So What's With All the Boxster Hate?

"Jay Lauer" (thefaultinourcars)
03/06/2014 at 12:14 • Filed to: None

So an individual has offered to trade his 996 Boxster for my E46 330xi. It has about 70k less miles, a manual, and it's a freakin Porsche. I know it's the least Porsche-y Porsche you can get, but it's got a good recipe for a sports car. The car in question is like this one, but white. It's not the S, sadly, but it'll do.

Also, I'm aware of the IMS failures, which can be softened with preventative measures.

So Oppo, I ask of you, what's with all the Boxster hate?

DISCUSSION (61)

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:18

No hate from me. Great cars.

S-models are better.

Mostly people who despise the Boxster do so because the people who generally buy one did so because they couldn't afford a 911. Therefore, they aren't entirely worthy to be a part of the Porsche-owners' club.

Nevermind that the Boxster can be made to handle better than the same model-year 911, and that the Boxster is a truly great drivers' car.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:18

I'm more of an anti german car soooo doesn't matter if its a a Boxster or a 911 turbo... lol

Biapilotaceman > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:18

Kinja'd!!!

I know what you mean about Boxster hate; not sure where it comes from. I love mine!

Jay Lauer > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
03/06/2014 at 12:20

In my eyes, it also seems like one of the most practical convertibles to buy, front and rear trunk and all.

Of course, if I could afford the 911, I'd rather have it, but for as little as I have in this Bimmer, it doesn't seem to bad of a trade. Especially cause I can jump off the E46 sinking ship of depreciation.

puddler > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:22

i don't understand why they never made boxter gt2 & gt3's

Kinja'd!!!

Party-vi > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:22

That sounds like an awesome deal! What Boxster hate are you talking about? Every single person I've spoken with about the Boxster loves them. The IMS is only an issue for MY May 2001 to February 2005, but I would think most of them have been corrected.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:23

The catch-22 here is that the E46 will eventually bottom out, and then start appreciating. Do you want to look back and wish you'd kept yours when the market rises again?

Mathias Rios > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:23

I'd drive one.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:23

Harder to work on than most cars, "not a real 911", but who care, really. Excellent performance, and full Porsche fit and finish on every detail - down to muffled wind noise with the top down so you can still have a conversation at speed.

Jay Lauer > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
03/06/2014 at 12:28

Nope.

It'll take ten years before they start appreciating. The Porsche I could sell to an old geezer or a hairdresser for a bit more than the BMW, I think.

Ideally, I'd like to trade if for a Mini, which holds value like insanity. But overall, if some will pay me at least $6k, I just want it gone.

Bad Idea Hat > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:30

I don't get it either. It looks like the grandson of the 550.

Jay Lauer > Biapilotaceman
03/06/2014 at 12:30

Do you DD it?

Any car-buying advice from an owner?

Jay Lauer > Party-vi
03/06/2014 at 12:31

It's a 99 Boxster. Normal 2.7 I believe.

The Dummy Gummy > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:33

According to the girl from my high-school (way back in the day), the Boxster is the poor mans Porsche. I will never forget those words.

Moxy > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:34

I'm not a fan, but only because I'm a go-hardtop-or-go-home kinda guy, but I also don't get all the hate.

I think that's a good trade.....if you're into ragtops and all

Party-vi > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:34

Yeah I don't see any reason to not trade it. Your E46 is probably worth around $5-$8k depending on year, options, etc. and the Boxster will probably hold value better.

PS9 > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:35

Boxers have at least 100x more Porsche concentrate in them than Cayennes do.

PS9 > The Dummy Gummy
03/06/2014 at 12:36

Wish I were poor enough to afford a Boxer!

Klaus Schmoll > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:37

Drove a Cayman a few months ago. I was astonished at what these things even in non-S spec can do. Great driving cars! Haters always gonna hate. It's like with this hairdressers' convertible that everybody raves on about around here. ;) Get it and enjoy it, I'd say.

McLarry > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:37

Personally I like them. I was looking at one once and my sister said "well you can't get one of those. .." "Why not?" "It's kinda of a chick car..."

