Another Boxster query
Discussion
Test drove the new S today, and really liked it. Downside is that I would have to wait until about June for delivery, and that, of course, it comes in at about 44k all in (with the options I think I'd want).
Now, whether it's worth it or not, the obvious other choices are a couple of years old S for about 33k, or a few years old 911 for about 38k.
Can anyone offer a good opinion (i.e. an informed one) about what I'd be losing out on by getting the older car?
Buying the new one, I'd obviously be losing out on about 4 months of Porsche ownership, through the spring and early summer. I suspect I'd drop about 6-8k owning the new one for a year too, compared to perhaps 4-5k on the secondhand car.
Again, any thoughts from owners?
I really liked this car, but it was the brand new one that I liked. I am not going to be able to tell the difference between it and the old one in a short test drive.
One last bit; when did the rear screen become glass? That makes a real difference to me (it will live outside, in all weathers, and it will actually be a real pain to have to wait for the non-heated screen to clear on the plastic ones).
Anyway, thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
My other main option at the moment is membership if the P1 club. It is a big outlay (15k for the first year), but would give me my weekends in Lambourghinis, Ferraris and astons. And, of course, Porsches...
Now, whether it's worth it or not, the obvious other choices are a couple of years old S for about 33k, or a few years old 911 for about 38k.
Can anyone offer a good opinion (i.e. an informed one) about what I'd be losing out on by getting the older car?
Buying the new one, I'd obviously be losing out on about 4 months of Porsche ownership, through the spring and early summer. I suspect I'd drop about 6-8k owning the new one for a year too, compared to perhaps 4-5k on the secondhand car.
Again, any thoughts from owners?
I really liked this car, but it was the brand new one that I liked. I am not going to be able to tell the difference between it and the old one in a short test drive.
One last bit; when did the rear screen become glass? That makes a real difference to me (it will live outside, in all weathers, and it will actually be a real pain to have to wait for the non-heated screen to clear on the plastic ones).
Anyway, thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
My other main option at the moment is membership if the P1 club. It is a big outlay (15k for the first year), but would give me my weekends in Lambourghinis, Ferraris and astons. And, of course, Porsches...
The rear screen became glass in MY03 (Sep '02 onwards). I chopped in my previous BoxS and got another partly because of this excellent upgrade.
The new 'S' has 20bhp more than the outgoing model and a slightly snazzier interior.
Test drive an older 996, if you can, and see if you actually want the 911 thing. If what you want is a Boxster - to be honest I'd buy the new one. You'll get two years manufacturer's warranty and a more powerful car - everything else is pretty much identical.
Whichever one you buy make certain is is fitted with PSM (and I would also recommend PASM on the new one).
The Boxster S is a truly great car - I cannot recommend them highly enough - you'll love it. But because they're so good Porsche sold lots - so they're not even vaguely exclusive...like I could care!
The new 'S' has 20bhp more than the outgoing model and a slightly snazzier interior.
Test drive an older 996, if you can, and see if you actually want the 911 thing. If what you want is a Boxster - to be honest I'd buy the new one. You'll get two years manufacturer's warranty and a more powerful car - everything else is pretty much identical.
Whichever one you buy make certain is is fitted with PSM (and I would also recommend PASM on the new one).
The Boxster S is a truly great car - I cannot recommend them highly enough - you'll love it. But because they're so good Porsche sold lots - so they're not even vaguely exclusive...like I could care!
If the car will live outside all winter - you may wish to consider a hardtop. This is less necessary since the rear window became glass - but the hardtop is fitted with a heated rear glass window and is easier to scrape winter salt and grime off.
I had a hardtop on my previous BoxS (plastic rear window) but didn't order it on my current one. But my current one barely leaves its cosy garage in winter - and certainly not on icy, salty, gritty days - so it really isn't required. My previous car lived outside and was used throughout winter on even the nastiest days - having the hardtop was useful then.
Having said this - the hardtop fits well, but not as well as the inbuilt roof and so there is a little extra windnoise and you simply MUST use a silicon lubricant on all the seals when fitting it to prevent "creaking".
Hope any of the above helps...
I had a hardtop on my previous BoxS (plastic rear window) but didn't order it on my current one. But my current one barely leaves its cosy garage in winter - and certainly not on icy, salty, gritty days - so it really isn't required. My previous car lived outside and was used throughout winter on even the nastiest days - having the hardtop was useful then.
Having said this - the hardtop fits well, but not as well as the inbuilt roof and so there is a little extra windnoise and you simply MUST use a silicon lubricant on all the seals when fitting it to prevent "creaking".
Hope any of the above helps...
A hard top is not really an option, as I now live in central London, and don't have a garage (Georgian terraces are lovely, but where on earth did their cars live?). I really do need the car to start first twist of the key, to demist and de-ice quickly, and to not look too sorry a year down the line.
This is one of the reasons to go for the 911 over the Boxster. The lack of a wait is a big plus too.
I am test driving a 996 next weekend, which should help me to decide which way to go.
Thanks for the help, though.
I might try to look at a few secondhand Boxsters over the next week. Although the dealer reckoned I could own for a year for only about 3k depreciation, this does not look even close to being true. If I have added about 5 thousand pound of options (which is very easy to do), it seems that these add very little to the year old car. I think that if I pay 44,000, I think I'd get about 38k back after a year. Still not terrible, but a fair bit over 4k.
