Which Boxster to get?

[Explosive Newt]

That Porsche track day gave me the bug and I am actively looking at second hand Boxsters. I was hoping someone who has owned one before / been through a similar process / just happened to be on the internet and thought highly of their own opinion could give me some pointers.

I’ve read all the buying guides about IMS and other pitfalls but I was hoping to get some advice about fun to drive, namely is S worth it over standard and is 987 a big leap over 986?

Looking through autotrader, a decent (i.e. affordable yet well looked after) 986 will be in the region of £5-6.5k, a 986 S £6-8k, and 987s around £9k or £10k for an 987 S. I have some money put aside but it is (ahem) meant to help see me through this PhD so I don’t really want to spend any more than I should...

[DeskJockey]

Paging Tim and Jobbo.

[JonMad]

987 S then

[Explosive Newt]

987 S then

State clearly how it is worth £5000 over the base 986. Obv it handles more tidily but is it a whole heap more rewarding to drive? Is the 987 really that much nicer inside?

I should add that while I want something fun I also want something that will eat up the motorway miles Oxford to Cambridge a couple of times a week.

[Sundayjumper]

I think that was tongue-in-cheek because that was the most expensive of the options you offered

I can’t offer any experience of Boxsters unfortunately.

There are several 911 owners on the forum. Ignore them when they talk about Boxsters though.

[Mito Man]

987 S then

State clearly how it is worth £5000 over the base 986.

It doesn’t look shit.

[Coaster1]

Having not driven any but read plenty, 3.2 offers the best balance of performance and reliability.

987 S 3.4 appears to have the worst reliability record. So either 987 3.2 (pretty) or 986 3.2 (best vfm).

Don’t ignore me

[Explosive Newt]

I think that was tongue-in-cheek because that was the most expensive of the options you offered

There is a careful equation between potential driving fun and rage from my tiny yet incredibly angry significant other. You guys cannot know how furious I will be if I blow money that could go towards a deposit on a house...

[Explosive Newt]

Having not driven any but read plenty, 3.2 offers the best balance of performance and reliability.

987 S 3.4 appears to have the worst reliability record. So either 987 3.2 (pretty) or 986 3.2 (best vfm).

Don’t ignore me

Ah this is good advice. Ta. The 2.7 not worth a look then?

[Rich B]

I think that was tongue-in-cheek because that was the most expensive of the options you offered

There is a careful equation between potential driving fun and rage from my tiny yet incredibly angry significant other. You guys cannot know how furious I will be if I blow money that could go towards a deposit on a house...

Buy a house. You can dick around with Boxsters later!

[Sundayjumper]

OV9. The thrill of making responsible life decisions.

[IanF]

OV9. The thrill of making responsible life decisions.

Sadly, he’s not wrong though.

Bad time to be buying a convertible dude, but test drive what’s in your price range and buy the one you enjoy the most. Otherwise, you’ll end up regretting not buying what you wanted.

The internet will stop you buying anything!

[Explosive Newt]

OV9. The thrill of making responsible life decisions.

[Explosive Newt]

OV9. The thrill of making responsible life decisions.

Sadly, he’s not wrong though.

Bad time to be buying a convertible dude, but test drive what’s in your price range and buy the one you enjoy the most. Otherwise, you’ll end up regretting not buying what you wanted.

The internet will stop you buying anything!

Ah yes but I can also justify anything to myself. It is a rare gift. That squeaking in the Jag... probably the transfer box on its way out... better trade it in for something...

[Sundayjumper]

Buy the one you want. Lie to the OH. Job dun.

[GG.]

987 3.2 is the correct choice.

The 2.7s actually sound better (particularly the whine on the overrun) but are simply too slow. The 987 2.7 my father had was always slightly frustrating when you had to navigate around other traffic (i.e. overtake) whereas the 3.2 I owned was significantly torquier and more pleasant to drive. Also has the 6 speed box rather than 5 so worth it also for that (some 2.7s have the six speed box but it was a cost option most didn't bother with).

987 also significantly nicer in appearance both inside and out and in reality is a 986 mk III so fewer niggles as you progress through the revisions. I wouldn't bother with a 986 for how little extra the 987s are in reality. 3.4 987 increased risk of bore scoring so again, not worth it for the extra 15hp and the extra cost.

ETA: I have a 911 now but have nothing bad to say about Boxsters. I toyed with the idea of getting another one to use in summer for top down driving given the current pricing. I expect they'll start to go back the other way (like the 996) soon as the ropier ones get weeded out.

One thing I always look for is whether the exhaust looks to be sagging too low (or a clunking over speed bumps from behind your head) - an indicator of shot transmission and/or engine mounts and a car that's either been thrashed or spent its whole life in traffic around town (in which case budget for a clutch if its over 60k miles.)

As Jobbo will tell you, maintainence can stack up over time but as with all older cars it a bit of a lottery what will need doing. At least depreciation will be effectively zero at this point (sadly not when I owned one).

[JonMad]

987 S then

State clearly how it is worth £5000 over the base 986. Obv it handles more tidily but is it a whole heap more rewarding to drive? Is the 987 really that much nicer inside?

I should add that while I want something fun I also want something that will eat up the motorway miles Oxford to Cambridge a couple of times a week.

Yeah, I was just suggesting that evonomics will happen

Any of them will be a lovely place to be, I’d have thought.

[GG.]

My old one at the top of Stelvio in case you needed further encouragement

[Jobbo]

It’s going to be over budget but I’d say a 987.2 2.9. Similar power to a 986 S but no engine problems! Though it’s DFI so probably cokes up its intake...

987 3.2 is probably the right one. But do try both 2.7 and 3.2 because the 3.2 isn’t massively quicker and the power delivery is very linear, almost boring. I bought a 986.2 2.7 because it had more of a lunge for the red line. And even the 2.7 will do over 70 in 2nd so is fine to rev out in the U.K.

[JLv3.0]

There is a careful equation between potential driving fun and rage from my tiny yet incredibly angry significant other. You guys cannot know how furious I will be if I blow money that could go towards a deposit on a house...

I would suggest what car you get next might not be your biggest issue to resolve here