40th birthday gift - Boxster or Retro?

A good Boxster is great to drive. I bought one and didn't regret it, also sold it for same price as paid.

Classic every time.

I spent my 40th birthday money on my first Imp. My then wife gave me divorce papers.

I now have four classics.

How about this -


www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-SPYDER-718-RSK-VW-Beetle-based-body-conversion-kit-car-/261963007830?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cfe364756

Beetle based replica of one of the '50's Porsches that inspired the Boxter design.

Parts still available from here:

www.718-rsk.co.uk/

Simple mechanicals, no Porsche scene tax on parts and no IMS paranoia

For my 40th I got myself a '67 VW Squareback just because it was built/registered in the year I was born. I had always promised myself a car that was as old as me!

having tried a boxter I have to disagree with this... a lot of people who's never tried em call MX5's hairdressers cars as well, the Boxter is a bloody good drive that feels well built and reliable. in fact I think the only one of the hairdresser cars that actually deserves its reputation is the Audi TT, because they are truly curse word...

Yawn, yawn, and thrice yawn!!

@ scratcher, I'm presuming you've never owned a Boxster (given the fact that you've mis-spelled the cars name), but if you have, I'll apologise for this next comment and take it back in this case, however 99.9% of people who come out with the generic "Hairdresser's car blah blah" diatribe have never actually driven one. They usually change their mind when they do. Boxsters are fantastic cars, well put together and handle better than the 911.

To the OP, there are loads of Boxsters out there for £5k or less, stupidly low money for what they are really, but my advice is if you buy a 'cheap' one, have a couple of grand as a slush fund to get the things sorted that will probably need doing. We are planning a run round Europe in our early Boxster next year. Can't wait. They are surprisingly practical too, due to the front and rear boots, so loads of room for all the bags for that road trip.

Here's my RR thread for my 18 year old 986....

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/174902/1997-porsche-boxster-2-5

Having said all the above, there's some gorgeous retro stuff out there within your budget.

I probably didn't help at all, so sorry for that, but good luck with whatever you decide to do. Keep us informed.

Can't you buy and drive the Boxster now and start building the ultimate MGB GT?

Other option might be a BMW Z3 Coupe, but I can't find a non-M for sale in the UK. Never offered for sale here?

Won't trouble you with detailing my non-Carrera hairdressing mid life crisis then.


For anyone else with an open mind, I think they are a great car. I was looking for a 996 and after looking at a few, and feeling a bit underwhelmed I decided to see what else I could get for my money.

I've ended up with a 987 2.7, and I've found it a bit of a revelation. The handling is just brilliant, so well balanced but with a pliant ride. It steers, accelerates, brakes and changes gear with utter precision and there is just enough power to stretch its legs properly on the average British A and B road. Then there is the flat six howl...

I'm not going to go on - just test drive one - see for yourself.

I've never liked how the Boxster looks, so I've never driven one, I must admit though I quite fancy getting hold of a Gay men at some point. But if this was my dilemma, how about Porsche 944, satisfies your Porsche and retro car cravings in one go!