Not sure where they got the 'hairdresser' car reputation, but it certainly seems hard to shake. I'd drive one anyway...especially a Boxster S.

Casper > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:37

Boxsters are ok. They are just a little girly looking until the most recent generation and slow for my tastes. As far as I know there isn't anything terribly wrong with them or why anyone would hate them out right.

The Dummy Gummy > PS9
03/06/2014 at 12:39

Ha, seriously. She drove a hummer h2, and then upgraded to a prosche cayenne turbo.

Brian Silvestro > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:40

I DD'd a Boxster for about a year and it was fucking awesome , so much fun.

Buy a hardtop for it and it'll look pretty good too.

redlined94 > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:46

If you can fit in the drivers seat go for it! My first car was a 01 330ci, the Boxster doesn't quite have the timeless look but still very nice all around. I too thought about getting a boxster but I'm 6'5" and I realized how unconventional driving with your knees in the dash is...

RotaryLover > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:51

The only hate I have, is the jelly bean interior and the maintenance on it. Other than that, they are great cars!!

alexotics > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 12:59

Nice one, do it!

Chteelers > The Dummy Gummy
03/06/2014 at 13:00

Any girl who thinks the Boxster is the poor man's porsche is either:

1. too damn spoiled to even talk to, or

2. she makes enough money to afford the 911, which at least justifies her disdain, but still makes her a dismissive a-hole

Also, owning an H2 instantly invalidates anything you say, ever. And a cayenne is most definitely less of a Porsche than the boxster.

The Dummy Gummy > Chteelers
03/06/2014 at 13:15

This was the first ear the cayenne was released when she got it. Wasn't her money, she was 17/18. 18th birthday present was cayenne among other things. She was actually smart and nice. Just insanely wealthy.

Stef Schrader > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 13:24

Kinja'd!!!

Ahem. The least Porschey Porsche was sold as a VW in .de, thankyouverymuch! And they're still fabulous—I have much want for a 914 racecar.

So, the Boxster—I like 'em, FWIW. Derpy 986 headlamps and all, they seem like a riot. And Spec Boxsters are HRRRRNNNNNGGGG WANT. Only things I'd look at are maintenance costs and other assorted PITAs that would come with a mid-engined car. It's stuffed in there pretty well. Things are hard to reach. Labor costs will reflect that unless you're keeping it as a fun car and can DIY a lot of it. Glad to see you're already looking at the IMS fix—that'd be a must-do if I ever got one.

But yeah—it's the one convertible I've seen in that "sort of worth as much as a '10 Lancer" range where the attachment points for a hardtop are on the inside of the roof (I have a carport in a somewhat central neighborhood), so I'd consider it if the Lancer started failing on me. DO IT, FOOL.

Biapilotaceman > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 13:25

Yes, I drive it daily. My advice is to be very thorough in your search when looking to buy one. Like any used vehicle, it can be tempting to pull the trigger on a really cheap one, but it isn't worth it in the long run. As for the Boxster specifically, you want to make sure that it doesn't have too many miles (100k+), but you also don't want it to have too few miles (30k or less). This is because of the IMS, Rear Main Seal leaks, etc issues that are more likely to be sorted out if there are more miles and because normal wear becomes an issue with higher mileage. Look for a car that has been well taken care of by its owner. Definitely DO get a pre-purchase inspection from a Porsche mechanic. Make sure it has a toolkit, lexan windscreen for between the rollbars... must-have options like Litronic headlights and hardtop are big pluses if they come with the car because they are difficult and expensive to come by secondhand. OH and when inspecting the car, be VERY suspicious of any kind of loud, uneven rattling coming from the engine area as that is often a sign of IMS failure. Most of all, I'd say patience is key. I searched for a long time before I found mine, and I ended up driving 500 miles to Dallas to inspect it in person and seal the deal. That may be extreme for some people, but it was a nice little adventure... and the 500 mile trip back home with no issues was more than enough to win my trust in this little Boxster.

