Discussion
Been reading the 996 buyers guide and been thinking "oooo...tempting" (current car 986). But putting aside anything about all 996 engines going bang, "986 because you couldn't afford a 996", 986 hairdressers cars etc, 996 ugly trees etc, how do they really compare?
I do get that the 996 is the real rear engined 911 deal, and it has more power, and more practicality if you have very small children. However the 986 handles brilliantly, is arguably fast enough 95% of the time, and has the added bonus of roof down summer motoring, when, incidentally it looks achingly pretty in the right spec. And bar the presence of a few extra dials, the view out the front of both cars is identical.
Be interested to hear from anyone who has owned both and what their experiences are...over to you.
I do get that the 996 is the real rear engined 911 deal, and it has more power, and more practicality if you have very small children. However the 986 handles brilliantly, is arguably fast enough 95% of the time, and has the added bonus of roof down summer motoring, when, incidentally it looks achingly pretty in the right spec. And bar the presence of a few extra dials, the view out the front of both cars is identical.
Be interested to hear from anyone who has owned both and what their experiences are...over to you.
996 owner here, my brother has a 986 so I have access to both.
If it wasn't for having a young daughter I'd have the Boxster. Would save £10K in the process too.
Nothing wrong with the 911, it's a fantastic car. It's just that the Boxster is a great car too, with the option of top down motoring.
If it wasn't for having a young daughter I'd have the Boxster. Would save £10K in the process too.
Nothing wrong with the 911, it's a fantastic car. It's just that the Boxster is a great car too, with the option of top down motoring.
I've read a few times that some people feel that the 996 is not a nice looking car...it "fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down". I really don't subscribe to this at all, and I guess it may be from those who got the hump at the launch because it looked so similar to the cheaper 986. I think they are both great looking cars.
1ians said:
996 owner here, my brother has a 986 so I have access to both.
If it wasn't for having a young daughter I'd have the Boxster. Would save £10K in the process too.
Nothing wrong with the 911, it's a fantastic car. It's just that the Boxster is a great car too, with the option of top down motoring.
You could of course have top down motoring with a 996 cab.If it wasn't for having a young daughter I'd have the Boxster. Would save £10K in the process too.
Nothing wrong with the 911, it's a fantastic car. It's just that the Boxster is a great car too, with the option of top down motoring.
.Hi, I've had a 987 '05 for 3 years. Love it. On holiday with it in Lake District at the moment. Back at home is 996 '03. Owned for 2 months. Power and acceleration is so different. 320 ponies versus 245. Also torque figures. Treated with respect so far. Needs suspension overhaul. Going to Centergravity next month. Not a lot wrong with it, but a few clangs and bangs. Assured it will be a different car when the work is done. 996 has sun roof, so almost poss to get the best of both worlds from one car.
However I am pleased to be able to own both cars. Both cars were bought for about the same price
However I am pleased to be able to own both cars. Both cars were bought for about the same price
Own both a Boxster and a 996 (Turbo), have owned them both together since June 2009. (The Boxster I've owned since Jan. 2002.)
I do not drop the top on the Boxster any so top down vs. enclosed driving doesn't matter to me. It is all enclosed. (I never use the moon/sun roof in the Turbo either.)
Biggest not so obvious differences is the view out in the 996 is better than out of the Boxster. Makes driving in traffic, parking lots, etc. a bit less hectic when in the 996. The way more and more drivers are driving distracted and one has to have his head on a swivel the Boxster view out is becoming more a negative.
Next the 996 is roomier inside. By myself no big deal -- though the Boxster has just enough seat adjustment -- but with a passenger some passengers feel the closeness of the seating and a few even comment on it. Nothing horrific but they say something that suggests very strongly to me they do not like it. (And no I do not stink.) However, while some probably don't like it no one has turned down a ride in the Boxster for any reason.
There are running cost differences, though the difference between the Boxster and the basic 911 are probably not as great as would be the case between the 986 and the Turbo.
