Box - 911 Has anyone done it and wanted the Boxster back?

Box - 911 Has anyone done it and wanted the Boxster back?

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Discussion

TryHarder

Original Poster:

899 posts

185 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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I'm still wondering with quite a few nice 997.2's around presumably traded for 991's whether to get one, It would be be nice for us all to able to go out together (I know the back seats are small but so are the passengers).

I have searched and read people on here taking their 911's for a service and getting a Boxster coutesy car and saying, it was actually quite good fun, does that mean the 911 isn't as much fun ?!?!?

I quess its an impossible question but I'm just wondering if I get a 997.2 C4S possibly cabrio, I'm sure I'd enjoy us all going out together but when I'm on my own out for a bit of fun, will I miss the Boxster or say OMG I wish I'd got one of these 911's years ago.

I have tried one and yep they are quicker and sound lovely and seem great but on a quick test run you don't get the everyday experience of living with one.

Just wondered if anyone has gone from a Boxster to a 911 and never looked back.....

Thanks,

Raitzi

640 posts

211 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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More you spend, the less you get for the extra money. I am sure there are people that are happy for change in both directions. 911 is a halo car and Boxster is a "poor man's Porsche". When they drive both the Boxster can feel better than expectation and 911 maybe not.

Personally I think both Cayman(S,R) and Boxster S are the best cars to buy from Porsche. Perfect handling, great performance, practicality... But again Boxster and cayman are maybe not what all people understand as lucrative ingredients of Porsche.

itsybitsy

5,188 posts

184 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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although not a direct reply last year when upgrading my gen1 cayman s i considered a new 997.2s but went for a spyder instead.when i test drove at silverstone i found the standard boxster s
more buzzy but the 7.2c2s was great and am still a big fan but the 7.2c4s a complete no no .there is a guy on here who went from a 7gts to a caymanR.

the only way you will know is drive them yourself!

Nano2nd

3,426 posts

255 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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I haven't had a boxster, but I've got a 911 and want to get a boxster!

BIRMA

3,803 posts

193 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
TryHarder said:
I'm still wondering with quite a few nice 997.2's around presumably traded for 991's whether to get one, It would be be nice for us all to able to go out together (I know the back seats are small but so are the passengers).

I have searched and read people on here taking their 911's for a service and getting a Boxster coutesy car and saying, it was actually quite good fun, does that mean the 911 isn't as much fun ?!?!?

I quess its an impossible question but I'm just wondering if I get a 997.2 C4S possibly cabrio, I'm sure I'd enjoy us all going out together but when I'm on my own out for a bit of fun, will I miss the Boxster or say OMG I wish I'd got one of these 911's years ago.

I have tried one and yep they are quicker and sound lovely and seem great but on a quick test run you don't get the everyday experience of living with one.

Just wondered if anyone has gone from a Boxster to a 911 and never looked back.....

Thanks,
An interesting question because the other day I tried a 911 Turbo S as I was going to treat myself, just as I drew in from the test drive someone was bringing back a Boxster S from a test drive so I tried it as I'd never even considered it with all the silly crap about it being a poor mans Porsche I'd overlooked it. The boxster was such good fun to drive it made me smile (it had PASM and Chrono) straight away. My main reluctance about buying the 997 Turbo S is the depreciation having decided that again I would probably loose way to much money over say a 3-4 year period. Still very tempted to get a boxster S and just enjoy it for a few years until the price of the Turbo S levels out a bit.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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When my 997S was in for service 3 years ago I was loaned a Boxster.

I enjoyed the experience but for me the 911 feels much better and special. I've not felt the need to try a Boxster since then, though I might be tempted to try the new one.

mankey

654 posts

202 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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I used to have an underpowered Boxster 987 2.7 and it was good fun for a couple of years BUT the 911 is something else. I wouldn't go back, nothing against the Boxster but I'd sooner jump in a different direction for a change. The thing about the 997 is that it's such a different car and not just about power.

Acf69

407 posts

170 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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I had a 2.7 tip Boxster and now have a 996TT. Would I go back, not a chance . That said I really liked the Boxster and only sold it because my other half said me having three cars was just silly

Slobberchops

3,619 posts

200 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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Spent 3x the value of my previous Boxster on a 996 recently. Overall a better car but the Boxster felt much better balanced. If it wasn't for the rear "seats" in the 911 I would happily swap back in future.

gd

404 posts

187 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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I traded a Boxster S in for a new 996 C4S in 2003.

Whilst the C4S was an awesome car in many ways, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was less 'fun' than the Boxster. The 911 was bigger and more powerful, and had more road presence, but the Box just felt nimble, nippy and sitting right next to the engine felt more of an event.

