Is the 2.5 Boxster too risky and too slow a purchase?
Discussion
The July edition of GT Porsche has a feature regarding "£5k Boxsters" in the article it is said the they would choose a 2.7 over a 2.5 "any day" as long as the conditions were comparable but they don't really explain why other than mentioning that revised gear ratio's and slightly more power make a noticeable difference. Are any previous owners or people more in the know be able to explain this more?
Reading with interest...
working away last week I spotted the edition of Purely Porsche mag with the headline "The £5k Boxster - can it be done" and immediately bought it.
I love my turbo MX-5, its light, fast, reliable, fun, feels 'old' in a good way. Its wild to drive, it spins the wheels up, moves about underneath you, its flipping brilliant. But I have always wanted a 6 cylinder engine. A proper sports car noise.
I have been seriously considering a 2.8 Z3, I like everything about it other than the worry that once over the retro looks and nice noise, it might actually be a bit, er, s
t to drive.
A Z4 basically feels like a 3 series, and as such I'm not at all interested. Far too modern and dull.
S2000 I love it in every way EXCEPT I've done the revvy 4 cylinder thing to death.
I want something I can work on at home. That I can modify and upgrade. Make it a bit noisier and livelier. That feels light(ish). I think the 2.5 Boxster up there, the only thing that puts me off is it being too competent. A modern Boxster is not far off supercar performance from not long ago, and everything I hate about modern cars - far too fast, too grippy, too electronic. I dont know how different a 15+ year old one will be.
I also worry that one trackday in a Boxster would probably cost me what I've spent in about ten years maintaining and putting tyres on MX5s.
Am I right? Ort am I missing a Gem of a car for £5k?
I keep day dreaming about a Guards Red 2.5, some lightweight wheels and decent tyres, some cheap bucket seats and a racing wheel, and a sports exhaust. Proper poverty RS style.
working away last week I spotted the edition of Purely Porsche mag with the headline "The £5k Boxster - can it be done" and immediately bought it.
I love my turbo MX-5, its light, fast, reliable, fun, feels 'old' in a good way. Its wild to drive, it spins the wheels up, moves about underneath you, its flipping brilliant. But I have always wanted a 6 cylinder engine. A proper sports car noise.
I have been seriously considering a 2.8 Z3, I like everything about it other than the worry that once over the retro looks and nice noise, it might actually be a bit, er, s
t to drive. A Z4 basically feels like a 3 series, and as such I'm not at all interested. Far too modern and dull.
S2000 I love it in every way EXCEPT I've done the revvy 4 cylinder thing to death.
I want something I can work on at home. That I can modify and upgrade. Make it a bit noisier and livelier. That feels light(ish). I think the 2.5 Boxster up there, the only thing that puts me off is it being too competent. A modern Boxster is not far off supercar performance from not long ago, and everything I hate about modern cars - far too fast, too grippy, too electronic. I dont know how different a 15+ year old one will be.
I also worry that one trackday in a Boxster would probably cost me what I've spent in about ten years maintaining and putting tyres on MX5s.
Am I right? Ort am I missing a Gem of a car for £5k?
I keep day dreaming about a Guards Red 2.5, some lightweight wheels and decent tyres, some cheap bucket seats and a racing wheel, and a sports exhaust. Proper poverty RS style.
Very interesting thread.
I've recently bought a 2003 S, come from a Mk2.5 MX-5 (with a short stint in an A5 3.2 Coupe, for commuting... Which is for sale!
) and absolutely love it.
I bought a car with upgraded IMS, to (hopefully!) remove that particular nagging doubt in my mind. Not remotely concerned about RMS and I don't think anyone who is actually interested in buying one should be; if it concerns you that much, I think you maybe terrified by other things.
Interesting views RE 2.5 vs 2.7 & 3.2 and reliability. I'll be interested to see how mine does in the long term, I bought it with 57k on it and am now at 61k in 2.5 months.
I've recently bought a 2003 S, come from a Mk2.5 MX-5 (with a short stint in an A5 3.2 Coupe, for commuting... Which is for sale!
) and absolutely love it.I bought a car with upgraded IMS, to (hopefully!) remove that particular nagging doubt in my mind. Not remotely concerned about RMS and I don't think anyone who is actually interested in buying one should be; if it concerns you that much, I think you maybe terrified by other things.
