First Car; Porsche Boxster, Suggestions?

[BarrenS]

Hello All,

Quick intro, I'm 26 and am about to get my License, I Live in London so haven't needed to drive much.

I am looking to pick up something for around £5k, though happy to spend less of course.

I won't be driving every day but at the weekends to visit family (a good 90 min drive to Country side) and for certain trips in London.

I know that as a first car, I should be a bit careful but I'm also not 18 and so my tastes are different.

What's your thoughts on a Boxster and any other suggestions?

Thanks

[CaptainSensib1e]

Boxster seems like a fair shout. S2000 and 350Z could also be worth a look. You are also likely to get a newer/lower mileage car for your money.

[robbieduncan]

Do you have a big budget for maintenance? If not I'd think twice about a £5k Boxster. I had one that I sold for about £7k. It cost me a grand every time it needed to go to a garage and it needed to go twice a year or so...

[dibblecorse]

I'll be amazed if you can get any of those insured for a sum less than the value of the car as a newbie that has just passed their test, add in a London postcode and I'd go look for something else .....

[BarrenS]

I won't be driving it every day but if I'm enjoying it then I don't have a massive problem spending ~£1500 a year on Maintenance.

I also am not against spending a bit more on a Boxster (£7k being the limit).

I want a car that I will enjoy driving but I'm not too concerned about speed.

Just trying to steer away from a Fiat or Mini cooper, nothing against them but just does not appeal (did when I was 18!).

[BarrenS]

dibblecorse said:

I'll be amazed if you can get any of those insured for a sum less than the value of the car as a newbie that has just passed their test, add in a London postcode and I'd go look for something else .....

I'm able to get insurance for ~ £1400 (Fully comp). Not being 18 makes a big difference.

[Actus Reus]

The problem I had with my Porsches was that they developed oil seal issues, apparently because I didn't drive them enough...

If speed isn't your thing, but you want something to enjoy, might I suggest that sir looks at an MX5. It's the default choice for a reason - probably easier to live with in London traffic too - my manual Porsches were a bit tiring in traffic.

[Benbay001]

If you are 26 years old and have managed to save £5k, then id be very cautious of buying a car with the potential to throw up such big bills.
Only you know how much disposable you have at the end of every month. But id advise caution.

[Bradley1500]

I'd imagine, even being older than most first time drivers, that inexperience would stop most insurance companies wanting to or offering competitive insurance on a sports car for you.

It may be worth buying something cheaper and less of a risk for your first year to not only gain experience but also a years no claims will make a huge difference.

Maybe something similar with a smaller engine, MX5 maybe?

ETA: you posted about insurance before I had a chance to read through. If the man maths adds up then go for it! I'd still be worried having a Porsche Boxster as a first car though.

[Major Fallout]

How about a vx220?

[Rude-boy]

I've owned an older Boxster, the Mrs has an s2k and have test driven both MX5's and 350Z'ds.

Based on the information in your post what you should have is an MX5.

Keep it a year or two and then get a really good post '07 S2k if it is the right size for you (too small in the cockpit for me to have as a daily).

The first will teach you how to drive on the road and give you some idea of what driving a RWD sports car is like, such as what to do on the exit of a slippy 90 left.

The second is possibly one of the best open top drivers cars you can buy for less than 10k and run on a budget of less than £500 per year excluding petrol, tyres, insurance and VED.

[Oi U]

^ MX5

[Craikeybaby]

After reading the original post, I instantly though that an MX-5 would be a better bet. It seems like I'm not the only one...

[dibblecorse]

BarrenS said:

dibblecorse said:

I'll be amazed if you can get any of those insured for a sum less than the value of the car as a newbie that has just passed their test, add in a London postcode and I'd go look for something else .....

I'm able to get insurance for ~ £1400 (Fully comp). Not being 18 makes a big difference.

That amazes me as 90% of the car insurance market insist that cars like this require the policy holder and all named drivers need to have held a full license for in excess of 12 months.

[BarrenS]

Seems like the MX5 might be a good idea, problem is I have been in a friends 911 and driven a Boxster, I like them, I haven't been in a MX5 though.

What sort of price point/model should I be looking at? Might be an idea to get an MX5 for a year or two.

I'd looked at a Jaguar XK8 but it's a bit out of budget and I'm assuming in line with a Boxster to run.

Any other thoughts?

[village idiot]

Personally I would look for something fun with 4 seats. Something like a e46 bmw 330 convertible or even a Saab turbo convertible. Comfy, easy to drive in London, glass rear screen (more important than you might think) and room for your friends, family and junk).

[Baryonyx]

London? Get a motorbike.

[TheAngryDog]

dibblecorse said:

BarrenS said:

dibblecorse said:

I'll be amazed if you can get any of those insured for a sum less than the value of the car as a newbie that has just passed their test, add in a London postcode and I'd go look for something else .....

I'm able to get insurance for ~ £1400 (Fully comp). Not being 18 makes a big difference.

That amazes me as 90% of the car insurance market insist that cars like this require the policy holder and all named drivers need to have held a full license for in excess of 12 months.

Not only that, but recent experience of a "powerful" rwd car as well. I struggled to find anyone who would insure me on my M5 last year when I first bought it, despite being 32, no points, full NCB.

OP, learn to drive first. By that I do not mean pass your test, I mean learn to drive after you have passed your test in something less powerful but still good fun. MX-5 is the right default answer here from what I can gather.

[village idiot]

Oh and not a vx220 in London!

Anywhere where there is the remotest chance of parking bumps is a bad BAD place for a VX. The clams are almost impossible to get, as are the headlights. A very minor low speed parking bump will very easily write the car off, which is why there are so many cat d vx's around.

Working on the assumption that you really don't want to be making insurance claims or forking out many hundreds to repair a cracked clam, I would sidestep a VX.

I know... I've been there and done it... Also done a Boxster, mx5 and various other stuff.

The mx5 is the easiest option,.. Ultra-reliable and cheap and as chips. My ex-wife ran one around for ages with no oil in it and it just shrugged it off and carried on going for years afterwards.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Bradley1500 said:

I'd imagine, even being older than most first time drivers, that inexperience would stop most insurance companies wanting to or offering competitive insurance on a sports car for you.

You imagine wrong. A new 25 y/o driver is a far better risk than a 20 y/o with 3 yrs experience. Experience isn't a huge factor in accident rates, age and immature attitude is what drives up premiums.

A new 25 y/o driver is likely to be sensible enough to realise their limitations and drive accordingly, building up confidence gradually. Most teenage drivers all think they're Lewis Hamilton after a couple of years driving and act like tts.