I had a '99 Boxster as a second car and really enjoyed it. It was definitely not the fastest car in the world but the balance was excellent. That mid-engine layout is pretty amazing. It's also a fairly practical car as roadsters go. You could actually pack more than a pair of underwear and a toothbrush, unlike in some of the competition. I actually made a couple of Costco runs in mine. The front and rear trunks really can hold quite a bit.

It sounds like you want a Porsche and there is nothing wrong with that. I cross-shopped the S2000 but honestly, I wanted a P-car. I liked the looks and the design. I knew that if I wanted more power I could have gotten it in the same price range but I wanted a Boxster. (Can you say Corvette?) Perhaps you don't like the looks of the M Roadster or it's out of your price range. Either way, if you want a Boxster I say go for it. Depending on what you want to spend, you might consider the 996's that others have suggested but to get a 996 Cabrio I think you'd be paying quite a bit, especially in SoCal. Also, it's a different experience driving a rear engine versus the mid-engine. That's my opinion.

As far as problems, there aren't that many except the main one you hear about is a leaky rear main seal (RMS). There is no rhyme or reason to the problem as it happens to some brand new Boxsters (I'm speaking of the 986 version, not the current 987) and some older ones like mine never had a leak. I never had any issues with mine at all. I also found maintenance to be manageable and there are so many independent mechanics to care for it. The top is well designed and while some very early examples had faulty cables that deteriorated quickly and caused $$$ damage, the later cars were fine. If you are concerned about preserving the top you can either buy a hardtop or the more sensible solution is a top cover or tonneau. I had the latter and used it most of the time, keeping the soft top from having to go up and down too often.

Another thing that is nice about the Boxster is that it has an integral roll bar and thus most tracks will allow you on. Convertibles are generally not allowed without a rollbar. (S2000's and M Roadsters are okay too, I think.) It's a fun car to autocross and track. I was never the fastest car but I always had a blast and enjoyed the Boxster's outstanding handling.

Your question has been posed many times before and as I stated, I was there too. What it comes down to is what you like and and what you want. If you want a Porsche in the garage for the ownership experience and caché, that's fair. If you have a thing for them, don't let anyone talk you out of it. Any doubts you have will be erased when you drive a Boxster, top down as it was meant to be driven, through Torry Pines on a nice summer day. There's nothing like it.

Let us know what you do.

__________________