I have only ever had beater pieces of shit and want a decent roadster/sports car so i dont pull up to dates in my 12 year old hail damaged Jeep Grand Cherokee. I saw the guide that recommended the Miata, Sky, and Porsche boxter in that category for roadsters. Unfortunately i am, while not poor, a cheap ass but want a unique car with good looks and good performance for summer driving and I am looking to spend no more than 15k. I dont really like the miata, it is too common and i don't think looks that great. Is the Porsche boxter actually a good option? The Saturn Sky looks cool too, are there any other cars in the category that would be options to look at?
>>28978392>he hasn't heard about Subaru supremacy
>>28978392N A R PARP
They're fun, they sound good, they're rwd, they're twice as fast as a miata. Not much else to say, they are good cars.
>>28978414>McDonald's on all 4>sounds like a straight piped minivan>no LSD>IMS bearing and bore scoring lottery>will NEVER, EVER be a real PorscheA 350Z is more respectable than one of these
>>28978392Yes, it's a good option. You can also look at BMW Z4 or maybe 350Z.
>>28978420>wrong>wrong>wrenchlet issue>unlikely wrenchlet issue350z is ricer junk, but thanks for posting.
>>28978427It's slow and still manages to starve itself of oil in sustained right turns kek
>>28978396Not sure it have, I am not a fan of their sports cars though. Am I missing something?>>28978408???>>28978414I like that they are moderately unique and clean ones are 10-14k for the boxter s or 9-12k for base models. It makes buying one an easy pill to swallow. Is there anything better for the price?>>28978420>A 350Z is more respectable than one of theseDon't care about it being a "real" porsche or not, I am a casual person and don't care about brands. I am not a huge fan of the 350z as I think the rear looks kinda gay but the 370z looks really cool, they are just too expensive and fall out of budget unfortunately. The convertible models aesthetically look worse than the coupes in this car but i'm not wholly against a non-riced 350z.
>>28978438Their sports cars are very good because you can mod them for cheap. Every sports car will eventually want aftermarket parts, why not get one that's made for them?
>>28978424>You can also look at BMW Z4They look okay but I like the boxter better a bit I think. How is price and performance? I want something reasonably fast maybe 5-6 sec 0-60 straightline, but I am not expecting supercar levels of acceleration and handling.
>Weighs 500 lb more than a miat>macphersons>No lsd even optional>Parts are harder to get and cost moreBoxster is faster and it has a Porsche badge. Miata handles and feels better. Honestly the Sky might be a good pick. Just depends on what you’re looking for, OP. Also you mentioned going on dates, IME chicks would be more impressed by a clapped out Jeep. Current zeitgeist says only effeminate men drive small cars, at least in murrica. If you get one, do it because you simply like it.
>>28978460>Boxster is faster and it has a Porsche badge. Miata handles and feels better. Honestly the Sky might be a good pick. Saturn Sky look cool and are decently fast if I get the turbo model. The pontiac variant is okay but Saturn looks better, otherwise they seem like they are identical cars like a Tahoe vs a Yukon. They are really affordable and moderately uncommon too. I am not looking at Miatas, they models I can afford just don't do it for me aesthetically. The new ones, 2015 on are okay, but they require me to spend around 18-20k min and I would buy a 370z at those prices which has much better performance.>Also you mentioned going on dates, IME chicks would be more impressed by a clapped out Jeep.Not by my jeep lol, I bought it at an auction in 2022 as the hail damage totaled it out, it is mechanically in good shape but looks like a tornado hit it. Either way I want something more agile, this car has been okay, reliablish with basic maintenance but it's top heavy and not "fun" to drive.
I like mine. Bought it a few years ago for a little more than $15k, but not by much. Roughly 50k miles, and I got a hardtop with it.They're not very popular here, lol. Anyway I'll pop back in later to post more about buying/ownership or anything specific
boxter looks better feels better sounds better has more prestige holds its value better when well taken care of. its better. but /o/ will lose their minds any time anyone wants to buy something they cant afford to maintain, so basically anything other than gookshit.
owned one, and while i genuinely loved it, i always felt like i was walking on eggshells in that any repair was going to be an instant $500-$1000 minimum deducted from my bank account just in parts. infinitely better than a miata but sometimes you want a tin can of a car like a miata. it's hard to explain.
