So why a Boxster?

[eightsandaces]

Originally Posted by ekam

That's a problem for 95% of all Pontiacs out there???

Sorry don't know why people bring up a Pontiac (or any American make) in this discussion either.

Oh wait I forgot people are still debating between Boxster and a Vette...

Ahh you're ruining all the fun, I thought today we could contrast the 944 and Fiero for those still trapped in the illusion pontiac builds capable sports cars.

[Trade911forBoxster]

I still have my 06 S2000 (bought new) and My 03 Boxster S. I sold a really fantastic air cooled 911 to get the Box, back in December.

1. The S2000 has a much better shifter than the Box, and a bit more steering feel. Turn in is definitely sharper. On the other hand, it has far less torque, and a much more brittle (and brutal) ride. I don't know how much it costs to service one, because the thing has never failed in any way. The S2000 may look "girly" to some, but a Boxster rides like a Jaguar sedan by comparison to an S2000, has better HVAC, etc., making it feel much more luxurious. Although there's less interior volume in an S2000, I find its seats a bit less confining across my lower back than the ones in the Boxster. But other than that, the Boxster gets the comfort award from all women who have ridden in both.

Also, there was never an automatic S2000, which removes it from the chick car category to some extent.

I lived in Japan for 3 years, and became friends with a senior Honda powerplant engineer who had worked on the Honda F1 team. He said they put everything they knew into the S2000. It was intended to be nothing more than a limited edition, pure sports car to celebrate their 50th anniversay, and they never expected it to be popular. Kind of like their original S600, only on a catastrophic 'roid rage. He said they lose money on those cars, particularly because of the work they put into the drivetrain. They use the same tolerances and quality control procedures building an S2000 engine that they do for their F1 engines. Even the NSX doesn't come close to that level of attention to detail. If only they'd made it a straight 6...

2. I'm really surprised that some of you have had such negative eperiences with the Solstice. I never drove one, but I did look at them. In terms of panel fit, and other visible indicators of quality, they're in a whole different universe than the bad old Pontiacs. I'm no fan of 4 cylinder buzziness (which is why I'm selling the S2000 a little later in the spring), but by all accounts they don't perform that badly, esp. the supercharged one. I think they look pretty good really, with none of the typical Pontiac scoops and geegaws. Useless trunk though.

3. I actually had an 86 Fiero GT in the early 90s. The worst thing about it was unreliability. I went through 3 A/C compressors one summer, the shift cables failed while my wife was driving in heavy traffic one day, and one time a piece of the catalytic converter detached inside, making a horrible racket until it was replaced. It had 20,000 miles on it when I bought it, and I sold it before it had 26,000 because it was eating me alive in repair expenses. But it had a lot of grip, and decent power, for an 80s car. Considering the origins of the drivetrain (the GM X cars), I thought they did a remarkable job of converting it into something fun to drive. Its balance was surprisingly good, and I never got the feeling that it would be scary at the limit. Relatively good ride too. Hideous, idiotic rear spoiler on it.

4. I've had a lot of BMWs, and I really wanted to like the Z3 and the Z4, but I didn't enjoy the way either of them drove. The Z3 was ok, but seemed to be more expensive than it should have been for what it was. A Boxster apperaed to be a better deal for the money to me, as it handled better, had a more comfortable ride and cabin, and better carrying capacity. The Z4 is certainly a better distance cruiser in every way than the Z3, but I really don't like the way it handles. It feels like the front roll center is excessively high for a performance car, and there's something very strange about the steering feel that I can't quite put my finger on. That includes the "S" model, which I drove shortly before buying the Boxster. The Z4 definitely has a better interior than the Boxster. The design is fresher, and the materials are drastically better. It just isn't that great of a sports car.

5. The Boxster is excellent, but suffers in comparison to my old 911 in a few ways. Good 3.2 Carrera engines seem almost indestructable. Mine had 107k on it when I sold, had never been apart, and still had excellent compression. People run those engines for 3 or 4 100k miles all the time. I don't get the feeling my Boxster will last that long. The 911 also had the best seats I've ever had in any car. It had more steering feel than the Boxster too. Of course, it had incredibly bad ergonomics and ancillary switch and control gear. I never found drop throttle oversteer to be that much of a problem, but I concede that driving one of those cars in bad weather would have required one's full attention. It was also less comfortable than the Box, louder, harsher, etc. And then there's the fact that the Boxster was designed to be a convertible from the beginning.

6. I have no doubt that the recent Vettes are good. I've driven my brother in law's Z06. My problem with those cars, believe it or not, is that they have too much performance. I like to explore the limits of a sports car, and if you're getting anywhere near the limit in a Z06 Vette on the highway, you're a fool. I think I'd be constantly itching to find some place to open it up, but there just aren't that many places left where that would ever be possible. Not a problem with a Boxster, even an S.

