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Porsche Boxster and Boxster S
I've been offered $2500 over invoice for a brand new 03 BMW M3 and $1000 over invoice for a brand new 03 Boxster S. I'm leaning toward the Boxster. Are these good offers?
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Of the deals you have been offered, I'd be tempted to go with the M3. Although it's less of a discount over invoice, I haven't heard of hardly any discounting on the M3, period. And they appear to be holding their value extremely well. The Boxster S, on the other hand, has been dropping considerably in resale value. I have seen 2001's with low milage, mint condition offered for sale in the high $30's here in the DC area. A friend looked at a 2002 with 5,600 miles for $41,900 ($60k+ sticker). And, frankly, while I think the Boxster S is an exceptional car, I didn't think it was worth $25k+ (new) over the S2000 in performance or amenities. Not to mention that my "fun" car needs to be low maintenance and high reliability. The M3 is more versitile and, although perhaps not quite the sharp edged handler of the smaller roadsters, has enormous power to spare.
I think Porsche has been forced into discounting the Boxsters because of slack demand and overinflated MSRP's, especially with their "the steering wheel is optional" approach to options. I am not sure why a BMW dealer would need to discount the M3.
Is the M3 deal for a new car ordered to your specifications, or one that is sitting on the showroom floor? If it's the former, I wouldn't mind that deal if you decide not to take it.
http://www.luxurycars.com/cgi-bin/imports1/p1661536?W7Uqmb8A;;34
- BTW, that is a great deal for a sports car!
There is a loaded 2002 911 C2 Cabriolet with 6,500 miles advertised in today's Washington Post for $73k (purportedly stickered for $90k+ new). I'm guessing the (private) owner would accept something in the high $60's, since they are also advertising a CLK430 convertible for sale. If you can afford an extra $10k, a near-new 911 convertible would be a better 2-3 year investment than a Boxster S, IMO.
But again, if your heart is into a new Boxster S and you are going to keep it long enough where resale isn't an issue, cut the best deal you can.
the new boxster will take a depreciation hit, but for $1K over invoice it may not be too bad a way to go. you get the glass rear window, spec the car the way you want it, full warranty, and you KNOW the history of the car.
the SMG is really unique but from what i can tell it is not suited for everyone. it does not operate exactly like a "regular" auto in auto mode, for example because it does not have a torque converter.
"The elapsed time for the Civic's standing-start three-lap run — 7:02.570 — was more than a minute and a half slower than the time posted by the session's quickest (more on that in a minute), but it was nevertheless good enough to beat a pair of Porsche Boxsters, among others."
This was a hybrid, didn't get any more info, just found it 'interesting'
I could build any car to beat any car. Gimme money, gimme talent.
Besides, I'd like to verify this claim about the Hybrid. Hybrids per se tend to have tiny engines that compete for weight with the batteries.
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_- id=6665
Enjoy, seems the Corvette did good.
take care
fo
Also, since we generally have to live with the new cars we buy for a while, it's important not too compromise too much. My experience has always been that if you really love your car you forgive lots of things and enjoy the good parts, but if you are lukewarm you become very critical and annoyed when there are problems or when the cupholder is in the wrong place, etc.
My favorite parts about a Boxster (aside from its competence on the road) are the styling, which I think is the best looking of all the two seaters at that price range or below, and the Porsche heritage and prestige. True, you can't "take that to the bank" but there are lots of juicy things in life that are not bankable IMO.
How much is satisfaction and pleasure worth? A dollar? A million? A .. what? Who knows, this life can be pretty crappy sometimes, if you were able to acquire a new S enjoy every moment, take it to the countryside, find you some nice hilly curvy roads, savor every mile, get some fresh air on weekends, tomorrow nothing is promised to you, play hard and above all work harder and be smart and you make up for it, how about that!.
All that Mr Shiftright said is very true, especially the last sentence.
Enjoy the curves and I mean all if you know what I mean.
thanks for any feedback
fo
17 are good enough, you want some rubber to cushion, there is point when too much is too much, personally I think this new wheels in vogue today don’t look good, reminds me of a Conestoga wagon wheel, all spokes and no rubber and gives the impression of not being much substance to the wheels, just an opposing view.
You can always change your wheels, give you some time, why not instead invest a small fraction of that and buy you some good waxes, leather conditioner, clay bar etc.
P.S. When the car is rolling the calipers are very visible.
