Finally a sportscar - a dream come true?

[ZesPak]

So, I started my own business a couple of years ago, I'm 25 now and business have been going well. I'm just a consultant so don't earn the world yet, but enough money to be comfortable.
The OH has started working a year ago (came from school), we married this year and all is going well.

Though we could use a second car. I will always have an estate/hatch that is practical enough to transport some equipment, but for a second car there would be no such limitations.

As I'm a freelancer I often take this car while the OH is stuck at home.

Long story short, I want a RWD convertible.
My entire shortlist, with a budget of about 9k, looked a bit like this:
- MX5 (way under budget, I know)
- 10yo Boxster
- 350Z
- RX8 (would make an exception on the "cabrio" rule)
- S2000
- Z3 (though I have had a bad 325i of that era...)
- SLK

The oh shortlisted it to the Boxster and maybe the SLK.

My question is: are these cars (esp the Boxster) expensive to maintain?
And by expensive I mean I have a 159 2.4 now that is (slightly) mapped to 230bhp, will the similar-powered boxster be a lot more expensive?

Also when not driven a lot (less than 10k miles/year)?

I'm just suprised that I see this "dream" already feasible, so I'm a bit wary as I'm told that when it seems to good to be true...
But that's what they said of the 159, but contrary to popular believe:
- It didn't kill me to death
- The insurance (full comp) didn't cost as much as my house, nor as the car
- I've managed more than a couple of miles between each tank of fuel

So, with a sub 9k boxster, am I missing something? Should I be wary?
If not, by this time next year, I'll get one.

I'm a bit excited to say the least.

PS: I already have a house that I pay off so that's not an issue anymore, but it's both our money so there are no changes in the short list.

[Parrot of Doom]

Will business continue to go well if you turn up to a client's premises in any of those cars? Some (ignorant) people might assume that you're earning far too much money.

[Porkie]

I bought a nearly new Boxster way back in 1999.

overall... pretty much best car for sensible money I have ever owned I would say.

Still have it now. My little sister uses it. Its done over 55k miles and has been pretty much faultless. Still on original clutch and brake discs somehow!?!?!?!

Very cheap to run. Just buy the parts from places like Jasmine rather than an OPC.

Great cars. Practical, fun, beautiful handling, fast enough.

Whole experience has been great.

[George Matthews]

Personally I recommend a Honda S2000 out of the ones you listed. Fantastic looking car, reliable and powerful iVTec engine (the most bhp/tonne of any production normally aspirated engine of its size) and a fantastic noise as it revs up and beyond 9000rpm.

I had a detailed look around one of these earlier this year when my brother considered one. Brilliant build quality and a smart and practical interior. The only reason he didn't buy the S2000 is because its just out of his price range. So he settled for a Civic Type R instead as the noise and power of the Vtec is very very addictive!

[ZesPak]

Parrot of Doom said:

Will business continue to go well if you turn up to a client's premises in any of those cars? Some (ignorant) people might assume that you're earning far too much money.

Customers will never understand you can have a porker for under 9k. I won't be using it to go to customers, it will be an evening- and weekend only car. Mileage will go way to high when I use it day-to-day. That's why I have a diesel repmobile.

PS: I have to explain my customers already that the 159 I have now was far cheaper than the 325, which a lot of them find hard to believe.

[Chris_w666]

The boxster can be a reasonable car to run, but if you buy a bad one then they can (like any expensive when new car) give you big bills.

With £9k to play with would a 3.0 Z4 not be a good option?

[Witchfinder]

Out of those cars, the one *I* would want is the 350Z. You've listed some quite different cars there, with very different characteristics. For example, an S2000 is going to feel completely different to the Z-car. What do you like out of your cars? High revving frenetic driving, or a bit more laid-back and lazy?

[VEA]

George Matthews said:

Personally I recommend a Honda S2000 out of the ones you listed. Fantastic looking car, reliable and powerful iVTec engine (the most bhp/tonne of any production normally aspirated engine of its size) and a fantastic noise as it revs up and beyond 9000rpm.

I had a detailed look around one of these earlier this year when my brother considered one. Brilliant build quality and a smart and practical interior. The only reason he didn't buy the S2000 is because its just out of his price range. So he settled for a Civic Type R instead as the noise and power of the Vtec is very very addictive!

p.s. Go for the Boxter if it is that or and SLK!