Big Bubba Ray > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 13:29

I don't think anyone on Oppo hates the Boxster. How could you hate something that looks this damn good??

Kinja'd!!!

I'd drive the shit out of one.

Biapilotaceman > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 13:44

Oh and also Pelicanparts.com has proven to be an invaluable resource in learning about Boxsters and their mechanical bits. There are a TON of DIY articles on there that provide detailed information on how to do everything from jacking the car up to doing a full rebuild or a Carrera engine swap. I've done all the maintenance myself so far thanks to those articles.

Meatcoma > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 13:53

I say let em keep hating on em, brings the price down so that we can enjoy em. I hate the Cayman too! bringin down the price!

Chteelers > The Dummy Gummy
03/06/2014 at 14:02

So #1 then?

The Dummy Gummy > Chteelers
03/06/2014 at 14:05

Spoiled yes. Too spoiled to talk to, no. She was super hot.

Ilike_cougars > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 14:10

I actually like them, although I chose a Z4MR over one. My cousin in all his infinite wisdom bought one to one up me. But I got to drive his 2002 Boxter S. Main difference the power delivery probably wasnt as savage as the M, porsche was more linear. Very smooth gearbox while the one on the M is very notchy. When I clutch in the M the revs fall away too quickly, the Porsche stays around the same revs so seems a little more smoother. Must get used to the fact you hear the sound of the engine from behind you rather than in front, I kept having to look to my left thinking a car was passing me.. Engine sound I much rather prefer the M. And finally the adaptive aero on the porsche is awesome. when the wing comes up, the sensation of the car getting pushed down at speed is amazing.

Jay Lauer > Biapilotaceman
03/06/2014 at 14:38

Well, in this case, I'm selling my BMW and he offered it as a trade. It kind of works, he bought it for his wife who hates stick and needs practicality. I want a stick and am ok with the Boxster's space. It has been in a front accident before, but he's sending me the Carfax so I'll see what happened there.

My dad owns a mechanic shop and has been been a mechanic/restorer for about 35 years now, whom I always have go with me to inspect my buys. Other than that, I wouldn't keep it for very long (6 months or so) cause I've already got another car. As long as its fun, reliable, and I can sell it easy, that's what I'm concerned about.

Jay Lauer > redlined94
03/06/2014 at 14:43

Your first car was an E46? Lucky bastard. The E46's are great, but Jebus, they're boarding a depreciating sinking ship. I don't understand why they're falling so quickly.

Well I'm only 5'11" so fitting in cars has never been too much of a problem. I realize it's not that powerful, but who cares. I've had a 500hp car before, you only ever use 30% of it 90% of the time.

Jay Lauer > RotaryLover
03/06/2014 at 14:43

Jelly bean interior? Do explain.

Jay Lauer > Brian Silvestro
03/06/2014 at 14:45

Explain you fucking awesome time, please.

Jay Lauer > Ilike_cougars
03/06/2014 at 14:46

Lucky prick, I want a Z4M.

Obviously, you're looking to trade it for an E46 sedan with a lot of miles, right?

Brian Silvestro > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 14:49

I was 17 at the time, and my dad just bought an '05 Boxster with about 50k on the odometer as a mid-life crisis car. He never used it though, and I needed a car to get to my job (at Burger King), and the Boxster was the only car available. Twas fucking awesome.

Jay Lauer > Stef Schrader
03/06/2014 at 14:50

I've worked on a V12 XJS. I know the meaning of 'PITA' and 'stuffed in there pretty well.'

Labor costs I don't have to worry about, and I've heard Porsche's are generally reliable and well-built cars. I really don't know cause I've only driven a 944 before, which everybody and their stepdad ragged on to death.

As long as I can sell it easier than or for more than my Bimmer, it would be an OK deal.

Jay Lauer > Party-vi
03/06/2014 at 14:51

Yeah, its an 01 loaded with every single thing, but 172k miles. From what I'm seeing, E46 values are dropping fast. It's a bummer, I'm actually quite good at predicting car markets, but I'll still make $2k or so on this car.

