Hi guys, I'm thinking about buying another 'fun' car...and have basically narrowed it down to either a BMW Z4 or a Porsche. On the Porsche side, there are two cars I'm looking at: 1998 996 Q8Car - Kuwait - Cars - Porsche Carrera 996 1998 and 2000 Boxter Q8Car - Kuwait - Cars - Porsche Boxter 2000 Also, there's a 2000 Boxter S: Q8Car - Kuwait - Cars - Porsche Boxter S 2000 The most expensive is the 996, at $10,400.00. Coming in second is the 2000 Boxter at $8,830.00. Third, price-wise, is the 2000 model Boxter S Anniversary Edition at $7,7755.00 Between the three cars, does the cost seem within the normal 'market' price? Or, are they asking too much? Any thoughts about the Z4 v. the cars above? Thanks in advance, Mike
Fun = convertible...of those choices I'd go for the Boxter S. Not sure about prices...but as you know someone here will. Let us know what you end up with.
why are these cars so cheap? that's roughly half what they would go for in the US. I'd go for the boxster S
911 is a way much better car than a boxster imo. But a tip-tronic is only a little fun. So if a manual & convertible a boxster may be more fun.
Buy the one with the best maintenance record and drives the best. There's a massive gulf between good ones and bad ones in the way these cars drive. Deferred maintenance is a huge problem. I bought a 97 Boxster last year and just couldn't believe how nicely it drove, it was like a 2 year old car. It seemed a bit pricey at the time but for the extra £750 over most of the other cars on the market at the time it was a great buy. Also, when I sold it at the end of the summer the first guy to drive it, bought it.
Also agree, a manual boxster is way more fun than an auto 996. ETA I wouldn't even consider a Z4. Nowhere near the sense of occasion that starting up that flat 6 gives you. It's just a car!
Wow, I clicked around the site an there are a lot of high mileage cars there. Is driving a national pastime? I can't help with your selection but good luck!!
I absolutely love my 2003 Boxster S. Great car. From the rearward tips of the doors forward, it's made from about 90% of the same parts as a 911, but better looking than a 996. I'm getting ready to sell my Boxster and buy a 911, because we're expecting a baby in a few months. A 911 is as close as I'm going to get to owning a 4 seater (for a while). If it wasn't for the baby, I'd keep my Boxster.
Interesting, didn't know that. It makes sense though. Porsche seems to overlap a bit, like Ferrari. I've seen more than a few 2012 997.2's
All too close to call and depends on your desires. Are convertibles even plausible on Kuwait? Isn't it hot most of the time? I'd choose the 996 as the 911 is a much better platform for my driving style. Drive them both. Pick what speaks to you. Pricing is so different than here. I don't think I can help you there.
The extreme climate here takes its toll on cars. Someone earlier asked if driving is a national pastime... well, yes, it really is. And, don't forget the mileage is in km versus miles. I think the idea of driving all of them is a great one, and will do so... Thanks for all the input and advice, I really appreciate it. Mike
There's actually a decent period of time you can use the top down... November to May, basically. I had a Z3 for three years, and I never put the hard top on, and drove it quite a bit during that period, but hardly ever from May through October. Mike
Drive them all then pick. I owned a 99 996 and a 2000 Boxster s. Honestly, neither felt special. The 996 interior is extremely cheap. Car doesn't feel fast, though it is. Unlike older Porsches that come on the cam, and have a thrilling peaky acceleration, the 996 doesn't. Feels too linear. Car looked good though... The Boxster was a tiptronic. Would never buy that again. Felt slow too, even though it was an S. again, acceleration was soooo linear, it was dull. Interior was nicer, though. Both cars were fast. Neither felt fast though... If I had to buy one, I would get the 996. Z3 looks too feminine to me... Bo
I need to ask about the 'Tiptronic' transmission... Is there a setting that is, essentially, 'automatic'? The reason I ask, is because my daughter (who would not be comfortable in stop-and-go traffic, like we have here) has very little experience driving a stick. If it's not like an automatic, would it be an easy transition for someone used to driving an auto? Mike
Bo, Thank you for the detailed feedback. 98% of my driving will be in city traffic... so, I'm not really all that concerned about the acceleration feeling linear... it is what it is... Again, thanks for taking the time to write all that out. Mike
Be aware of intermediate shaft bearing and rear main seal issues in the cars. Mandatory reading for anyone considering a 996 or 986: Problem: IMS Failure. Solution: IMS Retrofit
Do the records show any service regarding the RMS and intermediate shaft bearing? Could be that the problem has been corrected. I have had two 2001 996 coupes, one 986 Boxster and one 987 Boxster. My preference is for the 996. I am not much of a convertible type which may be one reason for preferring the 996. I also preferred the driving experience but then I have had a number of 911's over the years. As for comparing the 996 to earlier 911's, if I were going to take a trip from NC to California, I would prefer to do it in a 996 (or 997/991). It is a better long distance road car. As for bombing around on your favorite local twisty roads, there is lots to be said for the air cooled cars (I have a '67 912 with a 3.0 SC motor). That being said, I still enjoyed the 996 on those roads as well. We have been Porsche owners since 1977 and both of us have tracked 911's. After her first time driving the 996, I asked my wife what she thought of it. Her response: "It drives like a 911!!"
Mike, I had a 996 Tip and now have a 996 turbo Tip. Most people do not like Tips as they prefer to row their own. However, I find myself driving my Tip more than my 77 930. A Tip is the same as a BMW Steptronic transmission. You can keep it in Auto and shift with the buttons on the steering wheel. The tranny will almost always start in 2nd, but if you gas it off the line you can get it to jump into 1st. Better yet, just shift into 1st and go from there. In this manner, you get the most enjoyment out of it. You can shift into 1st and leave the shifter in the auto position and it will shift by itself, or you can move the lever to the manual slot and shift everything yourself.
It's an automatic, with torque converter, with the option to manually select gears by using rocking the gear lever fore or aft. Anyone who can drive a car can put it in D and go. I had one in my 993, and it cut a full second off 0-60 performance. The Tiptronic in the 993 was the fly on the wedding cake.
