looking for some feedback on the 05-06 Boxster S... - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

1JB · 12-14-2006, 10:18 AM

I drove the Z4M before buying an '06 Boxster S. There's no comparing the two in my mind. The Z4M is an over powered skate board and the Boxster is a mid engine perfectly balanced roadster. No disrepect to the BMW but these cars are apples and oranges in terms of how they handle for a non-expert driver. If you're great with a skateboard and like that sensation the Z4M is for you. If you love the ease of handling in the Boxster with the feel of the engine right behind you that's the one for you. Only you can decide by driving both. I don't care what BMW says about near 50/50 weight distribution in its cars something bordering on magical happens to a car when the mass of the engine is near its center that cannot be duplicated by weight distribution. As to the interior of the Boxster it's very high quality. Sure the full leather option is drop dead gorgeous but the fit, finish and look of the standard Boxster interior is ideal for a roadster in my mind. It is true what they say: "Porsche, there is no substitute." Anyway that's my 2@s.

Bavarian Motorist · 12-14-2006, 10:36 AM

It was 12:30PM and I was ready to go pick up my new silver & black Z4 SI from Pace BMW. I made a last minute decision to try and find a good deal on a boxster.

I'm a happy man, but I know I would have been just as happy with the Z4.

Can't go wrong I guess?

Perfectlap · 12-14-2006, 11:47 AM

wow was that Bimmer salesman pissed?

12-14-2006, 12:54 PM

I use to own a BMW. Albeit a 318 but it was a great car. Never let me down. However, at no time did girls call me "papi" as I drove by or offered sexual favors like they do in the Porsche. No substitute.

AtoB · 12-15-2006, 04:21 AM

thank you all for your thoughts... i'm going this weekend to take one for a spin. it was funny, i went to the dealer last night to get some literature on both cars... this dealer sells both BMW and Porsche... in the same building (BMW 1st floor, Porsche 2nd). it was funny listening to each sales person knock the others product.

Bavarian Motorist · 12-15-2006, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

wow was that Bimmer salesman pissed?

Probably. But business is business. I'm sure they make plenty of $$ around here.

Oh here's a top gear vid of Z4M vs Boxster S

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItIUaSjGyYE

1JB · 12-15-2006, 05:59 AM

That U-Tube Video is a fantastic description and summary of the differences between the 2 cars. Thanks for posting that Bavarian Motorist.

z12358 · 12-15-2006, 06:39 AM

The following point must have been made before but I haven't seen it anywhere so here it goes. The famous obsession about 50/50 weight distribution misses something about weight that I think (and feel) is more important. I am talking about the weight's distance from the car's center of gravity.

Consider two cars that weigh the same and have 50/50 front/rear axle weight distribution BUT the first one has ALL of its weight packed in the middle (i.e. AT the center of gravity) while the second car has half of its weight ahead of the front axle and the other half behind the rear axle (i.e. as far away as possible from the center of gravity). If you could balance each car on a sharp pole placed right under their centers of gravity, you could rotate the first one much easier (with much less force) than the second one. By the same token, you could stop the rotation of the first one with much less force than the second one. The explanation is high school physics and is expressed by rotational momentum and/ centripetal force (both proportional to -- among other things-- mass AND its distance from the center of rotation). Force just measures change of momentum per unit of time, i.e. is the first derivative of momentum (rotational, in this case).

The conclusion is that cars characterized by LOW rotational momentum (force) will turn easier, will have better control, and will be less prone to sliding (hint: the Boxster S, and most mid-engined cars). Cars characterized by HIGH rotational momentum (hint: Z4M, 911, Corvette, etc.) even when achieving 50/50 weight distribution will turn harder and when swung around their center of gravity (which happens every time you make a turn) will be much harder to stop rotating (straighten out). The increased force required to make them turn (rotate) and stop turning (straighten out) produces the instability (i.e. the "excitement" factor) and the sliding the Top Gear guy is talking about.

Personally, I'll take control any time.

Z.

1JB · 12-15-2006, 07:01 AM

Great info z thanks for taking the time to post that.