If a Boxster will hold value better, I'd rather board that ship.

Jay Lauer > Brian Silvestro
03/06/2014 at 14:53

LOLOLOL you drove a Boxster to your Burger King job. Too bad you didn't deliver pizzas in it.

Everyone would tip the delivery driver with the Porsche, of course.

Party-vi > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 14:58

Tell me about it. I purchased my '02 330Ci last year for $9k at a dealer and now it's only worth about $7 private party. The BMW is just an old 3-Series now, and higher mileage isn't going to be kind to it. Your car is worth around $7k as well, but trade in is closer to $4k and you would probably only see $5,500 from a private sale.

The Porsche will remain a Porsche. I'm sure values for the Boxster will dip somewhat more, but right now it's probably worth $10k.

Brian Silvestro > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 15:03

Transversely, no one would tip the Boxster driver, because they think I wouldn't need the money.

Stef Schrader > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 15:16

Haha, one of my biggest critics of my "I need a 911" plans is a British car guy. I'm always thinking, "...dude?"

Depreciation on these is...eh, I see 'em in the $12-18K range pretty regularly in TX. Not sure how that compares to the E46. There's probably a wider market for the Bimmer, but yeah. A well kept Boxster should be easy to resell.

Ilike_cougars > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 15:39

Ha ha! I always wanted a 4 door BMW.. But in all seriousness, if you find a z4m and can afford it, buy, you won't regret it. As far as prices go, I'm seeing them pretty constant around the 25k mark, so even if you sell a year or two later you won't loose too much. For me the car is quite special, so probably won't be sold for a very long time..

Jay Lauer > Party-vi
03/06/2014 at 16:49

Well I have it up for $6900 now. I'll probably move it to $6500. I'll already bought another car, and I don't have any financial need to sell it super quickly, so I'll just see what I can get for it.

Jay Lauer > Ilike_cougars
03/06/2014 at 16:50

Yeah, I bought my Bimmer for $2600, so I don't see myself spending $25k anytime soon.

If I did spend more, I'd probably find a good E46 M3.

Jay Lauer > Stef Schrader
03/06/2014 at 16:51

Yeah, I'm not sure if it'll be any easier to sell really.

Ideally, I'd want to trade it for a Mini Cooper S. They sell fairly cheaply in Dallas, but since there's no supply in Kansas, they hold their value super well.

Jay Lauer > Brian Silvestro
03/06/2014 at 16:53

Oh, that's what I meant, sarcastically.

That was what was so great about delivering in my old WRX. It looks like a shitter, so people still tipped me, but I had tons of fun playing Ken Block on dirt roads with pizza.

Brian Silvestro > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 16:56

God that would be awesome, I need to do that.

Jay Lauer > Brian Silvestro
03/06/2014 at 17:31

I highly recommend it if you're a broke college kid that doesn't mind working all your Friday and Saturday nights. I highly recommend it.

Also, get the wagon. It holds over 84 pizzas. I know that now.

Brian Silvestro > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 17:34

Oh my god I'm all of those things!

Jay Lauer > Brian Silvestro
03/06/2014 at 17:44

Well you gotta be not broke enough to buy a WRX, but they're good investments. I owned mine for about 5 months, and made about $5k on it.

Brian Silvestro > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 17:44

Seriously considering it...

Jay Lauer > Brian Silvestro
03/06/2014 at 17:47

Well if you find one you're seriously considering, have me take a look at the ad. I buy and sell cars pretty frequently; it's kind of a side business of mine.

I liked the Subaru enough that I bought another one a couple weeks ago. The used market on good Subaru products is actually quite stable.

Brian Silvestro > Jay Lauer
03/06/2014 at 17:51

Kinja'd!!!

dmcspeedy > puddler
03/19/2014 at 16:07

Because they'd embarrass the 911. The Boxster/Cayman has always been sandbagged with lesser engines so it doesn't show up its prestigious big brother - it's basically a 911 with the engine flipped around the rear axle, so you lose the rear seats but have much better weight distribution.