Am I nuts to consider a Boxster?

[Trade911forBoxster]

I have an 06 S2000 and an 03 Boxster S right now. I bought the Boxster outright after selling my 87 811. I leased the S2000 from new, and I'm turning it back in at the end of the month.

I generally agree with what most have said here. The S2000 will clearly be more reliable, and far less expensive to fix if it ever does break. If anything, I'd say the S2000 has sharper turn-in than the Boxster, and is easier to maneuver at low speed. The shifter is drastically crisper in the S2000. If you drive sedately, and stay out of the high rpm range, they can be shockingly efficient. Right after I got mine, I drove it 200 miles at 55mph and got 34mpg. My Boxster is definitely more rattly than the S2000, and some of the interior plastic in the Boxster is not wearing well at all.

On the other hand, any flat 6 is smoother than any inline 4, esp. at idle, or high rpm. The S2000 is noisy and buzzy when cruising at high speed, when the Boxster is pretty placid, for a sports car. The Boxster has a lot more torque, so it's easier to drive smoothly around town. The Boxster also has a lot more interior volume, and probably three times as much cargo capacity. It has far better ride comfort too, as the S2000 feels very brittle, since you're sitting much closer to the rear axle. The Boxster pedals are perfectly designed for heel-toe driving. I find the S2000 pedal positioning just a bit more awkward, but the effort is a good bit lighter (esp. clutch), which is important of you have to drive in traffic a lot.

[Viper5]

Get the Boxster S!!! It is hella fun. Also make sure you get the convertible . But seriously, I've never ridden a s2000 before but it's a honda as someone said. Get the car with attention. The one that people look at and say "that guy has class." To me it's a no brainer. Also, as far as parts and repairs go, just do it yourself. It will cost less than half if you don't pay for labor. And seeing as how you wouldn't ride it that often, you should have time to fix up stuff. You also get an amazing sense of accomplishment.

Having said all that, it would be cool to have a push start...

[CRCGuy]

Originally Posted by Viper5

Having said all that, it would be cool to have a push start...

unfortunately, it's not even cool on the S2000. You still have to put the key in (on the right) and push button on left. Would have been cool if they used e-key like other manufacturers so you just jump in and push start. If anyone should have had that technology in a car first, it should have been Honda and specifically FOR the S2000. I never understood that. the novelty wore off like the second week I had it.

[mikefocke]

Just got a quote of $350+ to replace an O2 sensor at the dealers. And had it been the other sensor it would have been $450+. I guess they told me that to make me feel better.

My Porsche sensor cost $110 and $49 labor to install.

Generic sensors cost $25.

My Porsche has been cheaper to maintain than my Honda or Accura over the last 2 years by a bundle.

So the Honda is cheaper to maintain mantra isn't always true.

[ekam]

I'm rather suprised to read the comments on S2k's handling limit.

All I have to add, is apparently when Honda designed the S2K, they put the best technologies that they could in the car, so that's the best of the best they can come up with (minus the NSX, which is no longer in production). It's not even supposed to be made after 2-3 years as it was meant to be a limited production model.

And for reliability, if you get a 03+ Boxster with low mileage you'll be fine until you hit 100k+.

[CRCGuy]

Originally Posted by ekam

I'm rather suprised to read the comments on S2k's handling limit.

Try learning it while taking a right hander at 30--talk about surprise. Had I known, I would not have leased one. I'm losing a serious chunk of change to get out of my S2000 lease and into a Boxster S. But no $$ is worth my life.

If you want to experience it for yourself, go drive a pre 2006 model (before VSA). Just before you take a sharp corner as you would in your boxster, quickly move your head betwixt your knees and kiss your ass goodbye---then floor it.

I'm pretty sure no accident attorney has ever owned an S2000. Otherwise, there would have been a class action lawsuit years ago...

[mts]

Try driving an older 911.