boxster 986 S ownership
Discussion
Don't expect to run it on a shoestring. Other than that, I love it. Girlfriend loves it. Father won't admit it openly, but loves it. Mother had sore neck from snap acceleration, but loves it.
Took it to a certain country in Europe last month. 45 in 1st. 75 in 2nd. 105 in 3rd. 135 in 4th. Add still two gears to go. I actually hit the limiter in 4th as it was still pulling hard and caught me out!
Took it on a walshy day and had a play. Wonderful fun. Huge limits with a sting only when you really overcook it. On the road the limits of the car are higher than most people's level of self preservation (i.e. you'll bottle it before the car runs out of ability).
Not to mention the porsche sports exhaust and tunnels. Even SWMBO now understands deep down, that entering a tunnel means that you should change down 4 or even 5 gears and use some right foot to make the hairs on your neck stand on end with flat six wail. "I slow down for pies" should be "I change down for tunnels".
It's only a weekend toy for me, and every time I drive it, there's a huge grin which spreads across my face.
I even love washing it (normally that's a chore for me).
... and I didn't buy it because it was a porsche. In fact I have a dislike for 911s because of their silly engine location. However, for the money, I don't think there is better than a boxster s, it's best of breed imho.
My tyres which were new 2000 miles ago, look, shall we say, ragged, now. Can't help buy make me smile as a sort of badge of honour, despite the impending £600 bill for replacements!
Buy one now!
Its a fantastic machine thats fast, entertaining and safe all at the same time. The reason it holds it money so well is that is is the everyday supercar rain or shine. You may get the od jibe about poor mans porker, but in my humble opinion, its as good as 911's. I prefer my 3.4S to the 997 C4 I recently drove.
I would say it costs sod all to run for what it is. £600 for a set of tyres suggests you are shopping at the wrong garage. With the 986 you are in the land of the specialist so things are much cheaper than main dealers and most of them really do give a 5hit which gives you a nice warm fuzzy feeling about not being taken to the cleaners. So long as the RMS holds the running costs are similar to BM's and Merc's.
I would say it costs sod all to run for what it is. £600 for a set of tyres suggests you are shopping at the wrong garage. With the 986 you are in the land of the specialist so things are much cheaper than main dealers and most of them really do give a 5hit which gives you a nice warm fuzzy feeling about not being taken to the cleaners. So long as the RMS holds the running costs are similar to BM's and Merc's.
£ for £ one of THE best Porsches you can buy.
I'm a complete 911ophile, but we've always had a Boxster alongside (2x 2.5s, 986'S' and currently 987'S').
We had our 986'S' from new for five years. Never missed a beat, practical, commfortable, beautifully engineered, well equipped, fast, superb handling, economical to run, safe. Briliant little car.
I'm a complete 911ophile, but we've always had a Boxster alongside (2x 2.5s, 986'S' and currently 987'S').
We had our 986'S' from new for five years. Never missed a beat, practical, commfortable, beautifully engineered, well equipped, fast, superb handling, economical to run, safe. Briliant little car.
Another vote here, mine is fast, handles great and is not that expensive to maintain or insure. I like it so much that I was recently considering trading it for something more track oriented and decided instead to upgrade it a little. With a better driver than me it certainly keeps up with some much "better" machinery on the track.
Its an awesome road car too, perfect for sunny days (remember those) on a B road and you can fit a surprising amount of stuff in there due to the two boots.
Go for it.
Its an awesome road car too, perfect for sunny days (remember those) on a B road and you can fit a surprising amount of stuff in there due to the two boots.
Go for it.
try and seek out an anniversary edition 550 spyder. best of breed imo having owned a 2001 boxster s for 3 years (40k miles) and an anniversary for 3 yrs (anothe 40k miles!). anniversary came with lots of free options and for some reason felt miles better built. worth it even if it stretches ur budget a bit
not long had my s just got back from playing golf you just about get two sets of clubs in it ,the wife worries a bit when im behind the wheel she drives a little on the careful side , had a golf GTI on my arse coming home in a 40 limit couldnt wait to get to the duel carriageway up the A5 from Milton keynes to Dunstable lovely bit of road two lanes clear view no side roads coming on to it no camaras no police about ,crept up to 120 before i knew it just seeing the GTI slowly disapere was worth every penny of 23k ive just spent even the wife though it amusing, go for it great fun
thanks for all the advice. was thinking of a spyder edition, but there sems to be a price premium for these, not sure whether its worth the difference from a performance point of view. Test drove a 987 2.7 a year ago and was impressed with the noise of the thing..would a 986S be on par with this?
hi boxster 9... it is funny how we always find recurring followers in boxster s' s related threads...
