mile2424

I am in the market for a new car. I have always been a huge Porsche fan as I grew up around them and my father restores 356's for a living. I have recently sold my E36 M3, and I am thinking of making the move into a boxster. I know I may lose a little power, but I think the "fun" factor and handling would be a blast. I am hoping to spend around 20k. First off, do you think I can find any 05 base boxster's for around this price? I really love the updated looks of the exterior and interior on the newer models, but would it be worth it to go for an older 03-04? I know the motto is to buy the newest car you can afford, but I would just like to hear people's pro's and con's for each. Are there any known problems with the 05 since it was the first year of a new body style?

Look forward to people's thoughts.

gerrygug

Looks like 25K is the bottom asking price for an O5 in Northern California at present. If the economy continues in the dumpster a little longer you may fine one in the low 20's

buckwheat987

I've owned both the 986 and 987. Both are fine cars but I would save and go for a 987.

Mark Dreyer

I've owned the high hp Porsches (TT and GT3) and now a 986, and I don't miss the power. This Boxster is more fun than I ever expected. I absolutely love it. I can't give you any advise on the pricing for an 05. I can tell you I have 73k miles on my 02, I run the crap out of it at the track and drive it a lot doing the daily commute when my daughter has the Jetta, and it has been bullet proof for me.

Carmin

I moved from a 1999 to an 08 this past spring. As I recall 2005 included some important changes. It may seem trivial, but it is not, to get a boxster with the glass rear window and top up/down ability while moving (instead of having to be stopped with the hand brake on). I am not a die hard top down driver, but on those occasion when I wanted my top up/down in the 99, it was a hassle to stop to do the "hack" with the plastic rear window. I find with the 08 I lower the top much more because 1) it is hassle free, but 2) more importantly, when I want to put it back up I don't have to find a place to pull over.

Aside from that, and if you never put the top down, either purchase is a winner. The driving/handling of my 08 is to me almost indistinguishable form my 99. I have done one autox in my 08 and I was amazed at how similar the car felt to my 99. The only difference ("almost indistinguishable") in the driving/handling is the speed related power steering input in the 08, and for that feature I liked the 99 better!

sjfehr

Mile2424, you'll have to drive them both and decide for yourself, but I decided last year to go with the '04 S and have not regretted it!
03-04 Boxsters have glass rear windows. I think it changed in 2002? And It's pretty easy to DIY hack the rolling up/down into 986s; it's just a few changes to the cab top relay. You can buy a plug-in replacement that does it elegantly, but it's expensive. I can now move the top on my '04 Boxster S whenever I want- that parking brake interlock sucked. It's sure nice to be able to move the top while rolling through a parking lot, or in stop 'n go traffic. Really makes the old 911 cab guys jealous

Another feature I always mocked but would go out of my way for now: heated seats. Extends top-down days another 10F cooler

Carmin

Right, heated seats! Did not have them in my 99, but do in my 08. I will now get them in every car I ever buy. In addition to extending top down days, they are very nice for us older gents and ladies with back problems. I have them on ALL the time, it is good therapy. I don't get out of the car with a stiff back after a long drive.