Just been offered a Boxster for £5k from a friend, i have a 20VT Moon Grey Plus, all serviced via Powerfiat, 110k on teh clokc, goes well, no problems, but im tempted by the Porsche ( 1998 PORSCHE BOXSTER 2.5 2dr Roadster ), what's your thoughts, is it much cop agaist a trusty Coop? I haven't driven the Boxster yet... or am i just getting a badge?

The Coop is quicker but cheaper running costs and more fun but u dont have that lovely build quality

my personal opinion is that if I bought a boxster it would have to be the 3.2s. 2.5 is too slow.

7.5 to 60 and top speed of 148mph.

Badge.

Go have a drive! I haven't driven one but wouldn't dismiss it until I had! If you are asking this question, that says to me you are considering changing cars anyway!

i must admit i would be tempted depending on milage ,condition etc, But a 2.5 boxter will be SLOW

A Boxster of that age will be showing more signs of age than your coupe I would say. It will look older, the coop in moon silver still looks good and quite fresh, but a phase 1 Boxster looks old, the interior hasn't aged well either.

It will be dynamically better than your car but will be slower, although on twisty A roads point to point it may be quicker, but it will feel slower, no turbo punch.

I also heard that roofs have issues of leaking and cracking on the first phase Boxsters.

I would say you are buying the badge and that if you want a Boxster you really want a 3.2 and not the 2.5

I just test drove this the other day for a friend and yes, the 2.5 is SLOWWW. Accept nothing lower than a 2.7

Boxster for me! for 5K, Bargain

Yeah £5k does seem very cheap. For the badge i'd say go for it..you're just gonna miss the power though..

too cheap possibly?

Why's he selling? Full Service etc?

5k is about right for a 2.5, early car and porsche upgraded the engine to a 2.7 not long after.

3.2's are going for about 10k for a cheap one.

Yup, its just right for an early 2.5. It will be like buying a 16v coupe though and then coming up against all the 20v and turbo boys, you will just be laughed at

sometimes its 'better the devil you know'...however I would rather spend my money on the Porsche. Just depends how you drive really, 7.5 to 60 is fairly rapid and you also get to put the roof down!

Barnacle will be along shortly...






To be laughed at

Year: 1997
Manufacturer: Porsche
Name Boxster 986 2.5
Weight: 1242
Transmission: Manual
BHP: 201
Peak BHP (rpm): 6000
Torque: 181
Peak Torque (rpm): 4500
BHP/Tonne: 162
Lbs/ft/tonne: 146
0-30mph: 2.2
0-60mph: 6.5
0-70mph: 7.7
0-100mph: 18
30-70mph: 5.5
30-100mph: 15.8
60-100mph: 11.5
0-400m: 15.3
0-400m Terminal: 99
0-1000m: 28.5
0-1000m Terminal: 115
Top Speed: 155

You're looking at Escort Cossy, Volvo 850 T5 R, Fiat Coupé 16v Turbo performance when rolling.

Thanks for all the advice, i think im going to stick with my Coop, i agree, its look great still in Moon Grey, and im not happy about the 2.5 being so slow against my current 20VT, so the Coop stays, thanks everyone!

if you want a badge, pick one up on ebay for pennies and keep the coupe

Nothing wrong with that if mapped lol!

In case you're interested I did a back to back comparison a couple of years ago with a friend's 2.5 - as said above the coop is quite a bit quicker in a straight line, and felt even more so due to the turbo "kick".

Handling on the Boxster was in a totally different league though, as was steering feel, braking, the gearshift and pedal feel - Porsche certainly know how to put a car together. Interior dated though.

Sounded good at higher revs - closing on 3 figures in 3rd with the top down = nice.

Cheers Neal, im still pretty swayed towards keeping my Coop, maybe i could have both! Hmmmm, well it is almost Xmas aftre all, just need some more parking space, doh!

Who?

I actually made the choice between the Fiat and the Porsche when I bought my 20vt plus from new. I chose the Fiat because it's faster, more beautiful, rarer, cheaper to run / maintain, and more practical.

I would only pick the Porsche for the brand (which for me actually is a reason NOT to do it) and maybe build quality (though that has to be confirmed...).

id have that boxster..fantastic handling, great build quality..and lets face it. you dont give a stuff about what other people think anyway do ya??...you drive a coupe fiat!!!!....i am a porsche fan and the boxster is on my shopping list for the future..

Boxster *IF* you can live with the lack of straight line speed and only having 2 seats.

I would rather spend a bit more and get a TVR than have a 2.5 Boxter. Yes it is well made and handles well, but its not that quick and its a hairdressers car.

Thats just my opinion anyway.

I thought the boxster engine internals where a lot stronger than the coupes so increasing the power (dependant on cash) was easier?

it would be more difficult to increase the power though as it is NA, even if the internals were up to it.

Oh, I totally agree with that - £7-8k for a decent Chimaera these days if you look around, and that's a fine fine car - bucketloads of character and lots faster than the Boxster (the base spec 4.0 is quicker than a 20vt), far more stylish interior and way more space. And that's ignoring the stunning noise.


Example

As for handling, well about covers it, especially in the wet.

Boxster is a nice car, driven an S a few times but would always pick the coop over it any day. Build quality is great but i didnt like the handling on it at all! Doesnt behave like a normal rear wheel drive car when push and things get out of hand, snap over steer and you need to be seriously quick on the rack if you want to catch it...scared the bloody life out of me when the back end went for the first time! Your coop looks awesome in the moon grey anyway! stick with it