Should I? (Boxster content)

I've already got the Boxster...

My question is whether or not I should do this to it:

I've already done the important stuff (European M030 suspension, 18" BBS, short shifter, 'S' brakes, etc.) and now I want it to look less like a Miata. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

How much does that cost compared to, say, a supercharger?

'cause with more power, they'll only ever see the rear

The supercharger kits are like $5000. For that amount, I could sell the good running 2.5 and swap-in a 3.4L 996 engine...or so I'm told.

The front bumper and side skirts are about $1200, plus paint. I would never buy or install that goofy rear wing.

or you could buy some really nice race slicks or a cheap car hauler/trailer

You should not.

Raze wrote: or you could buy some really nice race slicks or a cheap car hauler/trailer

Already got both. I could get a better trailer, though..

Or, I could skip it altogether. In the picture, the Boxster has a kind of GT3 vibe, but it's hard to know what it would really look like in person. I would hate to spend the money and end up with a "fast & furious" looking crap can.

The unpainted? bumper / side skirt looks like a$$

It may be because it isn't painted but that bumper looks huuuuge

M030 wrote: I want it to look less like a Miata. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

For what you could sell that for, you could probably have a helluva coughLS1cough Miata!

I'm all about stealth. Save the cash for speed

Woody wrote: You should not.

Amen.

I agree... (you)do not want

If you wanted to play appearance games, what if you took that money and did a swap to the later front so you got the smaller headlamps and such?

In reply to pres589:

Too much work and too expensive.

Junkyard_Dog wrote: For what you could sell that for, you could probably have a helluva *cough*LS1*cough* Miata!

THIS!! Anyone know where I can get a 99+ Miata with a bad motor?

My Boxster is only worth around $7k. Could an LS1 Miata really be built for about $7000, including the car? I could really get into this idea...

M030 wrote:

Junkyard_Dog wrote: For what you could sell that for, you could probably have a helluva *cough*LS1*cough* Miata!

THIS!! Anyone know where I can get a 99+ Miata with a bad motor? (99+ because the wifey hates pop up headlights)

It'll buff out, cheap enough it doesn't matter. I can check them out for another Damn Yankee (CT native here). Fly in, drive home...on the second one at least There is also an '04 GTO LS1 swap kit for an S13 for sale here for $6300 and the S13 parts could be sold for $1500ish. No idea how you'd get them home though.

M030 wrote: My Boxster is only worth around $7k.

Thats one hurtin' Boxter. Have they really depreciated that much up there?

In reply to Junkyard_Dog:

They have indeed. My car is a '97 with 90K miles and I would be lucky to get $7000 for it.

From a money point of view, the best thing I could do with it is find a low mileage 2.5 Boxster with a bad engine for cheap money, swap my good running/exceptionally well maintained engine into it, then sell both the resulting good running/low mileage Boxster (for top dollar) and my (now engine-less) car for parts. It's a whole lot of work, though.

It would be easier just to take the +/- $7000 it's worth or keep it and drive it until the wheels fall off.

M030 wrote: It would be easier just to take the +/- $7000 it's worth or keep it and drive it until the wheels fall off.

You just answered your own question. Leave it as stock as possible and only upgrade as things break and/or add more value than what you pay.

Early Miata + Lo-Pros + LSx = problem solved

No. Pure and simple, no. Waste of money, kill resale value.

I'm going to have to keep my eyes open for good condition Boxsters for ~$7000 because I could use something interesting for once... and then find a set of 16" phone dials for the thing.

Best possible use of Boxster includes the 996 3.4 liter engine, at 300 HP, and THEN add the supercharger. Achieve greatness.

David

If I had a cheap Boxster, I'd add a Zeintop. And then I'd slide a new Boxster underneath each time that the intermediate shaft fails.

Datsun1500 wrote: Isn't a Boxster with a Zeintop, a Cayman? Why go through the hassle instead of just buying one?

Because Caymans are still kinda pricey. The Zeintop turns an early Boxster into a Cayman--kinda.

And I saw a (real) GT3 996 this morning. That is a sexy beast.

are boxsters really getting that cheap? I have to admit I am sorely tempted