[nerfherder]

Get yourself over to www.boxa.net and search for the threads with people asking the same question.

Prices at a Porsche dealership (OPC) for parts and service are eye-watering, but there are plenty of independents around that charge a fraction of the price.

e.g. a full set of brake pads, disks, wear sensors and shims for a 987 Boxster S will set you back £550 from www.design911.co.uk and are no harder to fit than on any other car. An OPC would charge around £1500 to supply and fit the same.

Somewhere between £1-2k should cover your annual bills - more if you suddenly need to replace an expensive part.

[S1MMA]

have a look through the Porsche forum for running costs etc...

986 Boxsters suffer from RMS and IMS failure, if you're buying a 9-10 yr old car it's not eligible for porsche warranty any more.

I would up my budget, buy a slightly newer car (987 if you can) and keep a Porsche warranty on it, then you have some security against the worst happening. A 2.7 Boxster 987 is still quick enough, and lots of fun with the roof down IMO.

[ZesPak]

Witchfinder said:

Out of those cars, the one *I* would want is the 350Z. You've listed some quite different cars there, with very different characteristics. For example, an S2000 is going to feel completely different to the Z-car. What do you like out of your cars? High revving frenetic driving, or a bit more laid-back and lazy?

As I said, I made my list of cars that I would love to try out, but the OH has her saying as it will actually be "her" car (I have the Alfa ). So it will be an SLK or Boxster.

The main thing is that it would need to be an accessible car for her, so not to difficult to drive/hardcore for normal driving.

I'd love to have a try in a 350Z but I'm sticking to my promise, I'm already excited I convinced her she doesn't want a MiTo again (as lovely as they are, they are still FWD hatches).

[G0ldfysh]

Weekend only car

And not considering an Elise or Exige?

[TommyBuoy]

Have you not considered a Z4?

My choice would be the 350Z or an S2000 (S2000 winds it for me though as it is the car I would havenow, if only insurance wasn't edging 2K)

Also, why have you not counted four seater cabrios?

ETA: Can't believe I missed the Exige / Elise as well - definately worth a look as a weekend / evening car!

Edited by TommyBuoy on Thursday 14th October 13:46

[Skylinecrazy]

G0ldfysh said:

Weekend only car

And not considering an Elise or Exige?

They do seem the sort of boring run of the mill sports cars don't they..

Well, not boring! Just not thinking outside the box I guess!

Edited by Skylinecrazy on Thursday 14th October 13:47

[anonymous-user]

z4 3.0

[nerfherder]

S1MMA said:

986 Boxsters suffer from RMS and IMS failure

RMS is just an minor oil leak - usually sorted at the same time as a clutch change.

987 still suffer from IMS failures (other than the very latest DFI engine in the gen 2 which doesn't have an IMS - can't remember if the 2.9 still has IMS). In fact, once an engine has done a high mileage, they tend not to suffer from IMS failure, although the odd one still does.

[TEKNOPUG]

TVR?

[robsco]

Have you thought about a TVR?

ETA - Great minds TEKNOPUG

Edited by robsco on Thursday 14th October 13:48

[Chris_w666]

S1MMA said:

have a look through the Porsche forum for running costs etc...

986 Boxsters suffer from RMS and IMS failure, if you're buying a 9-10 yr old car it's not eligible for porsche warranty any more.

RMS and IMS are both faults that may or may not hit the car and good servicing/preventative maintainance will help avoid them both. There are lots of badly serviced cars out there and at £9k you won't have the best of them unless you count 2.5s in the search too. My own opinion is that buying a cheaper 986 would need enough left in the budget for a very good indi service and perhaps a warranty from said indi if at all possible.

Same goes for a 987 and I think they are all round a nicer car, the 2.7 is quick and fun enough but when was just enough perfect

[RobM77]

The Boxster's a great car, but parts will be more than the Alfa, and if something big goes (isn't there an issue with the RMS on some of them?) then it could hit your wallet hard. A mk1 SLK wouldn't compare I don't think. I'd go for the Boxster for weekends away etc, but if it's just local travel then I'd look at an Elise without a doubt; compared to the Boxster it trades luxury for driving enjoyment in exact proportion. In reality, I'd save the £9k for a rainy day, as running your own business often has ups and downs, but maybe I'm being too sensible for PH!