To 'S' or not to 'S'

[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.....

[nola911]

I debated the same when I bought mine.

I ended up buying the non-S because it was plenty fast enough for me, coming from SUVs, trucks, and sedans. After owning it a year, I wish I would have gone S, you get used to the nonS quickly and that 0-70 merge onto the interstate would be much more fun if you could do it a second quicker.

I would go S, if you are like me, you will spend the difference between the two cars in mods anyway, a larger motor is the best mod you could wish for.

[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

[Topless]

They are both great cars. If you are jonesing for more power while driving a base model you will soon be jonesing for more power with the S. It never ends. It's not the car that feels weak. It's the driver.

What privileged lives we lead that so much energy is spent on which Porsche to buy while others around the world are facing genocide, famine, Aids, abject poverty, civil war etc. Be thankful for what we have.

[PSP]

IMO a much better question to ask that will potentially impact you every time you drive is not "S" or "no S", but glass or plastic rear window. It's one of the few issues that I wish I had researched better before buying my 2001.

[Jacques79]

Originally Posted by racer_d

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

I'm sorry but you do notice a difference between the S and the non-S on the streets. .5 liters of extra displacement and more torque-horsepower accross the powerband make it noticeable.

And someone who buys a Porsche generally can tell the difference between a car that take 5.1 secs to 60 and the one that take 6.0 seconds.

We're not talking about an 80 year old grandma who's hesitating between an automatic 1994 Tercel or a Mazda 323...

[mn box s]

So they are popular even at the price of a Kia- Perfectlap. Just to clarify K=killed I=in A=auto. Anyway Ive been laid off for a little while and is why I actually waste time on this subject. Heres my idea on fun to drive I had a 00' civic Si. I won races auto cross and roadcoarse also won car shows. I have large trophies for all. I customized every thing and not gaudy like 99% of all other ricers you see. My point is I put 10k under the hood, by a little company we will call JUN... do a search, the BEST jap parts you can buy. I could of had a turbo kit and money left and had a car that was amazing fast. Instead I did what few do build an all motor Si 1.6L dynoed @ 202 whp @ 10,000 rpm. Ran it up to 12,800 rpm on a few dyno pulls but stopped making power at 10k. License plate....... RPM 10K. This has been getting to my point. Sure I have friends with 400+ whp Bmws VWs camaros you name it, fast cars. Id still rather have mine it was fun!!! Looks that made people go whhhhat Ive never seen such a cool car. Handling and stopping that rivels Porsches. Point being= As long as you have something you think is fun to drive who cares! On the other hand I did not sell my car for a non-s. And the dealer took my 00' civic in with 70k miles on trade and cut me a check on the spot for $12,400... yes at a dealer.