Where next after a Boxster?

[A Clift]

I drive a Boxster at the moment and love it to bits. After a day in the office (more common than it used to be unfortunately), on a nice day I love to take the back roads home over the mountains rather than the dual carriageway. I find the Boxster fantastic to drive on these narrow twisty roads away from Brunstrums minions. However I'm starting to get itchy feet and am looking at 3 cars now (all 2nd hand):

a Boxster S (which I know about reasonably well)
a 996 LHD turbo
and a 993 RHD turbo

My biggest concern is whether I will find the turbos too big or powerful so that they are more of a liability on the twisties. I think I'm a good driver, but I wouldn't pretend to be a racing driver and value my baby too much to be wholly reckless. My query is therefore, what are the 2 turbos like to drive in the real world? The 996 especially looks quite big (and therefore difficult to thread down a N Wales "driver's" road). No test drive will ever show me the whole story, so your advice/opinions are welcome. Also (I'm not a millionaire), what are the true running costs of the 2 turbos like - will I regret upgrading and wish I'd gone for a Boxster S?

As far as personal preference goes, I love the look of the 993, enjoy top down motoring in the Boxster and like the fact that the 996 is reasonably modern. Roll on next weekend and the test drives[]

 

[sniper]

The 993 TT and the 996TT are pussy cats to drive - four wheel drive etc means you are very unlikely to get into any trouble unless asking for it. The turbine thrust is very progressive - again very easy to drive.

Servicing/repairs will be considerably higher on a 993TT as compared to a boxster if you use a official dealer. I once forked out £4K for a major service on my 993TT! still makes me cringe. 993TT are also around 10 years old now - you wont be able to get a porsche warrany. If you are worried about costs - dont get a 993TT. Others will no doubt disagree with this - but I have been there and have the T-shirt.[]

 

[A Clift]

Thanks Sniper. I realise that costs will be higher (and certainly won't be going to the main dealers for servicing), but was mainly concerned about how chuckable they were around the back roads. £4k for a service []. The smiles per mile would have to be huge to counter that. Ah well 6 days till the test drives.

 

[turbo jonny]

Get lots of test drives and dont be pressured by salesmen! Have you considered 996 cabrio as it ticks most of your boxes and can be bought cheap! Are you willing to give up soft top for more performance?For 4wd Turbo prices you could put your name down for a Caymen ( RS?) Personally I like RWD turbos but im mainly a dry weather driver! []

 

[dparslow]

The 993tt is a great car, its small and compact, its easy to drive, can be a refined grand tourer or an outright sportscar, depending on your mood at the time.

Performance is ballistic and unfortunetely very addictive, so it can get through a lot of fuel, however I can get 28 - 30 mpg on longer runs. The power and torque is all very progressive so it not intimidating to drive, but you do have to keep an eye on the speedo!

My 1st year of ownership has cost me a £700 service which included the brake fluid change and a geometry check/adjustment. Tyres are getting ready for replacement so that will be another £700.

 

[A Clift]

Thanks Jonny, I don't really fancy the 911 cab. Sitting in my office in the sunshine makes me glad that I've still got the Boxster, but I suspect that the performance of a 911 turbo would compensate me for the loss of the soft top. It's nice not to be so desparate to change that I'll take the first car that comes along. I'll certainly take your advice about test drives (that way the salesman pays for my petrol - free motoring[]).

 

[A Clift]

Steve, in an ideal world I'd have a wharehouse full of cars to suit every mood and need. Unfortunately my wife insists that half the garage belongs to her Puma, half the drive belongs to my Mondeo and the other half is necessary to get the cars out of the garage. If you live nearby and have a spare garage , maybe I could expand my aspirations. Reallistically I think one beloved is as many as my wife will allow[]. It has to be an every day(ish) car - I don't buy them to sit in the garage, and so want it to be reasonable to maintain and run and reliable.

 

[A Clift]

Dave, I hoped someone would tell me what you have (I think the 993 TT is a fantastic looking car). I'd struggle to justify a car that cost thousands to service, but £700 is bearable as is the mpg you quote. It has to be compact and surefooted enough to take on a spirited drive round the country roads otherwise I'd be better off with the Boxster S (now there's a comment for the turbo forum[8|])

Thanks for your comments - looking is half the fun, but I'm looking forward to the other half of the fun.

