OK, you all know I have my Cayman S for sale! In case you didn't check the for sale section. So I have committed to my mom to buy my deceased step-dads Mini. From there the plan was to turn it into a monster track car. I have even bought some unobtanium parts (JCW Challenge coil-overs and Wing - both are NEW in box). But being a Porsche guy, I got to thinking about a 1999 to 2002 Boxster (not S, out of my price range). I figure I can spend in the 8-9K range on a Boxster. There are a few of them out there in that price range. Some of them available locally in the DFW area. The idea would be to turn the Boxster into a track monster too. So WHAT SHOULD I DO!?!?!?!?!? Buy my Mom's mini and have fun with it for a couple of years? Or sell it for her. Then once the CS sells, I would buy a Boxster. AHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Silly question for here. We are going to say MINI. It's an R53 by your sig. So it's great start. And we're a friendlier bunch anyway.
For what it's worth you should do what you want. That being said you need to have a talk with Mom & see if selling that MINI is OK with her. She may have a strong attachment to it. For my money I'd keep the MINI. Good luck on your decision.
I have both and as you know fast is cheaper in a MINI. Remember the early Boxsters can have IMS issues and the very early 2.5L cars are in my mind a bad idea all the way around. But if you really are going to basically make it a track car and not daily it I do agree that I would go with a nice clean 2.7L Boxster. They are just so wonderfully balanced and the brakes are incredible.
Good Points. I have a lot of experience with the 968 Boxster and 987 Cayman and have tracked them all. I agree, the 2.5 is not a good option. The 2.7 is best. My decision may be sealed based on what I get out of the cayman anyway. 8K or less, buy my mom's mini, 9K or more, probably a Boxster. Thanks! Rob T.
:idea: I'm a Mini guy now; but a car guy my whole life, having owned over 30 cars since High School. You said it yourself, you're a Porsche guy. If you settle on the Mini, you'll never be happy with it because you'll be trying to make it a Porsche. There's a world of difference between driving/racing a car with front wheel drive verses one w/rear wheel drive. Go with the seat of your pants and your Mother's blessing.:wink2
Test drive them both, and get the car that you like more... Not sure if you are trying to get a bunch of fan-boy posts....its not like you didn't post this on a MINI site...er...all of them.... Ask a MINI lover what to buy...I can tell you the result!! LOL.
OMG . . . do you want to Grin and Smile every turn you make in a Mini or be a Boxster Snob . . . No doubt what the correct answer should be . . :biggrin5:
I love my Mini Cooper S, but I prefer RWD for a track toy. A Boxster makes a great one. You can even build a Spec Boxster. I do a lot of contract work for RAC Performance (formerly RUF Auto Centre) in Dallas. They have built a handful of Spec Boxsters, as well as other track cars. You generally start off with a $5K or so car. You should go by and talk to them. CD
You said it was for the track. The answer to this existential question will make it all clear young grasshopper: Is it more fun to pass a MINI in a Porsche, or is it more fun to pass a Porsche in a MINI? Every time I think about selling the MINI for a Cayman S (which is undeniably a great car), I ask myself that. And then I don't.
Funny coincidence. My wife and I ordered our first Mini tonight, a CM JCW Edition....and she traded in her 2002 Boxster S for it ! We have had that car for 11 years, and she was ready to move on.... The Boxster was stock and I had it on the track at Mid-Ohio once(my wife had driven it to the track during one of my track day weekends, and I figured, what the heck, try it out). This car is NO track car in stock form that's for sure. I'm sure you are already prepared for this, but any Boxster you get will need to definite suspension/chassis upgrades to truly be track-worthy.