f type or boxter?
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Discussion

bordseye

Original Poster:

2,165 posts

210 months

Thursday 6th July 2017
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Intending to sell the Ferrari - for all that I can afford the car I cant stop myself wittering about potential costs. So its got to go and be replaced by something cheaper round the 50k mark. Something that is cheaper to service than the £1200 per annum of the Fezza, is more mass manufacture and more reliable. Sad but there is is - am fed up of waking in the middle of the night worrying about something that should give pleasure not pain.

So what can you tell me about the real life pain of owning either one of the last 6 cylinder Boxter S ( 981 type) or a V6S F type.

Did a test in the new 4cyl Boxter yesterday. Goes really well but I dont like throttle lag.

JetskiJezz

664 posts

154 months

Thursday 6th July 2017
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bordseye said:
Intending to sell the Ferrari - for all that I can afford the car I cant stop myself wittering about potential costs. So its got to go and be replaced by something cheaper round the 50k mark. Something that is cheaper to service than the £1200 per annum of the Fezza, is more mass manufacture and more reliable. Sad but there is is - am fed up of waking in the middle of the night worrying about something that should give pleasure not pain.

So what can you tell me about the real life pain of owning either one of the last 6 cylinder Boxter S ( 981 type) or a V6S F type.

Did a test in the new 4cyl Boxter yesterday. Goes really well but I dont like throttle lag.
I highly recommend a low mileage early V8S F-type, you pick one up for under £50k. I've had it now for a year and absolutely love it especially at this time of year. £500 a year for the service.
I have also had various Boxster and a couple of 911's and for a very brief time I compared the 2013 Boxster 6 with a V6S f-type but to me there was no comparison and the F-type was far more preferable even in the V6S version. Then I test drove the V8 and couldn't resist.
Interestingly I have a 360 in the garage and for many reasons it gets used a lot less than the F-type.

For an extended test drive in the F-type I would suggest a 24-hour hire from someone like Avis, it's exactly why did a year ago and gave me plenty of chance to explore the car before making a decision. When I hired it, it was only £180 for a full 24 hours with unlimited mileage so to advantage and headed down to South Wales via the Cotswolds for an early morning blast.

The Boxster is a fine car, but it isn't as pretty as the F-type in my opinion.
Last year I briefly had an AMv8 roadster before the F-type and although it was dropdead gorgeous it was ultimately a disappointment to drive in so many ways.

I hope this helps.

Edited by JetskiJezz on Friday 7th July 08:42

ZX10R NIN

29,503 posts

143 months

Thursday 6th July 2017
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Only a test drive will tell you what one you prefer but for me it would be the V8 F Type

CABC

6,011 posts

119 months

Thursday 6th July 2017
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4-cyl F-type is apparently faster than V6. And lighter in the nose.
just sayin'.....

steve-5snwi

9,622 posts

111 months

Thursday 6th July 2017
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It would be the V8 jag for me too, although if you wanted newer i guess the Mustang would save some cash. Thrifty have the F type on their books if you wanted to hire one.

JetskiJezz

664 posts

154 months

Friday 7th July 2017
quotequote all
CABC said:
4-cyl F-type is apparently faster than V6. And lighter in the nose.
just sayin'.....
May be, although I'm not convinced. But reviews when the original V6 and V8 came out and said that the V6S was the sweet spot in terms of being the perfect car, but having driven both, I really couldn't understand those summaries, the V8 is only marginally heavier and sounds like it the devil in disguise......
I haven't heard the four-cylinder, but not sure I really want to.

bordseye

Original Poster:

2,165 posts

210 months

Monday 10th July 2017
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Thanks for the comments. I have test driven all of the cars including the latest 4 pot Boxter, and not surprisingly none of them really compare with the 430. But pure driving pleasure isnt the only issue. Call me neurotic if you like but Ferrari reliability ( 20k mile exhaust manifolds, 15k mile clutches - really? :-( ) and service costs leave me feeling that I am sitting in an unexploded bomb. So a key issue for me is reliability and service costs, which in turn comes back to complexity.

On the one hand you have the F type where Jaguar seems to have gone to town with unnecessary technology from electric dashboard vents to electric door handles. All of which will eventually go wrong, and like Porsche their reliability is rated as "below average"..

On the other hand the 6 pot Porkers have an unenviable reputation for IMS failures and distorted bores. But would the last of the 6 pots - say a 981 Boxter - suffer from those issues?

I previously owned a Lotus Elise R which was one of the most reliable cars that I have ever had - no fancy electronic requiring dealer computer links and a solid Toyota engine, all in a package that epitomised the true sports car. I am beginning to wonder if an Evora with the same construction style might be a better answer that either of the above. Who would ever have thought of "Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious" as the reliability option?

RSTurboPaul

12,316 posts

276 months

Monday 10th July 2017
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How about a Noble?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Quite a few to choose from under 50k, and IIRC they use a Ford/Volvo engine so should be easy/cheap to service?

Also rapid, a good drivers' car, and exotic enough to stand out a bit.

Edited by RSTurboPaul on Monday 10th July 08:27

stuartmmcfc

8,775 posts

210 months

Monday 10th July 2017
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OP, you really come across as a "glass half empty" sort of chap smile

CABC

6,011 posts

119 months

Monday 10th July 2017
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bordseye said:
I previously owned a Lotus Elise R which was one of the most reliable cars that I have ever had - no fancy electronic requiring dealer computer links and a solid Toyota engine, all in a package that epitomised the true sports car. I am beginning to wonder if an Evora with the same construction style might be a better answer that either of the above. Who would ever have thought of "Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious" as the reliability option?
Skoda's image has transformed in the same time frame, i guess they have a much greater presence (more cars, more dealers, marketing).
Evora is a good shout, especially new or near new. It is a platform stretch and there were a few niggles some years back, not IMS serious but new model snagging. Owners seem very happy and often upgrade to newer models. Maybe not quite F Type V8, but some have a very fruity and credible V6 bark.

bordseye

Original Poster:

2,165 posts

210 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
stuartmmcfc said:
OP, you really come across as a "glass half empty" sort of chap smile
Perfectly correct!