 

[Gordon Attar]

The Boxster S is a good step up and might satisfy your extra requirements and obtainable from £28k upwards.
The 993TT is going to be £35k+ and is absolutely no problem on the tight country roads out where I live remember you are talking about approx 50% more power with Turbo's and you need to be sensible in the wet and ice when putting the foot right to the floor.
The 996TT is going to be £45k+ cant comment on but it should be more more modern and you can protect yourself with the £800 ish annual warranty cover.
Good luck with the test drives and do report on your findings.

 

[A Clift]

Yes Gordon, I've got the Boxster S as a fall back - I know I can afford it, my wife likes it (good job she looks good in trousers []) and I know it ticks all the boxes such as handling with a bit more zip than my 2.7.

BUT I do fancy a 993 turbo (can't afford a RHD 996) - it looks good and I don't care if you call it a (very young) middle age crisis, a ***** extension or whatever - I can take it. Most of my toys at work have turbos (upto 2500 BHP) and it would be nice to drive one for play too. For that I reckon I could live without a soft top. 4 days to go []

 

[A Clift]

Thanks to all who offered their advice/comments. Just been told that the car won't be ready to view for 2 or 3 weeks - needs some engine work but it "isn't a priority"!! I wonder what a dealer's priorities are if it's not to get cars ready to sell?

Looks like the answer to my thread could be a Boxster S.[&:]

 

[richardheeley]

Just my personal view, and I confess that I've never driven the 993 Turbo, but I drove the 996 Turbo several times during my time on Top Gear, and various other 4 wheel drive 911 variants, and I don't think the four wheel drive models are ever quite as fluid and as delicate as the two wheel versions.

It's the delicate handling balance that makes the Boxster so good, so you could do worse than a Boxster S. I loved mine. Admittedly it won't have the power of the 993 Turbo. What about a 996 C2? Or a Cayman??

In the end it's your choice and only a test drive will tell you what the answer is.

Good luck.

 

[m bannon]

I went from a boxster S to a 993TT , , a totally different beast but never regretted it .

 

[Gordon Attar]

Common Mark, share your experience on the differences

I see you have a 964 C2, I've just sold mine, in comparison to the 993 TT I found that it felt very back end weighted and the front light and less directional, I had no real scary moments though. The 993TT does not feel rear weighted, feels very solid, sure footed and directional, though the steering is heavier but with less feel for the car ie your more removed but it is one l hell of an improvement totally suited to going racing or as a grand tourer.

 

[m bannon]

the differences.. well apart from the power, its the feeling of weight over the rear.
the 964 is left over at the ring during the summer, over some of the crests you can really feel the weight and the car lifting, this is a feeling you dont get over the same crests / jumps in the 993tt, even though you are going noticably faster.

 

[m bannon]

OH..and the running costs !!!!

 

[Gordon Attar]

Andy
I know of a 66k Met Blue and Blue interior I think thats North of Blackpool that a dealer is picking up sometime soon if your interested, I think it will be early £40's

 

[Alex Postan]

ORIGINAL: richardheeley

I don't think the four wheel drive models are ever quite as fluid and as delicate as the two wheel versions.

It's the delicate handling balance that makes the Boxster so good, so you could do worse than a Boxster S. I loved mine. Admittedly it won't have the power of the 993 Turbo. What about a 996 C2? Or a Cayman??

In the end it's your choice and only a test drive will tell you what the answer is.

Good luck.

Go for the Cayman! []
The thrill of a great wodge of turbo torque soon fades whereas the delight of a fine handling car with all its weight and grip in the right places will always entertain you.

The first powerful car that I raced was in 1990 - ground effect, wings and slicks, 475 bhp and 825kg. The first time I used full throttle on the Hangar Straight at Silverstone, I thought that I was about to die. Within ten laps all I could say was "This is great but it would go a sight better with another 100 horsepower"[8D]