Porsche Boxster Running Costs?

Posted by: Paul Hutchings on 02 April 2006

I'm not old enough for a mid-life crisis but I'm now considering a Boxster (new 987 shape).

Does anyone have one and can you give me some ideas of running costs?

So far I've seen the menu price servicing costs, and had a couple of insurance quotes, I've looked at some rough guides on depreciation and it's not as silly as I thought - in fact although the car costs more than, say, an MX-5 it appears after three years it might not have lost a lot more, or cost stupid amounts more to run.

I don't know anybody who has one, so rather than go simply off press write-ups I wondered if anyone here has one and can tell me anything?

thanks,
Paul

Posted on: 02 April 2006 by Gianluigi Mazzorana

quote:
Originally posted by Paul Hutchings:
I'm not old enough for a mid-life crisis but I'm now considering a Boxster (new 987 shape).

I'm in a mid-life crisis and am seriously considering a 555+PS!

Posted on: 02 April 2006 by Steve Bull

Plenty of what to look for/avoid on this site: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/index.php?url=/carbycar/index.htm though I've not looked to see what it says about the Boxster I've found it useful in the past.

Steve.

Posted on: 02 April 2006 by Paul Hutchings

Thanks Steve, had already tried there and as with most sites there's not too much on the 987 model.

Paul

Posted on: 02 April 2006 by Steve2701

quote:
I'm in a mid-life crisis and am seriously considering a 555+PS!

Well I'm happy to say I had my mid life crisis about 3 years ago! I'm now seriously considering whether to go for another one in the way of 'how do I fund a 555', but have to say I found the first one a tad painfull.
Paul, a good friend sold one, and now wishes very much that he hadn't....

Posted on: 02 April 2006 by count.d

The running costs can add up.

Sun Labs Ultra Dark Self Tanning Spray £24.99
Tony & Guy haircut £35
Manicure £20
Gay T shirt £25
Gay jeans £55
Prada sunglasses £165

Total £324.99

Posted on: 02 April 2006 by Paul Hutchings

Count.d - I make it nearer £330 as you appear to have left Vaseline off the list.

Perhaps it's my age, but is there some historical precedent that was set to make people associate male convertible drivers with snipping hair or being gay?

Posted on: 02 April 2006 by Steve Bull

I always thought that MX5s were the ones associated with being gay and/or a hair-dresser. Boxsters are more associated with tiny-cocked, wealth-flaunting egomaniacs. Present company excepted of course.

Better add a

for the hard of humour and point out that I drive an mx-5 myself.

Steve.

Posted on: 02 April 2006 by Paul Hutchings

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Bull:
I always thought that MX5s were the ones associated with being gay and/or a hair-dresser. Boxsters are more associated with tiny-cocked, wealth-flaunting egomaniacs. Present company excepted of course.

Better add a for the hard of humour and point out that I drive an mx-5 myself.

Steve.

I'm not hard of humour

It's weird though, go out spend £30k on a loaded Saab/Volvo and people might think you're stupid but you're probably a nice person - mention the word Porsche and you're automatically labelled a wanker

cheers,
Tiny

Posted on: 02 April 2006 by Gianluigi Mazzorana

quote:
Originally posted by Steve2701:
Well I'm happy to say I had my mid life crisis about 3 years ago! I'm now seriously considering whether to go for another one in the way of 'how do I fund a 555'

Just thinking to change the car, but once in front of the bank clerk did think i can loan money for 10 years as well and lock myself up in the listening room.
Bye bye world.
I get off here.

Posted on: 02 April 2006 by Beano

Boxster 3.2S is, so I'm told, very tasty.The BMW M3 is an alternative with 4 seats. Residuals will be better with the Porche and it'll have better build quality as well. Or, the BMW M Roadster which is quite rare on the UK roads.

The Boxster is the start of the slippery slope toward the 911.
Test drive them, then you can decide what to spend you're money on. Goodluck and remember life is for living!

A couple of links for you to check out;

http://forum.boxa.net/
http://opc.cmwinteractive.com/servicepricing.asp?opc=4

Paul

Posted on: 02 April 2006 by John Channing

I own a 987 Boxster S and can confirm it is a sensational car. I don't agree that it will necessarily lead to wanting a 911 (currently the 997 Carrera) as I drove the Boxster S and Carrera S back to back one afterooon last year and came away with the Boxster. The 997, in S form at least is spectacularly quick, but the Boxster gives little or nothing away other than straight line speed. My car is now 14 months old and other than quite a lot of juice (it's averaging 26 mpg) the running costs have been minimal.
John

Posted on: 02 April 2006 by Tristram

John.

