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993 or Boxster?

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May sound like a daft question but I'm a daft person.

Hoping to buy a Porsche in the next 6-18mths. Mainly thought about a Boxster but having done a fair bit of research I don't lke the idea of RMS, Intermediate shaft, Cylinder liners, clutches, damper issues etc of the Boxster so have thought about maybe a 993.
Are these much more expensive to run and do they have any issues that will cost around £10k to fix like the Boxster engine stuff?
Don't really want to spend £900 a year on a warranty but will ensure the car is a good one and then look to keep it that way using an indy. Also budget would be £20-25K max so maybe thats not quite enough so there's every chance I just need to realise I can't afford to run a Porsche even if I have the money to buy one.
so any help/advice appreciated.

cheers

Kev
 
First question would be , what will you use the car for ? if its daily drive , in traffic , loads of miles , the wifes shopping car etc . buy the boxter , All 993's are at least 9-10 years old now , I do not believe , as great as the 993 is , that it makes the best or most sensible daily drive in the world . If you have something else you can thump up and down the motorways all week for work . and use your pride and joy for leasure time , holidays etc buy a 993 , the greatest Porsche ever .
 
ORIGINAL: sue11sam
If you have something else you can thump up and down the motorways all week for work . and use your pride and joy for leasure time , holidays etc buy a 993 , the greatest Porsche ever .

Completely agree. Driving your pride & joy every day, through the salt, submitting it for the usual car park "dings" etc spoils the experience for me. I have a 3-cylinder Polo for weekdays & then, taking the beast out at weekends becomes a real treat. No more expensive either, particularly if you can service the 993 yourself. I too would go for the Boxster if it's one car only, including work journeys. I love my 911 though - shape, sound, four seats, that power etc etc. A very special breed of car the 911.

Roddy [8D]
 
I agree with sue11sam. The 993 is not the most easy to live with car on a day to day basis. I use mine to communte every day but I do make allowances for it and live with certain things that most regular drivers would not. I don't let people unfamiliar with 993's drive it as on first impressions they'd wonder what the fuss was about. It makes most sense when you start stringing corners together and driving it as it was intended. I've driven many Boxsters and make no mistake, it's a brilliant car. It does all you'd want it to and is fun to drive. The 993 though has that little bit extra that's hard to quantify. If you get it, you'll love it, if you don't you'll wonder why people make a fuss. Best course of action is to drive both and see.

Cost of ownership is quite high for the 993. the Boxster is definitely cheaper (as is a 996!) and running one on a budget is a recipe for disaster. The costs of mine are sometimes hard to justify but I love the damn thing so what's a guy to do?
 
Just buy a 993 and be done with it [;)] , could always get yourself a cheap cheap run around as well. Lets face it, Boxsters are great cars but there as common as they come. You see them everywhere!!! If you've always wanted a Porsche I should imagine you wouldnt be disappointed with a 993 & im sure the depreciation would be alot lot less than a Boxster..Im sure the boxster lot may well kick off now. Ha ha.....If you find yourself a decent indy & a decent car Im sure neither would cost you too much to run..Boxsters now I think are great value for money mind. Choice is yours..

I always wanted a 911, but when had the money to buy a Porsche bought a boxster as thought getting more car for the money than the 964's at the time which were roughly the same money. Needless to say, Boxster lasted couple of years & now have a 993 Targa, 3years later still love it ...Got the bug, just fancy moving forward again now to a turbo / RS..In my dreams..Any one for a Targa....Best of luck..[;)]
 
Buy a 993, but make it a good one and take your time. Accept that you may have to spend a bit once you have bought it to get it absolutely how you want it.

I spent £3k on mine in the first 6 months to get it right but very little else in the 3 years and 18k miles I have had it. I have never regretted buying it and use it for holidays/weekends with a BMW as daily driver. I try to use it all year but avoid freshly salted roads !!

If you look at one with air con make sure it works properly otherwise it could cost £££ to recondition.
 
I have had my 993 Targa for eight years and it still gets better every time I drive it!
Tony
ORIGINAL: stuart tanner

Just buy a 993 and be done with it [;)] , could always get yourself a cheap cheap run around as well. Lets face it, Boxsters are great cars but there as common as they come. You see them everywhere!!! If you've always wanted a Porsche I should imagine you wouldnt be disappointed with a 993 & im sure the depreciation would be alot lot less than a Boxster..Im sure the boxster lot may well kick off now. Ha ha.....If you find yourself a decent indy & a decent car Im sure neither would cost you too much to run..Boxsters now I think are great value for money mind. Choice is yours..

I always wanted a 911, but when had the money to buy a Porsche bought a boxster as thought getting more car for the money than the 964's at the time which were roughly the same money. Needless to say, Boxster lasted couple of years & now have a 993 Targa, 3years later still love it ...Got the bug, just fancy moving forward again now to a turbo / RS..In my dreams..Any one for a Targa....Best of luck..[;)]
 
The 993 will, if required seat 4 people ? The boxter won't.
This can of course be an advantage or disadvantage.
 
I notice that you asked this question in the 993 section, so hardly a surprise that everyone says 'go for the 993'.