>>28978492>They're not very popular here, lol. Anyway I'll pop back in later to post more about buying/ownership or anything specificI'd like to hear more of your experience. Are they expensive to own and operate? General maintenance compared to regular cars? How fast can I expect it to be? Is yours a manual or auto transmission? When you say not popular here, are you in the USA or somewhere else?
>>28978392wouldn't be caught dead in a plastic mcdonalds kraut shitheap
Not OP, but what would be a better entry level Porsche option? Say under 40k. I was also considering trying out an MR-S to get a hang of the midship layout and then upgrading to a p car, but I'm too tall to fit comfortably.
>>28978392>mcdonalds>automatic probably doesnt even matter since the gears are so long on the manual anyway>mystery meat plastic enginejust get a 350z mate
>>28978523>more prestige>v6 on mcdonalds strutsask me how i know youre indian
>>28978585It's already a good option. Personally if I wanted something fun for relatively cheap I would get a 996.2 non-turbo. They are like 20-30 for good ones. They used to be peanuts cheap, but normies got the internet. 997.1 can also be had for around 40, but to me that's no longer worth it for a non-vintage used car.
>>28978392Not a real Porsche
>>28978392If you can't wrench, dont buy it. They're fun little cars but if you're a brokedick /o/tist then just buy the newest miata you can afford.I've owned several Porsches and while they're unique looking and fun to drive, catastrophic failure is not something you want in a 'fun', 'summer driving' car. I wouldnt bother with the stupid guide on here, it's fucking retarded and out of date anyway. Just go buy a miata or brz so you dont get sent to the poorhouse while trying to figure out your life.
>>28978625>If you can't wrench, dont buy it.I mean this goes without saying for any car in this genre.
>>28978392So you want this car to impress sluts? Just save your money, I don't think you're ready for what one of these cars is going to run you after you buy it, considering registration and getting it to a place where you can trust it. Also if you're cross shopping with a Saturn Sky, I'm not sure whether you want a convertible or a sports car experience either, but it looks like cost is a factor. Like what >>28978529 said, get a car you can comfortably maintain, and you won't be potentially inheriting a basket case. 986 Boxsters are cheap (for Porsche), so they exchange owners plenty of times and people don't do the standard car to make these cars really run right because parts and labor are generally expensive. For what it's worth, an FR-S has comparable power to the 986 Boxster and is generally more reliable and usable. I purchased a 987 Cayman S last year and beyond the registration, I spent money to replace the radiators and get an upgraded oil pan. Nothing to make it faster yet, but now I'm confident the car is well suited and running right, from the AOS to the shifter cables. You might only want the Boxster for a short while, but if you look for the right example, it can also serve you for a long time if you do everything upfront. Hopefully you find something you like.
>>28978639>So you want this car to impress sluts?I know 90% of women don't care what I drive so long as it is clean. I personally want a car that is fun to drive and looks clean for women so they don't see my hail damaged junker on the first date.>I don't think you're ready for what one of these cars is going to run you after you buy itGive me an honest assessment of maintenance costs annually for a car like this.>Also if you're cross shopping with a Saturn Sky, I'm not sure whether you want a convertible or a sports car experience either, but it looks like cost is a factor. An uncommon sports/sports looking car, fine with either convertible or coupe as long as I like the overall aesthetic. Appreciate your candid response. The FRS looks like a cheap chinese 2 door coupe to me, not high on my list even if it is reliable, it's not solely about the power/performance, mostly about how the cars look.>it can also serve you for a long time if you do everything upfront.Thanks, I am not the type to buy and sell a lot, I will probably own whatever I buy for a very long time if I can keep the car running.
>>28978598>autistically trying to force 'mcdonalds' this hard>implying women know what a strut isSeek help retard.
>>28978392Don't buy some retarded Porsche homosexual hair dressers car trying to get a whiff of pussy. Women hate that shit. I'd honestly just get some mild mud terrains for your jeep, a grand or two in pdr, and a personality that won't make women think you're a serial killer when you ask them to go out hiking on the weekend.
>>28978727>Replying to v6, McDonald's, nigsan posterYou fell for the bait
>>28978427agree the 350z is junk. The 370z however...>>28978710The unfortunate truth is that if you want a somewhat refined roadster, you are going to be praying nothing goes wrong with your porsche/mercedes. The best of reliability, drivability, handling, looks, and costs is probably the f22 m240i but that also has its own downsides (such as being a BMW owner).
