Where are the 987s?

Mdreiver

Mdreiver

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It could be my imagination but it seems like every time I see a "New Member" post, it's new person, old car. I wonder where the new 987 owners are posting.
 
Mdreiver said:
It could be my imagination but it seems like every time I see a "New Member" post, it's new person, old car. I wonder where the new 987 owners are posting.
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Some post on the 986 Forum and some on the Rennteam.com

But perhaps I forgot to do it here, but I am in SF and took delivery earlier this year of my '08 987S, Guards Red with Tan Interior, PSE, PASM, Short-Shifter and loving the car. I ordered the car in August 2007, and this Boxster has been the best car that I have ever owned.
vincesf
 

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Another 987 owner here as well...there's not that many of us but we are around...maybe we should start a post your 987 pic thread?
 
Uh, hello...pain in the butt prolific poster and proud 987 owner.:D
 
987 issues...

As with many '2nd generation' models...there's less attention paid to their release...sort of the 'we've seen this before' syndrome. And having the Cayman appear a year later didn't help either. I had a choice when I bought my '05...the dealer offered a leftover '04 'S' as an alternative, at about the same price. No regrets then or now...still like the shape, and especially the interior of the 987 better. And...I'd buy a 987 spec'd out 'S' in a couple years if the new one creates a 'need', which it probably will...
 
But that's all the more reason to post 987s. No offense to those just now acquiring a 986, but they're kinda old hat. Been around forever and there's a million of them on the road.

I understand why a Boxster board in general would have participation and membership fade in 08 compared to 97 or 2000. But of people buying a new (to them) car today, the 986s appear to generate more owner enthusiasm than the 987s. To drive the point home, I'll rephrase...

It appears that for those that bought their first Boxster in 2007 or 2008, those that bought used 03s seem to have more enthusiasm than those that bought current models. That's weird right? Again, I'm not disputing that a new 03 purchase in 03 might more frequently generate high enthusiasm than a new 08 purchase in 08.

I agree with you about the 987 btw. Having gone through 2 986Ss, I'm a huge fan but kind of burned out on the aesthetics. The 987 is a much improved look where 986s needed it the most, the headlights. I still like the rear 3/4 view from both models, though. The profile is a little plain for a strict side view and the lines are the most masculine from a low perspective looking up over the rear fender.
 
Production Quantities?

It is probably because there are many more 986 owners than 987 owners - - - as you say there "are a million of them on the road". It's no secret that Boxster demand has been falling, so it's time for another significant update to kick start the upgrade cycle. Anyone have the North American or US sales numbers for the Boxster + Boxster S for 1997 through 2007? This would be an interesting trend to see.
 
I think that is also something that would explain the difference between babbler membership and "new car" posts from 2000 versus the same sort of posts in 2008.

But for that to be the cause of what we're seeing now, it would indicate that today, more people buy used 986s than buy brand new 987s. That may be the case but the 987s have been around since 05.

As for your question... IIRC, base Boxsters were produced around 40k annually and S models from 00 and newer were about 25k. If nothing changed (unlikely) and if my recollection is perfect (also unlikely but not as unlikely) that would mean we currently have on the roads (spread over the whole world since I don't think I ever had US specific numbers)...

base 986s (40k * 7) = 280k
986 Ss (25k * 4) = 100k
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Total 986s = 380k

base 987s (40k * 3) = 120k
987 Ss (25k * 3) = 75k
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Total 987s = 195 k

I vaguely recall production peaking near 2003 or 2004 and the numbers I have used are either completely wrong or were from 2000. All crazy assumptions herein lead us to believe that there are twice as many 986s than 987s on the road. The next missing piece of the puzzle is the turnover rate of used cars year by year. Because we're not talking about those that just "have" a 986. We're only talking about those that are just now *buying* and then joining to celebrate that purchase. We know that all current model cars are being bought so the apparent lack of equivalent enthusiasm (as measured by babblers "I got one" posts) is still peculiar to me. :D
 
Don't forget... most of the "I got one" posts either include or are shortly followed by "I got a question" post. Pre 2004 cars qualify for that much easier as they are out of warranty. Owner of cars under warranty may just as easily go to the dealer.
 
