To 'S' or not to 'S'

[Topless]

You gotta get what you want.

From my perspective, I originally went shopping for a 2001 S. I drove several S and base models. All the S models I drove were pretty thrashed or had a bunch of cheesy boyracer mods. Then I found this car: older than I wanted but a pristine, one owner 98 base model. It had flawless service records and was garaged at home and at work. I have not been disappointed. For me car condition was more important than HP. If I found an S in such good condition I would have bought it though.

Side note: I do regularly track my car and have no trouble running right with the S models or 996's for that matter. The fastest 986 times are still being laid by a pair of stock base Boxsters in our area.

[bmx672]

I test drove both... and wound up with a 2000 non-S. I liked the previous owner and the history (that had everything to do with my purchase) I'm not a horsepower guy, I just wanted a third car for top down weekend drives on the country roads. I'm completely happy with it! I figured if I ever wanted a really fast car I'd look at a Corvette etc... I feel guilty though for only driving it 2000 miles it's first year. I need to correct that this summer!

[steve00s]

It really depends on your driving habits and what it is you enjoy. The first Boxster I drove was a 2.5l tiptronic and it just didn't do anything for me. The S put me back in the seat a bit and was like wow. With a few mods its like really wow. But I am more of a g-force junkie. I like the feel of acceleration and the S does that while doing everything else right.

[achtung]

Life is short...get the S

[vincesf]

I would opt for getting an S if it is within your budget. Find a clean Boxster S, and you will be amazed at how great the car this car truly is.
vincesf

[pcar-yvr]

What I am really amazed with is the quality and thoughtfulness of the responses! Thanks (and do keep 'em coming).

Awesome forum you got here - look forward contributing as an owner rather than from the outside looking in.

Purchase is just a few weeks away when my wife is out of town. Pix will be forthcoming.

[Sammy]

If I had the guts I would buy a high mileage, non-S, drop a 3.4 in it and then make the appropriate mods to the suspension and the brakes. The S seems to be an off-the-shelf happy medium of what I wish I could have and what I perceive the base as being (key word being "perceive").

As seen driving with Randall and NickCats, I don't think the difference is as big as I thought it would be. NickCats autocrosses quite a bit with me and he is only a few seconds behind me which I think is primarily the difference between my R compounds and his tires. Randall, and the other base models, held their own at last years Tail of the Dragon trip.

When I originally bought my car I was looking at a base model but fell in love with the white face gauges, six speed (worthless in my opinion) and the bright red calipers.

To sum it up if I can't do what I mention in my first sentence I would probably opt for the S simply due to my perception of having more power, awesome brakes, a few styling cues, and the fact that the S is on the rear trunk.

[mn box s]

what really matters is the 6 speed and the brakes. Figure how much a six speed swap would be then the s-brakes and that alone will make you decide what way to go not to mention the 3.2 over 2.7. as said before no offense but I wouldnt wast my time with the non, but the ones I have driven were nice.

[Topless]

Originally Posted by mn box s

what really matters is the 6 speed and the brakes. Figure how much a six speed swap would be then the s-brakes and that alone will make you decide what way to go not to mention the 3.2 over 2.7. as said before no offense but I wouldnt wast my time with the non, but the ones I have driven were nice.

mn box s is probably right,

A base 986 Boxster is just a slow worthless POS and a total waste of time.

But wait! Before we jump to conclusions perhaps we should compare recent run times from some of best drivers in the country. Compare the best Base Boxsters with the best Boxster S, Cayman S, GT3, and TT's. The results may surprise you: http://www.pcasdr.org/parade/results/ParadeAX.htm

At speeds over 120mph the more powerful cars have a decided advantage. At real world speeds (less than 100mph) the Base Boxster is hard to beat.

[JackG]

Originally Posted by Topless

But wait! Before we jump to conclusions perhaps we should compare recent run times from some of best drivers in the country. Compare the best Base Boxsters with the best Boxster S, Cayman S, GT3, and TT's. The results may surprise you: http://www.pcasdr.org/parade/results/ParadeAX.htm

At speeds over 120mph the more powerful cars have a decided advantage. At real world speeds (less than 100mph) the Base Boxster is hard to beat.

In an AX, the base won't give much away at all. However, if you look at the really fast times for "base" Boxsters in that list, they are in the Modified class. Meaning, better brakes, upgraded suspension, more horsepower. The base is a popular car in AX because it has such a great chassis, and can be bought cheaper than an S, leaving more money for mods.

Put an unmodified base and S on a road course, and you'll see a greater advantage for the S. It won't be night and day, but it will be faster. It'll also be carrying more speed at the end of the straights, so it will get you in over your head a little quicker, demanding a bit more skill to drive.

IMO, the S is more pleasurable to drive in normal daily traffic mode because of the increased torque. But that's not where either one really shines though, is it?

They are both great cars. Enjoy what you've got, or whatever you get.

[racer_d]

For daily street driving, simply get "the best one you can afford" and not get hung up on the "S/NonS" side of things.

Over the years, I have learned that DRIVER skill is way more important than a few HP or brake sizes. I have happily passed 911 drivers with my 100hp 914 at the track. I have happily passed 300hp 911s with my 200hp 911 and yes, I have happilly passed Boxster Ss with my base Boxster.

