HELP----DECISION NEW BOXSTER S OR USED 996 C2/4 - Page 2 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

Aaaahhh. I debated this very issue. A 996 will have more grunt. But will not be as neutral in handling. It does have two occasional rear seats (useful). But when touring the rear luggage area is less good than the closed boot of the Boxster. If you need to get the roof off - the Cabrio 996 is....well...an acquired tasete (with a fat @rse! ) You could get a used 996 RIGHT NOW! You will wait for the Boxster S. Lots to consider. I'd say go test drive one and check you like it. I might yet get a 996 on another occasion - but not yet. I love the mid-engined handling and two seater format too much to change right now. But one day...maybe.

Steve, Get hold of an issue of Evo magazine # 011 from September 1999. This is the issue where they first test the Boxster S It is a great review and it earns its ***** (5 star) rating. Then go to pages 066 & 067 here they compare the Boxster S to the 996 even though the 2 cars had a whopping £22k differential they felt that the 996 was the one to buy. Just for clarification this was an S vs a coupe 996. I may be a little biased owning a C2 coupe,but I didn't think it was too difficult a choice,at least for me. As for handling on a 996 if you get one with Sports chassis or if you can live with the sports suspension,then I don't think you will have too many problems.

I don't think there is a right or a wrong answer Steve. Go and drive both, only you can decide. cheers DAZ

Steve, get a 993 Turbo and stop messing around with all this water-cooled stuff... Next you'll want a tiptronic

UV, I love the 993 Turbo,but(they've a silver one on Paragon site)£52995 for a 1995 car!!,43000miles,......I don't think so! Steve

I went to buy a carrera 4 cab earlier this year 1990 £16k when i had it checked by the AA They said it was "no good" needed a lot of money spending even though it had a FSH and was recording low mileage. The AA disputed the mileage due to the wear on the car. So I though just do it so I went and ordered a new boxster and yes I have to wait and its a 2.7 not 3.6 but its new and with a warenty so we all have the choice to make so you make your own choice

i went for a used 996 coupe 2; no regrets. Great car, and i went from a Cerbera 4.5 to it. Didnt even think to look at the Boxster as all of my friends would have asked me why didnt i get the 996 or a 993. I started off looking at some of the older porsches,but couldnt make my mind up; the 996 made it up for me.

Went though the same thing, ordered a 2003 boxster (last August) and the wait was just to much, so started to look at second hand to fill the gap. Well I to my local OPC one Saturday morning and there was a 99 996 Cab. It was mine with in a few hours and the money was almost the same. I feel the 996 is more what I was after, my mate has a Boxster and it is a different type of car. Seems smaller and perhaps better to though around. But my mate and I am sort of the same, we do not drive at break neck speed every where and we feel that the 996 and the Boxster are great looking cars and the power and handling are not the top thought is some peoples minds when then by either. I would say that either would be good, but which one do you like the look of best, from the drives seat at normal speed you will find it hard to tell the difference…….I dear what will I start by saying that? I have driven both for long period and as I have said for long normal (not fast sweeping roads or trakes) you will find it exactly the same to drive. I only went for the 996 Cab as I like the sort top idea (that's why I wanted a Boxster) but I also love the locals of the 996. What every you do you will be in heaven!

Steve, Get the 996 mate you know it makes sense. Patrick

I'm currently deliberating a similar move, like the Boxster S very very much, but as Mr Plato said last night on Drivel, "Everyone should own a 911 at least once" ... Sounds like good advice to me! ...

This seems to be the most frequently asked question on every porsche forum i visit. If only Porsche would read these boards occasionally and they'd realise that the Boxster and 911 are already treading on each others toes and at the same time they are completely different animals. I'm sure that the profit would be just as big - perhaps higher - if they sold a 3.6ltr 320 bhp boxster for say £55k as a basic price. then we could make a true choice. Either pay a few £000's more for the back seats and get the GT experience or get the raw mid engined finely balanced open top sports car. We know it can be done - Ruf have! Anyhow - i've had the 996 - cabrio and targa and hopefully my Boxster S is being made this week and if the ship can manage to avoid sinking in the channel i will be able to tell you if i made the right move 1st week in January.

Does sound it, doesn't it. Unfortunately I HAVE had a 911 so that excuse won't work on the wife! Seriously though. If I didn't need the roof off thing it would be a harder choice between fine mid-engined handling and a 996C4 Coupe's 4WD and stunning looks. I've made my choice (BoxS) and I'll happily stick with it for a while, I think.

Saw your S on Sunday Don, very nice, wasn't sure about the guards red from photos of other cars, but up close and in the metal yours really is stunning! Somehow missed you as I just popped by, but will make a point of saying hello next time.

Thank you very much and I'll look forward to it. I am very pleased with the car. I think its the clear/white lenses that make the red work so well...with the amber lenses I had on my '01 Boxster S I think the darker colours worked better...but there you go. And each to their own of course.... I happen to LOVE Guards Red.

Problem is I don't know if I have enough patients to wait until July03.... ..I have seen a nice 996c2 G3 look ......sorely tempted! Steve

Surely has to be the 996 with GT3 kit (and wheels)... six months is a long time to wait... we could all be dead by then!!!