The Boxster S came out and the minor styling cues seemed to appeal more and more to me. When I started to see the '03 changes with the revised front fascia along with the Red Brake Calipers & Twin Outlet Exhaust, I really started to put the Boxster S on my wishlist:)
Make mine Speed Yellow with a black top, black interior, and of course, a 6 speed.
I'm sure a lot of people bought the Boxster in the beginning because it was an "entry level" Porsche. There are some genuine Boxster enthusiasts out there who love the fact that their car is light and extremely well balanced. Couple the excellent driving dynamics with a handsome exterior and the fact that it is indeed a true Porsche and I may have found a great car to but and hold on to for the long run.
I'm probably a good 5-7 years away (maybe sooner, you onloy go around once) from buying a Boxster S, but I'm sure Porsche will continue to make evolutionary changes to this great car.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Lots of cargo room for average number of errands. Great gas mileage on the highway and very, very quick.
Only one gripe which Porsche has since rectified...plastic rear window...hell in the rain.
Has anyone out there purchased extended warr. and where??
TO all those on the fence, JUMP and go for it.....especially with all the discounts on the '03s now.
Take Care
fo
Will welcome some feedback re installing a hardtop. My Boxster S 02 is great but is a hassle with the plastic window at the back. Demands frequent cleaning. Got a quote of 3200. for hardtop purchase only. What do you think? Worth it?
If you're leaning towards a coupe, have you considered trading in your S for a 996? Or an 03 Boxster S, which has the glass rear window?
good luck
fo
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
As for winter driving...first I have to ask...do you have an alternative vehicle to use? Second, if you want to take the S out in the snow, you MUST have winter tires. Summer performance tires will not get any traction in the snow or slush.
An excellent choice, in my opinion, is the Dunlop SP Winter Sport M2. It's highly rated in Consumer Reports, and the TireRack.com states that it's not only 100% Porsche-approved, but also recommended by Audi, MB and others. I've owned Dunlops before and think they make fine tires.
A long-standing choice for Porsches is the Bridgestone Blizzak (LM-22 would the the top model for a Boxster, I think, but I'd check that out).
Another thing to consider is buying a set of steel wheels for the winter. Saves on rebalancing costs and you won't damage your nice wheels with winter salt, etc. You might want to get a hardtop, if you don't have one already. They look sharp on the Boxster, too, imo.
As for the 911 longings, it might help to know that I've been trolling rennlist boards lately and there's a lot of griping about 996 quality control, including replaced engines. So, as they say, be careful what you wish for...and enjoy that Boxster!
Love this car everything I expected and more. Lots to talk about but I’ll probably bore you with newbie stuff. The toughest thing is getting used to the 6-speed, especially downshifting. Gotta get to the point where I know it by rote. One time I went from 6 to 4 and hit 2 instead get your act together boy!
Did some serious twistin’ on Connecticut country roads over the weekend. Also love the boogaloo in daily commuter traffic, you know, bobbin’ and weavin’ like a point guard. I’m really anxious to get past the break-in period so I can get on the tach and the brakes. The manual says 4.2K rpm for the first 2K miles with civilized braking. Gotta be careful though getting nailed would take the wind out of my sails bigtime! Would like to hear some perspective on this, and your handle suggests you have a LOT of perspective. ;-)
ds2k1, congrats! Guess we’re twins got mine on New Year’s Eve also. “ porsche has really got this car thing figured out.” Amen brother!!
as to the break-in period, my salesman told me that's really a bunch of hogwash. the engine's already been put through the ringer at the factory, and it IS a porsche after all. it's not meant to be treated with kid's gloves. his advice to me was to avoid redlining it for too long in the first 800 miles, but don't worry too much. his exact words were, "have fun with it, it's a porsche." i plan on following his sage advice.
and though i live in california, it's actually been pretty cold here lately. nevertheless, on 1/1, with temps in the high 40s, had the top down all day and had a friggin' blast. clear, crisp skies made for a fabulous driving experience. i ask you, is there a finer sound than the boxer engine? without getting pornographic, i can't think of any. i do, however, recommend bringing some gloves along for those long drives on clear winter days.
speeds2much - thanks for the soothing words re the 996, but i'm not sure i'll shake the jones fully. now don't get me wrong, the boxster's doing a helluva job making me forget all about the 911, but childhood dreams die hard my friend. first things first, however. i intend to make the boxster beg for mercy before moving on. my guess is that this might take awhile.
cheers!
ds2k1...Whenever I don't have exactly what I really want, I always look at it as hey, is this current thing I wish I had the ultimate, or is there something even better to shoot for? There always is. For you, I say that's the 997 or 998. I think it was Motor Trend that wrote about a possible retractable hardtop for the cab. It's a certainty that there will be a much better interior and more horsepower, as well as traditional round headlights. Porsche also needs to work on its quality control for the 9-series.
