Okay,

So, I am considering getting my wife an older 986 Boxster. Aside from the cylinder liner problems.....what are you thoughts on these cars? Thing is, she enjoys driving the NSX a lot, but doesn't very often because of how anal I am about parking, etc. With a Porsche (or Z3/4, S2000, etc) she wouldn't have these problems, and since she never drives the NSX WOT the difference in performance wouldn't be noticed as much by her.

So what are you thoughts on say a '98 Boxster? I'm not really interested in spending a ton of cash, nor am I worried about a car that might have 70 or 80K miles on it. This would be a 5th car (for 2 drivers) and she would probably only put 2 or 3K miles a year on it (she only averages 9K miles a year as it is).

We have three young children so her having a 2-seater for full-time use doesn't make sense right now. She really, really likes driving the NSX and part of that is the size, number of seats, nimbleness, sportiness of the car. I told her that she has atleast one more sedan in her future before she can get a sportscar or roadster. However, I got to thinking, I have a sportscar and she works much much harder than I do, so why shouldn't she be able to get a toy too (other than storage of said toy)? I figure she likes that looks of the Boxster and the older ones are really fairly cheap...so why not?

So convince me why or why not.

I owned a 01 Boxster S and it was a blast. Service wasnt bad on it and it never once broke. I had really good luck with it. Mid engine, plenty of power, handles like on rails. I would buy another one.

you two are G A Y

get a Caymen

I don't want to put the money into a hardtop Boxster...er, I mean Cayman! I'm thinking something $20K or less. Now, if the Cayman were down in that price range I'd prefer it over the Boxster just because neither one of us are really "gotta have a vert!" type folks.

And being G A Y.....it's for my wife......so it can be the "cute and cuddly" Porsche. She does like German cars....so I've narrowed it down to the Boxster, SLK or BMW Z series. All can be had fairly cheap, less than $10K if I look real hard and past the mileage. I've thought about a TT Quattro too, then it could be a year round toy for her, but just not sure I like the looks of them opposed to the roadsters.

You mentioned the S2000 earlier, why not the reliable Honda route? The bro-n-law recently picked one up and he's nuts about it.

I did mention the S2000, but I'm thinking that she will be more interested in the refinement of the German cars over the "rawness" of the Honda. The Honda seems geared more towards performance that comfort. Remember, she doesn't drive the NSX at WOT and I'll bet she's never had it over 5K RPM....I know she hasn't when I've been in the car with her.....even after I just hopped ouot of the driver seat and given her control of the car. I will very often wind it out, but she doesn't. I think she'd be happy with more of a "sporty" 2-seater that focuses on more on the comfort and appointments for the driver rather than performance (which is where the S2000 seems to be centered). I've only had about 3 or 4 hours behind the wheel of a S2000 (I've had about the same in a Z4 and maybe 45 minutes behind the wheel of a Boxster, none in a SLK), but that was my take on the S2000 (more performance oriented roadster than the German counterparts). As far as reliability and cost of maintenance, I think it would be ahead of the German cars.

Just my take, plus she has a thing for German cars.

tt