[jopo43]

Why? I had just sold a 68 Camaro SS that was perfect . The wife always wanted a convertible. Bored one day thought lets look for a convertible looked at the Mazda Miata. Clicked on Porsche Boxster thinking no way they are too much. Found a 97 with 40,000 miles looked like new for $15,000 5 hours away. My son and I went and looked at a Pontiac Solstice looked cheap hard to fit into no trunk space.
Thought at 6' 4" tall before I drive 5 hours to look at this one maybe I should drive a boxster thats closer.
Went and drove one close and wondered why did I ever have anything but this!!! More importantly I fit. The drive was like nothing I had ever driven.

The next weekend I drove 5 hours one way and bought the 40,000 mile Porsche. I put my other Camaro a 97 Z28 for sale. I had owned a Camaro for 20 years but will never be without a PORSCHE its a totally different world!!! Everytime I drive the Boxster I still ask why myself what took so long to find this great car.
I do get tired of people thinking I spent $50,000 - $70,000 on a Porsche and everyone wants to race a PORSCHE!!!
Thats why a Boxster for me what took me so long......

[FTD]

All the 'chick car' perspectives crack me up. Chicks don't like a lot of torque? They want auto transmission? And a bland looking car?

Some sports cars definitely have a boy toy testosterone appearance, but I don't get the chick car perceptions!

Too funny.

I like a lot of torque and high performance and character in style. I wish the Boxster had the performance of some of my former motorcycles.

And I am every bit female. Not a manly thing about me.

[ekam]

Originally Posted by FTD

And I am every bit female. Not a manly thing about me.

Or to sum it up in a word - Kinky.

[NWI Bill]

I really don't get the "chick" reference either. You should see how bad they bash the Boxster over at the Pelican Parts Forum. It seems their attitude is if you don't own a 911, you don't own a "real" Porsche.

I also heard the "chick" reference alot when I owned a Solstice. My wife drove the Solstice alot but she never considered it a "chick" car. Actually she hates that whole reference.

[NWI Bill]

Originally Posted by Trade911forBoxster

I still have my 06 S2000 (bought new) and My 03 Boxster S. I sold a really fantastic air cooled 911 to get the Box, back in December.

2. I'm really surprised that some of you have had such negative eperiences with the Solstice. I never drove one, but I did look at them. In terms of panel fit, and other visible indicators of quality, they're in a whole different universe than the bad old Pontiacs. I'm no fan of 4 cylinder buzziness (which is why I'm selling the S2000 a little later in the spring), but by all accounts they don't perform that badly, esp. the supercharged one. I think they look pretty good really, with none of the typical Pontiac scoops and geegaws. Useless trunk though.

Not a negative experience. I enjoyed the car. Just wanted something more. And the GXP is a $5-7K lift in price over the Base. Even a good Turbo or SC setup will run you at least $4K but more typically $5K. I thought why throw that money into a Solstice when I could have a Boxster that really has what I'm looking for.

[FTD]

Originally Posted by ekam

Or to sum it up in a word - Kinky.

Main Entry: kinky
Pronunciation: \ˈkiŋ-kē\
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): kink·i·er; kink·i·est
Date: 1844
1: closely twisted or curled No
2: relating to, having, or appealing to unconventional tastes Unconventional, Yes. I am not a sheep.
especially in sex ; also : sexually deviant Have not been described this way
3: outlandish , far-out not at all
— kink·i·ly \ˈkiŋ-kə-lē\ adverb Kinkily??
— kink·i·ness \ˈkiŋ-kē-nəs\ noun

I had to respond.

[Trade911forBoxster]

Originally Posted by FTD

All the 'chick car' perspectives crack me up. Chicks don't like a lot of torque? They want auto transmission? And a bland looking car?

Apparently so. A few years back, Chrysler discovered that the Sebring convertible was overwhelmingly more popular with females than it was with males, so they started specifically marketing it that way. It's pretty much the poster child for low torque, auto transmission and bland styling, right?

Of course, individuals vary in their tastes. My mom drives a supercharged Mini convertible with a 6 speed. And a figher pilot friend of mine has a maroon Sebring convertible.

I was responding to an earlier post where someone said they wouldn't buy an S2000 because they thought it looked "girly." From the perspective of someone that has both a Boxster and an S2000, I think that perception is a bit at odds with the actual character of those cars, since the S2000 is arguably the more difficult car to live with (definitely harder to drive well than a Boxster). Books and their covers and so forth...

Personally, I couldn't give a crap what other people think of my vehicles. I buy what I need, or what I like, and I'm not looking for attention. In fact, I ride a Vespa back and forth to work most days. When I bought it, my female boss (who usually drives her Firebird, but sometimes rides her Harley with drag pipes) laughed at me and told me she didn't want to have to explain to everyone that I really wasn't gay. Surprisingly, girls come up and ask me about it all the time. Lots of them want to ride on it. If I'd have known what a chick magnet a Vespa was when I was single, I might not have spent so much money on my sports cars...

[ekam]

Originally Posted by FTD

Main Entry: kinky
Pronunciation: \ˈkiŋ-kē\
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): kink·i·er; kink·i·est
Date: 1844
1: closely twisted or curled No
2: relating to, having, or appealing to unconventional tastes Unconventional, Yes. I am not a sheep.
especially in sex ; also : sexually deviant Have not been described this way
3: outlandish , far-out not at all
— kink·i·ly \ˈkiŋ-kə-lē\ adverb Kinkily??
— kink·i·ness \ˈkiŋ-kē-nəs\ noun

I had to respond.