>>28978770>you are going to be praying nothing goes wrong with your porsche/mercedes. That"s the truth with any sports car as I understand.>f22 m240iToo expensive, the floor for those is way over 15k.
>>28978576>Are they expensive to own and operate? General maintenance compared to regular cars?Relative to a Miata or Saturn Sky, yeah. I've saved some money doing regular maintenance myself. I haven't had to replace anything expensive, but parts will run higher than other brands when I eventually do. Also they take over 9 quarts of oil. If that's too steep for a common recurring expense, other stuff will be too.But they aren't fragile, either. You'll find owners more often advising to drive harder and redline freely (when it's warmed up) than to baby them, because they were built to be driven that way.>How fast can I expect it to be?For the price, not bad. There's always going to be something faster but it's never felt underpowered to me. There's plenty of torque all around. I always feel encouraged to go faster, until I notice I'm going way too fast and have to slow back down. Gearing is pretty long. Sometimes I reach over to shift at like 5500 based on the absolutely screaming exhaust note, but then I look at the tach and see there's still more gear. Going down from 3rd to 2nd feels great. The throttle is so responsive, and it revs quick.>Is yours a manual or auto transmission?Manual. The only complaint I have is that it isn't as snappy and tight as my newer cars have been, but it's not a dealbreaker.>When you say not popular here, are you in the USA or somewhere else?I just meant on /o/, but they're not super common where I live in the US either. I still see another one every now and then, and we park together and trade handjobs.Anyway I agree with Collector Car Feed: it's a Bringatrailer kind of car, not a Facebook Marketplace one. Try to get as much service history as you can, and spend some time researching the common issues.My next "fun" car will probably be a Miata. Or MR2, if Toyota Gazoo Razoo can hurry up with it
>>28978710>Give me an honest assessment of maintenance costs annually for a car like this.I would set aside a couple thousand upfront, and then less than a $500 per year after that depending on your goals. It depends on whether you go to the dealership, or know someone you trust who can work on it. Believe it or not, joining PCA gets you 10% off parts and service at the dealership. Since I plan on keeping my Cayman, I got whatever components I would need so I could regularly take it to the canyons and on longer rides. I would set aside $2500 for "just in case" parts, and bring a durametric so you can get a sense for the engine without having to open it up. It won't give you information on bore scoring and IMS, but chances are higher mileage cars' will have a working IMS otherwise they would have blown, and you can bring the durametric to determine if that engine has bore scoring. Cars like the Sky are cool and will be a cheaper ownership experience, but I have had a great time joining PCA and meeting people from their events. Your mileage may vary, but if you're the type to connect and live in an area with other car enthusiasts, it's worth a look. Also, are you looking for a base Boxster, or the S? Also before looking, check to make sure the car has the features you want, they come in a lot of different specs.
>>28978800>That's the truth with any sports car as I understand.If its made in japan, if it breaks it won't cost much. Unfortunately those cars are either gay, clapped out, or overpriced. Or all 3. Assuming your budget is like 12 grand or something, the best option would be a 128i manual owned by a white guy if you can get over how they look or a newer 370z manual NOT owned by an "urban youth". Might not exactly be what you're looking for but you can buy a decent c5 or mystery meat c6 as well (both will be varying amounts of reliable). If you can somehow find the perfect mercedes SL(K) with the m274, that could be a good option as those engines are pretty reliable and easy to work on, but the tradeoff is that the car isn't that fast.
>>28978710NTA but bro, it's a cheap porsche. They can be moderately reliable if you actually do maintenance but said maintenance is expensive. Again, I owned one of these things and it truly felt solid and despite no limited slip, it hugged the road fuckin beautifully. But it comes at a cost, and really if you're worried about just the possibility of having to shell out money to fix something, it's not the car for you.
>>28978809>I've saved some money doing regular maintenance myself.How difficult is the basic maintenace compared to something like my Grand cherokee. I imagine some things will be easier like plugs since it is an inline 6 rather than a v6 but unsure of how difficult other maintenance is. I expect parts to be more expensive and I am sure going with a car like a Saturn will be a pain in the ass since they have been out of business for almost 2 decades.>There's always going to be something faster but it's never felt underpowered to me. Im not worried about wicked fast, I could pony up 5k and get a C5 corvette that will be much faster, but I want something more unique than a corvette. Just want to make sure it is reasonably fast as I don't want this thing to be slower than a 2009 Honda civic. Do you have the S or base?>ManualThat's my goal too. Autos are slower and it feels wrong to get a sports car with an auto transmission, like I am losing out on the experience.>where I live in the US eitherI live in a medium sized city in the upper Midwest and rarely see them. >Anyway I agree with Collector Car Feed: it's a Bringatrailer kind of car, not a Facebook Marketplace one.Does that mean if I buy one, don't drive it home and trailer it or ship it? Are they no good for cross country travel?
>>28978810>It depends on whether you go to the dealership, or know someone you trust who can work on it. Believe it or not, joining PCA gets you 10% off parts and service at the dealership. That is actually not that bad upfront and regular recurring costs. Is it a bad idea to buy a porsche if the nearest dealer is 50 miles away? I live a medium size city but we don't have fancy car dealers around here.>can bring the durametric to determine if that engine has bore scoring. So I hear about IMS but it seems like only certain years had this issue or was it universal? Is it the same with bore scoring?>Your mileage may vary, but if you're the type to connect and live in an area with other car enthusiasts, it's worth a look. I dont live in an exorbitantly wealthy city but I would say very middle class, not much poverty but not much gross wealth so there isn't every many cars like this where I live and it would be doubtful there will be much of a local club.>Also, are you looking for a base Boxster, or the S?Very strong preference for the S but I would jump on the base for the right price. Very strong preference for the manual but would jump on the automatic for the right price.
>>28978869>Is it a bad idea to buy a porsche if the nearest dealer is 50 miles away?I would look into any car shops dealing with Porsches or mid-engine cars. I had a guy who focuses on mid-engine cars and happened to own the generation of Cayman I had, so he knows how to work on it. Joining PCA also let me know of other people in the area who also work on stuff at more reasonable rates than the dealership. >So I hear about IMS but it seems like only certain years had this issue or was it universal? Is it the same with bore scoring?There's entire forums dedicated to this, but essentially these generation engines (M96, M97) are prone to this issue, though at a 2-4% rate. You can do preventative maintenance while you swap out your clutch to help this. Bore scoring is the other issue, and happens due bad upkeep (i.e., excessive idling, suboptimal oil levels, using the wrong oil). Usually IMS' will go bad by 60k miles or so, and bore scoring is what you want to avoid long term by avoiding the above. Also to correct myself on an earlier post, a durametric won't be able to determine bore scoring outright, but based on overrevs you can see if the engine had been well taken care of, or if they had been regularly going off the rev limiter. >it would be doubtful there will be much of a local club.It could very well be that way, but once I joined PCA and some other groups, I found a lot more meets and events. >Very strong preference for the S but I would jump on the base for the right price.Seems like getting the manual S and just keeping that in good condition might be all you need versus chasing upgrades on the base. To me getting the S was important for that reason, and I have enjoyed getting a single owner car that was optioned quite nicely. I will eventually upgrade the car, but it is a nice step up from what I had prior, so I'm just enjoying it as is.
>>28978850>How difficult is the basic maintenanceOil changes are what you'd expect, though it's the first car I've had that uses an 8mm allen key for the drain bolt. Other stuff gets kind of funky. The "front" of the engine can be accessed from behind the driver's seat (you remove a carpeted panel for access) to change a belt or pump or what have you. Spark plugs are accessed from the sides, by removing the rear wheels and another little access panel in the wheel well. Since it's a flat six, you'll have three on each side. I haven't needed to access from the top much, but if you do the clamshell top has a service position that offers access. Oil and coolant inlets are in the trunk. They clearly thought out how a mechanic would need to go about accessing the important stuff in an engine that's fit into a really tight space without top-access. I recommend downloading a PDF of "101 Projects for your Boxster" before purchase to flip through it and see what you'd be up against and/or paying someone else to do as needed.>Do you have the S or base?S. I haven't actually tested both to compare but I've never heard anyone say that the difference is enormous. Just noticeable. It's also worth noting that the S could suffer from bore scoring, and the base doesn't really have that problem. Something to consider when shopping.>don't drive it home and trailer it or ship it? Are they no good for cross country travel?Oh no they're great for trips especially with the 6 speed. Bringatrailer is just an auction site that (generally) has better-kept examples for sale than you'd find on FB marketplace.
