Porsche Boxster Owners

[mikeyb13]

I know there are a few owners on here so thought it would be worth asking.
Looking for buying advice for a Porsche Boxster 05-12. The car will be used as an everyday car, I might do the odd trackday in it but its really not what Im buying it for. Looking to spend up to 16/17k
Ive been looking for a while now and would appreciate some help with a few questions, all I really know at the minute is I want a black one or maybe grey and go for smaller wheels due to tyre costs.

Thinking I need the 3.2 is the 2.7 as underpowered as online chat suggests?
Any info on real life running costs difference between the two?

Are the OEM (pagid?) brakes up to the odd track day?

Any essential options and ones to be avoided? Anyone nearby (Livingston) that could give me a look at their car?

Any other buying advice would be appreciated

[TVR MAN]

If you're coming from an Elise/Exige then you may end up being disappointed with the handling.

I bought my 986 Boxster S after having had a VX220 and whilst the handling is good, it is nothing in comparison. The experience is a lot more diluted.

Having said that, I was out getting some shopping in it earlier in the blizzard and it was comfortable, quick, warm (climate control), and just generally a pleasant place to be. It's also extremely practical with the two large boots.

I find it a bit too fast too enjoy on the road without getting up to licence losing speed quickly and so I would quite happily have bought a 2.7 if I had found a good one.

But still, I am going to sell it in the next couple of weeks and get another VX220 as I miss the excitement and drama of it.

[shocks]

Give StuP of SP Autobahn a call - he'll help with the questions and does PPIs on all things pork

[mikeyb13]

Currently have an S1 Honda Elise on Nitrons etc so I doubt anything short of a Supercar is going to feel as fast or handle as well. Problem is Ive done under 2k miles in nearly 2 years of ownership and that includes a trip to Spa.
Just looking for an everyday sports car.

[stup]

Excellent fun cars that handle great as far as a road car is concerned,great sound track to match also.....they are generally reliable if the correct car is purchased to start with but if wrong car is purchased some big bills could be lurking... Loads of my customers use them everyday and generally the 2.7 engine cars seen to suffer less of the known failings.

Any advice etc required,happy to help.
Stuart @ SP Autobahn

[bikerPaul]

TVR MAN said:

I find it a bit too fast too enjoy on the road without getting up to licence losing speed quickly and so I would quite happily have bought a 2.7 if I had found a good one.

What a very honest admission. Too many people obsessed with BHP, 0-60, etc. etc. without realising that less can be more. Have a

[Summerteeth]

Ive had 2 of them. A new S in late 2004 when the 987 came out. (Sold a 111s Elise to get that). I had that 1st 987 for a yr and half and 15k miles. And then in 2010 I bought a 2005 2.7 car from Kenny Dunn in Edin.

The 2nd car was half the price of the 1st one, low miles and was a bit better spec (full leather inc dash/doors, grey hood to go with seal grey paint, pasm, xenons, heated seats) car than my 1st / new one. It was a 2.7 'sport' which (I think) were a limited run car with 6 speed box and PASM.

The 2nd car also had the std 17 inch wheels. They gave the car a much nicer ride (the S I had was on 19s) and also (i think) give it quite a retro-ish look.

I haven't driven a 3.2 since I sold mine but I never thought the 2.7 was lacking for road use and some ways preferred it to the 3.2. You got more opportunity to spin it up so it felt like you were canning it more and it sounds a bit different (a bit more gutterall) than the 3.2. The 6 speed box on my 2.7 maybe helped too to make it feel less long-geared. They are a bit thin on the ground but do come up.

I had my 2.7 once down to Knockhill. It felt pretty soft initially but after a few laps you could zone into it, but while it feels 'okay' on the track I thought it was fantastic on the road.

hope that helps a bit.

[Steven944]

I owned a 2.7 Boxster as my daily driver for 2 years. I thought it was utterly excellent. Fast enough to interesting when you wanted it to be, but not so fast as to be hairy and unusable on normal roads. The more compliant ride of the non 'S' was much more useful in daily driving also. I did own an Elise for a while and still have 2 Porsches (owned 11 in total) and while it's no 'proper Porsche' (read: air-cooled 911) or the last word in scalpel sharp handling, I can honestly say that the Boxster was one of my favourites. I also bought a hardtop and it really changed both the look and the practicality for winter driving. Don't be taken in by those who pontificate that it's all about power and how a hard ride equals great handling - WRONG! These are the same people who think that Sport Chrono is a desirable option......