Like most kids of my generation, I had a fascination with motor vehicles that started well before I was legally able to drive. The attraction continues to this day, and it has been the motivation behind my owning some interesting cars and bikes over the years. None of them were exotic or expensive, but a lot of them were unique. Many of them also required repair and substantial maintenance, which I faithfully provided.
Last year, an opportunity arose to purchase a 2006 Porsche Boxster – a car that I believed to be out of my league. The price was right, the mileage was low, and the engine and transmission seemed sound. Minutes into the test drive, I knew that I had to have it. I now own an atlas grey metallic 2006 Porsche Boxster 987 with 19 in. sport wheels and a 6-speed manual transmission. It has a 6-cylinder, 2.7L engine with 240 HP.
Even after a year, I still cannot believe that I own a Porsche.
There were some issues (that is why the price was right). The convertible top did not align itself into the channel (without some external help) and the windows did not automatically lower and raise when the door was opened. These seemed like minor issues, and they did not affect the driving, but they were a little beyond my level of expertise. Some trips to the local Porsche dealership were required (which turned out to be a surprisingly good experience).
The Boxster is fast, and the 6-cylinder boxer engine sounds great. The 240 HP engine is more than sufficient to propel a 2,900 lb. vehicle. It is not super quick off the line (although 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds is not too bad), but it accelerates surprisingly fast from 40 mph to 80 mph. It definitely sits you back in your seat in all six gears. It is also extremely agile, and handles like nothing that I have ever previously driven. You practically just think about turning, and you are already through the turn.
So far, besides being our daily driver, we have taken the Boxster on several vacations. One was a 540-mile, 8-hour drive to Asheville, NC, with stops at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the Tail of the Dragon. The car is relatively quiet with the top up on the freeway. Of course, it is a convertible, so there is definitely some road noise, but we were able to easily listen to music and a recorded book. We experienced an average of 27 mpg for the trip (for everyday driving it averages about 25 mpg). It also has 9.9 cu. ft. of luggage capacity, which is sufficient for a 6-day trip. The cargo space is oddly shaped, so regularly shaped suitcases may not fit well. We use duffel bags, and four large bags and a soft-sided cooler fit easily, with room to spare.
At Tail of the Dragon, April 17, 2019 (side view).
At Tail of the Dragon, April 17, 2019 (rear view).
I would be happy to answer any questions.