The Actual “Poor Man’s Porsche”?
Discussion
I've had 911s since the '80s - a new one every 2-3 years (so most variants), plus a few classics, inc a2.7RSL for 17 years. Love them all.
However, I really think the Boxster/Cayman came of age with the 981 models. I think they look great, very practical (if you don't need the kiddy seats), and a lovely blend of size (911s getting too big), ride and handling for UK roads.
I got a GT3 Touring last year, and within 600 miles realised it wasn't going to be suitable for every day, so bought a Cayman 981 GTS to accompany it - and it absolutely hits the sweet spot, every time I drive it.
Impossible to generalise, but I would say that certain Boxster/Cayman models (particularly 981s) are better than many 911s. Likewise for the new Flat-6 718s.
However, I really think the Boxster/Cayman came of age with the 981 models. I think they look great, very practical (if you don't need the kiddy seats), and a lovely blend of size (911s getting too big), ride and handling for UK roads.
I got a GT3 Touring last year, and within 600 miles realised it wasn't going to be suitable for every day, so bought a Cayman 981 GTS to accompany it - and it absolutely hits the sweet spot, every time I drive it.
Impossible to generalise, but I would say that certain Boxster/Cayman models (particularly 981s) are better than many 911s. Likewise for the new Flat-6 718s.
Definitely sounds like jealousy if they're sneering at your boxster. I'm happy for whatever my friends want to drive, whether it's a dude with a pink beetle or an entry level sportscar or something faster.
What do the sneering 'friends' drive? Sounds like they don't drive something with a 'name' and maybe want to remind you of your place.
I'd probably have more fun owning a 3k boxster than a 911, as I wouldn't be so concerned about maintaining service records and fix the car myself, also less concern about wrapping it round a lamp post.
What do the sneering 'friends' drive? Sounds like they don't drive something with a 'name' and maybe want to remind you of your place.
I'd probably have more fun owning a 3k boxster than a 911, as I wouldn't be so concerned about maintaining service records and fix the car myself, also less concern about wrapping it round a lamp post.
Edited by bluezedd on Sunday 21st July 11:21
Big GT said:
I always thought the best 911's are the standard Carrera's TBH.
This ^^^^^^ for 95% of the time and its generally a better ride on the standard wheels.I’ve yet to notice a base spec might have dodgy exhaust tips
When the 997 came out there were quite a few reviews the the base Carrera was a better everyday every road type car......
Poor man's could be interpreted in 2 ways, cheap or as a lesser experience. I dont think the non S variants of the 911 are either.
I don't get why anyone would care either way whatever car they owned, if anything it's savvy to buy "less car" for "better value". For alot of people it's not a case of 'cant afford' but 'wont pay'. I dont pay any more than 18/19k for my cars because for what I want I find a good balance in this price bracket.
Many others would think this is mad and bangernomics is the way to go. I've had a go at this in the past and i like the approach but I've been hit and miss on the cars I've had.
I don't get why anyone would care either way whatever car they owned, if anything it's savvy to buy "less car" for "better value". For alot of people it's not a case of 'cant afford' but 'wont pay'. I dont pay any more than 18/19k for my cars because for what I want I find a good balance in this price bracket.
Many others would think this is mad and bangernomics is the way to go. I've had a go at this in the past and i like the approach but I've been hit and miss on the cars I've had.
Like a few on here. Went for a 987.2 Boxster 2.9 and loved it but always felt the call of the the 911 so "upgraded" to the 997.2 Carrera. Justified it on the basis that it had back seats for my 10 year old. He hated them.
To be honest I was underwhelmed and felt it didn't drive as well as the Boxster for every day use even though it was faster. Anyone who calls the Boxster a poor mans Porsche has obviously never sat in one. Switch gear, trim, seats were all pretty much identical until you looked over your shoulder
To cut a long story short, 911 got nicked after 10 months and I took the money and bought myself a newer PDK Boxster S saving 10k in the process. Performance between Boxster S and base 997 was pretty much the same and I was back in that "magic carpet" ride.
911 is an icon but I suspect the Boxster is on it way to becoming one too. Early 987 have moved past that dated look phase and are stating to have a timeless feel to them.
To be honest I was underwhelmed and felt it didn't drive as well as the Boxster for every day use even though it was faster. Anyone who calls the Boxster a poor mans Porsche has obviously never sat in one. Switch gear, trim, seats were all pretty much identical until you looked over your shoulder
To cut a long story short, 911 got nicked after 10 months and I took the money and bought myself a newer PDK Boxster S saving 10k in the process. Performance between Boxster S and base 997 was pretty much the same and I was back in that "magic carpet" ride.
911 is an icon but I suspect the Boxster is on it way to becoming one too. Early 987 have moved past that dated look phase and are stating to have a timeless feel to them.
This is nothing new... people called the Triumph GT6 a poor mans E-type in the 70s and then when Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini etc. Made cheaper models they did the same. Usually from people driving something totally rubbish.
How a 60k plus car can be “poor mans” is laughable and it’s no different to the VW jibes. It’s all just dull. Just buy the car you like and not give a fig what anyone else thinks
How a 60k plus car can be “poor mans” is laughable and it’s no different to the VW jibes. It’s all just dull. Just buy the car you like and not give a fig what anyone else thinks
WJNB said:
I fear here we have a poster pre-occupied with motoring snobbery. After all why else does anybody buy an ugly Porsche SUV when something else half the price will do the job as well. Peer & neighbour approbation is paramount it seems. How stressful to live a life dominated by the need for others to approve & to be judged by personal possessions.
Indeed, sorry to hear that. I assume you're judging others by your own shortcomings. 
67Dino said:
Ignoring your well made point entirely, and pursuing a line that is at best irrelevant, I can’t help noticing that the OP actually referred to ‘cheese toast’ rather than ‘cheese on toast’. I’m wondering if the OP actually toasts cheesey bread for breakfast, rather than just puts cheese on toast. I think we should be told.
I'm as broad minded as the next man on the timings of comestible consumption but this 'cheese toast' for breakfast is absolute madness. I personally breakfast on a cigarette and ice cold pink grapefruit juice. OP: have you been tested for sypillis recently? I'm not a medical man per se but you are certainly exhibiting many of the signs.
On topic, there is no rich or poor man's Porsche in my opinion. I have a GT3 and Cayenne and enjoy them both equally. The people who use the term are always non owners and ergo their opinion counts for s
t 
G u l f said:
languagetimothy said:
I had four 944s back in the day (first one was three years old that's how long ago) I just liked the look of them and the practicality (able to carry my amps and guitars)
Some years ago I had a bit of cash and sold an S2. Because I wanted a Cayman S. I could easily have bought a 911 of some description but I liked the look of the Cayman. Was also running an old Polo as a daily.
I got what I wanted Cayman S, silver, 18s, all the toys couldn't be happier. Had a comment from 911 owner at my sports club (tongue in cheek) about why I didn't buy a 911. I just said I got the car I wanted. Job done.
If I could afford it now I'd still buy a Cayman over a 911.
This, and the comment a few posts above (guy getting angry) oh, and the OP are exactly the reasons why non-911 Porsche owners have such a chip on their shoulder. They say it doesn't bother them, but it clearly does as they've remembered and quoted the exact phrases people have said to them about their cars. It's all really sad.Some years ago I had a bit of cash and sold an S2. Because I wanted a Cayman S. I could easily have bought a 911 of some description but I liked the look of the Cayman. Was also running an old Polo as a daily.
I got what I wanted Cayman S, silver, 18s, all the toys couldn't be happier. Had a comment from 911 owner at my sports club (tongue in cheek) about why I didn't buy a 911. I just said I got the car I wanted. Job done.
If I could afford it now I'd still buy a Cayman over a 911.
The one I've quoted is the next one "I could easily have afforded a 911 ...but I bought a Cayman" I bet he tells everybody that.
t the OP was referring to. My budget was 35k+ I wanted a Cayman so I bought Cayman luckily for me I found the exact spec I wanted for 28k. I'm sure a 911 is a very good car, but I wanted Cayman. Add that to your list of sad quotes for future posts. Get the idea now?Scottchester said:
Sorry, had forgotten about the 924s older brother, you are correct the 914 started it but the 924 was the first volume seller.
Not sure what you are referring to with the 928, that was meant to replace the 911 wasn't it ? And therefore not intended to be lower end of market
912 anyone ?Not sure what you are referring to with the 928, that was meant to replace the 911 wasn't it ? And therefore not intended to be lower end of market
I was one of those people who thought the Porsche Boxster was a girls car / hairdressers car / not a proper Porsche after believing some of the tripe on motoring TV shows / forums.
However, few years ago i won on charity auction a NEW Porsche Boxster (981) MANUAL for a weekend. The vehicle was the BASE model so not the faster S version. It had importantly a MANUAL which is what i wanted and also was quite well specced including Porsche Torque Vectoring (LSD) for slides, BOSE, heated seats, sat nav, bluetooth.
For my 30th birthday i wanted to go for a nice drive with my gf to the Yorkshire Dales. I could have taken my E46 M3 CS Coupe with BMW Manual Gearbox. However, i won the charity auction 2 years before that and thought i had better use it. As i wanted to keep the miles off my M3 CS and not have to worry about salt or parking it etc.
