2.5 or 3.2s

[jacko]

before you decide ( unless you have done !) try the new 2.7 if the budget allows - this is basically the old 3.2 s in disguise !! everything is louder,faster and more updated allowing the new varicam also - however whatever you choose and as goofy says a porsche is a porsche and that is all that matters - just hurry up and get in to one ! - trouble is you may find yourself wanting more and more porsche and becoming an addict ! [] i can remember seeing a boxster at the goodwood festival of speed on display from rivervale back in 2002 and here we are in 2007 and they still look and drive amazing look at the classic 911s from the 80s ! porsche is iconic and once you have got one you will love it whatever model it is !! HAVE FUN

 

[GreenThing]

Personally, I agree with those who say that a 2.5/2.7 is plenty unless you intend to track day the car. However, when I bought my 2.7 a few weeks ago, I could afford a facelift 2.7 or an older 3.2. I went for the facelift as it has the glass back window and aircon as standard. These options were more valuable to me than the bigger engine.

 

[jono]

ORIGINAL: jacko

before you decide ( unless you have done !) try the new 2.7 if the budget allows - this is basically the old 3.2 s in disguise !!

So am I right in thinking that the facelift 2.7 has the same upgraded brakes and suspension as the 3.2s

 

[pete36]

I'm torn in opinion here.

I had a 2000 3.2 S and thought it was fine even going to it from a monster M3, and it had plenty of power and put it down much better than the BMW, but not tried a 2.5/2.7 to compare.

I think there is a good arguement to say that the 2.7's 240bhp is enough for the road, but I like the other benifits too like the extra torque and 6 speed box etc.

Currently I'm on my second S, but this one has the TechArt engine package from Tech9 and produces around 300bhp. Its quicker than a standard 3.6 996 and has the same power to weight as the current 997 C4S cabrio.

I guess the moral is that although I can't use all the power, I'd rather have it than not. The noise helps too...!

 

[jacko]

both models have mc pherson-strut suspension ,however i think the porsche ceramic composite brake (pccb) is only available on the s and not 2.7 - obviously the s has a six speed box as you say - regards

 

[systech]

Just try them both ! If you're anything like me, you will quickly come to the conclusion that the S is the way to go particularly since the price differential is not much these days!

 

[Guest]

Having been the Automotive Trade for some time and have worked for Lotus Cars for 8 years I decided to leave in March. I had a Lotus Elise and decided it was not practical enough, so it had to be a Porsche as a replacement. Nothing else would be good enough. OK I could have bought an old 911 but just did not want the old car hassle, and no matter how good they are you still have your hand in your pocket all the time. So it had to be the Newest Boxter I could afford, so the budget I had was 25K

Well I can say I had a few shocks, cars that were advertised as mint were far from it! So take a good look around. I drove all the various models, 2.5, 2.7, 3.2S and 3.4S I think there all great cars, and even the auto versions are great if your in traffic and not on the windy stuff.

Its so hard to find a car with great credentials and I did manage it, I have had the car for 5 days and it's a 3.2S with 11,500 miles on it. It was the most flexible out of the lot with linear power delivery through all the gears. The 2.5 and 2.7 felt like you had to stir them all the time to get the best out of the car, where as you had this wave of torque in the 3.2S that pushed you on. As for the 3.4 I just don't know if it knew what it was any more and felt unsettled in comparison to the 3.2S.

As I said all great cars, get the one with the pedigree, you know when you have seen the car that's right for you, when the seller has every part of the car protected inside and out and has a file with every receipts and communications with the envelops attached in a file with every review done on the car! Then when you collect it he cleans the car and sprays the hood with protector, right in front of you! Loved cars are hard to find. []

Cheers

Heathcliffe

 

[EXY27]

I agree with Heathcliffe here, buy on condition, condition, condition, if you have decided on a 3.2 then fine, but buy the best you can find within budget regardless of model (you will never make a silk purse from a sows ear). Your budget will dictate to a certain extent anyway, if above circa. £14k then probably 2.5's are out if below £19 then face lifts are probably out also. Took me 18 months to find the right car (2.7) and I passed up a 3.2 with a spec to die for because he refused to get it inspected, now this really may have been because it was to much hassle but you never know and Mrs Exy and I can't afford to take a £25k hit. My spec.

MY04 2.7
Red, MY favourite colour.
One fastidious owner, with ALL documentation (down to original sales invoice and brochure tons of pics. etc.) who bought a new 2.7.
Driven every day, better for them apparently.
22,000 miles with FPSH (all of one!)
Heated seats, more useable all year round IMHO.
Paid £23,500 same car (and I mean same CAR not similar) in OPC £28,000

I knew it was the car for me and the local indie inspection revealed the following;
No parking dents whatsoever, he really remarked on this!
1 horn inoperative (apparently quite common)
Tyres will require replacement soon (I already knew this and was replacing with 18s anyway)
Steering wheel not quite straight (again apparently quite common and I don't notice it, old tyres wore evenly so no Biggee).

I've had it 6 months and no regrets, well perhaps I should have waited for the 3.2 [] but really the 2.7 is MORE car than I will ever need, my driving abilities are somewhat lacking, truth be told. My daily driver is a VW Passat TDi Auto and the steering in the Boxster always feels like it's ready to fall out in comparison.

We joined PCGB for insurance reasons and have really enjoyed every event (which is all of them) so far, a great diverse range of fellow owners.

Good luck with your hunt hopefully you have as much fun as I did and you find the car for you.