Here’s Why The Porsche Boxster ALWAYS Beats The Porsche 911! The Simple Formula That Proves It! 

I saw an ad for the boxster when I was around 10 or 12. I began to have dreams about it. I loved how it looked. I never thought I'd get to own one. In december of 2021 I had a 718 delivered to my doorstep in a spec much nicer than young me ever thought I'd get to own. At 23 I get to drive my dream car! I *technically* could have "afforded" to buy the S or GTS -- but I realized I was simply falling down the rabbit hole that many car enthusiasts do, which is wanting more of a good thing. Return on investment as far as fun goes is not linear, and being able to have something i really love AND not have it be a financial burden is why buying a base boxster is a great fucking idea. No, you don't need the chrono package either. Just drive the damned thing and realize how great it feels. I took it down highway 1 here in california up and down the coast. Handled LIKE A DREAM! Anyway, to anyone reading this and wondering "do I need more", the answer is probably not.

in terms of the diminishing returns curve of the 718 vs 911, realistically this is true of most things in life,... if you want to buy good hi-fi equipment you will pay X.. if you want the absolute best hi-fi equipment that measures maybe at most 10% better than the mid-range stuff, you're going to pay 10X the price...

Superb video! Thanks for doing it, I've always said my 981 is a better car than my previous 997. Yes! I had a 911 and then bought a 981! ;-)

I own two Boxster. 2001 Boxster S and a 2008 Boxster. I am in love with these cars. I am 76 years old and when I am driving these I feel like am 25. What fun!

The first time I did a lane change in my Boxster and turned my head to check the lane to the right, I had a flashback to my years as a motorcyclist- no windows, no pillars, no blind spots. It's more like riding a bike than driving a hardtop automatic. So it's 95% of the fun of riding a motorcycle with about 5% of the danger.

You make a great point. The "backseats" in the 911 are not worth twice the price of the boxster and the fact the engine is in the right place in the boxster is even better. As many have said the 911 Carrera is moving inexorably towards being a sporty luxury GT car and away from being an outright sportscar. Great video.

Owned both and loved both. What you're not mentioning is the resale value after you had so much fun :)

EVERY time I drive our 2006 Boxster S I get out thinking "THIS is a _great_ car". It absolutely sticks to the road, I've never driven a car with such balanced handling. You can always seem to feed in more turn angle and it tightens more and more without ever struggling. With Mich PS4S tires on public roads you cannot really push the limits. Sounds good with stock exhaust and is unassuming. This car is all about the driver's enjoyment who cares what other people think.

I am fortunate to own both a 2015 Boxster GTS and a 2005 911 Carrera convertible. Much as I love driving the 911, the Boxster has WAY more fun factor in terms of handling/looks/performance. Recently, I went and drove a 2015 911 GTS convertible at my local dealer to see if it was worth trading in my older 911. Honestly, other than cosmetics and modern gadgets in the 2015 911 GTS, I did not see the need to trade and more importantly, still felt the Boxster was a prettier car and handled WAY better. Over the years I have been lucky to own and drive many nice cars and I can honestly say that the 2015 Boxster GTS (981), is the best bargain and most fun car I've ever owned. So Jay, I totally agree with your assessment. Best deal out there and I agree, Porsche keeps the Boxster purposely slower so it does not undermine the 911. It should be interesting to see how the Porsche 911 fans view the new 718 Boxster GTS 4.0. Car reviews have been very favourable. My local dealer has orders for a pile of them already. Time will tell. Thanks for making this wonderful video, really explained what many of us knew, now you proved it with math! Cheers

Good review, I agree with your approach to calculating the fun/cost ratio.

That research has to deserve a like

I purposefully search out old hard Tyers for my manual 986 Boxster s just so I can drift around every single street that has a corner

I've had a silver 981 and now a white 718 Boxster and I don't see the point in spending all the extra money on a 911. Same interior and almost same performance for half the cost...I love Boxsters! I put the top down just about every day here in sunny Florida...

I’ve had 3 x 911 and two Boxsters, they are all great cars I do agree, they are as good as a 911 and the new ones in my opinion look better

After owning a base 986 (2003), a Boxster S 50 year anniversary edition (2004), a 997 C2S cabriolet (2006), a 997 C4S cab.(2007), a 997 C2S cab. (2012,end of production), and now a 718 Boxster S - the mid-engine cars are better; way more fun and engaging, more practical. Not quite as chic, perhaps, but I can’t see it when I’m driving it! They were all manuals, as is the 718 S I have now.

Very well articulated Jay. Spot on!

This past July, Car and Driver named the 981 model one of the most important cars of the last 50 years. As an owner of a 981 Boxster S, I would agree.

I have owned both, the Boxter, is just so much more FUN, and it has more storage (trunk holds my golf Clubs) and it is cheaper

I love this video. Thank you for your analytical approach to Porsches. A refreshing view.

I am a first time Porsche owner after lusting for a 911 for the last 40 yrs. I was fortunate in life to be able to fulfill my dream and searched for months for a base 991 Carrera in the colors and options I wanted. While searching however, I came across several 981 Cayman's which really intrigued me. The mid engine concept, flat six, 6MT and an interior every bit as luxurious as many 911's. After test driving the Cayman, my mind was made up. Sure I could have afforded the 991 but my 981 Cayman is everything I hoped my first Porsche would be. I couldn't be happier and it's looks are killer! Great analysis relative to value. It's what was informally going through my mind as well but you described it perfectly!

Ive recently bought a 07 987 boxster thats done 172kMiles. Still drives beautifully and is a head turner. I now find any excuse to drive.

I agree with you 100%. I own an old 986 with now close to a 1/4 mill on the clock. Service it myself and found it very easy to maintain and fairly cheap due to ebay and YT tutorials. Otherwise locally I can not afford parts and the proper P service. Using it as a daily driver as well as a fun car that all my kids also drive whenever they want, we keep it pretty much in mint condition. Fantastic car, cheap fun and never ever did a feeling of richness came so cheap. My fellow members of the P Club look pretty much down on me but I don't care. I can never afford their new 911's, but regarding the Boxster, every moment, the past 10 years made for memories of total pleasure and immense fun.

Nice video. My car is a 12 year old 911 and I love the way it looks and drives. I noticed my old 911 is still over a second quicker 0-60 than a new boxster. Either way I'm sure I would be very happy driving both cars. What a great choice to have.

Hello from across the pond! Great video! Just purchased my Porsche Boxster s and picking up this weekend. It is all about individual taste and I think you are spot on! Cheers!

I’ve owned a 996 GT3 and now own a 781 Boxster S. During PCA track days there were a couple of seasoned Cup car drivers in 781’s I couldn’t catch. Phenomenal car in capable hands.

Super content! Thanks Jay. I entered the world of Porsche this year when I bought a 2004 986 2.7 as a 50th birthday gift to myself😁. Love the channel by the way👍

I fully agree, I have a Boxster and has been a great experience with a fair and reasonable price.

This is one of the best videos we have watched about the Porsche Boxster on RU-vid. Great fact finding and commentary. Love this dudes accent.

Another great video. You deserve way more subscribers. Please keep doing what you do so well...

Thanks for the video. I do own 05-911 Convertable and I never did understand the nonsense around boxsters. Mid Engine is always going to be better than rear engine but I simply like the 911 look over the boxsters of old. For the past 10 years now the boxster look just keeps on getting better and with it's superior handling characteristics unfortunately for some it will no longer be the cheaper version of the Porsche.

Couldn't agree with you more! Especially with the 718. Even the base models give the 911 a run for its money. Having driven multiple different 911's I finally landed on a 718 Boxster with PDK. What a little rocket! The way it feels beats anything I've ever tried before. So light and direct. You can say what you want about these new 4 cylinder engines but damn they're quick!

Great number crunching. I like the way you looked at this. I had a 997 C4 and felt the 4 wheel drive helped make up for the poor weight distribution of a 911. I spent gobs of money on it to make it a track performer and had a great time. A freak garage fire destroyed the car and I am looking for a replacement. I think a GT4 is the way to go and this video helps make that point now that I know how much I like track days. Thanks!

A fun viewing Thank you, I have a 986 S 2002 6 speed and love its enjoyment and smile factor not to mention ability for ease of maintenance in a sport car, my mate loved it so much he just went out and grabbed a 987.2 Cayman PDK.

Wow that was good. I did a calculation and of the time it took me to watch this video and the enjoyment provided and came to 110% fun for time spent. Keep up the good work. Like your channel..

I have owned my 718 Boxster S since it first came out. One word. Incredible!!

Loving my new to me 987.1 5MT. Far better than I thought it would be actually. Great car

Bought my first Boxster in 1998! Have owned every generation since and have never yearned for anything else. Ive been driving my latest 718bs for the past 4 years and can honestly say this could be my last. Just couldn’t imagine wanting anything more from a car now. Perfection.

I have an 04 boxster 5 speed manual. I freakin love this car. Its my first porsche and the best 15k (6 years ago) i ever spent. Put the roof down, cruise the back roads of Pennsylvania and its a glorious day out with the wife. What more could you ask for?

Awsome big man cheers for the info 👍🏾🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

i have Boxster 981...2.7....amazing e beautiful car!

Cost aside. I owned a 2006 Boxster S and loved the car. It had incredible balance and cornered wonderfully but, I found myself wanting more power and more brakes. I have also driven a 911 Carrera 4S and I'm sorry, the 911 of the same era was a superior car, it gave me the additional power and brakes without sacrificing too much in the corners. I would love to drive the new 4.0 GTS that seems on paper at least to provide the best of all worlds. Cheers and thanks for the discussion.

I have had a 986S, then the Anniversary Boxster bought new in 2004 kept for 15 years and last the 987.2 standard 2.9 with the PDK gearbox. The latter car with the PDK was almost identical in performance as the 986Smanual. Great cars all of them. A good extended warranty is advisable for peace of mind

Great video...and some very sobering numbers. I would have gone for a Boxster for all of your reasons but I needed that 911 back seat. Not for people but for stuff and the occasional cat and/or dog. If I had gone for the Boxster, it means I would have driven less because I do use the back seat area a lot.

absolute sense....I have driven a few 911's and a few Boxters and I am sold on the Boxter anyway. It is so well balanced and fun to drive...the 991 Boxter with the 6 cylinder is the ultimate driver's car.

Great video. Love the defence of one of the most hated and underrated sportscars out there. You have knowledge and form. 💙 Please get Yourself a good microphone/ a bit of Audio touchup because this can be absolute gold. 💙

I like that breakdown. This is something I been trying to figure out for a variety of cars. Best bang for the buck, track toy.

I have a 2010 cayman. I put it on Michelin PS4S tyres this year. Best thing I did. It's an awesome package.

really well done. thank you

Very well said and very true! 👍🏼

It came out in 1996 but the show car came out a few years before that 92 or 93 and that car was an absolute beauty. I remember being a little disappointed with the production car because it wasn't quite as refined. Love these vehicles and plan to get either the Boxster or Cayman in the next few years.

Well this was fricken’fabulous, thanks! 😁🙌🏼😁 My car Bax, he’s a 981S and I got him specifically for his beautiful mid, and HELLYEAH I’m glad I did, I’ve never gelled so well with a machine; his balance and handling are phenomenal, and still enthral me after four years together this month 🥳🥰🙌🏼😁👌🏼 I look forward to watching more of your videos this one was ace 😘😁

Great vid, very well put 2gether, what a Great way 2 compare the 2 cars 👍🏻😊

Just bought my first Porsche, ‘18 2.5 S and I absolutely love it. It’s not going to sit in the garage and I’m using it for my daily driver and hope I’ll be able to brag about how many kms I’ve racked up 😊

Hells bells!!! I’m a proud owner and driver of a 1990 944s2 Cabriolet (again, a proud owner) …I always felt that the 924/944 saved Porsche’s ass from the flames of “Edsel Hell”. I love my front engine - rear transmission 944. But….I’d be lying if I d isn’t admit to some 911-Envy. But the newer Boxsters? It is one gorgeous car….and I cannot imagine that it would not be a helluva lot of fun on the Kancamangus Highway! Great video….and your points are “spot on” brother!!

Spot on.... bought my 2014 Boxster S used. Great fun car. Wish I could drive it all year long but living in Alaska is the issue.

Yes, I definitely like your math and comparisons. Boxters give you more bang for your buck

I agree, the 981-718 Boxsters are way better looking than the same year 911's. Prior years are very comparable.

I was in the fortunate position to buy a Porsche this year and began searching for a 991 as I had always aspired to own a 911. I had a budget of 45k to begin my search. I wanted a particular colour combo which was proving elusive. I drove a couple of 991’s, amazing but I couldn’t agree a price with the dealer (they wanted my to finance the car). During my search I spotted a 981S boxster (in the correct colour/spec I was after) at a respect used Porsche dealer in Hertfordshire. It was close buy so out of curiosity I went to see and drive it. I’m so glad I did. The 991 was amazing but I was struggling to justify if it was worth the extra 15k by comparison! Anyway, I bought it and am happy that I did.

I'm sold. Great video

And that's why I have a boxster! Thanks!

Really interesting approach Jay - you are fearless! I would suggest that the 914 is also part of the Boxster’s lineage. We have both a ‘00 986 Boxster & and a modified ‘90 911 - 964 in our family. We bought the 964 in 2010 and the 986 in 2018. Even with the time differential, the 964 was 3x the cost of the 986 - so certainly your hypothesis is spot on in terms of bang for the buck. Both are phenomenal cars to drive! That being said, the driving experience is very different. In comparison, I would characterize the Boxster as offering more of a leisure driving experience and the (modified) 964 as offering more of a driver’s car experience. The Boxster is plenty quick (even with the base 2.5l engine), it is stable in turns and driving in spring or fall with the top down is magical. In the 964, you sit more upright, so, by definition you feel more connected to the road. Admittedly, with the help of modifications, the 964’s steering, acceleration, cornering and gearing are far more responsible - truly a driver’s car. Having both is a wonderful treat! My personal take is that the driving experience of a Porsche is what it’s all about. I think an interesting comparison would be the driving experience of a Boxster & 911 of the same model year.

I’ve owned Porsche’s since my ‘69 - 911T and totally agree with your comparison (even though I’ve never owned a Boxster/Cayman). I would also be interested in a comparison of maintenance costs between the models.

I got my first Porsche a 2002 Boxster 5 spd in June. I drive it every single day and its goin strong! Done fuel pump and all 4 brakes/rotors so far

Brilliant reasoning, love it. Thanks for this..

Brilliant analysis. My gut feeling always told me the 718 is a 911 killer.

Love this analysis - sneaky lol

I like my 718 Boxster S. 242 laps on Ring, NO Crashes. Brand New Car on Ring. "Run In" according to recommendation. yes some slow cautious laps on Ring, keeping it bellow 4,000 rpm until Run In. Terrific balance, better than my 2020 BMW M2 Comp, 280 laps on Ring.

