Boxster vs miata handling

[sharkbyte]

Originally Posted by Giller

Simply put, sports car enthusiasts would never cross-shop a Miata and a Boxster, just like supercar buyers won’t cross-shop a 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB and a 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Different strokes for different folks.

not always the case. I was looking at NC Miata's. Drove several, liked them fine just hadn't found the right one. Saw the Boxster I ended up buying on CL, went and drove it. My wife told me forget the Miata, buy the Porsche. Looked at several other Boxsters and a couple of Miatas. After reading about weaknesses of Boxsters, I went into it eyes wide open. I do my own work and nothing about Boxster really concerns me with exception of IMSB replacement. I'll pay to have that done.

Thus far, I have absolutely no regrets choosing Boxster over Miata. For the price, I was looking at a high mile early NC Miata (older ones are too little for me). Miata is more of a go kart but it's my daily driver, Porsche is more comfortable.

[Gelbster]

Interestingly similar to my situation so I have to ask- why didn't you buy a Z4 ? I am asking myself that same question !

Originally Posted by sharkbyte

not always the case. I was looking at NC Miata's. Drove several, liked them fine just hadn't found the right one. Saw the Boxster I ended up buying on CL, went and drove it. My wife told me forget the Miata, buy the Porsche. Looked at several other Boxsters and a couple of Miatas. After reading about weaknesses of Boxsters, I went into it eyes wide open. I do my own work and nothing about Boxster really concerns me with exception of IMSB replacement. I'll pay to have that done.

Thus far, I have absolutely no regrets choosing Boxster over Miata. For the price, I was looking at a high mile early NC Miata (older ones are too little for me). Miata is more of a go kart but it's my daily driver, Porsche is more comfortable.

[Giller]

Originally Posted by Gelbster

Interestingly similar to my situation so I have to ask- why didn't you buy a Z4 ? I am asking myself that same question !

Probably because mid-engine trumps front engine? Plus more luggage room? And of course, it's a Porsche, whereas the Z4 is but a BMW. BMW's are a dime a dozen.

[seningen]

Originally Posted by Giller

Probably because mid-engine trumps front engine? Plus more luggage room? And of course, it's a Porsche, whereas the Z4 is but a BMW. BMW's are a dime a dozen.

I daily drove a Boxster S for 4 years -- can't imagine doing that in a Miata.

On track, I have a lot of respect for a well driven Miata.

That being said, I now have a full weight 105K mile Boxster S with roughly a Spec Boxster suspension, I can keep up with a gutted well driven SpecMiata on a Miata friendly track (H2R) and leave the SpecMiatas behind at a track like CoTA.
My lap times in my Boxster S as is, is slightly slower then a SpecBoxster (driven well).

If I stripped the weight out of my Boxster S, even at H2R the SpecMiata would not stand much of a chance.

Cost to enter the used Boxster market is cheap (maybe comparable) -- the cost to maintain is not.

Mike

[sharkbyte]

Mostly this. I wanted a "sports car". Z4 didn't fit the bill for many reasons.

I have a 944 race car. Spec Miatas can run circles around me. I have a tremendous amount of respect for them. One of the things that intrigued me with Miatas is the simplicity and availability of performance parts. Not finding that with the Boxster.

Originally Posted by Giller

Probably because mid-engine trumps front engine? Plus more luggage room? And of course, it's a Porsche, whereas the Z4 is but a BMW. BMW's are a dime a dozen.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by Gelbster

Interestingly similar to my situation so I have to ask- why didn't you buy a Z4 ? I am asking myself that same question !

I drove a Z3 & Z4 before buying my Boxster, I do not like the straight 6 cyl. engine, (also drove a 99 M3 & 02 330i conv.) power is good, but the sound is boring like an industrial engine. You sit too low in the Z cars & I didn't like the interior either.

[Gelbster]

Agreed . The sinking in the bathtub feeling in the Z4 was awful and I am tall. No such problem in my XKE. The SLK 350 was a little better.

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

I drove a Z3 & Z4 before buying my Boxster, I do not like the straight 6 cyl. engine, (also drove a 99 M3 & 02 330i conv.) power is good, but the sound is boring like an industrial engine. You sit too low in the Z cars & I didn't like the interior either.