£10-£15k Boxster Alternative

[John Laverick]

I've owned my 987 2.7 Boxster for 2.5 years and it's now retired from daily duties. It's at the point it really needs a few quid spending to bring it up to scratch.

I think circa £4k to include some bodywork / suspension and general tidying.

Its prob worth £7k ish which has got me bff thinking maybe I should change it instead.

Any suggestions?

Requirements are:

No less power than the boxster
Engaging and an event to drive
2 seats ok but 4 would be considered so my son could come along
Ideally convertible
'Resonably' reliable but don't mind home mechanics.
My wife will passenger in it.

[clockworks]

Is it possible to get anything that's more engaging to drive than a 2.7 Boxster for sensible money, apart from a Boxster S?

[Jasandjules]

TVR Chimaera. You are welcome.

[anonymous-user]

996 cab? Will be very familiar to you if you've been running a Box.

[Om]

370z Roadster as per - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Meets all the requirements and should beat the 'reasonably reliable' part...

[SFTWend]

Jasandjules said:

TVR Chimaera. You are welcome.

This.

[samoht]

Honda S2000 is the obvious equivalent I think, open top and very similar power and weight. A bit of a cult car, some people love em, some people hate em.

[J1990]

samoht said:

Honda S2000 is the obvious equivalent I think, open top and very similar power and weight. A bit of a cult car, some people love em, some people hate em.

Just get it bought quick if you consider one of these though, the prices seem to fluctuate heavily between winter and summer. I know that's true of most convertibles but it seems exaggerated with the S2000.

[fflump]

Jasandjules said:

TVR Chimaera. You are welcome.

Would they not be a bit of a punt in the £10-£15k range?

Maximum man-points for owning a TVR though

[samoht]

Outside option, VX220 Turbo
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11309288

[HiAsAKite]

If its garaged, and you have another car for when the weather is $!!^!, frozen etc, TVR Chimaera.


But I'm slightly biased as that's what I did 13 years ago (and still have it)

[Jasandjules]

fflump said:

Would they not be a bit of a punt in the £10-£15k range?

Maximum man-points for owning a TVR though

I would hope a 14-15k car would be pretty decent.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the 370Z is the pick if it comes to a two seater, sweet V6 & a very capable chassis:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101278...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102088...

Or Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103069...

If you want four seats the the Infiniti G37 is a stretched 370Z but you do lose a bit of the sharpness due to the longer wheelbase:

Manual Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009193...

Convertible

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102229...

RS4 Convertible an enganging & entertaining 4 seat convertible with a lower bork factor than the V8 M3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011186...

[cerb4.5lee]

Om said:

370z Roadster as per - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Meets all the requirements and should beat the 'reasonably reliable' part...

Thanks.

I was just coming into the thread to suggest one!

[dunc69]

Jasandjules said:

fflump said:

Would they not be a bit of a punt in the £10-£15k range?

Maximum man-points for owning a TVR though

I would hope a 14-15k car would be pretty decent.

Yes, Chimaera. 4.5 arguably the pick of the the range.

[JeffreyD]

dunc69 said:

Jasandjules said:

fflump said:

Would they not be a bit of a punt in the £10-£15k range?

Maximum man-points for owning a TVR though

I would hope a 14-15k car would be pretty decent.

Yes, Chimaera. 4.5 arguably the pick of the the range.

So for that sort of money you'd get a reasonable example with a good chassis?

That's less than i thought
How much more is the equivalent Griff?

[SFTWend]

JeffreyD said:

So for that sort of money you'd get a reasonable example with a good chassis?

That's less than i thought
How much more is the equivalent Griff?

C.50%.

[John Laverick]

Thanks for the suggestions .... I had considered selling mine and just buying another cleaner / low mileage 987 Boxster S but a really nice one seems to be circa £13-15k and there aren't many about. Plus I keep coming back to better the devil you know ....

I couldn't justify a 987.2 as I don't think there would be enough improvement for the extra ££s and I don't want to bust my budget as the C63s I have is expensive enough to run as it is.

I have considered the TVRs but not seriously ... will take another look. As daft as it sounds I don't 'think' I need two V8s in my life (said nobody ever)!!

The S2000 is a good shout which I hadn't thought of. I tried a ropey one a good few years ago and liked it. I have a look and see what my money can get me.

Edited by John Laverick on Tuesday 16th March 19:49

[John Laverick]

samoht said:

Outside option, VX220 Turbo
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11309288

Having had two Elises these are a bit too harsh for me ... I don't really like the NVH as a road car and luggage space is too compromised.

I want something I can take the missus on a weekend shopping trip in but blast home over the moors on the way back! No track days .. those days are behind me and if I did want to do one it'd be on a bike.

[John Laverick]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say the 370Z is the pick if it comes to a two seater, sweet V6 & a very capable chassis:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101278...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102088...

Or Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103069...

If you want four seats the the Infiniti G37 is a stretched 370Z but you do lose a bit of the sharpness due to the longer wheelbase:

Manual Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009193...

Convertible

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102229...

RS4 Convertible an enganging & entertaining 4 seat convertible with a lower bork factor than the V8 M3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011186...

I'll take a closer look at the Nissans. The Infiniti / Audi aren't sports car enough I'm afraid.