Quality control at Porsche stopped, at least in the sense a "purist" means it, in the early 90s. In that recession, the elves were dismissed and slunk off into the dark, norther European forests. Porsche was struggling and so they brought in some Japanese advisors to teach them how to adopt their techniques. So what do you get when you cross a German idea and a Japanese technique? Not an ethnic joke (at least not this time) but a 993 and then a 996, and in between a Boxster.
Not bad at all, hunh? But the "quality control" that had every engine obsessed over by its individual craftsman has been highly, ummmm, "modified" so that now there is lots of plastic and the Cayenne and talk of a V-6 and steel roadster tops. (On dark nights the elves can be heard muttering curses.)
But some traditions have remained: the Porsche problems. Remember this, for those who are new, all Porsche engines, ALL OF THEM, are bulletproof. Nothing ever breaks. The maintenance is, admittedly, a bit (cough)expensive(cough), but there is nothing really wrong because it is, after all, a Porsche.
Two of the things some of the 'newbies' on the 996 board at Rennlist complain about are engine leaks and ceramic brake failures. What some fail to realize is that oil leaks are, in a P-car, a no-cost option! Those who own 964s and 993s consider a quart of oil lost each 600 miles within normal ranges. And if it gets to be a bad leak (i.e., having to step over the puddle each morning) the company provides a new engine -- sometimes even a bit beyond warranty, they say. (So don't quote this as fact.) And the $8000 ceramic brake option has had wear problems, in as little as a thousand miles (with considerable track use), and the owners who complain are often disregarded, not because the problem doesn't exist but because Porsche owners seem to traditionally be a part of the R&D process in bringing new, fast technology to the road. No, this ain't a Nissan, but because this is what Porsche seems to expect from owners, the company also has a reputation for returning the favor by upgrading and replacing the defective 'beta' versions.
I guess the Japanese didn't want to ruin all of the traditions (lol)! None of you bought a '97 Boxster did you? Good. Enjoy em if y'got'em. JW
also, although i've always admired porsche, i'm not very nostalgic for old cars. at least not to the point where i want to own them. i enjoy looking at them, and i enjoy them intellectually and philosophically, but i enjoy them from afar. i simply don't have the gear-head gene in my person. i have the driver's gene, but not the tweaky gear-head gene. with that said, i admire those who do. my dad is one of them and is about to rebuild a beautiful '61 alfa romeo sprint veloce for the second time. what a car.
so, while i freely admit that i expect my '03 boxster s to visit its prior home (the dealership and, more importantly, the service department) more often than an s2000 would have if i'd gone that direction (the other car i considered, and drove, but that's another story), the visceral pleasure i get from the porsche, and the hope that a car cannot be THAT bad its first 3 years, makes me think i made the right decision. actually, i have no doubt about it at all. this was the car for me.
but i appreciate knowing that anything short of a puddle of oil in my garage is not cause for alarm.
I certainly don't mean to sound any note of discouragement, just trying for a little perspective on the experience. Like you I prefer paying for pleasure and engagement rather than for the passive and monotonous ambience of, say, a Buick. JW
since i drive more than 80 miles per day, i prefer that my driving experience also be a pleasurable and engaging one. spending that time in a porsche not only makes the most seemingly monotonous part of my day anything but, it improves the quality of my life. life is, after all, for living.
and with all due respect, i must disagree with you on one point. my best friend in high school had a buick. a mustard yellow buick. while it certainly couldn't pull .92g's on the skidpad, it was more than capable of transporting six people (many of them women, luckily) wherever we needed to go. in style. in fact, my friend's car was the transportation of choice. in high school, that's anything but monotonous, my friend.
My local sales person told me that Porsche is cutting 2004 Boxster production in half to keep the supply in line with demand as well as keep the prices up. The best deal I can expect for ordering this car is $3k to $4k off MSRP according to the sales person.
My questions are.... 1. has any one recently come across a 2003 Boxster or Boxster S that comes close to the one I want and 2. is $3k to $4k off of a car that will sticker for $55,260 the norm ?
Thx.