Boxster "S" vs. 996 911 - help

[Adam]

I rode in a 2000 996 carrera 4 and it wasn't much faster than my box in a straight line. If you're going to go 996 then I'd definately step up to a 3.6L instead of the 3.4L. The 3.4L might feel quick if your coming from a 2.5L or 2.7L box, but it's not that big of a jump from the 3.2L.

[nola911]

Actually, the 2001 vs. 2002 carreras have the same 4.9 second 0-60, so I recommend the 2002+ for one specific reason, more technology in the 2002.

if it is a price thing, or you fall in love with a 996 gen 1. like I did, buy it anyway, almost all block problems failed within the first 10k miles and have been replaced. Then the playing field is even and you have a porsche engine vs. a porsche engine.

I saw a guy on 6 speed with a 3.8 x50 gt3 engine blow with 7k miles the other day.. same ole story in the porsche lottery.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by maxferran

Actually, the 2001 vs. 2002 carreras have the same 4.9 second 0-60, so I recommend the 2002+ for one specific reason, more technology in the 2002.
I saw a guy on 6 speed with a 3.8 x50 gt3 engine blow with 7k miles the other day.. same ole story in the porsche lottery.

I think you're putting to much stock into 0-60 times. Most people do. 0-60 times don't tell the whole story. 0-100 and 1/4 mile times give a more accurate depiction of what a car is capable of. Even better passing test like 50-70 in 3rd gear paint a more accurate picture of what the car has in the midrange. Two cars can have identical 0-60 times yet one can be signifactly faster in other tests due to wheelspin/traction issues, gearing ect during the 0-60 test. Also, the GT3 is only available with a 3.6L from the factory. The 3.8L is only available on the Carrera S models.

[nola911]

That's odd, why do the GT3s not come with a 3.8? Anyway, the point is that all watercooled Porsche engines are plagued with the lottery even this fella's new Porsche.

Also, I'm not arguing about the speed, everyone should want the latest and greatest, no doubt, I was just saying that if your one a tight budget, the speed difference is not a HUGE factor. Hell, if we can shove price aside, I would recommend a f430, which I am sure is more fun to drive than any of the above.

If drag times 1/4 mile is our topic of conversation in 2001, the difference between the boxster and carrera is 1.1 second, which happens to also be the same as the difference between the carrera turbo and naturally aspirated. The S comes in at only .6 slower than the 996. I don't know any info on passing power ect., which does not seem important to the original poster's quest for his new car. None of this changed my opinion of what car to own, my 986 was too slow for my butt dyno after I drove the MUCH more powerful 996.

I am not picking sides, in fact for his use I already recommended the boxster, which is admittedly the most fun car I have ever owned. I promise I will be back into the boxster/cayman when the 987 platform becomes affordable to me.

[LoveBunny]

I was looking at a Cayman, Boxster and 911 when I was making up my mind. I liked all three when I drove them. I narrowed it down to the Cayman and Boxster due to price. As soon as I put the top down on the Boxster I knew that's what I had to have. I'm happy with my choice. I get to put the top down a lot and I like the fact that I have a trunk in the back. I think it would be much more of a pain to always have to go in the front for the trunk and I use my trunk whenever I work. I'm thinking since you are in CA you'll probably have a lot of nice top down weather, so I think a Boxster is a good choice. And I agree that the 911 cabrio doesn't look as nice as the Boxster with the top down.

I do have to say that maxferran's Carerra is utterly beautiful and drool-worthy though!

[Adam]

Originally Posted by maxferran

That's odd, why do the GT3s not come with a 3.8? Anyway, the point is that all watercooled Porsche engines are plagued with the lottery even this fella's new Porsche.

Porsche didn't need the extra displacement to hit their hp target. The 3.6L in the GT3 is highly tuned and has the highest hp/liter output of any mass produced naturally aspirated engine built ever. Even higher than anything coming from Italy. It has 415 hp compared to 355hp on the 3.8L giving it a hair over 115hp per liter. Even the 381hp X51 version of the 3.8L is less powerful than the 3.6L in the GT3. They used higher flowing heads/intake and extra high compression along with very trick, extremely light internals. It's a very special engine. The boxster and standard 911 engines are very detuned by comparison. My 258 hp 3.2L boxster only has about 81hp per liter for example. If it was tuned in a similar fashion as the GT3 motor it would have more like 368 hp!

[Perfectlap]

^ also a true dry sump. You dont get that with the other NA Carreras.

[Brucelee]

Interestinlg discussion. I had a 2002 Turbo coupe 911 for a while. I never liked it.

I really loved the various Boxster S models I have had.

Go figure.

[ddb]

Originally Posted by Adam

The 3.6L in the GT3 is highly tuned and has the highest hp/liter output of any mass produced naturally aspirated engine built ever. Even higher than anything coming from Italy. It has 415 hp compared to 355hp on the 3.8L giving it a hair over 115hp per liter.

Adam,

I believe the original S2000 made 240hp with 2 liters for a specific output of 120hp/liter. At some point the displacement was increased but not the HP.

ddb

[Adam]

Originally Posted by ddb

Adam,

I believe the original S2000 made 240hp with 2 liters for a specific output of 120hp/liter. At some point the displacement was increased but not the HP.

ddb

Ahh...yes I forgot about the old 2.0L engine in the S2000. Since they increased the displacemnt( in 04 I think) to 2.2L it no longer has the highest specific output. Also the 1.3L rotory engine in the Rx8 deserves an honorable mention because it truly has the highest specific output of any NA production engine @ around 180hp per liter. Ok, I retract my previous statement of the GT3 having the highest specific output ever, but I do believe it has the highest output of any NA piston driven engine currently in production. If anybody can find a current production vehicle that meets the above criteria and bests 115hp per liter I'd like to see it.