WHealy

I had a 99 Boxster for a little over a year. Slightly different engine in the one you're looking at.

To my, My "8" completly reminds me of my Boxster. Handling to me is identical form memory of course. And yes, the Boxster has amazing trunk room with both front and rear. The shifting is nearly identical in that you are missing low end torque but one you get it up high, keep it there to keep going. For me, the extra seats and $20K+ price difference more than makes up for the rag top. If you seriously want to look at the Boxster, compare it to an "8" with similar miles or at least as close as you can get.

RX22

Okay, I've owned 2 Porsches, and my vote goes to the 8. My reason is that Porsches can be a real pain in the *** to own. They're reliablility is pretty good, but when something goes wrong it's a friggin' fortune to get it repaired. Plus, you have to find a really good "Porsche" mechanic to do the work, and they aint cheap. The last one I had was a 968, and as much as I loved to drive it, I just couldn't take the repair bills anymore. It gets kind of old when you have to replace a windshield wiper motor and it costs $600. My wife and I had a joke, everytime it went in the shop it cost at least $600. And a few times it was quite a bit more. It was my daily driver as well. Believe me, Porsches are great, but you need to know what you're getting into. If you do go the Porsche route, make sure and join the local PCA. It's a great club, but typically full of older members. Also, you may want to check into a warranty on the Boxster to cover the repair bills. It may cost you $1200 to $1800, but it would be well worth it. I had Warranty Gold on my FD, and it worked out well, plus the warranty is transferable if you sell it.

As far as the Boxster goes, if it's not an "S", it's not worth it, IMO. The non S Boxsters just don't have enough horsepower. The "S" is another story. Believe me, when I got my 8, I also considered a Boxster S, but the thought of the repair bills made my stomach turn. The 8 has great performance and should be pretty reliable, as most Japanese cars are. Plus, it won't take a house payment to get some work done on it.

Good luck with your decision, I know Porsches can be pretty hard to resist, but then again, so can the 8.

BTW, my RX-8 is my 14th sports car, and it's my favorite.

rotten42

You're probably getting static on the deal because of your age. Start playing the dealers back and forth...even other manufacturers like say Nissan. Before you step into the showroom, decide on the price that you are going to pay and work it until you get the price. Too many people have such a hard-on to buy the car that they cave and pat too much. Also, just when the salesman thinks the deal is done, get up and tell him that you'd like to take a couple of days to think about it. That drives them nuts...they don't want to let you leave without signing the deal. That last move saved my $500.

carpediem

rotten, very slick. Did you buy that day or did you actually take a couple days?

Overport

in your situation i would go with the 8. for a daily driver it has more room than the porsche, handles better to.

carpediem

Ya, if the 8 handles as good as the porsche, it will kick ***. You guys are saying it is better... there is better? wow!

Important question: What about the phenomenon known as "Chick Magnetism"?

RUmble

THat would have more to do with you than your car! Unless you're talking about Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Mercedes etc...

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

unless the car has ridiculously low miles I personally pick new over used any day, new=you know where it's been and how it's been treated (for the most part)
used=hard to tell and you will never really know how it's been treated (unless you know the owner personally etc.)

RX22

If you need a car to get chicks you've got a real problem. I've always hated that!

carpediem

I don't NEED a car for that... just wondering which will impress the girl more. Which car would interest a girl more?

blitzkriegs

You get your "i have a porsche glory" with the porsche. You are also getting a USED car where parts are very expensive around the 50K range.

No offense here, but can you chill your ego for a NEW "fresh" car instead of the USED "outdated" one?

Space is always an issue when you have one car (if that is your case).

Also, check the insurance 1st with about 10 different companies. Porsche = expensive parts = higher insurance eventhough used. Use the VIN numbers for the most accurate rates.

Enjoy.

kilted

I just picked up my RX-8 on Saturday, and I feel I got a decent deal on it. Of course I use to sell cars and so I know most of the tricks and games. First of all don't ask the dealer for the invoice, you don't need to. Go to http://www.edmunds.com and get the invoice price there. Do be aware that the invoice at Edmunds won't contain any advertising fees as these can vary depending on where you are located, but they normally don't go over a few hundred dollars anyway. At Edmunds you can also find out what people are paying for the car in your area (on average) which is very helpful while you are negotiating. Edmunds also lists all incentives on the car, including dealer cash, so you can be aware of any room the dealer has to move on the price.

When you go in know EXACTLY how you want the car, all the options, color, everything. Explain to the sales person that you know what you want and if they will work with you so that you can buy it at a price YOU consider fair (it shouldn't matter to you if the dealer thinks it is fair) then you will buy the car. Also let them know in no uncertain terms that you will not allow them to waste your time.

The salesperson will probably ask what kind of payments you are looking for, tell them you aren't interested in discussing payments, you are interested in discussing the price of the car. They might then ask what you want to pay for the car, respond with something like "I know what I am willing to pay, but the dealership has to make the decision on what you are willing to sell the car for. So why don't you tell me the lowest price at which you are willing to sell the car". Remember, if you state a price first you will loose in the negotiations, be very firm on this. If they won't give you a price ask for one of the salesperson's cards, do not take it with you, instead write a number where they can reach you on it and hand it back to the sales person explaining that you are unwilling to play games, tell them that they can call you when they are ready to deal with you in a respectful and honest manner and in the meantime you will be shopping at other dealerships. Then leave, don't let them talk you into staying, be very firm and leave.

If they do give you a price compare it with the invoice price and the average price paid you got off the web, they might very well give you a fair price early on. If you think it is fair then tell them so. If you don't think it is fair tell them that as well and make them come up with another price, but you should not tell them a price.

Once you have agreed on a price the real fun begins. Leasing is too complicated for me to get into, but be aware that a dealer will sell you a car for less than they paid for it knowing that they can probably make up the difference by raping you on financing. Dealers can hold points on the interest rate you will pay, the bank may be willing to finance you at 6% but when you go to sign the paper work you see you are paying 9%. The dealer adds on these extra points and splits the difference with the bank, this can be a lot of money for the dealer. Go to credit unions and banks and see what they can do for you, also allow the dealer to make you an offer on financing, do not tell the dealer at any time that you may not finance through them until the very end of the process. If the dealer comes back with a higher interest rate than you have found on your own tell them that you have looked around and that their numbers are way out of line and that you don't appreciate being taken advantage of in this way. If you are talking to the dealer on a weekday while the banks are open give them an hour to come up with something better, if they don't go to another dealer. Be very firm, let them know you are angry, but do not be impolite, be very business like.

When I bought my car last week the second offer the dealer made was well below the average selling price in my area for the car, and somewhat below invoice. So we agreed on price quickly, They tried to rape me on financing, originally quoting me an interest rate of 10.9%, they actually came up with the best interest rate I could get by the time I signed the papers though, 6.94%, that is a huge savings for me.

Be polite, but be firm, go in prepared, and never give the sales person any information you don't have to give him/her. At your age you won't be taken as seriously, so I would recommend going in well dressed and be very serious and business like the entire time you are at the dealership, the salesperson will want you to think that they are your friend, don't fall for it.

And have fun, it is all a game in the end, and winning this game brings great financial and personal satisfaction