Boxster S vs. Boxster

[Guest]

Hello,

Been checking out the Porsche forums for a while now as I plan on buying my first Boxster shortly. My question is how big of factor is mileage on these cars? I found that I have a choice between a 2000 Boxster with 25,000 miles on it, or a 2000 Boxster S with 45,000 miles on it. Both are the same price and equally equipped. Of course I would like to get the Boxster S, but am concerned with the higher mileage. Any recomendations?

 

[Helen Goff]

thats a difficult one i would say that like most german cars the boxster wears it's miles very very well.
my 2000 2.7 now has approx 38k on the clock and it just seems to get better and better. i guess it depends on how well it's been looked after and how hard it's been driven.
test drive both and make your own mind up. im very happy with my 2.7 it's got all the power i will ever need so i would opt for 2.7 with the lower milage.

but if i was planing to do track days i would go for an S.

 

[JCB..]

I would go for the lower mileage car every time. 25k barely run in!

Also if you are not dismissing a 2.7 car out of hand I would check out the price of a new one.

JCB..

(Be aware that you will be lucky to get an unbiased view around here.)

 

[Rodney Naghar]

Give me a Boxster S any day! What would you prefer.....

1) To be driving around looking at your odometer thinking wow look at those low miles, should mean the car will last me a few years more without things going wrong...brilliant!...Shame I cant overtake that car tho....

Or

2) Wow, this car is seriously fast, the brakes are superb, feel the torque, push over mate I'm overtaking you with ease! Oh no I just realised I have 45k on the clock I feel so sad.

The higher mileage should only really be an issue if you intend to use your car as a daily driver and intend to add a lot of miles on the clock. When it comes time to sell, the market for cars with 60k or so will be far smaller than that with say 45k, reliablity issues notwithstanding. If you are going to cover lower miles I'd definately go for the S.

Good luck

 

[Elliot Davies]

A Boxster S has such a rush of power in 3rd and 4th.
Who needs any other gears []

 

[Guest]

A Boxster S has such a rush of power in 3rd and 4th.

not forgetting the awesome brakes and the INDUCTION NOISE!!!!!

Having a 6th gear makes it so easy to cruise at a very illegal speed on the motorway..... not that I would ever do such an anti-social thing

 

[Andy Tims]

Rodney - well put. Nuff said really, except you might save a few quid even buying used if you do without a extras like PSM or a hard top (not really necessary IMHO) but do try to get heated seats as they make a big difference as to your year round enjoyment of the top down potential.

 

[Guest]

Thanks everybody, I appreciate all of the replies. This would be my main daily driver in the summer (I live in the States) which would be around 7 months out of the year. Looking forward to getting a Boxster soon, as the weather is turning warmer here!

 

[JCB..]

As I said

(Be aware that you will be lucky to get an unbiased view around here.)

Spot the 'S' owners.

 

[thboxster]

ORIGINAL: Rodney Naghar

1) To be driving around looking at your odometer thinking wow look at those low miles, should mean the car will last me a few years more without things going wrong...brilliant!...Shame I cant overtake that car tho....

Sticking up for the none S version - Never come across an occasion when i've been thinking about NOT being able to overtake. The car seems fully capable of giving most a real panning. Obviously with exceptions, but that goes for most cars. []

 

[Mark_Bennett]

If you can, drive both.
See if you can live with the performance/milage trade-off. (Either way)
You might find the 2.7 has all you need, and it's a lower milage. In that case a no-brainer.
You might find you love the S's extra stuff and the milage becomes imaterial to you.

I know people who have driven the S and then bought a 2.7. It's a personal thing, and no-one can tell you what YOU need.

Good luck!

 

[Elliot Davies]

Tho old 964 addage seemed to be that if its a low miler then the rubber seals and other parts will have all deteriorated ! It has to be driven
On the other hand........... 45k miles on a 3.2 is hardly clapped out now is it []

I always buy the top of the range if i can, that way you wont be tempted to say you wished you had bought the other.

Ive never driven any other apart from my S so then yes im biased, and i love it []

The 'S' is the way to go............. follow your heart and while youre there, check out the specs that may be missing from the lower models, brakes, suspension, interior etc......

 

[JCB..]

I think you will find that the 2.7, the humble 'lower' model, also has brakes, suspension and an interior.

It doesn't have tacky bits of trim around the dials and windscreen though!

Withdrawing the tongue from cheek I think that genuine queries should be met with more objective responses.

The horsepower difference between a 2000 2.7 and a 2000 'S' is 32. If you have seen the difference in a straight line drag I can tell you it is not much at all.

The 2.7 goes around corners quite nicely, particularly with 030.

Yes the 'S' has a standard fit that contains many 2.7 optional extras.

It would appear that the majority of Boxster owners don't hang on to there cars for long therefore mileage is a big factor when trying to pass it on.

 

[thboxster]

ORIGINAL: Elliot Davies

I always buy the top of the range if i can, that way you wont be tempted to say you wished you had bought the other.

You make a good point there Elliot and in the case where you have 2 equaly priced vehicles, then that's perhaps a good idea. If your buying new, then you might have to justify the extra cost as there is no price match.

My view would reflect Mark's. Try them both, give them a good work out, compare the specs. In the end it might come down to something as small as maybe the ride is too hard with 18" wheels and fine on 17". Or maybe the baby hasn't got air con?

 

[Elliot Davies]

There is also an insurance difference too isnt there between 2.7 and 3.2 ?

I look at the spec sticker that will be (should) be under the bonnet and use one of the available porsche options decoders to find out what is on the car as options that you maybe werent aware of.

Sports seats are also an optionional extra at great cost and not suitable (liked) for the taller and larger builds [] although im over 6"2 and thin build and i like them. the side wings on a taller person are felt to close in on your shoulders and also sports seats dont go as low as normal ones so therefor the legroom is slightly less
Colour of the interior, i dont like box red interior but many do, leather or full leather or alcantara, air con or not, 17 or 18" wheels, many differences available over the range as optional kit

I read somewhere that the average new boxster car has around 6k worth of extras fitted

In the end its your own personal choice all be it a not very easy one to decide between to similar cars, also some prefer only opc servicing to specialist dealers

 

[oliver]

My wife has had three new Boxsters since they were introduced in 1997, and we will probably upgrade to the forthcoming new model in due course.

The 2.7 was a significant improvement over the 2.5, and the 'S' is a significant improvement over the 2.7. However, you would need to try both to decide which is best for you. Once you have established your budget you should then seek out the best possible example, and don't be afraid to buy privately if you find the right car at the right price.

The main criteria are (in no particular order):

* Ownership - ideally one or two owners
* History - supplied and serviced by OPC?
* Mileage - lower the better
* Condition - should be near perfect (independent inspection will verify)
* Specification - were all the best (for you) options specified?
* Warranty - will give you some peace of mind
* Price - if you are a cash buyer, be prepared to haggle

There are a good number of cars on the market at any time, so enjoy your search. You won't be disappointed.

 

[JCB..]

Spot on!