MR2 Roadster to Boxster S...
Discussion
Hi,
I currently own a 2001 Toyota MR2 Roadster but I am looking to move on to something bigger and better... Hence, I am 99.986% sure that my next car will be a Porsche Boxster. So, what I was hoping to glean from the knowledgeable Pistonhead's forum is any advice or guidance you could provide about this vehicle and the considerations I should have in mind.
I am interested in any sort of feedback, questions or advice that you may have. What versions should I steer clear of? What are the main factors that I should consider when buying a Porsche? Where would I be best purchasing a Boxster from? What faults should I look out for? Etcetera...
I will of course be scouring the internet for all the information I can find on this subject, but I've always appreciated the collective knowledge of this community and would be stupid to ignore it!
Many thanks in advance.
I currently own a 2001 Toyota MR2 Roadster but I am looking to move on to something bigger and better... Hence, I am 99.986% sure that my next car will be a Porsche Boxster. So, what I was hoping to glean from the knowledgeable Pistonhead's forum is any advice or guidance you could provide about this vehicle and the considerations I should have in mind.
I am interested in any sort of feedback, questions or advice that you may have. What versions should I steer clear of? What are the main factors that I should consider when buying a Porsche? Where would I be best purchasing a Boxster from? What faults should I look out for? Etcetera...
I will of course be scouring the internet for all the information I can find on this subject, but I've always appreciated the collective knowledge of this community and would be stupid to ignore it!
Many thanks in advance.
doogz said:
I've got an MR2 Roadster. My brother has a Boxster S.
What a car it is. The MR2 is great fun to throw about the place, but the Porsche is in a different league, 265bhp, tonnes of torque, the throttle response is beautiful, and the handling! So progressive, so easy to control. First time I drove it, I didn't exactly mean to hang the rear out half way around a roundabout, but I got on the power a bit much, it started to slide, but it was so easy to hang onto and get back.
I'd heard people saying they were a great drive, but I never took them that seriously til I drove one, they're excellent cars.
He's just forked out a grand for a full set of tyres right enough, and as far as I know, servicing costs are a bit steep, as well as fuel, obviously, so it'll cost a fair amount more than an MR2, to keep running, but if you are willing to deal with that, I can't reccommend one of them enough.
Great review. Thanks for that. I've heard that tyres aren't cheap - it's not really an area you can cut corners with either. As a percentage, how much more expensive to run is a Boxster over an MR2? Obviously this is a pure guesstimate!What a car it is. The MR2 is great fun to throw about the place, but the Porsche is in a different league, 265bhp, tonnes of torque, the throttle response is beautiful, and the handling! So progressive, so easy to control. First time I drove it, I didn't exactly mean to hang the rear out half way around a roundabout, but I got on the power a bit much, it started to slide, but it was so easy to hang onto and get back.
I'd heard people saying they were a great drive, but I never took them that seriously til I drove one, they're excellent cars.
He's just forked out a grand for a full set of tyres right enough, and as far as I know, servicing costs are a bit steep, as well as fuel, obviously, so it'll cost a fair amount more than an MR2, to keep running, but if you are willing to deal with that, I can't reccommend one of them enough.
Biccaroo said:
edo said:
Budget?
I'm trying to stretch myself to about £12k, but I know you can get Boxster's for a lot less. I'm going to hunt high and low for a bargain! Ideally I'm be looking to pay around £8-9k.IMHO it has to be an S, and manual. Facelift.
The only issue with spending 12k or so, is that the 987 model is now coming into the 14k mark.....
doogz said:
I really couldn't even guess. He has his Porsche worked on at the Porsche centre, I've owned my MR2 for 3 weeks and have so far changed a clutch, brakes, and serviced it, at home on my driveway, so even if I had figures, they wouldn't be comparable.
WRT tyres, Mark was going to save £150-200 and buy contis, but decided to just go for the Michelins in the end. Good choice IMO.
I currently pay around £300 to insure my MR2. I got a quote last night for a 2004 Boxster S - £541 + £250 excess. I think that's pretty darned good!WRT tyres, Mark was going to save £150-200 and buy contis, but decided to just go for the Michelins in the end. Good choice IMO.
If I did buy a Porsche I certainly wouldn't take it to any old mechanic either. It always looks better if the service history has either official or approved mechanics working on the car. However, this is obviously another expense that I'll have to take on aboard. This could get expensive!
chris7676 said:
Good 'next step up' car. It's going to be singifinactly more expensive to run, at least +50% but perhaps more. Saying that I pay around £400 for a set of good 'budget" tyres (non N-rated b
ks) on 17 inch wheels.
