1985, was the icing on the cake and with the 928 line in full swing, together with the very competent 944 model, the future of the 911 as the flagship model was in question.

It's also true that as the 944 line progressed, the MSRP escalated to the point where it was practically level with a 911 carrera, making the purchaser's decision one of personal preference rather than practicality. Keep in mind that the 944S2 cabriolet was a $50,000+ car back in 1990. The Porsche purists continued to buy 911s, but interest in the 944 by the average buyer logically waned when confronted with more competitively priced makes, mostly Japanese.

So in truth, yes the initial concept for the 924 came from VW, but its development, completion and improvement into the sportscar that became the 944 were all carried out by the Porsche R&D department at Weissach.

Like Ferry Porsche said in the original campaign:
"The 944 is a true Porsche."

HBacura

Ahh, thanks for clearing that up. I got the 924 and the 944 mixed up.

Chris Picklo

The 951 and 951 S are very serious cars.

The 951 has 930 brakes, and the S has S4 brakes. Very tight suspension and very quick on the track, and very easy to get to 300 bhp and still be comfortable.

I've owned, driven daily and tracked the 951, boxster S and 911 Carrera - if you have any questions PM me.

delhi

IIRC the 944 is built at the Audi plant unlike the 968 and maybe 928s which are built at the Porsche plant.

Luis de Prat

Yes, but the 944 engines were made and assembled by Porsche at the Zuffenhausen plant in Stuttgart. OTOH, the 924 had an Audi engine. Big difference in specs, performance, etc.

Vampyre

I had a 1991 944S2 only 510 were built it was a blast to drive, and had very nice power for a 4cyc, I loved the 944 Shape, the flared fenders make it look aggresive. It still turns heads, I had the rare Basket handle spoiler on my 944S2 , they put it on the last 944S2 made in tribute to the 968 spolier!

What do I miss most about the 944S2 is hard to say.... but

After I test drove the Boxster a couple years ago, I was sold, the car has a better more solid feel then the 944, and has more refined interior.

If you haven't searched the web for a racing Boxster you should, there are several people racing them and they kick A$$.

The reason Porsche will not make a race breed Boxster is simple, it will take away from the 996 sales.

I still want to buy another 944 as I miss my old one. I just have to explain to my wife, why I need 3 sports cars in the garage. Muhahahah
(Umm.. I also want a Lotus Espirt and Elise, and maybe a 914)