As for performance, even though the base Boxster has a 2.7l engine and 5-speed it is a quick car, deceptively so. It gathers speed at an impressive rate for a 2.7l NA engine and the 5-speed shifts very quickly so acceleration doesn't drop off as much between shifts. And unlike other cars the Boxster doesn't run out of steam at higher RPMs. It pulls very strong right up to redline. Engine breathing is exemplary.
Had the Boxster out on a mountain road the other day. Could use full throttle in 2nd coming out of sharp uphill or downhill turns with out the fear of ending up going over the side of the mountain. In the Turbo one has to be very deliberate with the application of the gas pedal cause with fat tires, all the weight over the rear end (though the Boxster is no slouch in either rear tire width and weight over the driven tires/wheels) and coupled with AWD the Turbo has enough power/torque and grip to shoot one off the road if one's aim isn't good enough.
The back seats in the 996 are for small children and storage space. You'll need it for the trunk of the 996 is not very large (AWD models have even smaller front trunks) and there is no rear trunk at all. The Boxster can carry an impressive amount of kit and hidden away from curious (possibly criminal) eyes.
You have to drive examples of both and decide for yourself. I would add that based on my experience if one must have top down driving the Boxster is preferred over the Cab unless one must have a 911. The Boxster is a rigid roadster and a superb automobile.
I do not drop the top on the Boxster any so top down vs. enclosed driving doesn't matter to me. It is all enclosed. (I never use the moon/sun roof in the Turbo either.)
Biggest not so obvious differences is the view out in the 996 is better than out of the Boxster. Makes driving in traffic, parking lots, etc. a bit less hectic when in the 996. The way more and more drivers are driving distracted and one has to have his head on a swivel the Boxster view out is becoming more a negative.
Next the 996 is roomier inside. By myself no big deal -- though the Boxster has just enough seat adjustment -- but with a passenger some passengers feel the closeness of the seating and a few even comment on it. Nothing horrific but they say something that suggests very strongly to me they do not like it. (And no I do not stink.) However, while some probably don't like it no one has turned down a ride in the Boxster for any reason.
There are running cost differences, though the difference between the Boxster and the basic 911 are probably not as great as would be the case between the 986 and the Turbo.
As for performance, even though the base Boxster has a 2.7l engine and 5-speed it is a quick car, deceptively so. It gathers speed at an impressive rate for a 2.7l NA engine and the 5-speed shifts very quickly so acceleration doesn't drop off as much between shifts. And unlike other cars the Boxster doesn't run out of steam at higher RPMs. It pulls very strong right up to redline. Engine breathing is exemplary.
Had the Boxster out on a mountain road the other day. Could use full throttle in 2nd coming out of sharp uphill or downhill turns with out the fear of ending up going over the side of the mountain. In the Turbo one has to be very deliberate with the application of the gas pedal cause with fat tires, all the weight over the rear end (though the Boxster is no slouch in either rear tire width and weight over the driven tires/wheels) and coupled with AWD the Turbo has enough power/torque and grip to shoot one off the road if one's aim isn't good enough.
The back seats in the 996 are for small children and storage space. You'll need it for the trunk of the 996 is not very large (AWD models have even smaller front trunks) and there is no rear trunk at all. The Boxster can carry an impressive amount of kit and hidden away from curious (possibly criminal) eyes.
You have to drive examples of both and decide for yourself. I would add that based on my experience if one must have top down driving the Boxster is preferred over the Cab unless one must have a 911. The Boxster is a rigid roadster and a superb automobile.
Rockster said:
Own both a Boxster and a 996 (Turbo), have owned them both together since June 2009. (The Boxster I've owned since Jan. 2002.)
I do not drop the top on the Boxster any so top down vs. enclosed driving doesn't matter to me. It is all enclosed. (I never use the moon/sun roof in the Turbo either.)
Biggest not so obvious differences is the view out in the 996 is better than out of the Boxster. Makes driving in traffic, parking lots, etc. a bit less hectic when in the 996. The way more and more drivers are driving distracted and one has to have his head on a swivel the Boxster view out is becoming more a negative.
Next the 996 is roomier inside. By myself no big deal -- though the Boxster has just enough seat adjustment -- but with a passenger some passengers feel the closeness of the seating and a few even comment on it. Nothing horrific but they say something that suggests very strongly to me they do not like it. (And no I do not stink.) However, while some probably don't like it no one has turned down a ride in the Boxster for any reason.