+50%??? Hmm, wow. I'll have to do some proper research into running costs and align them against those of an MR2. The MR2 is pretty cheap to run I must admit *Gareth touches some wood*. Does anybody know what common faults or issues, if any, I should look out for when buying?ks) on 17 inch wheels.Biccaroo said:
+50%??? Hmm, wow. I'll have to do some proper research into running costs and align them against those of an MR2. The MR2 is pretty cheap to run I must admit *Gareth touches some wood*. Does anybody know what common faults or issues, if any, I should look out for when buying?
Just the petrol wise it would be around 50% more (for 3.2). Brakes probably at least twice as expensive, tyres as well as just posted. Balljoints require new suspension arms (and they start squeking often), so more like £150 rather than £30. Etc, etc.Biccaroo said:
+50%??? Hmm, wow. I'll have to do some proper research into running costs and align them against those of an MR2. The MR2 is pretty cheap to run I must admit *Gareth touches some wood*. Does anybody know what common faults or issues, if any, I should look out for when buying?
I looked at getting a 986 a few months ago, went with a mk3 mx5 in the end (my budget was more around £6-7k.)Running costs of the porker will indeed be probably 50%+ more than on the '2, but do you want a Boxster, or an S?
For comparison, a set of front discs for your car will be what, £50 ish for a set? For the Boxster they're £70 each, for the Boxster S, £100 each.. This is looking on Europarts website, not main dealers etc. This is just an example of the difference in running costs you'll be looking at.
As for common issues, See the Porsche section here, you want to look at IMS/RMS issues mainly, oh and check out http://www.boxsterforums.com for a wealth of knowledge on them.
Riknos said:
I looked at getting a 986 a few months ago, went with a mk3 mx5 in the end (my budget was more around £6-7k.)
Running costs of the porker will indeed be probably 50%+ more than on the '2, but do you want a Boxster, or an S?
For comparison, a set of front discs for your car will be what, £50 ish for a set? For the Boxster they're £70 each, for the Boxster S, £100 each.. This is looking on Europarts website, not main dealers etc. This is just an example of the difference in running costs you'll be looking at.
As for common issues, See the Porsche section here, you want to look at IMS/RMS issues mainly, oh and check out http://www.boxsterforums.com for a wealth of knowledge on them.
Thanks very much for some valuable advice. I'm starting to understand more clearly the difference, which are more substantial than I'd naively thought - not that I've thought much about anything other than the excitement of owning and driving a Porsche! Running costs of the porker will indeed be probably 50%+ more than on the '2, but do you want a Boxster, or an S?
For comparison, a set of front discs for your car will be what, £50 ish for a set? For the Boxster they're £70 each, for the Boxster S, £100 each.. This is looking on Europarts website, not main dealers etc. This is just an example of the difference in running costs you'll be looking at.
As for common issues, See the Porsche section here, you want to look at IMS/RMS issues mainly, oh and check out http://www.boxsterforums.com for a wealth of knowledge on them.
edo said:
The only issue with spending 12k or so, is that the 987 model is now coming into the 14k mark.....
This is a problem.If I were the OP I think I would go for a non-S 987 on 18s.
It is going to be a huge step up such that S rather than non-S might not be worth it, if ££ is tight.
Plus it leaves you something further to work towards!
http://www.boxa.net/forum/ is helpful.
For 19s you are looking at at least £1,000 on tyres too so take that into account when buying, 10-15k miles for a set of rears is normal.
18s are cheaper on the rubber.
Important extras:
Manual. This is not an option. Get a manual. Unless you only have one leg or something.
On 987s they ALL have PSM and trip computer so don't be conned into thinking they're extras.
Bose - matters if you like to hear music.
Heated seats - excellent.
PCM (I think) - let's you plug in your iPod via an input in the centre arm-rest - bit gutted I didn't get this.
19 vs 18 in wheels, as above.
Make damn sure the aircon works because a fault with the condenser position means they get screwed over time and need replacing = ££.
Service interval is 20k miles (vs. 12k with the 986) so make sure if you get one around 60k it has had that done.
Black is the fastest.
In fact - here's your next car: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C287682
Edited by walm on Thursday 21st June 13:03
chris7676 said:
Just the petrol wise it would be around 50% more (for 3.2). Brakes probably at least twice as expensive, tyres as well as just posted. Balljoints require new suspension arms (and they start squeking often), so more like £150 rather than £30. Etc, etc.
Very true. Petrol is a major concern, especially these days. I need to consider whether the ownership experience, improved ride, handling, build quality and overall practicality (in comparison to the incredible impractical MR2!) is worth the extra expense. I wouldn't own the Porsche for more than two years TBH. I just want to make the most of being young, free and single whilst I can! I'll have to get something sensible before too long I guess...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff