What do you guys think about the new 550 Spyder? I have always wanted a 911 but cannot afford to get a new or nearly new one and I know that a Boxter is supposed to be 'the poor mans 911' but I really like the look of the 986 model with the 18" carreras but once you have specced one up you are nearly into 50k I think that buying the 550 ltd edition would be a good buy as the Boxter is already the lowest depreciating car and it looks the dogs danglies at ?42k.
Boxter 550 Spyder
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I drove a Boxster for a couple of weeks before xmas - never mind the crap about "poor mans 911" they are a fantastic car in their own right
Not huge power, but its the whole experience, six cylinder engine howling behind your head, perfect handling etc
They are in a different league to TT's IMO (and I have one [
])
I think the car to replace my TT will be a Boxster coupe when they arrive!
Not huge power, but its the whole experience, six cylinder engine howling behind your head, perfect handling etc
They are in a different league to TT's IMO (and I have one [
])I think the car to replace my TT will be a Boxster coupe when they arrive!
Boxster S's rock. Amazingly well balanced car, and they don't hang about. Only down side is they are a little cramped, but then what do you expect its a two seater sports car! Probably the best new Porshce ever when you take into account everything like cost, running cost, performance and BULLET PROOF Depreciation! You need to be prety handy in a 996 to shake off a Boxster S!
I tried to get a 550 ltd but cannot find one for love or money! If you can get one, go for it, even though there is rumoured to be a new bxster in 2005. The Spider will hold its value very well!!
I would agree with MOB vs the TT too. TTs a nice car and well stylish, but Boxster is in a different league.
I tried to get a 550 ltd but cannot find one for love or money! If you can get one, go for it, even though there is rumoured to be a new bxster in 2005. The Spider will hold its value very well!!
I would agree with MOB vs the TT too. TTs a nice car and well stylish, but Boxster is in a different league.
Quote: posted by simch on 08/03/2004 21:54:44
I tried to get a 550 ltd but cannot find one for love or money! If you can get one, go for it, even though there is rumoured to be a new bxster in 2005. The Spider will hold its value very well!!
I would agree with MOB vs the TT too. TTs a nice car and well stylish, but Boxster is in a different league.
I have seen one for sale with delivery milage available for next month at ?42k I would like to go direct through Porsche though as need to finance the diference between the TT, I'm going to get some quotes today.
I tried to get a 550 ltd but cannot find one for love or money! If you can get one, go for it, even though there is rumoured to be a new bxster in 2005. The Spider will hold its value very well!!
I would agree with MOB vs the TT too. TTs a nice car and well stylish, but Boxster is in a different league.
I have seen one for sale with delivery milage available for next month at ?42k I would like to go direct through Porsche though as need to finance the diference between the TT, I'm going to get some quotes today.
I was looking at a 98 Boxster - just standard job, I'm still a named driver on a policy so insurance may not have been too mad if I shopped around.
It would be pretty funny a 22 year old driving a bloody Porsche - the 98 one is about the same price as the Audi I'm gettin lol
It would be pretty funny a 22 year old driving a bloody Porsche - the 98 one is about the same price as the Audi I'm gettin lol
I can't find one available for new delivery but am going to test drive a 2004 boxter S this Saturday so see how I get on, just checking the Boxa website I notice that there is a new Boxter planned for poss early next year so may be worth waiting as only just bought the TT.............Roll on Saturday!
Yep....I pick mine up next Friday, I hope its not snowing like today.[:O]
The Boxster S is a great drivers car with fantastic handling and the best thing is the low depreciation. However I lost ?5k in 4 months when I bought one 18mths ago just because I specced it too high. The 550 is probably equivalent to nearly ?50k if you included all the options that are std on it so this model is probably a first for Porsche with instant discount[^]
If I were you I'd buy that one that is available now, especially if the spec is what you'd have spec on a std S. Even with the new model coming out I don't think the 550 will lose any money for a while as only 160 cars are coming to the UK. I can't see the new Boxster (987) arriving before summmer 2005 at the earliest and even if it does arrive then you won't get one until at least 12 months after that if you have no letter of intent with an OPC.
BTW my 550 is for sale in June[] only extras above all its std kit are Bose, top tint and NCO centre console.
Couple of pics for you[]
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![Posted Image]()
The Boxster S is a great drivers car with fantastic handling and the best thing is the low depreciation. However I lost ?5k in 4 months when I bought one 18mths ago just because I specced it too high. The 550 is probably equivalent to nearly ?50k if you included all the options that are std on it so this model is probably a first for Porsche with instant discount[^]
If I were you I'd buy that one that is available now, especially if the spec is what you'd have spec on a std S. Even with the new model coming out I don't think the 550 will lose any money for a while as only 160 cars are coming to the UK. I can't see the new Boxster (987) arriving before summmer 2005 at the earliest and even if it does arrive then you won't get one until at least 12 months after that if you have no letter of intent with an OPC.
BTW my 550 is for sale in June[
] only extras above all its std kit are Bose, top tint and NCO centre console.Couple of pics for you[
]
18ME - Did you go for the Cocoa brown or blk option?. How come you are getting rid of it so soon? what sort of price will you be looking for?. I test drove an S at the weekend it was awesome so much more responsive in all areas over the TT. I really want one now but do not want to be paying out monthly for the privilege so need to start saving up the difference.
MAgs, the ltd edition should be good for residuals, but I nearly had a brand new "standard S" this Jan, and opted out for a 2nd hand one in the end, cos the potential of a new model may just squeeze them a bit. (look at 996 prices as a guide, nice ones at ?30-311k now due ot new model anouncement!)
The 2003 spec on has a glass window as you probably know, and this is the only worthwhile update on an S for years. The plastic window ones are fine if you look after them. The S is a serious piece of kit, amazing steering and neutral handling as you will have tasted a little already. Believe me, when you really get to push em on, they are very rewarding indeed!
Maybe consider a nice 2000 /2001 model with some toys on. You can get a real nice one for about ?26k say 40k miles on it (say 42k+ new!!), perfect paint etc. Realistically it will be worth 20+k of any eejuts money in 2-3 years time, no matter what happens with the new model.
At the end of the day, no matter how good the new one is, the current model and its predeccessors have been probably the worlds best roadsters by quite a long way!! They will always be worth buying and are easy to sell when the sun comes out!!
I just love em, they are amazingly cheap to maintain through the specialist network, and remarkably robust too. I've had a Porsche for the last 4 years (944sc cab then a boxster S) and I have already spent more in a month tweaking the MK4, than on maintenance for both the porkers in 4 years!!! Go for one!!
The 2003 spec on has a glass window as you probably know, and this is the only worthwhile update on an S for years. The plastic window ones are fine if you look after them. The S is a serious piece of kit, amazing steering and neutral handling as you will have tasted a little already. Believe me, when you really get to push em on, they are very rewarding indeed!
Maybe consider a nice 2000 /2001 model with some toys on. You can get a real nice one for about ?26k say 40k miles on it (say 42k+ new!!), perfect paint etc. Realistically it will be worth 20+k of any eejuts money in 2-3 years time, no matter what happens with the new model.
At the end of the day, no matter how good the new one is, the current model and its predeccessors have been probably the worlds best roadsters by quite a long way!! They will always be worth buying and are easy to sell when the sun comes out!!
I just love em, they are amazingly cheap to maintain through the specialist network, and remarkably robust too. I've had a Porsche for the last 4 years (944sc cab then a boxster S) and I have already spent more in a month tweaking the MK4, than on maintenance for both the porkers in 4 years!!! Go for one!!
I thought about a 996 as they have been reasonable for ages but the car just doesn't do it for me especially as IMO the Boxter looks better and if I got a 911 it would be the 993 C4. The boxter is what I am going to go for but I want a 2003 onwards with the Carrera alloys pref in Seal Grey so I am going to keep my eyes peeled, it is just a matter of finding another 10 - 15k now!
My god great minds and all that! My spec for Jan 04 was seal grey, carrera 18s with coloured centres, sports sus, black lowered sports seats, WITH Crested headrests, (mmmm) and cruise/ comp. Spec came out at just over 41k, I think you need to be real careful with the options, some are far too fashionable, (eg painted centre consoles, nephrite green leaher interiors uuhhggh!
I too looked at the 996, they are quick etc, but the cabrio doesn't hold a patch on a boxster S dynamically! I love mine!!
I too looked at the 996, they are quick etc, but the cabrio doesn't hold a patch on a boxster S dynamically! I love mine!!
