mb996

I took my '03 996 in to the dealer to have the usual squeaks & rattles taken care of, and received an '03 2.7 Boxster loaner. What a great car!

The engine sound beats the 996...you can actually hear each subtle note as the revs rise, without it being drowned out by tire noise. (I know, I know, I need the PSE). No squeaks. 5-speed is wonderfully light and quick. Very quiet with the top up. Quite a bit of buffeting with the top down (car had the windblock fitted). A little bit of scuttle shake. Seemed to lose stability above 70 relative to the 996. Great performance at legal speeds and daily driving (I was having a lot more fun at 50 mph than in the 996). Like an MG Midget on steroids. But I didn't yearn for more power.

Interior was a little cheap, but I could overlook that. It could be the perfect commuter vehicle.

If I only had an extra $45K lying around...

SPR

well sometimes it's fun to drive a different car. I used to enjoy stealing my ex's audi 1.8t and rolling it too. A change is always fun, but in the long run... you know.

DonW-Cape Cod

I hate to admit this, but I've never even sat in a Boxster. How is the seating room compared to the 996?

Paul Marangoni

I'm driving a Boxster as a loaner right now too. I really can't say that I have had the same experience. The sound is nice, but when I get my 996 over 5000 RPMs it sounds even better.

As for interior room, it's a little cramped, but still adequate. You CAN compare it to a 911, but the 911 is far superior in my opinion.

autobahnNY

The "S" is a total different ballgame compared to the base model,especially modified.The 3.2L is detuned in stock form(its has 4 cats!)so we won't be to close to our big brother(996)

<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=12;t=000803" target="_blank">996 powered Boxster Vs Boxster S with TTP headers,intake,ECU,and no cats</a>

<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=12;t=000794" target="_blank">best performance upgrades for Boxster S?</a>

ZBlue996Kam

I would have to agree with mb996. The Boxster is a lot of fun to drive.

I got a Boxster as loaner last week when dealer replacing my left front wheel bearing under warranty.

I also have instructed DE students with Boxster and Boxster S.

Both 996's and Boxster's are great cars. I like them both but leaning more on the 996's.

Ghost Rider

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by autobahnNY:
<strong>The "S" is a total different ballgame compared to the base model,especially modified.The 3.2L is detuned in stock form(its has 4 cats!)so we won't be to close to our big brother(996)

<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=12;t=000803" target="_blank">996 powered Boxster Vs Boxster S with TTP headers,intake,ECU,and no cats</a>

<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=12;t=000794" target="_blank">best performance upgrades for Boxster S?</a></strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Autobahn I have to agree. There weren't any unmodified C2's or C4S's that could keep up with my modified Boxster S at DE events, even in the straights I pulled on both cars, of course I was at my limit of "low cost" modifications and going beyond that would involve some serious $$$ like a 30K turbo job or something so I chose to sell and await my car floating out somewhere in the Atlantic right now due to dock on Friday the 13th. Here's hoping that the crew has good luck.

If you've never driven a Boxster S, modified or otherwise at a DE event you owe it to yourself to do so just to see what the cars are capable of doing, they really are a lot of fun.

Toreador

Drove a Boxster at a PDE at Sebring. What balance! That car was the perfect autocrosser.

rumster

Two different cars but both fantastic. Get both!

autobahnNY

Ken,what is coming on the dock?Any hints??

mb996

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by DonW..from Cape Cod...:
<strong>I hate to admit this, but I've never even sat in a Boxster. How is the seating room compared to the 996? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Hi Don,

The seating is similar. There may be less headroom in the Boxster (I may have had the seat a little higher). I am only 5'10" so fit was not an issue.

I would definitely give the Boxster a spin.

Scott5

When I was younger, early teens maybe, I liked to doodle cars like everyone else. My dad had told me something like "A good mid engine car is always going to be better than a good front engine car."

So while my friends draw vettes, I dreamed about someday building the ultimate car - a 550 spyder -but with a modern engine, suspension, brakes, interior, etc... Years later when the Boxster hit the press, I realized Porsche beat me to the scene!

My wife pointed one out in the paper yesterday -that's a first!

fahren affair

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Paul Marangoni:
<strong>I'm driving a Boxster as a loaner right now too. I really can't say that I have had the same experience. The sound is nice, but when I get my 996 over 5000 RPMs it sounds even better.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Ditto that. A salesman tried to talk me out of a used 996 and we test drove an '03 Boxster S. yes it has the same flavor of a 996, the mid-engine/rear-engine handling differences were minor. What sold me was the 'pull' from 5,000 revs to redline--by comparison, the Boxster seemed anemic.

03-turbo911

Boxsters are great sports cars. I love driving them and I do miss the one I had sold two years ago. Don, you should test drive one if you haven't already. Maybe you could get one for Indy Cindy, I don't think she would mind so much <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />