Why oh why did I drive a friends boxster ??? - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Good news, not bad, well, sort of.... My old tvr wedge (390 SE) has been a bit of a nightmare recently and only yesterday I had to do some emergency repairs to the fuel line whilst my 8 year old son helped....(bless him)..... Anyway took my little'un to karate and got chatting to one of the dads who has a boxster... He let me drive it, and now I want one His (or his wife's to be exact) is a tiptronic, yellow with 911 alloys on it, what a lovely drivers car Makes my old 390 (27 years old) seem a bit, well, old !!!!! Now, would you recommend a tiptronic or a manual ? My wife I'm sure will want to drive it now and again so maybe a tiptronic would be best ??? My budget (subject to selling the wedge too) would be around the 5k - 6k mark and having just read hueandcry71's post and being an expert on boxster prices (hours and hours on autotrader/ebay etc) I should get a fairly nice old one All comments appreciated........

The tip is supposed to be not great, but I guess it depends on driving style. If you're going to be cruising, then tip could be OK, but if you want to drive it properly, then it has to be a manual. I'll confess I've never driven a tip, but from all the reviews I've read on from comments on here, it isn't highly regarded.

Manual all the way, you're probably looking at a 986 2.7 228 bhp but the 987 245bhp is a much better car if you can push your limit.

I've got a 987 Cayman S, not a Boxster, but I can't imagine it with a Tiptronic. I had a 996 Turbo Tip before the Cayman and I thought the Tip box really suited that car but not a Boxster/Cayman.

I agree with the above. With the Turbo cars you are riding that wave of torque. With the Boxster's naturally aspirated engine, you have to work it and it's hardly a chore to do so, so i would always, always opt for the manual.

My 3.2S 986 is Tartronic & although it has taken a while to get used to I quite like it. It is more than quick enough & in manual mode seems pretty responsive. Given the budget a tip fluid change & readaption will make a lot of difference. It made a massive improvement to mine. A company now adds paddles to the steering wheel if you don't like the switches. I might add that my daily driver is auto as well.

IMO Boxsters are the best value 'modern' Porsche. Great cars although have the capacity to Hoover the contents your wallet as all Pork does if you're unlucky or choose one that needs a lot of work. Do as much research as possible then go buy one. Manual for me as it adds much to the experience. Enjoy the hunt...

Tiptronic is truly dreadful - ruins the car in my opinion! Boxster good - tiptronic very bad

hondansx said: I agree with the above. With the Turbo cars you are riding that wave of torque. With the Boxster's naturally aspirated engine, you have to work it and it's hardly a chore to do so, so i would always, always opt for the manual. Of course the ultimate combination is Boxster, Turbo and Manual gearbox.

I had a 996 C4S tip and loved it but spent time on motorways so was ideal when coupled with cruise as well. Just got a 986 3.2 S manual and love it, totally different driving experience, if you want to Drive it get a manual.

Gearbox is a choice only you can make really. You have to consider your wife so you should include her in the test driving phase and go from there. I've never driven a Tip, but I've owned two Boxsters in the past and now drive 911s, all manuals but that's what suits me. The Boxster is a great car, I'm considering buying another one soon as my daily drive. Ignore any nonsense about stereotypes etc you might hear, I guarantee those people have never driven/owned one. Buy on condition always, and drive many before you buy to get a feel and so you know a good or a bad one.

Manual post 2007 987 2.7 is the best way to a pain free Porsche experience. Fantastic car.

fridaypassion said: Manual post 2007 987 2.7 is the best way to a pain free Porsche experience. Fantastic car. Why post 2007? All cars have some risks. My 2005 987 was a great car no issues at all (as was my 1998 986). Most would say post 2009 as gen.2 don't have IMS issues. However those issues are extremely rare. Any Boxster that has been well looked after shouldn't be ruled out. Edited by Isysman on Sunday 6th July 00:06

turboteeth said: Tiptronic is truly dreadful - ruins the car in my opinion! Boxster good - tiptronic very bad x1000, tip also blunts performance noticeably

They do steer very well, don't they...

Isysman said: Why post 2007? All cars have some risks. My 2005 987 was a great car no issues at all (as was my 1998 986). Most would say post 2009 as gen.2 don't have IMS issues. However those issues are extremely rare. Any Boxster that has been well looked after shouldn't be ruled out. Edited by Isysman on Sunday 6th July 00:06 2007 2.7s had some engine revisions on that MY they are the best ones to buy. They never sorted the S until 2009. You could be lucky but if you want to create a bit of your own luck thats the advice