But they are all correct: an amazing little car.
The 911 snobs will try to prove you the contrary at any opportunity...
I just sold my 964 rs to get back into a boxster s. And on a mixed driving basis, i certainly do not feel short changed.
I am also one of those weirdos thinking that the boxster s may be the best car in the range. It is smaller, lighter, more nimble than modern 911' s which became significantly lardier with years, going away from the initial concept of compactedness and light weight.
My opinion would be: always go for a 3.2 s. If you get a 986 s, get a sport exhaust from oettle (try on ebay).
Make sure you have the correct options and spec: manual gearbox, upgraded stereo, full leather etc... Watch out for rms problems and problematic gearboxes.
Best to get is the 550 spyder which is a little 'special' and less common.
And then get out, drive and enjoy, be it winter or summer, fun, commuting trackday...
Boxster s = the 'swiss army knife' of cars.
But they are all correct: an amazing little car.
The 911 snobs will try to prove you the contrary at any opportunity...
I just sold my 964 rs to get back into a boxster s. And on a mixed driving basis, i certainly do not feel short changed.
I am also one of those weirdos thinking that the boxster s may be the best car in the range. It is smaller, lighter, more nimble than modern 911' s which became significantly lardier with years, going away from the initial concept of compactedness and light weight.
My opinion would be: always go for a 3.2 s. If you get a 986 s, get a sport exhaust from oettle (try on ebay).
Make sure you have the correct options and spec: manual gearbox, upgraded stereo, full leather etc... Watch out for rms problems and problematic gearboxes.
Best to get is the 550 spyder which is a little 'special' and less common.
And then get out, drive and enjoy, be it winter or summer, fun, commuting trackday...
Boxster s = the 'swiss army knife' of cars.
still keen on the idea of a boxster S , but undecided whether to go fo a 986S or 987S. Prices for the 986 models look really good now, and I am less likely to take a depreciation hit. I have read a few threads on here which suggest that there isn't much of a difference bertween the two in terms of drive and performance(apart from the much nicer interior on a 987)...would most of you agree with this..?
interior of 987 is nicer, but once again it depends on the car specs. 986' s can be a bit dull in basic form, but if you are lucky enough to get a well spec' d car, with full leather, ali pack and satnav, then why not a 986 s?
I was in the same seat as you and was initially gonna go for a 987 s but struggled to find a low miles / fully kitted / dark color car for less than £36/£38k on the continent (i only drive lhd). So i looked out for a 550 spyder in the specs i wanted with 10k miles on the clock and a third cheaper. So i went for this.
My opinion is that you will get better vfm with 986' s at the moment and the driving experience is not that different, unless you get the 3.4 which is above £40k even 2nd hand.
I was in the same seat as you and was initially gonna go for a 987 s but struggled to find a low miles / fully kitted / dark color car for less than £36/£38k on the continent (i only drive lhd). So i looked out for a 550 spyder in the specs i wanted with 10k miles on the clock and a third cheaper. So i went for this.
My opinion is that you will get better vfm with 986' s at the moment and the driving experience is not that different, unless you get the 3.4 which is above £40k even 2nd hand.
If you're budget is for a 3.2 987 I'd go for the 3.2 986 instead, if you're budget can stretch to the 987 3.4 go for that, the noise is awesome!
I think you may take a bit of a hit if you were to buy a 987 3.2 now IMO.
PS I reckon the swiss army knife of cars must be the Cayenne Turbo, no?!
I think you may take a bit of a hit if you were to buy a 987 3.2 now IMO.
PS I reckon the swiss army knife of cars must be the Cayenne Turbo, no?!
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff