From Pageant Queen to Girl Next Door: Rethinking Which Porsche to Keep

by alexcena

A Change of Heart?

If you’d asked me a couple of months ago which car I’d sell to downsize, the answer would’ve been easy: the 2023 Boxster 718 GTS 4.0L. No hesitation. I even nicknamed it “The Flash” because of its Racing Yellow paint and playful nature, but in my mind, the Lizard Green 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S was the untouchable one.

Now, I’m not so sure. The thought has been creeping in that maybe, just maybe, if one car were to go, it might actually be the Lizard. Nothing’s set in stone yet, and I’d probably hold onto both for a while. But it’s the kind of idea that keeps tugging at the back of my mind.

Ginger vs Mary Ann

The Lizard: 911 Carrera 4S in Lizard Green

The 911 C4S has always been my dream car. With its twin-turbo flat-six, all-wheel drive, and seamless 8-speed PDK, it’s an icon for a reason. It feels unstoppable in any weather, planted on every road, and always ready to unleash rocket-ship acceleration. Dressed in Lizard Green, it doesn’t just attract attention—it owns the spotlight. She’s Ginger from Gilligan’s Island: glamorous, dazzling, and unforgettable.

The Flash: Boxster GTS 4.0 in Racing Yellow

The Boxster, on the other hand, was the one I thought I’d sacrifice if push came to shove. And yet, every drive in The Flash has me rethinking that. Its naturally aspirated 4.0 flat-six paired with the 7-speed PDK is pure theater. The sound, the balance, the feel of the road with the top down—it’s intoxicating in a way the numbers don’t capture. She’s Mary Ann: approachable, playful, and the one who makes you feel alive in the moment.

Now add in the fact that Porsche has stopped building the 718. Owning one suddenly feels even more like holding onto something rare and special, a reminder of what made sports cars so engaging in the first place.

Why I’m Torn

On paper, the Lizard looks like the obvious keeper. It’s faster, stronger, and objectively more capable. A couple of months ago, that was enough to make the choice easy. But lately, I’ve realized the car I reach for when I want to smile isn’t always the 911—it’s the Boxster.

That’s where the dilemma comes in. Do I keep the icon, the dream car, the glamorous pageant queen? Or do I stick with the one that makes every drive an event, the girl next door who wins with charm and fun?

I haven’t made the decision yet. The Lizard will probably stick around for a bit. But for the first time, I can’t imagine letting either go.

So here’s the question: if you had to choose, which would you keep—the Lizard Green 911 Carrera 4S or the Racing Yellow Boxster GTS 4.0?

6 thoughts on “From Pageant Queen to Girl Next Door: Rethinking Which Porsche to Keep”

  1. Two things I really like about the 911. First, it has rear seats, so more practical, so to speak. If you have young children, you can take them along for fun rides. Second, better resale value, although 718’s don’t have bad resale, it’s just not as good as the 911.

    What I love about the boxster 718 is that it’s a convertible so you have the option of top down fun, and it’s naturally aspirated which is a very special attribute, one only limited to the much more expensive GT versions of the 911.

    Let’s not forget that the 718 is almost perfectly balanced (48:52 front to rear weight distribution vs 40:60 in the 911) and gives a more neutral driving experience which is arguably better. Basically it’s a better drivers car compared to the 911.

    So if practicality and resale are more important to you then choose the 911 and if pure driving pleasure is what you’re after then keep the 718. Of course the best option would be to keep both 🙂

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  2. We also have both, a ’25 911 C2 and a one week old ’25 Boxster GTS 4.0. Both are great cars, and have their merits. But I will say the Boxster is one hell of a car.

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      • The Boxster 4.0 will beat the stuffing out of the depreciation curve and I think it will do better than the 911. Both will do fine though. I drove my 991.2 for 8 years, 20k miles. Depreciation was about $18k on a dealer trade. That was a win in my book.

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