S2000 or Boxster - if you bought again what would you choose?

[Clean_a_Green]

Hi All,

I've been shopping for a little topless sports car for a couple of months, and primarily looking at Boxsters of various years. There's no denying that the little Porsche is a fun car to drive, but this week I drove a new S2k and an '03 with 30,000 miles (and a 9000rpm redline). Those were my first and only drives in an S2000, but I really enjoyed them.

The seats in an S2k are much easier for me to be comfortable in than any of the Boxsters i've driven (which is a fair number by now). It was very different driving the S2k, especially the '03 with the 9000rpm redline. I had a hard time driving it to redline - years of normal cars left me instinctively shifting at about 6000-6500 rpm. That would definitely be fun - learning to drive the S2k.

And I like the interior of the S2k better than the newer Boxsters. Its less normal. A little, impractical, 2-seat sports car shouldn't be normal inside, it should have some flavor. And the older 986 Boxsters have great flavor, but the new ones are relatively generic. All the buttons and knobs are in logical places and the look is fairly conventional.

The Boxster's aren't without their charms. The newer ones have an awesome combination of ride/noise and handling. And the Porsche badge has some snob appeal, which is fun. The S2k, especially the '03, is not as refined. You could road-trip in a Boxster, especially the 987, and feel fine with it. I'm not sure that 5 hours on the highway in an S2k would be much fun. But i've never tried it...

I've had a somewhat easier time whipping the Boxsters around a set of curves i'm familiar with, but the S2k is hardly a slouch in this department.

The S2k is no doubt cheaper/less annoying to maintain, and I'm sure that 1000x more rims/doo-dads/aftermarket parts are available for the Honda. However, i'm not much of an aftermarket kind of guy.

Can you guys fit a set of golf clubs in the trunk of an S2k?

And, if you were OK with the cost of either car, which one would you purchase? And why? I can see a good case for either car, even excluding price.

thanks everybody

[s2kx2]

My friend Russ had a Boxter S and had nothing but problems with it. After two years he sold it and bought the Caymen S and now .... some of the same stupid little "Gremlins" are popping up. Electrical mostly. Ap-1s are more harsh on long trips but AP-2s are not bad at all. Stay away from the CR if you are concerned with ride comfort. Good luck on your search.

[TheSoundMan21]

I would still say Honda hands down. Im 23 and I can afford a Boxter I dont know but I am just not a huge Porsche fan until the GT3 and such. I have driven my S2k for 9hours straight only stopping for gas. When I got home I honestly didnt want to get out it was awesome.

Still in yet though both cars are quite comparable on capabilities. From there out its personal preference. We all own S2000s here so you already know our answer. The car is for you not us. Just find the one that fits your driving style.

PS I have an AP1

[Boost Convert]

The only people that buy Boxsters are people that can't afford the 911. Don't be THAT guy/girl. lol

Just messin with ya, but I've driven both vehicles (not the Boxster S) and I vote for the S2K. That's the SXY has one, she could have gotten a black Boxster with tan interior and only 19K miles through my dealership for a insane $18,500. The Porsche was in PHEONMINAL (sp?) shape but after driving it, she picked the S2000. Indeed.

[TheSoundMan21]

Originally Posted by Boost Convert

The only people that buy Boxsters are people that can't afford the 911. Don't be THAT guy/girl. lol

ya boost I was thinkin the same thing..

[jagg]

Hey Green,

One set of golf clubs will fit in the Honda's trunk, 'n they're both great flavors of different kinds of ice cream.


If money were no object, I'd have them both......But that ain't the case for most folks......The Honda's is money well spent, and costs exponentially less than the Porsche over time.

You're not checking out a Z4? (can hold 2 sets of golf clubs)

Regards,
Jagg

[trizzane]

S2k for sure. My father in law has a Boxster - nice car but I think its for an older guy that wants to be seen in a Porsche. If your a DRIVER - I prefer the S2K. Less $$, less maintainence, and less of us on the road.

jagg has it right, 1 set and only 1 set. I was just at a member/guest last week -I pulled in behind a black Boxster....the 16yo cart kid came over to give me the ride to the clubhouse -not the Boxster guy. "Nice car" was his greeting. There ended up being 3 Boxsters in the lot - 1 S2000.

[DJJSR]

Porsches are cool, great cars, but often owned by pretentious people. The Boxster is entry-level (kinda like a modern day 914 only better), so there's that social stigma. You know, the one that says you ALMOST made it. If I really wanted a Porsche, I'd go for a used 911 before a new Boxster. But then again, if I really wanted a Porsche, I wouldn't have an S2000 sitting in the garage right now.

