Reviews, Comparisons and Flying Low

[tonyg]

I've had my Porsche Certified 12K '03 Boxster for one week - its my daily driver too and from work which is a 50 mile trek each day. I had a small problem with the passenger window which was quickly remedied by the dealer (Champion Porsche - excellent overall experience with them ) with a new regulator. My last car was an '04 Audi TT (Champion Audi) which I loved dearly - but - it was no comparison to the Porsche! The Boxster drives like a much more substantial automobile, more pep and power, road holding capability, and the Tiptronic S acts differently than the TT tiptronic did. The shifts are not as diffuse as the TT's were and the Porsche feels much as my '03 VW Beetle Turbo S 6 speed manual did - only with alot more power of course. My Boxster is every bit of what I dreamed - only more.

[SJP3003]

First Porsche was a '99 996. At the time I also owned a 383 stroker C5 vette with 464 RWTQ and 446 RWHP that ran 11.7 ET's. The PCar was great in traffic, nimble & the flat 6 sounded perfect. The interior was so-so. Acceleration was good but not great.

The C5 stroker was a monster accelerating & handling was good as well (lowered, coil-overs, beefier sway bars & 18 inch wheels). Not totally reliable after heavy mods though. The interior was terrible & build quality was so-so.

Traded both the C5 & the 996 for a rosso mondiale Maser Coupe that I still have. The Maser has one of the best interiors in th business...leather everywhere. The cabin's design, black with red piping & stitching, is perfect for long trips. The Maser's paddle shifters in sport mode are quicker than any manual shifter. They work well at speed but are lousy in stop & go traffic (jerky). The V8 offers good grunt & the sound is good straight out of the box. The Maser is a consumate GT and that's what I use it for...extended trips. Last year I drove it to NH, VT, ME, MA in the fall (from my home in Miami). The day after I bought it I drove to GA, SC, NC, TN & KY with one of my sons. I also drove it to the Porsche Driving Experience in Brimingham on another trip. Negatives regarding the Maser: the shifters aren't good in traffic, the paint seems soft, the sound system is passable but not good. In terms of quality issues...none on mine after 15K miles. This will be a long-term keeper.

Last year I bought an '04 GTO as a commuter car while I got on the waiting list for an Elise. The GTO's muscle was entertaining. The interior was better than most any GM product. Good seats in particular. Many bits looked OK but were basic plastic though. The shifter was grade B at best. Exhaust note rumble was a B+. Handling at higher speeds was not as collected as any of the others mentioned here. Exterior styling was non-existent-- good for melding-in with other cars but nothing to look at.

The Elise came in much sooner than I expected. Sexy styling. A+ exhaust with the Quicksilver exhaust. Outstanding handling--one of the best in the world for a production car. A+ acceleration too when it's on the boil...the type of shove in the back that the P-Car Turbo provides. A visceral driving experience. Decent shifter. On the low side: the shell is an egg-shell...one bump & it cracks to the tune of $6K for the front clam. Some people complain about ingress & egress-- I'm 6' and don't complain on that count. No torque. And last but not least, the AC can't cope with Miami's summer heat. It was fine November through May, but once the summer arrived I had it in the shop 3 times to try to fix the AC...which led to the heavily discounted left-over '04 Boxster S I now drive as a daily driver.

The Boxster S also looks great, despite its age. The engine has the note I enjoyed on the 996, especially with the top down. I find myself turning down the radio to listen to the exhaust. The interior is better than the '99 996's. Acceleration is much quicker than it feels, but no muscle car. Handling is very good...not as tight as the Elise, especially over bumps. Creature comforts are generally good-- B+. The AC works. The Bose system sounds fine (although audiphiles will always want more from it). The automatic top is easy to operate. Stowage is excellent for a 2 seater. In Miami the Boxster is as common as a Beetle at this point...easy to blend in & I don't get too concerned about leaving it with a valet if I need to, although I still search for the safest parking spots wherever I go. The biggest negative is concern over the possibility that the Litronics will get stolen here. I bought the Boxster as an entertaining yet practical daily driver. It is that & more.

[nastyboxster]

Here are some sports cars that I've driven and my impressions of them. I have a 2000 Boxster S and my previous car was a 2000 Boxster:

S2000

Loved the 9000 rpm redline, but you get tired of it if you are driving it everyday. The thing that bother me the most is the tail swinging out in tight corners. Great for drift racing, but not an everyday sports car. Also, the average age of owners seems to be in their 20's. I'm almost 40 and I don't feel right driving it.

350Z

I actually ordered this car in 2002 for the 2003 year. Drove the demo before taking delivery and cancelled the order. Nothing wrong with the car - good looks, power and handling, but just didn't like it.

M3

Fast car with loads of torque, great brakes. Heavy car, but power compensates for it. Good value for overall performance. Performance is at par with 997, but at 2/3 the price. However it doesn't have the sexiness of the Boxster. It's like Pam Anderson vs. Julia Roberts. Pam Anderson is not that great of an actor compare to Julia Roberts, but she has sex written all over her!


Lotus Elise

Handles like it's on rails and good power. Didn't care too much about the sound of the engine. Some people love it, but not for me. Quality feels like a home made kit car. Rattles everywhere and very tight inside - My shoulders were touching the passenger the whole time and I'm 170lbs! Great autocross and track car, but not an everyday sports car. Price is about right for it.

996 Cab

I always thought that this would be my next move up the food chain. Has more power on paper, but certainly does not feel like it. It actually feels slower. Doesn't handle as good as the Boxster and didn't care too much for the looks from the rear. It's also about $15K cdn more than my car for the same year. I'll pass this one for the move up.

997S, Boxster and Boxster S

Everything is right about the 997S - power, handling, braking etc. But didn't get the same feeling as the first time I drove the Boxster. I was dreaming about getting the Boxster for over a year before I took the plunge. Took another year before moving to an S. I'm very happy with my S and I don't dream about getting the car I want anymore........for now.

Well, I was lying, wishlist for my Boxster S

GT2 bumper (I have the factory sideskirts already)http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-996-GT2-Style-Front-Bumper_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33640QQitemZ8002 069271QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
18" Gemballa Competition wheels with R compound tires http://www.wheelenhancement.com/getpic.php?pic=42_83_Lapis%20blue.jpg
MO30 suspension
+35hp performance upgrades (chip, exhaust, air intake, cat bypass) http://www.fabspeed.com/


Already did the B&M Short Shifter and just love it.