Another Boxster query

[NorthernBoy]

Test drove the new S today, and really liked it. Downside is that I would have to wait until about June for delivery, and that, of course, it comes in at about 44k all in (with the options I think I'd want).

Now, whether it's worth it or not, the obvious other choices are a couple of years old S for about 33k, or a few years old 911 for about 38k.

Can anyone offer a good opinion (i.e. an informed one) about what I'd be losing out on by getting the older car?

Buying the new one, I'd obviously be losing out on about 4 months of Porsche ownership, through the spring and early summer. I suspect I'd drop about 6-8k owning the new one for a year too, compared to perhaps 4-5k on the secondhand car.

Again, any thoughts from owners?

I really liked this car, but it was the brand new one that I liked. I am not going to be able to tell the difference between it and the old one in a short test drive.

One last bit; when did the rear screen become glass? That makes a real difference to me (it will live outside, in all weathers, and it will actually be a real pain to have to wait for the non-heated screen to clear on the plastic ones).

Anyway, thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

My other main option at the moment is membership if the P1 club. It is a big outlay (15k for the first year), but would give me my weekends in Lambourghinis, Ferraris and astons. And, of course, Porsches...

[NorthernBoy]

A hard top is not really an option, as I now live in central London, and don't have a garage (Georgian terraces are lovely, but where on earth did their cars live?). I really do need the car to start first twist of the key, to demist and de-ice quickly, and to not look too sorry a year down the line.

This is one of the reasons to go for the 911 over the Boxster. The lack of a wait is a big plus too.

I am test driving a 996 next weekend, which should help me to decide which way to go.

Thanks for the help, though.

I might try to look at a few secondhand Boxsters over the next week. Although the dealer reckoned I could own for a year for only about 3k depreciation, this does not look even close to being true. If I have added about 5 thousand pound of options (which is very easy to do), it seems that these add very little to the year old car. I think that if I pay 44,000, I think I'd get about 38k back after a year. Still not terrible, but a fair bit over 4k.

If I take the expected 6k hit, and 2k insurance, I am starting to approach the cost of 1 year in the P1 club...

[NorthernBoy]

Thanks.

One of the problems is that I am one of these people that agonises endlessly over two pretty similar choices, and will forever regret the choice not taken.

It also feels like a big decision, as it is a big chunk of money to hand over. From the point, three years ago, where I already had more money tied up in the garage than the boxster will be, I am now going to need to dig deeply into my pockets for the next buy. My current car is not that exciting, but it is comfortable, quite quick, and extremely practical. It is probably going to take me another couple of weeks to get together the resolution to go out and do it.

I'll let you know what I end up with.

[NorthernBoy]

Well, here's an update. I didn't buy it.

No Porsche at all.

I had one for a weekend, and, stupid though this may sound, I couldn't get comfortable with the lack of visibility over my shoulder. It made me very hesitant pulling out to overtake.

I know that I will probably get used to it, but I have decided to look at a couple of other cars again before deciding. I am still tempted by an M3, or the new S4, so will give both of those a try.

In a test drive of the M3, it was a lot slower than I expected (riding fast bikes really does wreck your appreciation of acceleration), but I did like just how practical it was....

Anyway, still cogitating, ruminating, and digesting...