It's often said that the 928 is the only Porsche designed from a blank paper, but doesn't the Boxster qualify as well?

 

I was thinking the same thing. It is true as long as you assume the implied qualifying statement "...up until 1996" is intended?

 

I was under the impression that, to optimize manufacturability, Porsche collaborated with either a Korean or Japanese car company when designing the Boxter and 996. If so, then the 928 would still be the only 100% designed Porsche.

 

I think the statement was that the 928 was the first clean sheet design from scratch that Porsche has ever done. "Clean sheet" also meant a brand new concept that has never been done before in and around the company.

The Boxster (986) and 996 apparently do take advantage of some less costly "industry standard" components that are not visible to the user. I would suspect this could be components like HVAC or window lifters, etc. But I have no specific information on this.

Those would not make the cars any less Porsche to me anyway...

 

the 996 is still a 911, and the Boxster a derivative there-of. i also think of the Boxster as just a modern 914.

so my thought is no...

 

I've driven a Boxster and its no 914.

If Porsche ever gave that chassis the some REAL power and made a coupe version, you could probably watch 911 sales dip even further south.

Damn politics!

 

There IS solid evidence/statements that Porsche will have a Boxster coupe in the US by 2005/06, and I have already spoken to my dealer for getting on the waiting list when they start to draw one up.

Hell, I might like it and keep it, or sell it to someone who ponies up the most over sticker......either way I don't think I'll lose. This is a car many people have wanted for a LONG time.........in my opinion.

 

felt like a 914 to me...

 

The Boxster and 996 share much of the same chassis everything from the back of the doors forward is the same . Porsche basically chopped of the back end / 1/4 panels from a 996 and grafted on the rear section to accommodate the mid engine design . That is why the front end looks so similar ! it is . One need only look at the part numbers for the boxster suspension to see all the 996 numbers (it did get different struts ) The entire front under structure (clip) is 996 , front fire wall 996 . The 996 model "911" However does come very close to being a clean sheet new model since about the only thing used from the early car is the 911 name ! Porsche down played the fact that the "new" 911 was Water cooled , wet sump , and all it had in common with the 993 was that it used a 6 cylinder engine in the rear and 4 wheels . They are very nearly 928 size and weight and have "Weisach" rear steer built in .

 

Jim, doesn't the 993 also have a similar rear axle as the Weissach?

 

Anders the 993 rear suspension is more of a double A-arm set up while it may have some "rear steer" compliance the 996 set up is a lot different using a modified trailing arm . Neither has a spring plate like a 928 , both have rubber bushings .

 

The build quality of the 01 boxter I got to drive wasn't nearly as well built as my 83s. It felt cheap.....well, cheap for a porsche.

 

the one that lived at my house for 3-4 weeks until I sold it was ...too slow too quiet , too plastic ............made me think of a nice Japanese car !! I never did see the engine !!

 

Amen to all that Jim said about the Boxster! I test-drove a '97 986 for a day before I bought my 928, and...well, now you know why I bought a 928!

First of all, it didn't fit me right. The seats were good, but the top of the windshield cut right across my field of view [I'm 6'1"/ 186 cm tall]. Second, it didn't feel anywhere near as fast as the VR6-powered Corrado SLC that I drove at the time...and had no where near as much cargo space.

The styling is average, in my opinion. The interior could be the inside of just about any sporty car. The front end is ok, but the rear and side views are average. Not up to Porsche standards and certainly NOT comparable to our timeless 928!

The car sounded nice, drove nice...did most things nice- but bored me in the end, and the price scared the hell out of me. An expensive Japanese car? Probably not that bad, but more than just a bit vanilla-

Normy!
'85 S2 5 Speed

 

Don't get me wrong I love my 928, But have any of you ever driven a Boxster?. I own a 01 Boxster S. This is the funest car I have ever owned. It is very fast and more manuverable than any 928 and more fun to drive at almost half the price of a 911. If you want a new Porsche and don't want to spend 100k. Give this car a more serious look. I have owned many Porsches and other high end sports cars. I hate it when people I run into say this is not a real porsche. Of course they are usually driving a ford or chevy. don't forget guys, if it wasn't for the Boxster, Porsche might not be around today.