So.. buy the best Boxster you can afford to. If you have specific goals that would be rewarded by having more gears, bigger brakes (not necesarily better, just bigger), a 3rd radiator and a few more hp, then go for the S!

That performance grid is sweet vindication, big LOL to the post that said the 2.5 lacked passing & merge ability. My first car was a 1.1 Opel Kadette, a sewing machine motor would have propelled it at a greater velocity. After reading this months Excelllence, I just hope my 2.5 sleeved, low milage motor doesn't blow up as apparently many others have...So far it runs like a clock, never had a RMS leak either...



http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee32/firesphotons2/?action=view&current=a_kadett_b_k.jpg

[Jacques79]

Originally Posted by racer_d

For daily street driving, simply get "the best one you can afford" and not get hung up on the "S/NonS" side of things.

Over the years, I have learned that DRIVER skill is way more important than a few HP or brake sizes. I have happily passed 911 drivers with my 100hp 914 at the track. I have happily passed 300hp 911s with my 200hp 911 and yes, I have happilly passed Boxster Ss with my base Boxster.

So.. buy the best Boxster you can afford to. If you have specific goals that would be rewarded by having more gears, bigger brakes (not necesarily better, just bigger), a 3rd radiator and a few more hp, then go for the S!

What's your point? And I bet a 1997 Protege with a better driver than you can pass you in a Boxster S. But does that mean that the Protege will be more fun to drive?

And what about Ferrari drivers. Why buy a Ferrari when a great driver in a Porsche can pass it on a tight track?



I'm tired of people saying that it's not worth getting the better car because X car can be faster on a race track with a superior driver. Duh...but that doesn't mean that you won't have more fun with the better car.

There's a big difference between the Boxster and the Boxster S. Unless you're trying to prove to people that you can be faster around a race track with a less powerful car, get the S if acceleration is important to you.

[dabart]

I have always answered this type of ? with the diamond formula..... I.E. From a distance most diamonds the same size look alike. But as you get closer you notice things like price, resale, and peace of mind. By peace of mind I mean, how you as the owner will always feel about that particular diamond. Or in this case that particular Porsche Boxster or maybe even an S. Both look great. Both perform great.
But.... If you bought a standard Boxster would you ever regret not buying an S instead?! I have always over bought when it came to cars. They almost alway out resale the lesser vehicle as does a diamond with a better color, cut, and clarity. Yes a better driver in a lesser car could out drive you if your skill didn't match his or hers's. But how often does that occur? Where? I drive 60 miles each day with my S and generally stick to the back twisties here. It's me and the S alone. When I make a mistake the S covers me on it. I'd like to think that the standard Boxster would do the same. But really I dont care because I purchased the S to satisfy my diamond formula. I also dont get pestered by those S2000 owners with license plates that say Boxster Bait. When im on the freeway they see the S on the back and avoid the spanking. So to conclude.... Think about diamonds when it comes to an S or not to S.... They look alike from a distance but.....

[racer_d]

Originally Posted by Jacques79

What's your point? And I bet a 1997 Protege with a better driver than you can pass you in a Boxster S. But does that mean that the Protege will be more fun to drive?

And what about Ferrari drivers. Why buy a Ferrari when a great driver in a Porsche can pass it on a tight track?



I'm tired of people saying that it's not worth getting the better car because X car can be faster on a race track with a superior driver. Duh...but that doesn't mean that you won't have more fun with the better car.

There's a big difference between the Boxster and the Boxster S. Unless you're trying to prove to people that you can be faster around a race track with a less powerful car, get the S if acceleration is important to you.

Jacque my points were

1) Do you really notice the 2-3ft stoppng advantage of the S on the street?
2) Do you notice the cooling advantage of a 3rd radiator when driving on the street?
3) Do you notice any benefit to a 5 vs 6spd on the street?
4) Perhaps the Ss TQ and HP can be noticed, and is noticiable on the track when you get to about 100mph, but does the average driver discern between a 5.2 vs a 5.9 second 0-60 run? I doubt it.

I didn't say it wasn't worth getting an S. I simply said to get the "newest and best" version one could afford.

If the original poster has no intention of driving the car on the racetrack, where in my experience the base boxster has way more potential than people give it credit for, then why buy an "S"? In the 1960s, Porsche sold 30,000 912s (essentially a 911 with a 4cyl) vs the approx 10,000 911s. In the 1970s, Porsche sold 120,000 914s vs about 50,000 911s... Porsche sold another 150,000 or so 944s compared to a much smaller 911 production. For some people, even if money is not an object, having the "fastest" or "best" Porsche out there is not a requirement.

And yes, even the Boxster S is a chick car

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by mn box s

what really matters is the 6 speed and the brakes. Figure how much a six speed swap would be then the s-brakes and that alone will make you decide what way to go not to mention the 3.2 over 2.7. as said before no offense but I wouldnt wast my time with the non, but the ones I have driven were nice.

I find my 6-speed to be one gear too many. It's a marketing upgrade more than a performance one. You're not missing anything there.

On the brakes, they are fantastic, but from what I've seen of the 2.5/2.7L brakes, they're great too.

I actually like to push my sports cars and the more power, the more restrained you have to be with your driving. I find the S to be a constant exercise in constantly holding back. I can't imagine what the guys driving Vipers must go through. For day to day, the non-S is probably more rewarding.