If you believe that you're a great driver & you won't be doing irresponsible things with the car, then by all means, definitely pick it up. I don't see experience as a intriguing factor. I was 18 when I picked up a year old (at the time) 2002 BMW 325i sedan & in the beginning, a lot of people told me that I didn't deserve the car because I was too young/irresponsble & its too high-end for me, etc.... 2.5 years & 40K miles later, I proved myself to them that I am a safe driver & very responsible to maintain the upkeep of a BMW.
roads in my area are actually surprisingly plowed extremely fast. but i could always drive my moms stupid crv. and the snow doesnt stay that long. in between storms it gets ok.
Take a driving course. My friend bought his 16 year old daughter a new M3 cabrio.....made her take Skip Barber first. Probably will save her life some day.
Forgot about that one-- if the Boxster is anything like the BMW, it's basically unusable in the winter.
A Miata with two sets of tires (you'll need winter tires) might fit the bill. Just something to think about.
This is just my opinion, so do whatever makes you happy - but I highly recommend not stretching yourself too thin to make this car purchase happen. If you're looking at a cheap example of an expensive car, there's a good chance it's that price for a reason. I don't know the Boxster market very well, so maybe that's an average price. There are plenty of fun used cars for less money, and that are cheaper to fix. Just my opinion - I've been there, done that, and regretted it!
There's really nothing dangerous about a base Boxster, esp a well used 1997 or something; let your dad compare it with a Honda Accord; the Accord will smoke a Boxster in a race (not around a corner of course) and comes with 40 more horsepower. A Nissan Altima has 60 more horsepower. Its not exactly a top fuel dragster.
Actually, with snow tires, there is not much the boxster won't handle. Drove mine through an entire winter with no problems. Ten inches of snow was no problem. Traction is not much of an issue with the weight of the engine so close to the rear axle and a set of snow tires. As for the original question about the car and your age, I don't think it's a problem. One thing to be prepared for is the potential for expensive repairs, but if you choose carefully you can rule out problem cars. The boxster is fun and agile and gives you a nice break in to mid-engine sports cars and their unique handling. Most routine(brakes, oil)maintenance can be done yourself and provides a great learning opportunity as well. For LOTS more info: www.ppbb.com
This might be the deal braker; Tell your dad that you're being real-heavy-dead honest with him. You *know* you'll want to test the limits of the car, etc. You're a teenager, it's natural and he'll have been there himself. Here's where you show wisdom beyond your ears and say: BUT you don't want to do it on the street where it's dangerous! You want to get it OUT of your system at DRIVER'S EDUCATION DAYS on the track like we old farts on ferrarichat.com do! Tell him how you read that everyone who tracks their car just dosen't feel the need to push it on the streets anymore. (and it's quite true.) If you play this right, you can get him to pay for weekly trips to the local drag strip, and all the track days at local road courses. You'll end up a much better driver, and will just not feel the need to race idoits on the street when you can REALLY race *profesionals* on a *race track*!!!
Where have you been all my life!? That is pure gold! And I would actually never street race even if i didn't go to tracks because street racing is retarded and dumb as hell.
A Boxster shouldn't be a problem at all to drive. I'm 20 and have a 350Z and I drive like a grandma. Because of gas prices, I've been driving 60mph on I-75 where the speed limit here is 70, lol. I get 31.5 mpg! I agree with the guy that suggested the NSX. Great car, good reliability, looks amazing after all these years, handles fantastic. Don't have to worry about depreciation if you get a '91!
Coincidentally, I am also 18 and i am lucky enough to be driving a 2000 boxster. While I would be the first to admit that it is not a practical car for a teenager, I really do not think the car is too powerful for someone our age. The car handles superbly (haven't driven many high performance cars in my life, but one of the stiffest cars i have ever driven), and the steering is tight. The car never feels like it is getting out of control, and I feel very safe in it, even with the top down on the highway. In snow conditions, i'd really recommend a hardtop on top of the snow tires as previously mentioned. I was lucky to get the car with two years of warranty left, so when the warranty ended last year in 2004 i've spent less than 50 bucks on an oil change and 800 dollars to replace the alternator. Don't forget that it requires premium gas, too. Bottom line, if you can afford the occassional repair cost, it is in my opinion a very safe car for a teenager. By all means go for it! It's been over a year, and I still get the same excitement driving it as the day I got it. Driving anything else seems like a bore. If you need help with research and want some more opinions, go to porsche pete's boxster board. Great community like fchat with very helpful people. www.ppbb.com. Good luck!
I'm 17 and have a '95 M3. It's really not the kind of car you're looking for... tons of engine mods (CF CAI, 24# injectors, Shrick cams, Supersprint headers, Turner Motorsports Chip, Super Sprint Exhaust, LTW clutch, UUC shortshift, Bilsteins shocks w/ H&R sport springs... among more) so its not really what your looking for... BUT... It's really a superb driver. My dad has a 996 cab, and my car out-performs it in every category except braking (but its close). So a non-modified E36 M3 would probably be a better choice than the boxster because 1) Back seat, bigger trunk. 2) Lots of possibilities if you ever wanted to go down the mod. road. 3) Great, great, GREAT "cool" car. BMW, but old= classic/ not a snob. 4) A '98 boxster with 80K miles will be 10K miles a year, whereas a '95 M3 with 80K would only be 7300 a year, so some less wear. 5) lastly, I'm pretty sure, if you find the right M3, it will have been kept up perfectly by a pretty anal owner, where-as a really used boxster will be pretty beat. I was on the fence between a boxster and my car, but the performance of mine was better, and there was SO much more practicality... but don't forget Its your choice, have fun with whatever you end up with.
Well talked with my parents and they said no. they wouldn't give a reason. they just said no. so i am not getting a car. after being extremely pissed, i had a talk with teenferrarifan, and he really put it into perspective. It just would not be fair to the car. I am in my senior year of high school. Next summer i am moving to germany for the whole summer, and then coming back and going right to college. Also, the winters do get snow, and although some of you say they are good, it just would not be as fun for me to have it during the snow time, and then only get to use it for 2 months and then go off to germany. So that would mean the car would have to be sitting for a looooooooong time. and i won't be home that much, so it will sit even longer. the only way this would work out is if i went to a commuter school, and there is no way in hell you will get me to live at home. I am going to put this off until i go to business school. my first car is going to be a porsche boxster, it is just the age at which i get it will be later. thanks to all who have given such good info, and thanks teenferrarifan for putting some perspective on the situation.
i bought an evo when i was 18. best thing i have ever done, i say go for the boxter @19k, or spend maybe 3-4k more and get an evo. thats a real grocery getter, 4 doors and all.........its a good justification to the parents also maturity plays into this. i dont know you, but some people that are in the late teens/early 20s are really stupid. however i speak mainly about the ricers in LA. Just because you have an STi/evo you can still be worse off in my book than someone with a civic. example: the guy in a STi with probably only a loud blow off valve that wanted to race me, i suppose into the back of the cars that were stopped at a red light 50 yards in front of us. i got on the freeway to continue my drive, needless to say he didnt have it to get on with me and really wind it out or my friend in his race prepped 2g eclipse bottom line. do it, you only live once. if this car shortens that time, then at least you had fun
I got my first porsche at 16, Ohh the memories, Not of the car but of the girls I picked up with the car. just do it!