There are running cost differences, though the difference between the Boxster and the basic 911 are probably not as great as would be the case between the 986 and the Turbo.
As for performance, even though the base Boxster has a 2.7l engine and 5-speed it is a quick car, deceptively so. It gathers speed at an impressive rate for a 2.7l NA engine and the 5-speed shifts very quickly so acceleration doesn't drop off as much between shifts. And unlike other cars the Boxster doesn't run out of steam at higher RPMs. It pulls very strong right up to redline. Engine breathing is exemplary.
Had the Boxster out on a mountain road the other day. Could use full throttle in 2nd coming out of sharp uphill or downhill turns with out the fear of ending up going over the side of the mountain. In the Turbo one has to be very deliberate with the application of the gas pedal cause with fat tires, all the weight over the rear end (though the Boxster is no slouch in either rear tire width and weight over the driven tires/wheels) and coupled with AWD the Turbo has enough power/torque and grip to shoot one off the road if one's aim isn't good enough.
The back seats in the 996 are for small children and storage space. You'll need it for the trunk of the 996 is not very large (AWD models have even smaller front trunks) and there is no rear trunk at all. The Boxster can carry an impressive amount of kit and hidden away from curious (possibly criminal) eyes.
You have to drive examples of both and decide for yourself. I would add that based on my experience if one must have top down driving the Boxster is preferred over the Cab unless one must have a 911. The Boxster is a rigid roadster and a superb automobile.
Hmm that's odd, I went and sat in a boxster (987 I think - it was a while ago) and it felt really spacious and a bit weird as a result. I then went and sat in a 997 which was next to it in the showroom and it seemed much more snug and what I was used to with the 996 so figured the boxster had more room not less :S I do not drop the top on the Boxster any so top down vs. enclosed driving doesn't matter to me. It is all enclosed. (I never use the moon/sun roof in the Turbo either.)
Biggest not so obvious differences is the view out in the 996 is better than out of the Boxster. Makes driving in traffic, parking lots, etc. a bit less hectic when in the 996. The way more and more drivers are driving distracted and one has to have his head on a swivel the Boxster view out is becoming more a negative.
Next the 996 is roomier inside. By myself no big deal -- though the Boxster has just enough seat adjustment -- but with a passenger some passengers feel the closeness of the seating and a few even comment on it. Nothing horrific but they say something that suggests very strongly to me they do not like it. (And no I do not stink.) However, while some probably don't like it no one has turned down a ride in the Boxster for any reason.
There are running cost differences, though the difference between the Boxster and the basic 911 are probably not as great as would be the case between the 986 and the Turbo.
As for performance, even though the base Boxster has a 2.7l engine and 5-speed it is a quick car, deceptively so. It gathers speed at an impressive rate for a 2.7l NA engine and the 5-speed shifts very quickly so acceleration doesn't drop off as much between shifts. And unlike other cars the Boxster doesn't run out of steam at higher RPMs. It pulls very strong right up to redline. Engine breathing is exemplary.
Had the Boxster out on a mountain road the other day. Could use full throttle in 2nd coming out of sharp uphill or downhill turns with out the fear of ending up going over the side of the mountain. In the Turbo one has to be very deliberate with the application of the gas pedal cause with fat tires, all the weight over the rear end (though the Boxster is no slouch in either rear tire width and weight over the driven tires/wheels) and coupled with AWD the Turbo has enough power/torque and grip to shoot one off the road if one's aim isn't good enough.
The back seats in the 996 are for small children and storage space. You'll need it for the trunk of the 996 is not very large (AWD models have even smaller front trunks) and there is no rear trunk at all. The Boxster can carry an impressive amount of kit and hidden away from curious (possibly criminal) eyes.
You have to drive examples of both and decide for yourself. I would add that based on my experience if one must have top down driving the Boxster is preferred over the Cab unless one must have a 911. The Boxster is a rigid roadster and a superb automobile.
Might have been a difference with the seats perhaps in my case
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