It does seem a shame though to have a Porsche in your garage all week and have to drive an 'alternative' until the weekend doesn't it?

That's why I have a Boxster and have pleasure in driving it everyday!

For 25k you can get a great Boxster of an age that probably hasn't got some of the earlier technical issues.

Test drive them both and then decide if you need a car for eveyday use or not. That should help you make your mind up quite quickly.
 
ORIGINAL: Guards Red

I don't let people unfamiliar with 993's drive it as on first impressions they'd wonder what the fuss was about. It makes most sense when you start stringing corners together and driving it as it was intended.

Exactly right. [:D] A 993 takes a while to "sink in" and a clear road and then it's just brilliant. Get stuck behind a line of brake dabbers though and you'd rather be in a Fiesta.
 
Personally I would get the 993 and a run around if you can - keeps the insurance, depreciation and running costs down if you do. Never considered a Boxster though have driven a few and think they are great - they just don't do it for me !!

I spent 3 years looking for a 993 and then £2k sorting it out when I got it. The best decision I have ever made. The curves, the timeless looks, the way it drives, the unbelievable sound and the best bit - the constant smile I have on my face every time I take it for a spin. Pure emotion !!!!

Andrew
993C4
 
Get stuck behind a line of brake dabbers though and you'd rather be in a Fiesta.

That's one of the reasons to have an "˜everyday' car for, er, everyday and keep your 993 for the times when you can really enjoy it [:D](and that's not to say you can't go out in weather that's less than sunny, when you feel the need[;)]).
 
Well what a decision! It really depends on what you want, if you are on a certain annual budget then the Boxter will almost certainly be cheaper to run than a 993 but having said that a 996 could also fit into your budget as these are similar price wise to service, not withstanding the RMS issue.
So realistically you have a choice of three.
As I mentioned in a previous post I had a 3.2 Carrera for ten years, I bought it for £13,000 and sold it for £13,000 ten years later. I used it all year round. and when I sold it it had close to 140,000 miles on the clock. I can see no reason why my 993 will not, for obvious reasons (to us anyway!) perform in much the same way.
I really can't se the residuals on the Boxter and 996 keeping up with the 993, not just because its the best looking one of the three, not just because its the very last of the air cooled's, and not just because they are pretty much bomb proof, but a combination of all three. Oh I forgot they go pretty well too!
I hope this helps.

Glenn


 
I suppose I am biased as I drive a 993. I use it as a daily driver and enjoy every minute but that is working out very expensive. Fuel, tyres, etc. and is probably not good for the car. I'm used to old VW Golfs so the 993 is a treat to drive and I could stand to drive it day-in-day-out as indeed I do. I have never driven a Boxster so can't advise, but I have been frightened half to death in my brother's 3.2S and can say it is an amazingly capable car, but not my cup of tea.
Just look at both cars from the back and that should settle it.
If you go for the 993, take the advice and buy a run-about for the daily chores. It will help with the cost of services... which gallop around with pocket-straining frequency.
Practicalities asside - the 993 is an achingly beautiful shape. I do not feel I could say the same about any Boxster.
 
I'm going to go against the trend here and suggest you get a Boxster. Why? well I always say if you have to ask then the 993 is not the car for you.

pp

 
Wow thanks for all the friendly advice folks. I work a 3 day week and it's basically 20 miles of motorway and 1 country mile each way for the commute!
I take on board the runabout option and think that would be best especially if I have to stick to a budget - wife, two kids, tutors, school, I just have a lowly bank job - thank god Tracey, my better half (who fully supports me buying the Porsche) makes better money than me.

It was mentioned that you can service the car yourself but I believe there's a good indy called 'Job' in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland which is 10 miles from where live. I know one or two guys wo are in the club so will need to do more research but I'm glad it seems to be a viable option as the 993 is right, IMO, seen as the definitive 911. 996s and 997s are excellent but a bit too big for me, the size and shape of a 993 are simply stunning.

Thanks again for the info and all have a fab 2008 - I'm off out to celebrate

Kev
 
I agree with "˜Andrew', the 993 offers an unparallel driver-car emotion, which as "˜Guards Red' quite rightly puts it, is "hard to quantify". & "˜Roddy' is bang on when he referred to the "shape, sound, four seats", [;)][:)][:D] "that power etc etc. A very special breed of car the 911", - after all when people think of Porsche the image that springs to mind is that of the classic 911. In my mind, & I say this having the utmost respect for the other cars both old & new, if I were to buy a car for driving, shopping, travelling, commuting and dare I say medicine to the political hurly burly around us the only car I could seriously consider would be the raw 993. You have a wealth of experience here that is very true, "˜John Maddox', "˜Andrew Davis', "˜myself' and no doubt a host of other 993 owners have spent a considerable number of thousands maintaining our 911's to be 100% optimal at all times. It is worth remembering that the 993 is the very zenith of air cooled technology, & the final culminating page of an era of 911 history.
 
Can you perhaps let me have some more details of your 993 as I am currently looking, like the original poster I am torn between Boxster and 993 but as I have a daily driver 993 is winning at the moment!
 

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