Great vid 👍🏼

I order my 2019 718 as my first Porsche because I wanted mid engine and only need 2 seats. I find the frunk and trunk very usable. The 911 is a great car but does not pull me in like the Boxster. Great review Jay

Love your video's Jay , I owned a 911sc around 10 years ago , should never have sold . A Boxster in now on my radar , either 986 or 987 , I do like the early runny egg headlights 😁

Love your vids fella. 👍🏻

i bought a second hand 2003 996TT for a great price, low low miles. Did an ECU upgrade and was pushing 500HP with 0-60 times approaching the 3s. We went on a group mountain cruise in North Georgia and to be honest I could not keep up with the guy in the Boxster without scaring the hell out of myself, while he confidently took the twisties. The 996 is gone but I am looking seriously at a Boxster now.

Weight and balance beats power on a track.

I was a BMW guy until my incredible wife gave me a 2-day Porsche Sport Driving School (now Porsche Track Experience) for Christmas a few years ago. We drove everything from a base Boxster to a GT4 (amazing), and a 911 Turbo S (also amazing) on the track at Barber Motorsports Park. I immediately came home and sold the M3. Being retired and having (according to her) too many other toys, I was very conscious of the fun/cost ratio. I'm also that guy who lays awake at night worrying about "what if" and wanted to avoid the IMS/RMS/bore scoring issues and settled on a 987.2 S with a 6-speed manual. It took months to find a clean example with reasonable miles and complete service records, but it was well worth the effort. It's my daily driver when I'm not on 2 wheels and is absolutely the most satisfying car I've owned in my 53 years of driving. That said, I must admit to still longing for an air-cooled 911.

Great vid! :)

Totaly agree. Owner of a 987, amazing car for that price. I would never spend more for a car, because it's simply perfect for that cost

my daughter loves hers … thank you for sharing

Resale value of the 911 seems to be better than the Boxster or Cayman. I own a 2015 981 Cayman S and I love it. But, it was $87k when new and I have to admit that is just too much money. The interior is nice but really not anything special for that kind of money. I have the 14-way heated and cooled memory seats but no fancy leather for my $87k. The sales of the 718 flat 4 turbos are just not keeping up. I have no doubt that the only reason Porsche have brought back the flat six in the GTS , GT4 and Spyder is because of lagging sales and especially the C8 Corvette. I know I won't be popular with this statement, but that C8 is a lot of car and a well optioned one can be configured easily for less than my 981 CS.

In total agreement. I have been accused "sacrilege" for saying the same. The Boxster is more confortable top down, specially in colder days, than the 911 (986 S and 996 c4) and more practical due to the smaller size, and, in my case, a not so low suspension.

Smart thinking! Clever equations 🤓

Sadly, the only people looking down on Porsche Boxsters are probably Porsche owners and the occasional sports car buff/fanatic. Most non-Porsche owners will look at the Boxster/Cayman and say "it's a Porsche, it must be fast and fun to drive..." and not know anything about the price differential between a 911 and a Boxster.

Great point!

Only one comp but I had the opposite, seat of pants vice analytical, experience. I had been driving my '03 Boxster S for a while and thought it must be pretty close to a 911 as well. Then I drove my son's '02 911 Cab and pretty much instantly convinced the 911 still has it beat! The 911 seemed to have more power, put it down better, and you could feel the weight transfer more. Still love the Box but no longer think of it as a 9elfer better.

I collected my brand new 718 a few months ago, delivers joy and fun every drive. Enjoyed your video Jay.

Like we didn’t know everything in this video.... But, there is good vibe to this

I'm fortunate to have a '14 Boxster 6-speed and a '21 C8 HTC. The Porsche is easier to drive, probably due to its smaller size, but I don't think most people know what it is when I'm out driving it (other than "some sports car", possibly because it's gray) whereas the red Vette constantly gets compliments and thumbs up. But I love both.

And add another 10-15% for mid engine so the boxster is the clear winner. I traded in my 991.1 and bought BOTH a boxster and macan S for the same amount of money. No brainer. Well done great videos. I'm new to your channel. 🤙👍

Bought a 986 S model, loved it so much had engine rebuilt by Raby Enterprises. Now a modified 3.8 making 300+ hp, a fairly serious sports car. Lots of fun. Top down always!