Allow me to posit a theory: Perhaps those buying used 986s are more apt to be true car afficionados; saving their pennies to buy the car of their dreams, and thus more enthusiastic when they acheive that goal. Whereas, a higher percentage of people buying new may be purchasing for the status/image, or simply have an easier time affording the car, hence less satisfaction with less sacrifice.

Or frankly, it may be an age thing. Generally, the older you are, the more car you can afford, and generally, the older you are, the less apt you are to be engaged in social interaction on the internet.
 
Spiral said:
Allow me to posit a theory: Perhaps those buying used 986s are more apt to be true car afficionados saving their pennies to buy the car of their dreams, and thus more enthusiastic when they acheive that goal. Whereas, a higher percentage of people buying new may be purchasing for the status/image, or simply have an easier time affording the car, hence less satisfaction with less sacrifice.
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I think I can safely speak for the 987 owners on this board by saying, you couldn't be more wrong. This can be further confirmed by a quick visit to PPBB.

Or frankly, it may be an age thing. Generally, the older you are, the more car you can afford, and generally, the older you are, the less apt you are to be engaged in social interaction on the internet.
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(insert loud buzzer here) Thanks for playing Spiral...next contestant. ;)
 
thank you paralizer. you speak for many of us.

btw, i am "older" and all over the internet, bought the car because i fell in love with it, never thought I would ever be able to afford one, but when the opportunity came up, i jumped at it, joined the local pca, love to talk to other owners, and am obsessed with this car. i go out every night to the garage to say good night. my wife thinks i am nuts, but so be it.
 
Hey, take it easy on him guys - he was just posting a theory after all :)

Anyhow, I'll play :D - when a car is new, there is less likelihood of that car being on the market. As a car gets older, people sell it off. Hence, for the same 986, there is the possibility of multiple "new" owners, whereas many/most 987s are probably still with their first owners.

Another thing to bear in mind is the buying market for a specific price point. As the price gets lower, the pool of potential buyers increases dramatically. As a result, more of the older cars get bought, resulting in more of "new 986 member" posts.
 
The other possibility to consider is how many 987 owners were originally 986 owners. If the number is significant then the bloom may be off the rose - so to speak. At least as far as the new car infatuation goes :rolleyes: Whereas the current crop of first time 986 owners are purchasing a readilly affordable car that they are jazzed about.
 
I think we have a winner!! That makes total sense. Buyers of 2nd hand cars are more likely to want/need a resource for getting to know their cars and there are a lot more posts and posters for the earlier cars.

Nicely done. :)
 
bigb said:
Another thing to bear in mind is the buying market for a specific price point. As the price gets lower, the pool of potential buyers increases dramatically. As a result, more of the older cars get bought, resulting in more of "new 986 member" posts.
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thats pretty much, in a nutshell, what happened to me. i wanted a "top of the line" car but i am only 21 and just gettin started into my carrer so it wasn't really financially (sp) correct for me to buy a new one so hence the reason i bought the used 2000. now granted that my dream car is a GT3 turbo... i am gonna get a little more into my career before i get somethin like that. it will probably be my mid-life crisis car lol.
 
phish said:
thats pretty much, in a nutshell, what happened to me. i wanted a "top of the line" car but i am only 21 and just gettin started into my carrer so it wasn't really financially (sp) correct for me to buy a new one so hence the reason i bought the used 2000. now granted that my dream car is a GT3 turbo... i am gonna get a little more into my career before i get somethin like that. it will probably be my mid-life crisis car lol.
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unfortunately there is no such animal as a GT3 Turbo.

GT2 rear wheel drive (which is a Turbo), Carrera Turbo (all wheel drive), and GT3 (normally aspirated) rear wheel drive:D
 
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