Choices, Choices, Manual or Auto?

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The cheapest way into a Porsche sports car with the engine behind you has long been the Boxster. And these days, as 911s get further from reach for most of us, it makes even more sense to give the Boxster a go. Despite the deriding comments from those that see them as a poseurs car, it’s very hard to find a bad review from anyone who’s owned or driven one. Turners’ Otahuhu branch has two NZ new examples in the same auction next week – one manual, one auto – and both are pretty tempting. Read on...

The Boxster was launched in 1996 and is seen as the car that saved Porsche, who were in dire shape at the time. Without the Boxster, Porsche would not be the powerhouse it is today. But it was much more than a money-maker. Indeed, to make money it had to be good, and it was, and still is. It has sold incredibly well and continues to win award after award. In short, the Boxster and its hardtop brother, the Cayman, have been a phenomenon.

This 2010, NZ new 2^nd gen Boxster has the 2.9L flat six and a dual clutch automatic transmission. And while many drivers would prefer a manual gearbox, the auto actually provides faster acceleration due to its lightening fast changes. This car has travelled just 64,500kms and looks to be in very good shape. Of course service history is important, so you need to do some due diligence. It is guided at $28,000 - $35,000.

But if you have your heart set on a manual version, then there’s this 2008 NZ new 2.7L model with a good old fashioned manual gearbox. This one has done 110,250kms and is guided at $21,000 - $25,000

Despite these cars being 13 and 16 years old they still look like great value for sportscars that have become icons with pretty tasty performance. More details here and here.