Jay, thanks for the fun watch. What other metrics did you consider for fun factor? I’m wondering if added metrics like acceleration or skid pad also produce similar results.

Great article re power/weight ratio and cost as basis to conclude 718 is essentially equal to 911 at a much better price. I agree but the bigger point IMO is that the 718 drives like a purist’s sports car (lightweight, tossable, direct steering, linear power that is strong yet still able to be dominated by the driver) whereas... the 911 today has become a luxury car that drives like one (heavy, number steering, digital everything, and turbo power that doesn’t feel as rewarding or playful). I admit that the 911 has the 718 beat at the aggressiveness of the rear end; the 718 rear end, except maybe the GT4, is too feminine and soft IMO, even in GTS form. Re the feel again, in the 718, I am referencing a 987.2 Boxster S Black (or Cayman R) PDK (330HP 3.4 NA) or 982 Boxster GTS PDK (400 HP 3.8 NA) VS. a new 992 911 S (450 HP 3.0 turbo). To be fair, I have not driven a 992 GT3 or GTS, or any 992 in Targa or Cab, and I believe the open air experience is a an important aspect of the 2-seater roadster appeal for me. I drove the 911 992 S 3.0 (non cab) back to back with the 718 982 GTS 4.0 (cab) today. So subjectively, there is no comparison, the 718 looked and felt like it was as pure and good as my 987.2 3.4, and the engine felt more exotic and strong to boot, but nowhere near $60K better than my trade value to justify the upgrade. It felt like going from a 9 to a 10 for the new one. The new 911 on the other hand felt sterile and like a video game controller. This is for a person that loves road feel and drives on the road at 9/10s for the couple days per week I take a sports car out.

I bought a 987.2 Boxster S in 2020 and I could not agree more. Take your time and find a model with PASM, PSE, and LSD if you can. This is all the sport car a driving enthusiast will ever need... for less than a 911. Thanks for the video. P.S. The only car I'm considering to replace this car with is the new 718 GTS with the 4L 6 but, Could I really give up on the pneumatic steering... I don't know... anyway I'll be waiting for the GTS to devalue with age while I think about it.

Nice analysis. It would be interesting if you added the Turbo and GT3 in a follow up video. I suspect their high price would allow the Boxster to maintain its value throne, but I wonder if they would be better value than the standard Carrera?

I drove a 986 for 6 years, a truly amazing, smooth, and fun car at the right price (Bought it for $$21,000 and sold it for $16,000 USD after 6 years). Never had any mechanical problem, never fixed the IMS issue (no problems), and I performed all my oil changes and brake jobs. An amazing car with extremely smooth clutch. I now own a 30 year old 944 (another car that helped save Porsche financially).

This guy nailed it. My Boxster is definitely the best $4,600 I've ever spent 👊

Brilliant!!

One word. Dreaming.

Very well presented Jay. Tremendous backdrop to the presentation. Quite right the 986 was introduced before the 996. The Boxster did enable Porsche to continue to build the 911 and its many variants because it was such a sales success.

I love my purchased new 2014 981 Porsche. I bought it exclusively, to cruise. I will not part with it ever. Glad I got the twin sport tailpipes which I think far more attractive. Also, the sound of the car couldn't be more perfect. The 911 is terrific but for the fun, attractiveness and being on the Open road bang for the dollar I will keep my 981. Purists can say Boxter & Cayman's are a poor man's Porsche all they want. It falls on deaf ears. Come to think of it, it is totally silly.

I simply love my 718 Boxster, it’s a base but has the sports chrono package. I’ve driven m3,m4, boosted 335i, superchargered audi…..but I can tell you nothing drives with the handling and balance as the 718. Maybe I’m biased, but the joy I get driving it everyday makes it worth while.

love to hear the power-to-weight (bhp/ton) ratio for 718 is higher than that of the 911. More fun for less money.