a boxter is like driving around with no *****.

 

Exactly how did you come to that conclusion?
How many have you owned? And for how long?

BC.

 

Do NOT do it.

The Boxter is a maintenance nightmare.

Many dislike Jack Baruth, while many others like him.

I, for one, do like him, while admitting he can be over-the-top at times, but I appreciate he points out douche-ism when he sees it (and that glossy magazine auto journalists who've sold their souls won't do), and that he actually writes about many practical, useful things, including the nightmare is routine maintenance (even checking fluid levels) on the Boxster.

This article of his regarding the Boxster is epic in so many ways, you have to read it to fully appreciate it:

Avoidable Contact: the watery Big Bang, the 32-step power steering fluid check, disposable faux-ury. | The Truth About Cars

 

Unless it's a 987 Boxster S Gen2 or a a 981... Absolutely not.

 

if you gonna buy a Porsche, get a 911.
its like buying the California Ferrari.
they are all designed for females.
the new boxsters are better. the old ones are horrible.

 

You still haven't answered my question.

What experience do you have with Porsche ownership that makes you qualified to say that a Boxster is a bad car?

And now you throw mud at the Ferrari California?

You have no clue what you area talking about when it comes to cars more expensive than a brand new Honda Civic, do you?

I would ask you what your thoughts are on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and the Maserati GranTurismo Sport, but they would be just as value-less as your opinion on anything else.

BC.

 

OK, the best choice is to have both of them. The x8 is a very fine car and a bigger bang for the buck. I own a 08 Cayman (987c) and a 06 Rx8 Grand touring sport model; I can say they both look good next to each other in the driveway. Pros and Cons to everything. If you need to scare some friends, then the x8 has its advantages. OK, seriously what is the real difference from someone who owns both. The X8 drives itself and it is just easy to drive fast. The X8 just loves to go fast. You can listen to music, eat food and drink coffee all day long and still go fast. When I go to work in the X8; I just show up. The Porsche does not allow for drinking, eating, listening to music or daydreaming. The Croc requires you hang on to the wheel; no knee action at all because the power steering is not the same at all. A lot of Porsche owners think it is the bad Bose system that sounds bad; it is just the layout of the speakers. The Bose in the x8 sounds much better than the system in the Cayman. The x8 has so MUCH better seats; hands down. Why do I like driving the Porsche then; because it is also just fun and the croc demands you drive it hard. OK, the croc gets 23mpg with your foot on the floor all the time and close to 29mpg on the freeway. OK, which one is really faster; like reality, it depends on my mood BTW; IMS failures are because they are not driven hard; secretary cars. Maintenance is going to cost more with a 9xx; it takes two gallons of synthetic and the filter is twice as much. Brake pads are cheap and very easy to change on the croc. You do pay ~150/hr for Porsche certified mechanics and that is no guarantee that they will not start your car and forget to put the oil back in.

 

It doesn't seem that bad: How often do you need to check your PS fluid anyway? The oil and brake/clutch fluid can be checked & filled from the rear trunk. The author seems to be prone to extreme exaggeration. This is the guy who declared the RX-8 R3 to "handle better than a $320,000 car"...and while I'm sure that there are many specific examples of $320,000 that do not handle as well as an RX-8, the way he phrased it suggested that he meant any car under $320,000.

 

I got the 987 because I always thought the 911 was just a hot VW and I wanted something different and cool looking. Thinking that is what pulled me to the x8 and 987.

Yes, it is a real pain to get into the engine area and to get to the filter or PS fluid; however, it is not something you do all the time. It also get dirty more in the closed off area. It is putting oil in it and worrying about spilling it that bothers me the most; you know it is a matter of time.

A couple more points for the x8 is it may be safer; funny how I cannot find any real safety crash data for the 987. Also, you can rebuild two the engines for the x8 as compared to the one 987. Once you get over 100k a bit, you need to think about a rebuild and that is not cheap; yes, IMS bearings are an issue with the old 987s. The cost of ownership per mile is way more with the 987; obtaining an older one will help with this because they do hold their value well once they get to a point. I will agree the x8 handles like a car that costs twice as much. I bet the x8 is even cheaper to track. I bet you seen more X8s at the 24hr Daytona race than 987s; thinking they outran a few 911s even. Let’s face it; when the x8 is revved out; it sings a smooth song that is so cool and unique; it almost reminds you of a hot bike. Unless you have Porsche passion or you have enough cash; I would stay with the x8 any day and still feel great about pulling into any parking lot. I’m not sure why I have not sold the 987 or even why I drive it more; thinking my ego is messed up. The 987s are truly a super fine ride and the x8 is also a very fine ride; it is just a matter of how much you want to spend.

BTW; a white Rx8 blew the doors off my 987 last Saturday night, on the inside of a turn even; you know he or she felt good.

 

the Rx8's have done really well at daytona, but now that you mention it i can't say that i've ever seen a 987 race car at all. i'm sure they exist, but it must be a pretty rare thing! i have seen a LOT of race cars.

 

There was a single make\model series in Italy with Caymans. Since it was a spec series the car weren't extremely modded, just a little tune-up and the usual race car features.

A friend of mine who raced them and then moved to the carrera said they were driver friendly but not that fast. The 911s are fast only if you can use their major design flaw (engine position) to your advantage... apex early, slight oversteer and floor it.

Since there's Porsche behind these programmes you really can't say much abotu the cars... it's like the italian touring championship. When you have works team fighting for the top spot all you can wish for is to finish first... behind them

 

the 8C and the GT are great cars. I would love to have one of those if I can afford it. they look pretty nice but I heard they dont handle but then again with that look who cares.
the problem with earlier Boxster is that I freaking HATE the round design. the front and back looks the same. also driving a Boxster is like saying you wanted a Porsche but you couldn't afford a 911. no doubt its a very capable car but its just not the best Porsche model. its like buying a 1 series BMW vs a 3 series BMW. the newer Boxsters are getting much better.
I may have not owned a Porsche, but the Porsche dealer I drive pass everyday on my way to work I always see new and old Porsches.
BTW dont throw the Civic joke at me, I've never owned one and I will never own one either.
my tip: don't try to be balling on a budget. also if you dont like someone commenting dont ask.

 

That was a fantastic read. Thanks for the link.

 

just to update the thread, my dads boxster broke, again. it has an intermittent no start, this will be the third time into the dealership for the same problem.

i stopped driving the FC when i got the 8, so i'm out of the competition.