What tires are you running and how do you like them?

tw

Posted on: 03 April 2006 by Rasher

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Bull:
I always thought that MX5s were the ones associated with being gay and/or a hair-dresser. Boxsters are more associated with tiny-cocked, wealth-flaunting egomaniacs. Present company excepted of course.

Better add a for the hard of humour and point out that I drive an mx-5 myself.

Steve.

Doesn't it apply to every car?; BMW drivers are chavs and when you get to the 5 & 7 series - they are obviously builders. Volvo drivers are the ones that say "sorry, I didn't see you coming", Audi's by people in market research, white convertables of any type are from Essex and driven by orange women, ....I guess there is an angle on anything you drive.
There is probably an element of truth in it too..

Just look at the Subaru WRX & Evo thread. You can't complain about the tag when you are fully aware that it's coming.

Posted on: 03 April 2006 by Beano

I can confirm that I'm not a Builder, Market Researcher, Hairdresser/reseller of Pot- Pourri; but occasionally I drive my BMW 5 Series to the shops and back.

However, people are stereotyped into certain brackets by there choice of motor vehicle.

Paul

Posted on: 03 April 2006 by Bruce Woodhouse

Odd thing this sterotyping. I've always assumed that Boxsters were driven by people with the wit and intelligence to chose a car on its dynamic abilities without being bothered by the tired 'penis-size' cliches.

BMW X5's however.....

I drove a series of Alfa's for a while. I can categorically conclude they are driven by people who really should know better.

Bruce

Posted on: 03 April 2006 by rackkit

quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:
quote:
Originally posted by Steve Bull:
I always thought that MX5s were the ones associated with being gay and/or a hair-dresser. Boxsters are more associated with tiny-cocked, wealth-flaunting egomaniacs. Present company excepted of course.

Better add a for the hard of humour and point out that I drive an mx-5 myself.

Steve.

Doesn't it apply to every car?; BMW drivers are chavs and when you get to the 5 & 7 series - they are obviously builders. Volvo drivers are the ones that say "sorry, I didn't see you coming", Audi's by people in market research, white convertables of any type are from Essex and driven by orange women, ....I guess there is an angle on anything you drive.
There is probably an element of truth in it too.. Just look at the Subaru WRX & Evo thread. You can't complain about the tag when you are fully aware that it's coming.

Audi TT Owners?

Posted on: 03 April 2006 by Rasher

It says "one careful lady owner". I never would have guessed. TT's are mainly driven by Architects, aren't they?. Sorry...must stop doing this.

Posted on: 03 April 2006 by Nigel Cavendish

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Bull:
Boxsters are more associated with tiny-cocked, wealth-flaunting egomaniacs.

Steve.

But not wealthy enough to afford a real Porsche...

Posted on: 03 April 2006 by Paul Hutchings

quote:
Originally posted by Nigel Cavendish:

But not wealthy enough to afford a real Porsche...

You're right I couldn't afford a 911, other than a used one. I consider myself damned fortunate to be able to be considering a Boxster.

Posted on: 03 April 2006 by Rasher

quote:
Originally posted by Nigel Cavendish:
But not wealthy enough to afford a real Porsche...

Ouch.....
Is that it then, with a marque like Porche etc. It's about showing off wealth? It's a shame if that's all it comes down to. I thought it was about boyhood dreams.

Posted on: 03 April 2006 by Paul Hutchings

quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:
Ouch.....
Is that it then, with a marque like Porche etc. It's about showing off wealth? It's a shame if that's all it comes down to. I thought it was about boyhood dreams.

I was in a Porsche showroom yesterday and they had a new Carrera GT on display, you could just as easily say 911 owners only drive 911's because they can't afford one of those - thing is you have to draw a line somewhere.

Posted on: 03 April 2006 by felix

[quote=Rasher]TT's are mainly driven by Architects, aren't they?. [/quote]No. Well not this one

Posted on: 03 April 2006 by andy c

Mmm,

If the running cost of an SLK are similar, it depends on whether you are going to go dealer when servicing etc to protect the history...

andy c!

Posted on: 03 April 2006 by Rockingdoc

quote:
Originally posted by Paul Hutchings:
go out spend £30k on a loaded Saab/Volvo and people might think you're stupid but you're probably a nice person
cheers,
Tiny

That's me: "nice but dim" in my Saab while I was "aggressive, irresponsible, arsehole" in my Evo. I probably drive the Sabb faster, but nobody notices.

And people really have treated me totally differently just because of the car owned. Very strange, but very real phenomenon.

Posted on: 03 April 2006 by Beano

Put a Nissan 350Z on your list for test driving, along with the Honda S2000, both are very good.

Paul