Steve,,why not get the 996 & still have the option of the Boxster in 6 mths.If you want it & hopefully we get our 3 sunny days in July you can go with the Boxster. One catch is the flatnose... I planned to keep my Clubsport & 996 to see which one I kept...I sold the CS 1 week before my new arrival & feel it was the right thing to do. It will take you a few months to appreciate the 996 (no joke).You may find the cars similar in layout with the 996 easier to use.At least with the Boxster & Flatnose you have close to the best of both worlds. Get the 996 out of your system.

I am going to have a look/drive in the 996 later today.........downside is I will have to sell the Flatnose...Would be prepared to do that if it is as nice it looks in the pics. Steve

Have fun...one thing,i had a test drive of a 996 & bought mine on what i thought was a deal...When I picked it up with 8 miles on the clock I really wondered what I had done for the first few hours after getting out of the '80s 911. I really think the 996 grows on you after a few thousand miles,great thing is,if you like it on the test drive then you will surely like it more as time goes on. I think it makes sense to get one with GT3 type intensions,as if you get in one specced up as a Merc coupe wannabe,you will find it a different car. I hope the test drive goes well. One last thing getting out of a torquey '80s car you will find the pre facelift 996 a bit sluggish at lower revs...as it will probably be a shortish test,remember to give it a bit more revs as it only gets on song above 4000rpm when the varioram opens up.... If you don't drive it this way you may totally miss the best part.

Sorry to take issue CS but if it's GT3 look, the bodykit is gonna make zero difference to how it drives (or didn't you mean that ?). The Sports suspension would be a nice option but no amount of mucking about will turn a Carrera into a GT3. I think something like 75% of the parts are different between the cars. I prefer my C2's standard clean lines but I have added 18" Sport Design alloys which I love.

I was asuming that the GT3 look / intensions was bodykit,lowering & Sport design wheels.Otherwise it might look a little sad.I am quite sure Steve knows what to look for. I was just pointing out and beleive that the 996 can be more different in driving depending on it's factory specification than any other Porsche I can think of. H G I agree with you on owning one without the bodykit,although I think it looks great,the stsndard car is not unattractive,but seems a more practical proposition with respect to grounding & speed bumps.

Sorry to labour the point but you mean simply by the choice of suspension setup and wheels ? I put the 18"s on my car on the first day of ownership so have not really driven a 996 with 17" wheels. I don't have sports suspension.

More or less.....I was relating this to Steve who has a 930 Turbo & previously owned a TVR I beleive,I get the impression from this that he is interested in a more sporty type drive in a car. By looking at a 996 with a sportier type suspension & 18" whhels it will have a different feel to say standard suspension & 17" wheels...which if you were to fit with a tiptronic & other such goodies you may find in a lux coupe. I have driven both a standard susp & 17" and although the ride was good I didn't feel the car was communicative. I have also driven a sports suspension car with 18" wheels & compared to my old Clubsport gave a really harsh ride yet you were never in doubt about feedback from the road.Really not for me! I ordered my car with sports chassis 10mm lower & 18" wheels,which for me at least gives the best compromise. I followed magazine reccomendations with this set up & it is also standard on the C4S which seems to get good reviews.In driving it makes the car feel smaller as I get a little bump thump,so i know where all the wheels are at any given time. I may be over analysing this but with all the differentt set ups the cars do drive differently to me at least & as you have to lay out a decent ammount of money for such a car,I feel it is worth taking these set ups into account in order that you get a car as close to your needs as possible rather than one that is nearly there. Too much choice maybe??? >> Edited by clubsport on Tuesday 17th December 11:10

Made the decision now .......got a 996 coming Thurs/Fri! Cheers Steve

So that Boxster S demo drive didn't *quite* sway you in the end. I'd love to see your new toy sometime - although I might find it expensive. Explaining to the wife that I've put a deposit down on a 996 wouldn't be easy...

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CS, Yes it has got Sports Suspension and 18"Sport Design Wheels.....looks loverly!!!! Steve

Don't think I'll get much sleep tonight(just hope the Insurance Cover Note arrives in the morning!) Steve

Open Diary. Go to 19th December. It should read as follows: 9.02 - check mail. If no insurance covernote, get shotgun from gun cabinet, proceed immediately to brokers office. Temporary cover not should then not be a problem. Sleep well Steve. Hope the weather stays dry for tomorrow. regards DAZ Great to have another Arctic Silver 996 on PH.

Hi Daz, Yes have to say havn't been this excited about getting a car since I got my Escort Mexico when I was 21! Your Silver machine is somewhat quicker than a C2 though) Steve

Mine can't be faster. Yours has got the bigger rear spoiler!! Besides I don't drive mine fast, I just bought it because of the way it looks and to be a flash barsteward. Looking forward to seeing the car, also wether the sports seats are lower than standard. cheers DAZ

Having ordered a 2003 Boxster S.Now wondering whether I should go for a used 996 instead......your views please chaps. Cheers Steve