[js1]

Clean a Green,

I can afford a Boxster (even a 911), My wife and I have an E55 AMG, a 65 Porsche 356C, a 69' Chevelle SS, and an 05' TSX...and I chose the S2k because it feels so good to drive. Be aware that the S2K is not an ego car. What I mean is that if you are looking to pick on people on the road in everyday driving and expect to beat the pants off of everyone you encounter then the S is not your car. However, if you love to drive and have fun just driving hard and not "competing" then the S is your car. It is a blast to drive and I picked it for my daily driver because it is one of the most pure forms of driving you can get. Mechanically it is bullet proof, it gets decent gas mileage, insurance is low, and it's just plain fun. I passed on the Boxster S because it just didn't have that fun factor for me. The Boxster S is an amazing machine but it didn't fit what I wanted. The S is a fun toy and I didn't get that same feeling from the Boxster S. Go with the smile factor on this one...drive them both hard and pick the one that you have the most fun in. Good Luck and happy motoring!!!

[J'sS2K]

It's your money do what you want. Do which ever makes you happy!

Good luck!

[bbcricketta]

i would have to be filthy to have a new 911. i just can't see it. that's a lotta cash for a car. not that i wouldn't like to have one. the s2000 is impractical. the 911 is past impracticality.

Originally Posted by Boost Convert

The only people that buy Boxsters are people that can't afford the 911.

that is what they say. they also say that the boxter is what the 911 used to be.

i drive toyotas and my honda. i could not see myself in a lexus or a porsche. the marquee just doesn't fit my image. lol. i just can't be concerned with any social stigma concerning my autos.

[controller]

When I was looking for a roadster, the Boxster came up. It was in my price range, and there's the mystique of the brand.

I drove several Boxsters including the S. The gripe I had was with the shifter. It's cable driven and has a very long throw from front to back. It's also poorly appointed for a Porsche.

Then I found this dated article in Car and Driver: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test

It put the s2000 on my radar. I test drove one, and drove it home the same day.

[J'sS2K]

LOL, it's a wrong place to ask such a question in the first place. Need I remind you that this is a "S2000" forum. We're all here for one common reason. We own and love the S2000 so most of us here would favor it. If you ask this exact same question at a Porsche forum, I can almost assure you that you'll get different answers.

For instance, from the Porsche forum "It's only a Honda." And then one of us here would go there and said "Well, Honda PWNED you ass. Fool!" <BANNED> by adminstrator!

You need to ask this question at a Toyota Prius forum

[jwh445]

I was looking for a roadster to replace my BMW 328. Z3 (not 4), Boxster, and S2000 were on my list. Performance wise, all were very close, with a nod to the S. The S appeared, to me, to be more simplistic. No frills, a car designed for a purpose, top down driving fun. All were available in my price range, I chose the S, have been to two track days, and only put the top up twice since Feb 08. I'm still smiling every time I get behind the wheel.

John

[TheSoundMan21]

Originally Posted by controller

When I was looking for a roadster, the Boxster came up. It was in my price range, and there's the mystique of the brand.

I drove several Boxsters including the S. The gripe I had was with the shifter. It's cable driven and has a very long throw from front to back. It's also poorly appointed for a Porsche.

Then I found this dated article in Car and Driver: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test

It put the s2000 on my radar. I test drove one, and drove it home the same day.

GOOD article I just read the whole thing. Go S2000

[DJJSR]

Originally Posted by jwh445

....... and only put the top down twice since Feb 08. ......

John!!!! You're car looks great with the top down! Sunshine, blue skies, whatsamatta????

[67AtlasDave]

The First time I drove an S2000(about a year ago now) my father in law brought over a Boxer S first, we didn't even get down the street (35yards) before I said "This car is a POS!!!" I took it out and gave it a good run up on an open HW we have out by my house and then he took it back to the dealer half hour later he came by with in S2000. We took it on the same route and drove it the same way, Fast but not Hard. I was hooked. I can afford both and I would choose the S2k any day of the week. Oh, and the Boxer was brand new (07) and the S2k was used (03) with 36k.

[windypoint]

I've had 911 Cabriolets and a 911 Turbo over the years. The S2000 brings me a lot more smiles per mile. The reliability and economy are a bonus, but even if they weren't a factor, I would still buy the S2000 today.

[gomarlins3]

Between those two, I would take the S2000. If you include the Cayman, I would take the Cayman S.

[jagg]

Thanks for the article Controller.....read it when it was new, and is even more relevant today.....

been around a roadster or two, and I luv my Stewie.


jagg

[jwh445]

Originally Posted by DJJSR

John!!!! You're car looks great with the top down! Sunshine, blue skies, whatsamatta????

Ok, ya got me!!

I MEANT, top UP!!!!

There, I fixed it, thanks for pointing that out.

