BlackVette00

Im thinking about purchasing a porsche boxster, like 97 - 01 are they any good, like reliable? fast? fun?

Corey_68

Chick car in my opinion...

with 201hp they are quick at best but handle fairly well. I wouldn't touch a Porsche out of warrenty IMO.

dietrich

If you buy Boxster S it is reliable, quite fast and very nice handling. The normal Boxster is not fast enough for me.

lager99

Sorry, don't know much about the Boxters.

02MillenniumVette

PeterK

Buy the 02 and up. Much better engine reliability

vtresto

There was an unusual amount of Posts with 1997-1999 low mileage Boxsters with blown engines.... other gripes too.

http://forums.roadfly.com/forums/por...rsche_boxster/

Don't buy the first year in production 1997's... they got other issues some owners needed to have fixed under warranty.
A 30k mile 1999 Boxster I looked at didn't start the first try and I found early starter malfunction on record for that model.

Year 2000+ would be preferable.

BlackVette00

how about the 2000 and up Audi TT?

Zeeman28a

The Boxter S would be the car to go for. More HP, better handling. Nice car and fun to drive. But I have heard of problems with them, just like any other car, only more expensive. Rennlist.com would be the place to check out if you're serious. Have a look through the Boxter forums.

I've got an '87 928S4. But it's seen better days. Was stolen about 4 years ago and then set fire to. I got the car back and have been hoping to fix it back up but I've lost interest in it. Now it just sits on a car trailer in my garage.

PA Z06

If your looking at a Boxster or A TT, I would def go with a TT, alot more mod potential.
There both kind of chick cars, but atleast the audi is a turbo and has AWD

PeterK

All audi AWD cars are still heavily FWD biased. That really takes the fun away from them. Feel like driving a regular FWD car, nothing more.

black97magic

I own a 2001 Boxster. It is not the S model. Most of the literature (Excellence Magazine) that I've read when I was considering the purchase pointed out that the extra money for the S model wasn't worth it. I already have a Vette for the HP fix when I need it. My car has 217hp. The 2001-up models have a duel-layer top so it's quieter in the car with the top up. The 2001 has a few other additions vs. older cars. Definitely look at least for a car with the 2.7 liter engine rather than the 2.5. I've had my car for two years with NO problems what so ever. This car is very fun on a tight twisty back road. The Z06 is just too big and powerful for that.
Many people refer to Boxsters as "chick" cars. It is a very capable sports car. It is much more engaging at slower speeds than my Z06. The steering feel is fantastic. Much better than my Z06, but not as good as a Lotus Elise. The sounds that you hear out of the engine are great. I love the sound of the valvetrain and the gears from the tranny. It is a full convertible and very comfortable to cruise in. Even at highway speeds with the side windows up the air buffeting is not too harsh. My car does have the plexiglass window between the roll-bars. It doesn't have quite the trunk capacity of my Z06, but it does have two trunks. I can get my golf clubs in the rear trunk (only one set will fit). The front trunk is VERY deep.
You can get these cars for about $23-26,000 right now (2001-up) if you find the right car. My car has 40K on it. If you find someone asking higher, just tell them that there are a million cars for that price and you'll pay between Kelly Blue Book Retail and trade-in. That's what I paid at a dealership.

Notch

How tall are you? The Boxster can present some people with head room/leg room issues.

If you fit in the car, I'd recommend a Boxster S hands down over the 2.5L or 2.7L Boxster.

illinest

I think they're butt-ugly.
1. Saturn Sky
2. BMW Z4
3. Pontiac Solstice
4. Audi TT
5. Lotus Elise
6. Honda S2000
Big gap
7. Mazda Miata
Big gap
8. Porsche Boxster

Not meant to be exhaustive. Just trying to frame how ugly I find them.

Caterpillar

I had a freind who had a 2005 "S". The interior in the 2005 is much better then the previous years. They did the update on either the 04 or 05. Personally, It was fun to drive it but not fun enough to want to own it. I would only assume a non "S" car in the 97-01 range would be even worse. He traded it in on a 911 "S" cab. and has not looked back.
If it where me and I was trying to fix some porsche bug I had, I would take the money and buy an older 911 for the money you want to spend on the boxter. (Assuming its low $20's) It will hold its value and be more fun to drive.
However, a 1971 corvette 350 coupe with t-tops and a 4 speed sounds alot better then either of the porsche's for the same amount of money.

black97magic

Caterpillar quote: "If it where me and I was trying to fix some porsche bug I had, I would take the money and buy an older 911 for the money you want to spend on the boxter. (Assuming its low $20's) It will hold its value and be more fun to drive."

I've driven the same year 911 (996) and they are much better than the older cars in terms of handling and driving dynamics. That being said, the Boxster is WAY more balanced than the 911 of the same year. It is VERY apparent that the engine is hanging behind the rear wheels. IMO: The Boxster is so much more balanced when driven hard. The 911 really wants to "push" or understeer through the turns. The rear end feels heavy also. Plus the older air-cooled 911's require more maintenance.

As for the newer cars, yes they are better, but you're going to pay alot more.