Boxster vs. RX8

[Samson]

That's a tough one... my experience with the RX-8 is limited to a few test drives, but they were very, um, thorough test drives.

My favorite part about the RX-8 is the wankel. I love the 9k redline and how it is smooth as silk throughout the range. The handling is just about perfect. Like you said, very tossable and has high limits, but still a comfortable(ish) cruiser. Reliability issues seem to be overblown. From what I've read and heard, just make sure you keep it full of oil... they burn it as part of the combustion process, so they use more than most people are used to.

This might be a step below what you're thinking, but have you looked at a previous generation Mazdaspeed Miata? That is probably the most fun I've had in a car in a long time. The turbo engine suits this car perfectly... raspy, raw, and a bit on the laggy side. Add to that the just about perfect Miata chassis, and you have one hell of a car for the money. Sure, it isn't practical, so buy a trailer hitch.

Another fun and in-your-range car is a C5 Corvette. I mean, where else can you get 350 hp, 30+ mpg, and amazing handling for $20k? Have you looked into a Z4 3.0? LS2 GTO? GTI 2.0t?

[John V]

The RX-8 is a phenomenal car if you can get past the lack of torque and the poor gas mileage. It is extremely practical - has a big trunk and four good sized seats. It's quiet, it handles great, it's quick enough if you're willing to rev it out, and they've shown to be very reliable.

I spent a couple years driving one and developed a real appreciation for just how good of a car it was.

John

[ekam]

RX-8 is reliable when it's sitting in the garage or in the mechanic's garage.

First post in "Issues & Problems" forum - Engine Seized w/ 34000 miles!!

Hey guys just an update on my other post asking if anyone knew what was going on with my car...http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=153935. I had it towed to the dealer and he said the engine definitely seized. All fluids were always topped off, ive had it brought in for every TSB and flash, and it never had any issues whatsoever on lack of power. It ran perfect, then suddenly I heard a bang, and game over. Only mods were various intakes and a midpipe..just wanted to give everyone a heads up. Thank god for warrenties i guess.

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=154264

GOOD LUCK!

[Dr. Kill]

+1 on the RX8. I really enjoyed the test drive I took in one. Since you have a couple of kids, I say take the Mazda.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Box, but now that I have a daughter, family trips in the Porsche are out. This year, I wouldn't mind piling into an RX8 to run up through Vermont this year when the leaves change. Instead, we are going to take the Toyota. For some reason, my wife doesn't like the idea of storing our daughter in the front trunk...

[23109VC]

I think what I really WANT is the boxster. my only fear is that the upkeep and repairs might nickel and dime me to death.

I have a pretty reliable daily driver - it's a 1999 volvo s70 with 135k miles. i've owned it almost since it was brand new and have done a very good job maintaining it. it runs excellent has tons of new parts on it. mechanic says it will go another 100k easy before i shoudl expect any motor/turbo/tranny issues. i commute like 5 miles to work so i put maybe 5k miles on this car a year.

if i got a boxster, id' only drive it for fun trips with my wife and maybe to work once or twice a week - i'd literally HAVE to take the long way to work to get the car fully warmed up right!!

i'm leaning toward the boxster an dmaybe if i really am worried about $$$$ repairs, just bite the bullet and buy the warranty. dealer quoted me about $4700 for a 3 yr / 36k miles bumper/bumper warranty. covers everythign except wear/tear and interior stuff.

i can get a nice 2000-2001 base for 15k or so.

the dealer said if i could find a car that had 30k or less on it, the warranty price would be only about $2000 for the same coverage. most of the 2000-2001 cars that have that low of mileage are more like $25k or so.... so if i talked them down into the 20-22k range, then bougth the warranty for another 2k, plus tax, i'm at about 25k....

my dad is actually selling his 2000 base. 5 spd, 73k miles, full leather, 18s, M030. ocean blue on black, black top. he wants about 15k for itif he sold it to me. i think he could get a bi tmore if he sold it privately given how nicely optioned it is...mabye not at on more. he originally was even thinking of selling it to me for 12k...but we decided it wasn't fair to royally "steal" it from him...so $15k is a round figure that sounds fair... if i tacked on a warranty, i'm at 20k with peace of mind. almost what i would spend on the rx8, but no sales tax..inter family.

boxster boxster boxster.

i can't get that sound out of my head. sometimes i go on youtube and pull up boxster ehxaust videos just to listen to the sound. am i sick or what...

[turbo23dog]

I'm just curious as to why a 911 SC (78-83) or Carerra (84-88) would not be under consideration... You can find 911SCs in good condition for $12-15K these days. The 911 gives you rear seats that can carry a kid or two, too, which kind of solves the dillema with the Boxster when you have family you may want to tote for a fun run.

On the down side, SCs and Carreras were never known for good air conditioning. It also helps to be slightly handy with oil changes and other regular maintenance items that would not be needed on a newer car.

Even still, an earlier 911 is pretty affordable and a really FUN car that I'd pick 10 out of 10x over an RX8.