Quote: posted by mags on 15/03/2004 09:03:09
18ME - Did you go for the Cocoa brown or blk option?. How come you are getting rid of it so soon? what sort of price will you be looking for?. I test drove an S at the weekend it was awesome so much more responsive in all areas over the TT. I really want one now but do not want to be paying out monthly for the privilege so need to start saving up the difference.
Sorry that I didn't get back to you earler but I had some rather alarming news today. It seems that a transporter carrying 8 Porsches jack-knifed on the M1/M25 this morning with possibly some 550's on board. I've checked with my dealer as mine was supposed to be on a transporter on the way to the dealership but he said that their cars come from up north and doubts that mine would be on that transporter. However others on boxa.net have said that the cars go to Reading before they get to the dealers to be PDI'd[!] Thread here http://forum.boxa.net/index.php?showtopic=6178
Anyway if mines ok it will have the dark grey natural leather with black hood..I couldn't risk the cocoa interior[:O] The reason its for sale in 3 months time is because I take delivery of an S4 cab in June with brilliant red exterior with black alcantara and a few choice extras which will be for sale in Sept when I take delivery of my ebony black S4 cab fully loaded with approx 420bhp[]
TBH the price I'll want for the 550 will be whatever the market value is at the time, hopefully around list but if they drop in value fair enough but as mortgage brokers always say, investments can go up as well as down.[]
18ME - Did you go for the Cocoa brown or blk option?. How come you are getting rid of it so soon? what sort of price will you be looking for?. I test drove an S at the weekend it was awesome so much more responsive in all areas over the TT. I really want one now but do not want to be paying out monthly for the privilege so need to start saving up the difference.
Sorry that I didn't get back to you earler but I had some rather alarming news today. It seems that a transporter carrying 8 Porsches jack-knifed on the M1/M25 this morning with possibly some 550's on board. I've checked with my dealer as mine was supposed to be on a transporter on the way to the dealership but he said that their cars come from up north and doubts that mine would be on that transporter. However others on boxa.net have said that the cars go to Reading before they get to the dealers to be PDI'd[!] Thread here http://forum.boxa.net/index.php?showtopic=6178
Anyway if mines ok it will have the dark grey natural leather with black hood..I couldn't risk the cocoa interior[:O] The reason its for sale in 3 months time is because I take delivery of an S4 cab in June with brilliant red exterior with black alcantara and a few choice extras which will be for sale in Sept when I take delivery of my ebony black S4 cab fully loaded with approx 420bhp[
]TBH the price I'll want for the 550 will be whatever the market value is at the time, hopefully around list but if they drop in value fair enough but as mortgage brokers always say, investments can go up as well as down.[
]Good news[] I've just come off the phone to Porsche customer services and its not mine. I do feel for whoever cars are on there though as you have to wait long enough as it is.
Mags if you want a sports car then the Porsche is the one to have compared to the S4 cab. However, I did take an S4 cab out for a test drive on Sunday without the dealer but with my wife and I took it the same route that Porsche use in Sutton Coldfield, which is the Bassetts Pole roundabout down the A38 towards Lichfield...you can really put your foot down there[] Anyway I took it quick around the roundabout and it didn't understeer like I thought it would and it felt very well balanced, perhaps I was expecting it to be all wobbly so it took me by surprise with how good it actually was but it still isn't a sports car. I have taken a C4S and a turbo down the same route and to be honest the S4 isn't far off the pace of the C4S on the dual carriageway but with the help of AmD it will easily keep up.[}]
BTW I haven't got lots of cash floating about, I've just got the same disease as Wish....I can't help myself buying cars.[)]
] I've just come off the phone to Porsche customer services and its not mine. I do feel for whoever cars are on there though as you have to wait long enough as it is.Mags if you want a sports car then the Porsche is the one to have compared to the S4 cab. However, I did take an S4 cab out for a test drive on Sunday without the dealer but with my wife and I took it the same route that Porsche use in Sutton Coldfield, which is the Bassetts Pole roundabout down the A38 towards Lichfield...you can really put your foot down there[
] Anyway I took it quick around the roundabout and it didn't understeer like I thought it would and it felt very well balanced, perhaps I was expecting it to be all wobbly so it took me by surprise with how good it actually was but it still isn't a sports car. I have taken a C4S and a turbo down the same route and to be honest the S4 isn't far off the pace of the C4S on the dual carriageway but with the help of AmD it will easily keep up.[}]BTW I haven't got lots of cash floating about, I've just got the same disease as Wish....I can't help myself buying cars.[
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