They are nice to drive, handle great, and are even decent to work on, if you have a lift to get underneath, since that’s where most of the service items are accessed.
The problem is that they had an un-oiled bearing supporting an intermediate counter shaft that can(will) fail and often kills the motor (also a problem on the IMS bearing of similar aged 911s). If it’s had the bearing replaced, and especially if it’s been upgraded with a solution to oil it, it’s usually a great deal too.
It was a Porsche you could afford on a good wage. You didnt have to be rich, just doing well. Which pissed off Porsche enthusasts and fanboys. It wasnt built for the Autobahn or the Nurburgring, it was a Miata for the cashed up. Not only that but to the non informed, it looked too much like a 911, It took away some of their exclusivity.
Imagine if Ferarri released something in the fully loaded Mustang price bracket...
I think you're reading into it too hard. It was a light-hearted joke meant to express that most people that arm chair them cannot afford them. Myself included.
I honestly really like the Boxster, and I think the hatred for it is heavily undeserved and also heavily fueled by toxic bravado and insecurity.
It's an affordable (for a Porsche, at least) and fun-to-drive roadster that looks sleek and nice, but just because it's cheaper than and not as powerful as the 911, that apparently makes it "a girl's car" and therefore "bad"...
As a Miata enjoyer, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Boxster. It’s probably my favorite Porsche other than the ones that are impossible to buy (speedster, Carrera GT, 550 spyder, 918 spyder)