[S_PILOT]

for me, it's not a close race-the Z06.

great everyday car, but it was built for the track. incredible horsepower for high speed, low end torque like there's no tomorrow to power through apexes, and the Nurbergring-tuned suspension is great through the twisties. It's loud, fast, with a body that certainly makes a statement. There's a reason quite a few Z06's show up at PCA track events.

I have wanted a Corvette all my life, and it really is a dream come true.

the Boxster S is primarily my wife's car. She loves red and wanted a convertible, so there was only one choice. I'm a 550 Spyder fan, and the 986 boxster follows the lines of that car very well, so we just had to have one.

I have had the Box on two road courses: Mid-Ohio and Watkins Glen. I did not like it even a little bit on either track. it may be that I am so used to a front engine, rear drive car, or it may be that I just don't know how to drive the S on a track. it's pretty quick, but the rear end just won't stay planted. it wanders through every turn-heavy yaw/body roll everywhere on the course. Feels like I'm driving on 3 wheels a lot of the time. The car is completely stock.

i will say, though, that the Box is very nimble. Has a very quick and accurate turn-in at corners, but the mushy rear-end kind of ruins it for me. If it was straight over-steering, that would be fine, but getting the car to rotate is realy hard for me.

After getting under the car to change the oil, I see that the rear anti-sway bar is as big around as my little finger! The car weighs just 200 pounds less than my Z06 and it has huge anti-sway bars compared to the Box. don't know if that's it or not, and like I said, I just may not know how to drive a mid-engine car on a track.

I have noticed at all my track days(about 60 events), that I have never seen a bone-stock boxster on the track, they have all been suspension modified for sure and sometimes a blower under the trunk.

but on the street, we have the best of both worlds. We have some great hill-country roads just south of us and sometimes we will take both cars and just rip up the twisties, switch cars and do it again!! There's nothing like open air motoring in a Porsche on beautiful days here in the Mid-West.

Oh, and build quality-that's not close either. the Corvette seems like it was made by 100 monkey's with air tools compared to the Boxster....