I've never gone back, but I would like another one in the future to complement the 997. If I didn't need the rear seats occasionally I'd probably still have one to be honest.

Mike Brown

585 posts

186 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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I had a 996 C4s cab, I now have a boxster s987, and can honestly say that I prefer it, I would not go back to a 911. the boxster is simply brilliant and such good value. The poor mans porsche thing is normally quoted by ignorant folk who know very little about cars in general. Most people who own boxsters have been there and done it and know the true appeal of what is a specific car, i.e a proper roadster, and most I would suspect could afford any car they wished for, so, so much for poor mans porsche.

Dblue

3,252 posts

199 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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I was given a Boxster S (987) as a courtesy car when my 997GT3 was serviced a couple of years ago and it was a sweet fun car in every way with delightful handling and a raspy motor but was , of course, entirely overshadowed by the GT3.
Different to a C2 I know but in isolation the Boxster would have impressed but back to back it was miles slower and felt every bit a car worth half the price, maybe a third of the price.

TryHarder

Original Poster:

899 posts

185 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies, some interesting points of view, hmmm I think I need to have a proper go in a 997.2 cs4 or GTS cab and then weigh it up.

Thanks again.

BubblesNW

1,710 posts

182 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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Went from a 996 C4 (Millennium) to a Gen 2 Cayman S and don't feel I have taken a step backwards. OK the Cayman is 10 years younger but the 996 was a relatively much more expensive car in it's day - £72k in 1999 would be an awful lot now. Would possibly consider going back to a 997 GTS but the Cayman drives and handles in a much more precise way. It is easier to play with and you feel it is on your side rather than waiting for you to make a mistake before smacking you on the back of the head. Maybe that's the appeal of the 911?

Zyp

14,673 posts

188 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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From a 996 X50 to a Spyder.

Would I go back?

Not to a turbo or even an 'S', but a GT3 may tempt me.

JW911

884 posts

194 months

Thursday 13th September 2012
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We have a 996 Turbo and a recently acquired 987 2.7 Boxster and they are thoroughly different animals.

In essence, the Boxster is a very precise, very well put together precision instrument. It also has the advantage of being able to be nailed off the line whilst making a fantastic noise without ending up in the next county or in jail.

The Turbo is just epic but much more of a beast.

This is probably heresy in these parts but to a certain extent, the Boxster is the better car for UK roads (but I'll never get rid of the Turbo).

Hawmaws

574 posts

169 months

Thursday 13th September 2012
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I "traded up" from a 987 gen I to a 997 gen II. An expensive lesson.

I was disappointed by the 997 once I got over the initial "I've got a 911" buzz. It felt like a blunt instrument compared to the Boxster. Never made me grin once when I was driving it. Never felt like taking it out just for the sake of a blast. Didn't make such a rude noise. Wasn't as well resolved over bumps. Wasn't as practical.

No doubt this is because I'm not a driving god, but I swapped back after about 3 months to a gen II 987s and I absolutely love it. I spent most of last weekend tooling around the south coast in second gear, roof down, with the PSE blasting away.

Guess it depends what you want.


Actus Reus

4,229 posts

154 months

Thursday 13th September 2012
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Depends on the individual - I compared 987c S with 997 C2S, both Gen.1 cars - and I just didn't see where the extra money was going to have the 911, and so bought the Cayman - man maths allowed me to buy a late Gen 1 Cayman with a good spec and low miles and still be able to tell the wife I was saving money.

Both are great cars, but I don't think a C2S or C4S 997 is that much more special, if any, than a 987S. GT and Turbo variants may well be a different kettle of fish. I'm looking forward to 48 hours with a 981 next weekend, and chose to take that rather than a 991 for the duration...

Carl_Docklands

12,101 posts

261 months

Thursday 13th September 2012
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I have not done it, but an extended test drive in the 3.8 991 suggest Porsche have produced a 987 on acid and it should not be over-looked, if you can stomach the entry fee.

i did not feel this way about the 997, it was not as exciting at the 991S.

A 4 hour, roof down coast to coast drive of Wales in the Boxster last weekend gave me pause for thought, is the 911 just too big and too fast now? And then I remembered I live near Brands Hatch.....maybe it would not be such a waste.....and then i remembered that my car is worth £21k and the 991S is £110k which sobered me up sharpish.


SonnyM

3,472 posts

192 months

Thursday 13th September 2012
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The only 911 that has ever tempted me away from the Boxster is the GT3 RS - it's the only car that is more fun to drive IMO. That's how great the Boxster is...