>>28978918Understood, I live in a city of 500k so I am sure there is atleast a couple shops that can handle porsches according to my car enthusiast coworker.>though at a 2-4% rate. You can do preventative maintenance while you swap out your clutch to help this. Thay is a lot smaller percent that I figured, I see it called on in every forum but 2-4% is pretty unlikely granted it takes out the engine if I goes as I understand.>Bore scoring is the other issue, and happens due bad upkeep (i.e., excessive idling, suboptimal oil levels, using the wrong oil)How common is this actually? If I do have bores coming any remedy or is it a buy a new engine kind of thing?>a durametric won't be able to determine bore scoring outright, but based on overrevs you can see if the engine had been well taken care ofIll look into it but I am not sure what a durametric is, I'll look into it though.>Seems like getting the manual S and just keeping that in good condition might be all you need I'll definitely pursue that, base 986 seems a bit anemic from a performance prespective.>>28978926>first car I've had that uses an 8mm allen key for the drain boltOdd but not a problem. Is the filter and drain plug a pain to access? Is the oil and filter proprietary/expensive? Brake pads cost and ease of installation? >I recommend downloading a PDF of "101 Projects for your Boxster" before purchase to flip through it and see what you'd be up against and/or paying someone else to do as needed. I'll check it out, thanks!>It's also worth noting that the S could suffer from bore scoring, and the base doesn't really have that problem.I heard the same about the IMS bearing too, either way i think it is worth it for the added HP and performance of the S. >Bringatrailer is just an auction site that (generally) has better-kept examples for sale than you'd find on FB marketplace.Ah, ill check it out. I was looking at Cars and Bids but ill look on bringarrailer too. Anywhere else and cost?
>>28978392It’s a 911 inside. Except all the bad and none of the good. It’s as expensive to maintain as a C4S Targa It’s a slow as a Miata. It’s slower than a 135i and costs more to buy and run. And that has multi link rear and modern electronics and 10 years less wear. EXPECT $1000 everytime something breaks $3000 a year with occasional $6k-$10k years and the possibility the engine explodes from bore scoring or IMS or cracked cylinder head.>only year x-y are affected lol>only the S models in the 997!lol >it only happens 5% of the time and not any more lol If the above REALITY doesn’t offend you and you want an open diff McDonald strut car with no power that costs as much as a modern 911 to own and operate go for it. The market however realizes that a 987 is the same thing but faster and not ugly. And that the real ones are 987.2s and there is a price hike for a very good reason. I would suggest you’d be happier taking a loan out on a 987.2 than rolling the dice on a 986. Or just get a 996 Cab and atleast have the better and safer multilink and a real 911 with respectable power.Sadly the 986 is correct the absolute all time bottom of the Porsche world including 914 924 and 944. But this is because it’s so slow and bare bones they’re not ‘worth’ it to most. If you buy one just own it and plan to own it for 10 years becuase they might end up being cool after nu-Porsche drags the market up even higher and the expense is not great unless it’s 10 years of enjoyment for what it is. I personally somewhat agree to spend more on a nice one. Or just be very aware of what it takes to make a bad one whole again. They also benefit a lot from a proper paint correction and ceramic coat. t. Knower
>>28978631more like if you can't wrench and are a cheap ass, go with the miata because it's simultaneously the cheapest, most reliable, and easiest to fix in the category. sky/solstice/boxster/S2K are all more interesting cars and all arguably better in various ways, but all are more expensive and (to varying degrees) more challenging to purchase and maintain.OP, personally I'd try to find a turbocharged sky, a guy in my town has one and I think it's cool as fuck
>>28979489I know everyone glazes miatas but I am really not interested in them. The Sky redline is my second choice right now and 350z is third. I agree about Skys, they are a very cool looking car and have great power for their size and cost, they are harder to find and I worry about finding replacement parts since saturn has been defunct for almost 20 years. I think 986 has better aftermarket support based on what I have read.
>>28978392these things are proper pieces of shit
Can’t runCan’t turn Owner wants to larp Not cheap Not fun Gotta be a NARP!
