I've always enjoyed convertibles and have been without one for a few years now. I'm thinking of getting something for just open-top cruising and leisurely drives during nice days (which is about 90% of the year out here). No real need for higher HP or track performance since I'll have the 996TT for that.

The question is -- now that you've had a Porsche Turbo, would you consider adding a 986 Boxster S (with the IMS fix, of course) to the stable? My other options would include S2000, Z4, Miata, or even an older air-cooled 911 (pre-964) targa/cab.

 

I would do an air cooled 911 cab! I have owned a 964 and loved it! Was thinking of trying a 993 C4s cab myself!! I think the Boxster would be a no go for sure if you could do any air cooled 911 instead!! Good luck!!

 

There are some good choices in that list. The Boxster has always gotten excellent reviews for balance and handling. The Z4 has been pretty close to it, though usually just a small notch below. Personally, I think the Z is a better looking car (and has a metal folding roof), but to each their own.

The Miata has been around longer than any of these for good reason, and the latest generations continue to get better and better reviews than the previous ones.

I don't really like the wind forever trait of the S2000 motor so that would push it off my list. Having a really high redline is nice, but in this case, it's mainly there to compensate for a lack of torque.

Of course I'm a Porschephile, but since you already have one, why not go for a little variety? Plus the maintenance costs will be much (much) higher and most likely a lot more frequent.

Personally, I'd go for the Miata (if I could fit in one anyway). You'll be able to afford a more recent one than any of the other cars, they're very reliable, and there's a reason they've been in production for so many years with such high sales. They also consistently get awesome reviews. And last but now least, you can swap a Corvette LS motor in them pretty easily and it'll give your Porsche a run for its money.....

 

I had several Miatas (including DIY and factory turbos) between 94 and 2004. Nice enough cars. I bought a 2004 Boxster S and kept the 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata turbo, thinking that since they were so different I'd enjoy having both. Three months later I had driven the Miata exactly once, and only because I needed to run it a few minutes anyway and decided to take it to the store. At that point I decided the overlap between it and the Boxster was just too great, and I would always choose the 986.

Being a Porsche guy for a lot of years (got into Miatas because they are so much fun and cheap to run on the track, can be made to make a lot of power relative to weight) I would say stick with your idea of the 986S. It is priced to represent exactly the same bargain in the roadster world that the 996TT represents in the hypercar world. Low mile examples of $65,000 cars will cost you low-twenties, and there are plenty of well-heeled people who bought one and have maintained it by the book at the dealer.

You would get that same weighty control feeling (including steering) you are used to, the cokcpit, once settled in, is indistinguishable from a 996 -- sure, the Turbo came with more leather standard, but every ounce of that leather could be ordered for the 986, and sometimes was. The windshield is lower, the car feels very open, you don't sit down in a bathtub. The M96 is really a fine motor with an Achilles heel that is very easily corrected now. I've even chosen not to do so till I need a clutch anyway. If the motor lets go (appx 10% of the single-row IMSB cars do, which is 2001-2005) Jake Raby is right up the road from me with 3.8 and 4.2 liter M96 builds that would really be transformative. If not, I'm enjoying the car immensely 9 years in, and added the 996TT not because I'm dissatisfied with the Boxster's performance but because I wanted a slightly roomier Porsche for trips with the wife, etc. The Turbo is my Panamera!

 

Good input above i guess it will depend on your budget and intended use, u may wanna consider a Vette too since car mags always compare the two at least a C5 and up it's cheap to own, maintain,exhaust tone, and gobs of torque.

 

Yeah, Vettes, especially on the secondary market, are remarkable cars. My brother has alternated between Porsches and Vettes for his last six sportscars, with C4, C5 and C6 interspersed with 3 911s. So I've gotten to spend a lot of time in the vettes. Remarkable performance cars, no doubt.

That said, they are not for me. One simple reason is I'm just not a Vette guy. I see 2swoosh that you have a wide variety of wonderful cars, and I applaud that. But I am much more of a Porsche guy and just stick with that. I don't like the idea of me parking my C6 out in the lot and walking into the restaurant from it. It's silly, but just how it is. Any Vette from late C4 on up could clean up at the track over my Box S, but that doesn't matter to me. Don't know if the OP is this way or not.

As for the OP's mission with this car, the extra oomph of the Vette doesn't seem like it buys him anything if he's looking for a top-down cruiser. So if he likes the aesthetics and control feel and interior comfort of the Boxster that would seem a good choice. Not saying those things are better in the Porsche than the Vette -- but they're definitely different.

 

no problem there NoGaBiker the OP indicated leisure driving i guess an 84 911 targa or vert will provide a great driving experience.

 

This pic was taken a few days after I bought my Turbo in April '11. The Boxster is my Wife's and she bought it in '01 and it has just 25K miles on it. It's mint and a Tip with a small 2.5 motor but it's as fun to drive as my Turbo, just not as fast. The Boxster is amazing, it's windshield is a couple of inches lower, the cabin is tighter, the steering much lighter and the weight centrally balanced. It's all Porsche, think 914, 550 Spyder or the first series 356 with mid motor. I'd often thought If I got rid of my Turbo and wanted to downsize my toys I could be very happy with a Boxster.