[REDBXSTR]

Go for the Boxster.
I always wanted a Porsche, but the 911s seemed out of reach.
So I bought a 2004 350Z, owned it for 2 months, saw a Guards Red Boxster
at a Porsche dealer for $32,000. The Z was gone. The 2004 Boxster had only 6589 miles on it.

I ended purchasing it for $27,000. The car is immaculate and the exhaust note is intoxicating. Handling is amazing and the best car I have ever owned. Turns heads where ever I go. The interior is comfortable and you can actual enjoy the stereo loud and clear with the top down at 75 mph. 3 words.

BUY THE PORSCHE

[CA_Boxster]

The Boxster has to be the best 3rd car around. My Brother has 2 sedans and a Boxster and this is his claim. It depends on what you're looking for. A 5 year old high end sports car is a very different purchase than a recent year 4-seater under factory warranty. You will get some bills on the Porsche but they average out over time. The car won't break down, but when you do regular stuff like brakes and service intervals the immediate price will be a hit. I'd be surprised if a RX-8 is going to beat a Boxster on the track. You could put more power into it with some mods, but a 50/50 distribution, mid-engine and Porsche suspension is tough to beat if you have equal drivers in the cars. If you're a modder and you enjoy adding HP or tourque to a car then the Boxster is hard to do that with. On the other hand, if you're well-maintained older car ever does go the RX-8 can take over duties.

You can do better than that deal you saw on the Boxster so I'd research that a little before making your decision. If you're patient you will come across lower mileage cars in the 2000-2003 MY range before long. My 2000 base has 50k miles on it and is in excellent condition but I'd be surprised to get $18k if I sold it. My friend's similar 2000 S with ~30k miles just sold for $20k. That was a "friend" price but probably would have been at most $21k on the market. Take a look at these two links below. I bought mine from these guys years ago and they are great to work with. I've been to their place in Houston and it's the real deal. They'll sell Boxsters for about $500-$1000 below their listed price. Not saying you need to buy from them (though my next car will likely come from here) but they are a good gauge for what a nice example should sell for if you can find it locally.

http://www.expomc.com/invsys/details2.php?id=6935
http://www.expomc.com/invsys/details2.php?id=7127

[John V]

Originally Posted by ekam

RX-8 is reliable when it's sitting in the garage or in the mechanic's garage.

And Boxsters are reliable when they aren't eating O2 sensors, MAF sensors, leaking oil out the RMS or IMS, cracking heads and blowing up due to IMS failures.

All in all, I would have a lot less fear in an RX-8 (especially with the 100,000 mile powertrain warranty) than I do in a Boxster.

[fragdude]

Having owned a RX-8 and currently owning a Boxster I would say go for the Boxster. I really had a problem with the RX-8. I felt like it did not nearly have enough torque (especially for a sports car), the old 6 speed transmission felt nice, but was actually fairly weak (thats why mazda changed it), the rear seats pissed me off (they fit grown people, but I wanted a sports car that didn't have an image problem and if it didn't have the seats it would be lighter and thus faster), it got horrid gas milage, the air conditioning sucked, was really hot in the summer, the oil would get water in it during the winter (dealership said this was normal, doesn't sound right to me), and drank oil.

However, the RX-8 was a more reliable car IMO than the Boxster and did feel nice cruising on the highway or in the twisties. But I also love the torque that the boxster has over the rx8 and it also feels good while cruising or driving vigorously.

Im kinda surprised that you like the boxster and rx8 but hate the s2000. I had an s2000 and I absolutely loved it. More so than the boxster. It was reliable, had good gas milage, was insane when in VTEC, and handled sublimely. However it wasn't as nice while doing long distance driving....

well....thats my opinion

[mikefocke]

of the reliability of a used car (Mazda or Porsche). Not even with the best pre-purchase inspection on the planet. Because things can still break.

Having said that, I've owned 2 Boxsters, a '99 and an '01S, and my average non-scheduled maintenance costs have been well less than $20 a month and I've been the third owner of each (25k and 55k miles). I've averaged less than one fix-it trip per year, more like one every 2 years. And the car could blow an engine next time I drive it. OTOH, I know of many with 150K miles on the original engine.

I get 25MPG on premium in mixed driving. I neither baby it nor hot rod it, especially until it is entirely warmed up.

I've owned 2 626s, bought Toyo-Kogo stock just before the gas crisis of the 70s. The 626s were great cars, each of my sons ended up with them. The '94 just got back from a Wal-Mart run.

Even with a warranty on the engine, you could have lots of problems and inconvenience. With either car. Or they could be near perfect.

I think you have the pluses for each car pretty well described in the above postings.

Porsche plus
drop top fun
mileage

Mazda plus
room for 4
warranty built into the cost

Your preference, your roll of the dice.

(You won't volunteer to take the Mazda to the store just because it is top down weather and always drive to the farthest away store by the most circuitous route.)