I took the Boxster from London to Yorkshire Dales. The engine sounded good especially with roof down, heated seats very very toasty, BOSE sound system sounded good, sat nav was good, lots of additional info to driver on instrument cluster. LSD was good. The engine was not as strong as the S54B32.
However, i was very very impressed with how good it sounded with the hood down, it was so well balanced on the country roads around Yorkshire Dales. It seemed like you could carry quite a bit of speed with it being mid-engined and getting held up by the road car in front. I drove around 700-800 miles in 2 days. Absolutely loved it. Made me think surely a Porsche 911 at £80k cannot be double the fun of £40k Boxster MANUAL ?
The Boxster (981) also IMO looked very good much better than previous generations. It reminds me on a smaller version of Porsche Carrera GT. RWD. Mid engined and NA. Manual. Well proportioned. It was such a good drivers car and so much better than the girls car / hairdressers car mate image suggests. It is an excellent car in its own right.
Someone i know who went from E90 BMW to then had Ferrari F430 and now has Ferrari 458 dismisses the Boxster as a girls car and Porsches generally as common as muck and BMWs and even my lowly E30 325i Sport. He clearly knows nothing about cars. Anyone that driven a Porsche Boxster MANUAL for an extended period of time over decent roads like Yorkshire Dales / Wales etc will know what a great car it is at a relatively affordable price bracket compared to the more expensive Porsches and supercars. Just like BMW M3s they really come alive on roads like in Wales when i took my M3 CS there and the driving experience was pretty much as good on par with that in the Porsche Boxster in Yorkshire Dales.
High performance cars / supercars really are wasted in London posing around Harrods etc.
However, few years ago i won on charity auction a NEW Porsche Boxster (981) MANUAL for a weekend. The vehicle was the BASE model so not the faster S version. It had importantly a MANUAL which is what i wanted and also was quite well specced including Porsche Torque Vectoring (LSD) for slides, BOSE, heated seats, sat nav, bluetooth.
For my 30th birthday i wanted to go for a nice drive with my gf to the Yorkshire Dales. I could have taken my E46 M3 CS Coupe with BMW Manual Gearbox. However, i won the charity auction 2 years before that and thought i had better use it. As i wanted to keep the miles off my M3 CS and not have to worry about salt or parking it etc.
I took the Boxster from London to Yorkshire Dales. The engine sounded good especially with roof down, heated seats very very toasty, BOSE sound system sounded good, sat nav was good, lots of additional info to driver on instrument cluster. LSD was good. The engine was not as strong as the S54B32.
However, i was very very impressed with how good it sounded with the hood down, it was so well balanced on the country roads around Yorkshire Dales. It seemed like you could carry quite a bit of speed with it being mid-engined and getting held up by the road car in front. I drove around 700-800 miles in 2 days. Absolutely loved it. Made me think surely a Porsche 911 at £80k cannot be double the fun of £40k Boxster MANUAL ?
The Boxster (981) also IMO looked very good much better than previous generations. It reminds me on a smaller version of Porsche Carrera GT. RWD. Mid engined and NA. Manual. Well proportioned. It was such a good drivers car and so much better than the girls car / hairdressers car mate image suggests. It is an excellent car in its own right.
Someone i know who went from E90 BMW to then had Ferrari F430 and now has Ferrari 458 dismisses the Boxster as a girls car and Porsches generally as common as muck and BMWs and even my lowly E30 325i Sport. He clearly knows nothing about cars. Anyone that driven a Porsche Boxster MANUAL for an extended period of time over decent roads like Yorkshire Dales / Wales etc will know what a great car it is at a relatively affordable price bracket compared to the more expensive Porsches and supercars. Just like BMW M3s they really come alive on roads like in Wales when i took my M3 CS there and the driving experience was pretty much as good on par with that in the Porsche Boxster in Yorkshire Dales.
High performance cars / supercars really are wasted in London posing around Harrods etc.
Edited by 161BMW on Sunday 21st July 13:23
Edited by 161BMW on Sunday 21st July 13:27
I had a 997 Carrera S when they first came out and drove a 986 Boxster S a year later and preferred the poor mans car.
A couple of years ago I wanted another Porsche but had learnt my lesson and bought a 981 Boxster S. Never regretted the decision since. I tried the 991T and just found it too big and not as fun as it's lesser brother.
A couple of years ago I wanted another Porsche but had learnt my lesson and bought a 981 Boxster S. Never regretted the decision since. I tried the 991T and just found it too big and not as fun as it's lesser brother.
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