Interesting views RE 2.5 vs 2.7 & 3.2 and reliability. I'll be interested to see how mine does in the long term, I bought it with 57k on it and am now at 61k in 2.5 months.
Boxster 2.5 isn't too fast...0-60 in 6.6 seconds and 0-100 in about 18, top speed about 140. A modern Fiesta ST offers similar performance from 180 BHP. That GT Porsche article interested me too. They sort of said "go for it"....and I think they may be right, but there is no smoke without fire and I guess they are cheap for a reason. Lotus Elise Mk1s are almost double the money, so I guess the 2.5 Boxster has an iffy reputation for giving trouble, hence people like me starting a thread like this asking the question "are they too risky..!"
GreenArrow said:
but there is no smoke without fire and I guess they are cheap for a reason. Lotus Elise Mk1s are almost double the money, so I guess the 2.5 Boxster has an iffy reputation for giving trouble, hence people like me starting a thread like this asking the question "are they too risky..!"
Personally I suspect that because they're reasonably common for a prestige sports car, along with higher running costs means it is off-putting to many people. Running costs are very reasonable compared to any modernish premium brand car (I think servicing works out £20 more for a minor and £35 more for a major compared to my A5, prices both from main dealers), but parts cost can be scary (as it can for any car). Those things are enough to put off the majority, but I am happy to trade off running costs against much lower depreciation.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
True and the image is a big factor. I think there seems to be a common conception that 2.5s are grossly under-powered and slow which perhaps puts many people off. I remember reading an article a year or two back, again in GT Porsche magazine, where they compared a 2.5 with the then new 981 2.7 Boxster and in terms of performance said there was very little in it at UK road speeds, due to the shorter gearing in the older car...Your old 2.5 looks lovely btw, a very lovely thing. I do miss the simple unadorned styling of the older Porsches.....
GreenArrow said:
True and the image is a big factor. I think there seems to be a common conception that 2.5s are grossly under-powered and slow which perhaps puts many people off. I remember reading an article a year or two back, again in GT Porsche magazine, where they compared a 2.5 with the then new 981 2.7 Boxster and in terms of performance said there was very little in it at UK road speeds, due to the shorter gearing in the older car...
Your old 2.5 looks lovely btw, a very lovely thing. I do miss the simple unadorned styling of the older Porsches.....
Green ArrowYour old 2.5 looks lovely btw, a very lovely thing. I do miss the simple unadorned styling of the older Porsches.....
check the reg number - that is CMoose's old car in the GT Porsche article. That article and CMoose's championing of the purity of the back to basics 2.5 on here has made me seriously re-think my 968 CS ownership. It tends to sit around mostly unused as a result of fear of too putting to many miles on it ( shameful I know) and it being a bit dull on the ear ( although a great drive otherwise).
Can I justify a garage queen and a 2.5 to really use and enjoy? ... Time to get the man maths books out.
M22
Edited by Malevik22 on Wednesday 1st July 21:17
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Saw this one, 190,000 miles! 3.2S Wow, they really do rack up the miles.
Plenty about right now and cant see 2.5s getting any cheaper. Perhaps early next year might be a good time to buy, they usually say buy convertible cars in winter...
Saw this one, 190,000 miles! 3.2S Wow, they really do rack up the miles.
Plenty about right now and cant see 2.5s getting any cheaper. Perhaps early next year might be a good time to buy, they usually say buy convertible cars in winter...
Perfect thread for me,
l have been looking for ages for a sunny day fun car,
Was aiming for a 996 but £10K was offering nothing but high mileage ( soon to be expensive problem cars)
Then started looking at the 986 - 3.2S - £6K and there are some nice models out there,
This will be a total fun day car, l fancy doing track days,
Really fancy the auto rather than the manual
Would really like to hear cmoose's opinion of my thinking,
ASAP please l am off to view a 986 today when l finish night shift.
l have been looking for ages for a sunny day fun car,
Was aiming for a 996 but £10K was offering nothing but high mileage ( soon to be expensive problem cars)
Then started looking at the 986 - 3.2S - £6K and there are some nice models out there,
This will be a total fun day car, l fancy doing track days,
Really fancy the auto rather than the manual
Would really like to hear cmoose's opinion of my thinking,
ASAP please l am off to view a 986 today when l finish night shift.
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