John

[TheSoundMan21]

Originally Posted by windypoint

I've had 911 Cabriolets and a 911 Turbo over the years. The S2000 brings me a lot more smiles per mile. The reliability and economy are a bonus, but even if they weren't a factor, I would still buy the S2000 today.

spm I like it

[Clean_a_Green]

Wow, thanks for all the replies & thoughts. I didn't expect so many.

That was a cool article at Car and Driver. The S2K did really well in this comparison too: http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?article_id=1949 Speaking of other cars, '08 Vettes are incredibly cool cars - great feel, good ride, relatively quiet, roomy, comfortable, and gorgeous. And it gets awesome highway mileage - I got 30+ in a fairly extended test drive. And torque torque torque - push gas, go fast. The 'vette gets my vote as the best sports car under $100k. But they're a bit too comfortable, and a bit too quiet, I think. It can be more invigorating to drive something less civilized...

And invigoration is good.

I had a chance to take another spin in the '07 S2k and boxster over the weekend. Some thoughts

-the Honda has a far better shifter/tranny combination. The Porsches is vague and a bit sloppy, and I don't like the layout (reverse is all the way left and up, just like 1st, and its not particularily obvious which gear you're about to engage). I almost trashed a car during a test drive, wihch caused the wrong kind of invigoration. A person would get used to it with time, but the S2k gearbox is the chit.

-the S2k is still more comfy to me than the Porsche.

-The Boxster is more civilized, and has an awesome combo of ride/handling. No car I have ever been in inspires as much confidence/makes me look at smart in curves and corners.

-The Porsches 3.2 liter engine is torquier and pulls better in normal situations

-i'm not totally sold on the styling of either. The boxster looks great witht he top down, but a tad odd with it up. The S2k is just a bit plain, its prehaps out-styled by most of the other 2-seat roadsters ont he market today. But... i suspect there is some slick aftermarket goodness for it out there. It is a Honda, after all.

-The S2k's interior is killer. Its exactly what it should be, spartan and unique and I love it.

-I kbb'd up some re-sale values, and it looks like the S2K is about as cheap (from a depreciation standpoint) as any new car on the market today. Which is awesome. I don't care how much money anybody has, not taking a bath on owning a vehicle is just sensible and ... fun.

I'm so torn on these 2 cars that I need to be slapped. I'll probably wind up flipping for it.

[Clean_a_Green]

Originally Posted by Boost Convert

The only people that buy Boxsters are people that can't afford the 911. Don't be THAT guy/girl. lol

Yeah, i've heard that alot, often from the Top Gear guys. And I suppose there's an element of truth to it.

I had a chance to drive an '07 boxster, an '08 911 cabrio S, and an '07 Cayman S back-to-back-to-back last week. It was an interesting experience. The Boxster I was reasonably familiar with after a plethora of recent test drives. Ride was admirable over some choppy curvy streets, and its just plain fun.

I drove the 911 second, and I guess I was kind of surprised by a couple of things. First, it didn't feel tail-happy, the handling was tight. Second, the parts sharing between Boxster/Cayman/911 is extreme. Same seats, same dash, same door handles/storage compartments/everything. Same radio and controls, same gauges (but more of them in the 911). Gearing seemed similar (same tranny/diff?). Sure looks like they share some body panels too. I wasn't too imprsesed with all the same-ness. Shift feel is better in the 911. And the 911 is roomier, which is good. But mostly, the 911 rode like crap. Maybe it was some suspension option, maybe it was the big aftermarket rims and thin tires, but it sure made the drive less fun. Rims looked killer, though, just killer. The 911 was noisier/windier than the Box with the top down as well (a function of a bigger cockpit, I suppose).

The Cayman was the best drive of the 3. Just awesome to me, no complaints. And I think its the best looking of the 3 (unless you get an exotic 911 like a Turbo or GTsomething, which look amazing). But no top-down = no interest in having one.

So I don't know. I suppose 911 drivers tell Box drivers they're too poor for a real Porsche and Box drivers tell 911 drivers they got a lesser car for more money.

Somewhere I read somebody saying the only raeson somebody would buy a Porsche at all is that they can't afford a lambo or ferrari... Whatever a guy buys, somebody is going to dig it, somebody is going to hate it.

But i'm not into vehicular wang-measuring-contests. I just want to have some fun.

[Clean_a_Green]

Originally Posted by s2kx2

My friend Russ had a Boxter S and had nothing but problems with it. After two years he sold it and bought the Caymen S and now .... some of the same stupid little "Gremlins" are popping up. Electrical mostly. Ap-1s are more harsh on long trips but AP-2s are not bad at all. Stay away from the CR if you are concerned with ride comfort. Good luck on your search.

I'm a little leery of that. Little sports car = fun. Broken little sports car = 'd'oh!