If I take the expected 6k hit, and 2k insurance, I am starting to approach the cost of 1 year in the P1 club...
This is one of the reasons to go for the 911 over the Boxster. The lack of a wait is a big plus too.
I am test driving a 996 next weekend, which should help me to decide which way to go.
Thanks for the help, though.
I might try to look at a few secondhand Boxsters over the next week. Although the dealer reckoned I could own for a year for only about 3k depreciation, this does not look even close to being true. If I have added about 5 thousand pound of options (which is very easy to do), it seems that these add very little to the year old car. I think that if I pay 44,000, I think I'd get about 38k back after a year. Still not terrible, but a fair bit over 4k.
If I take the expected 6k hit, and 2k insurance, I am starting to approach the cost of 1 year in the P1 club...
OK. You live in London with the car parked on-street. A Box without hardtop will be fine in that sort of environment. If you go with, say, a two year old car (MY03 on) the depreciation will not be so bad, especially as the "new model out" depreciation is already hitting prices anyway. Londoners, I note, rarely put much mileage on their cars. If this is true of you the car should look good and still be valuable in a years time. Softtop roof wear is more a function of the number of times the roof goes up and down than anything else. Especially if you look after it and get it resealed every so often (which you can do yourself with the Autoglym stuff).
You should consider a metallic colour - apparently these are less prone to discoloration from sunlight. Since my car is garaged I didn't care and went for Guard's Red.
All IMHO. Whichever you choose - 996/986 BoxS/ 987 BoxS you are getting a great car.
Join the PCGB and come along to our Track Days - and use the car for what it was intended...
You should consider a metallic colour - apparently these are less prone to discoloration from sunlight. Since my car is garaged I didn't care and went for Guard's Red.
All IMHO. Whichever you choose - 996/986 BoxS/ 987 BoxS you are getting a great car.
Join the PCGB and come along to our Track Days - and use the car for what it was intended...
Thanks.
One of the problems is that I am one of these people that agonises endlessly over two pretty similar choices, and will forever regret the choice not taken.
It also feels like a big decision, as it is a big chunk of money to hand over. From the point, three years ago, where I already had more money tied up in the garage than the boxster will be, I am now going to need to dig deeply into my pockets for the next buy. My current car is not that exciting, but it is comfortable, quite quick, and extremely practical. It is probably going to take me another couple of weeks to get together the resolution to go out and do it.
I'll let you know what I end up with.
One of the problems is that I am one of these people that agonises endlessly over two pretty similar choices, and will forever regret the choice not taken.
It also feels like a big decision, as it is a big chunk of money to hand over. From the point, three years ago, where I already had more money tied up in the garage than the boxster will be, I am now going to need to dig deeply into my pockets for the next buy. My current car is not that exciting, but it is comfortable, quite quick, and extremely practical. It is probably going to take me another couple of weeks to get together the resolution to go out and do it.
I'll let you know what I end up with.
NorthernBoy said:
Thanks.
You're welcome.
NorthernBoy said:
It is probably going to take me another couple of weeks to get together the resolution to go out and do it.
Tell me about it!
I'm half Welsh and half Scots - working up the courage to spend any money at all takes *weeks* . NorthernBoy said:
I'll let you know what I end up with.
Please do. Whichever - enjoy!
Well, here's an update. I didn't buy it.
No Porsche at all.
I had one for a weekend, and, stupid though this may sound, I couldn't get comfortable with the lack of visibility over my shoulder. It made me very hesitant pulling out to overtake.
I know that I will probably get used to it, but I have decided to look at a couple of other cars again before deciding. I am still tempted by an M3, or the new S4, so will give both of those a try.
In a test drive of the M3, it was a lot slower than I expected (riding fast bikes really does wreck your appreciation of acceleration), but I did like just how practical it was....
Anyway, still cogitating, ruminating, and digesting...
No Porsche at all.
I had one for a weekend, and, stupid though this may sound, I couldn't get comfortable with the lack of visibility over my shoulder. It made me very hesitant pulling out to overtake.
I know that I will probably get used to it, but I have decided to look at a couple of other cars again before deciding. I am still tempted by an M3, or the new S4, so will give both of those a try.
In a test drive of the M3, it was a lot slower than I expected (riding fast bikes really does wreck your appreciation of acceleration), but I did like just how practical it was....
Anyway, still cogitating, ruminating, and digesting...
NorthernBoy said:
Well, here's an update. I didn't buy it.
No Porsche at all.
I had one for a weekend, and, stupid though this may sound, I couldn't get comfortable with the lack of visibility over my shoulder. It made me very hesitant pulling out to overtake.
I know that I will probably get used to it, but I have decided to look at a couple of other cars again before deciding. I am still tempted by an M3, or the new S4, so will give both of those a try.
In a test drive of the M3, it was a lot slower than I expected (riding fast bikes really does wreck your appreciation of acceleration), but I did like just how practical it was....
Anyway, still cogitating, ruminating, and digesting...
You know you need a Porsche. You get used to the roll hoops. But if you just can't take 'em - get a 996 Cab!
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