Thinking of buying a Boxster ? - MUST READ !

[DEye]

I was looking at a Boxter as an alternative to the Miata I have, as a way to get more power but keep the Open air enjoyment.

Frankly the IMS stories scared me and the access to the engine in general wasnt ideal for someone who wants to do as much of the work themselves as they can.
( I know its accesble and possible to work on, i've read several of the posts about several DIY jobs )

So a nearly new Boss 302 is in the garage, ( I gave up on the Roof or lack thereof ) I picked it up for the same reason I had a MINI before the Miata, for the money a car with 6,000 Miles and that power will be hard to beat... although it is by NO means a small car at barely an inch smaller that my wifes Fusion

Well see how it goes, maybe there will be a 911 in my Future.

[southernstar]

Deye, your Mustang will no doubt be fun but it can in no way be compared to a Boxster. The Boxster is incredibly well balanced and has handling and steering response that is in another league entirely. Its like comparing a precision surgical instrument with a sledge hammer - yes, the sledge hammer will be more durable, but there is no question which one is better for 'carving' your way through a winding road!

[DEye]

Until i've had it for a few years I wil withhold any comments, but with the M3 as its compeditive target - and the reviews its had, this is supposed to be the *best Handling Mustang ever.*
Well see how it does at the track *IF I can must the Balls to use my new found power...

Comparing the MINI's turn in and cornerring abilities between Boxter was no contest - MINI + 1, but the Cooper had not power.

Keep the Shiny side up !

Originally Posted by southernstar

Deye, your Mustang will no doubt be fun but it can in no way be compared to a Boxster. The Boxster is incredibly well balanced and has handling and steering response that is in another league entirely. Its like comparing a precision surgical instrument with a sledge hammer - yes, the sledge hammer will be more durable, but there is no question which one is better for 'carving' your way through a winding road!

[southernstar]

DEye, if you think that the Mini had better handling than the Boxster (or an M3), you are alone in that belief. The lower center of gravity, lower roll center and wider track all contribute to better handling on the Boxster. Sure, if you had incredible tires on the Mini it might generate higher skid pad numbers - but that does not equate with handling and certainly not in the real world. Anyway, good luck with your purchase. Enjoy!

Brad

[DEye]

Originally Posted by southernstar

DEye, if you think that the Mini had better handling than the Boxster (or an M3), you are alone if that belief. The lower center of gravity, lower roll center, wider track all contribute to better handling on the sporsts cars. Sure, if you had incredible tires on the Mini it might generate higher skid pad numbers - but that does not equate with handling and certainly not in the real world. Anyway, good luck with your purchase. Enjoy!

Brad

I'm not saying that the MINI has better overall handling that the M3 or Boxster, I said turn in What does turn-in mean? - Ask.cars.com was better.
What makes a car *better* handling and fun to drive are quite subjective things...
A car might look good on paper but Nobody likes it enough to make it financially viable to produce so it dies...

I am not a Race Car Driver, but I've been participating in organized Motorsports activities for the last 12 years, AutoCross, Lapping days etc.. So it learned a lot and one of the things I've have learned is that even the same car can get different comments based on what the driver expects and their driving style.
Some aspects of a cars performance are not subjective It has HP, braking abilities, specific suspension geometry that affect how *you* perceive the car performs.
My personal perception of how the MINI responds to directional inputs initiated by my turning the steering wheel vs. the Boxster's I've driven are X you can try to convince me that you feel it is Y because it is somewhat subjective and personal... That's why there are so many cars for us to buy and enjoy because we all like some variety and perceive them differently.

Sorry - I don't see any Boxster's on this List ?
http://www.motortrend.com/features/laguna_lap
Just a Caymen S a half second behind the Mustang ?
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/laguna_seca.html
Behind 31/32 but tied at 37/ 38 ?

Have fun and maybe well meet on the track fellow Ontarion
You've seen my car, What Porsche are you driving ?

[southernstar]

We are on a site for Porsche Boxsters and unlike you, I actually own a 2000 986 Boxster. Will your car get better lap times? No doubt - although I suspect most of that can be attributed to straight-line speed and the tires. Understand that I too have owned American cars including a 1979 Mustang 5.0 litre; indeed, I started doing Autocross in the late 1970's in a 1973 Capri V6 with an ansa exhaust, koni shocks, bigger sway bars, hard steering rack bushings and what for that time were considered oversize alloy wheels with Michelin XAS tires. Although not an American car per se, it was similar to a Mustang and you could make it go quickly around a corner that was bump free.

I have owned two Datsun Z's: a 1970 240 and a 1974 euro spec 260Z with handling package and 3 piece Enkei rims, etc. I've also owned over the years, in no particular order, two Fiat X/19's (no power, but incredible handling and 'turn-in'.), a Porsche 944, a 1961 Posrche 356B, a Fiat 850 Spider as well as a couple of BMW's including my current winter vehicle, an X-3 with the sport package (wheels, tires, sway bars, springs and steering wheel).

Your experience with the Boxster is akin to my experience with the Mini - it is limited to test-drives: twice in a loaner by the BMW service departments and a few times in the Mini's that are owned by a couple of my friends (who coincidentally, have also driven my boxster and raved about the superiority of the handling). I like to be able to steer with both the steering wheel and throttle - something that can't be done with FWD (except to increase understeer); I will certainly acknowledge, however, that your Mustang will be plenty capable of throttle-induced oversteer. Anyway, since this is a thread on the 986 Forum entitled "Thinking of buying a Boxster?", perhaps you should go over to a Mustang or Mini forum to express your opinions on the vast superiority of those marques. I suspect, however, that very few people who are considering buying a Boxster would consider either as an alternative; conversely, I suspect that few persons considering buying a Mini or Mustang would be looking at Boxsters.

Cheers!

Brad

[DEye]

Hello SoutherStar,

So having that much experience with multiple cars over the years you can certainly appreciate their differences and the *endearing aspects* of each.

I try to stay away from the "Religious Crusades" but it is difficult at times, one cannot but defend the vehicle they own for the reasons they purchased it and the characteristics they have come to enjoy about cars.

- I am done here, I do hope there is a porsche in my future, but I doubt it will be a Boxster. ( my height and roll bar requirements to track the car, IMS althrough fixed in later models )
So I would appreciate my account being deleted in the interest of my no longer annoying anyone here with my non Boxster posts

So long and thanks for all the Fish,
Don