So just so we're clear, you sure you don't have one of these in your drawers?



(Friday and 15 minutes before leaving work YAY.)

[blue2000s]

Good read:

http://www.rahul.net/dennisp/boxster/boxster-compare.shtml

[fragdude]

In lieu of this thread I decided to poll a bunch of women that I met in the usual spots when one is lookin' for some tail. This is the list of places I visited in order:

The Mall
Movie Theaters
The Zoo
The elliptical machines at my gym
Hair salons
My favorite bar (it was becoming a stressful day)
The back of a police cruiser
and The Police Impound

56 out 40 women I polled prefer "low" torque to "high" torque (I of course let them be the judges of what that means because I honestly didn't know) aaaand I had an wonderful time doing this survey!

Since horsepower is a function for torque (Horsepower = (RPM x Torque)/5252), my next survey will be to find out if women prefer "high" revving engine to "low" revving engines. At that time we can finally find out the answer to the age old question of: Do women prefer "high" horsepower car to "low" horsepower cars???

O.K. I think I killed it...

[944boy]

"chick car" branding is very rarely true. My girlfriend does drive a VW jetta (I'd call it a chick car) However she lost the key and I loaned her the Boxster because she had to get to SCUBA cert. this morning. It was warm and sunny finally so when she got home the top was down and she didn't want to give the keys back (she found the VW keys). So I think I see more Porsche's in my future. :-)

That and my mom drives a Supercharged E36 M3. Not your typical Little old lady car!

[FTD]

Originally Posted by ekam

So just so we're clear, you sure you don't have one of these in your drawers?



(Friday and 15 minutes before leaving work YAY.)

Not quite like that, no.

[Tailwind]

I had an 84 mile round trip commute, and had to gas my 4-Runner every 4 days. I was reading the forums about the upcoming VW TDI and was sold. I bought the Golf TDI in December 2010 and loved the torque. My cousin bought a '03 S the same time. He took me for a spin and I fell in love with it - I thought 'if I could put the TDI drive train into a Boxster, it would be insane' - but enough sacrilege.
I retired in October and turned the Golf, with 186000 mi back to VW as part of the emissions buyback and wanted a roadster to take out occasionally and have some fun. I live near the foothills and am looking forward to it (after i finish putting the new Koni's on). There were no Boxsters in the price range I wanted. I considered Z3, Z4, 128i and TT. Then this '99 came available at a low price. Yes, I've had to sink some money into it, but all things considered, there ain't nothin' like the flat six, especially the sound.
Plus the normally aspirated engine with only one ECU gives peace of mind. Despite having the VAG shop e-manual, the vacuum and control systems on the turbo gave me pause, as I would be buying an old car.

[JayG]

My wife bought it for herself.

I told he couldn't drive it like her old Celica and needed to use the brakes to slow down rather than downshifting to slow down as brakes were a lot less $$ than a clutch and I can change the brakes easily. I also told he she couldn't just putter around at 3500 rpm, that it needed to be run hard from time to time.

She then said " I'm not driving it, you drive it"

So the good husband I am, I got stuck driving the Porsche.
What can I say???

[maytag]

Originally Posted by fragdude

In lieu of this thread I decided to poll a bunch of women that I met in the usual spots when one is lookin' for some tail. This is the list of places I visited in order:



The Mall

Movie Theaters

The Zoo

The elliptical machines at my gym

Hair salons

My favorite bar (it was becoming a stressful day)

The back of a police cruiser

and The Police Impound



56 out 40 women I polled prefer "low" torque to "high" torque (I of course let them be the judges of what that means because I honestly didn't know) aaaand I had an wonderful time doing this survey!



Since horsepower is a function for torque (Horsepower = (RPM x Torque)/5252), my next survey will be to find out if women prefer "high" revving engine to "low" revving engines. At that time we can finally find out the answer to the age old question of: Do women prefer "high" horsepower car to "low" horsepower cars???



O.K. I think I killed it...

Kinda my hero right now.

Any video?

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

[Ottomotion]

I regrettably sold my 73 914 2.0 a few years back to a guy in Sweden.



I found this pic of it on the web. Looks like its being enjoyed on a 914 outing in the Alps.
We had just had our daughter so a two-seater just wasn't practical for our new family.

Fast forward to my daughters 16th birthday. We bought her her first car and made sure it was a cheap 4 seater...
I set out to find another 914. Well the market on them has gotten crazy. I wanted A/C and more power anyways and always liked the Boxsters so I started looking.
I picked up mine for cheaper than a banged up non-2.0 914 goes for now-a-days due to a dropped valve. I fixed it and now have a nice 03 S for wayyy cheaper than a cheap 914 goes for.

[particlewave]

Ok. Who resurrected this 10 year old thread?

[Ottomotion]

New sheep joining the flock every day.

They have a story to tell as well.

Don't fret, I am a professional thread killer and this one too will probably go the way of the Dodo....