Boxster/S vs. ???...
 

So far I have not read an intelligent argument against the Boxster/S. Most of the derogatory comments have been from the ego rather than facts. If you want to impress me with how awesome you car is quit giving me all this macho bull and produce facts and figures. Not how fast your car is, but how fast are you in your car? That's the kind of stuff that will tell me how competent you and your car are.

First, some guy was babbling on about how it was just so obvious that a 951 would kick the Boxster/S's butt all over the street and track. Fact is an '88 951/S and '00+ Boxster/S have the same HP rating. The primary advantage is the torque. The 951/S's 243/250 ft. lb. vs. the Boxster/S's 192/225 ft. lb. So the 951 does have better acceleration, but roughly the same top end (actually, since the Boxster S has 6 speeds I would have to lean towards the Boxster S in this area). Maybe it's because I am new at this, but while I will agree that is an advantage, it does NOT mean the 951 is "dramatically" better than the Boxster making it "obviously" superior.

Now, some other schmoe comes in here babbling about some '91 911 which he believes is just sooooo much better than the Boxster/S. So now lets compare these two vehicles. While the '91 911 may be better than a Boxster (225hp/192ft. Lbs./2777lbs), it is not better than the Boxster S. A stock '91 911 has 3 more ft. lbs. of torque, while an '00+ Boxster S has 3 more horsepower. I couldn't find the weight of the 911 so I would guess and say it's about 2800 or 2900lbs. Which is right about the same as the Boxster S (@2855lbs). So a '91 911 is NOT "obviously" and/or "dramatically" superior to a '00+ Boxster S, and only marginally superior to a '00+ Boxster.

So what's the deal? First, these guys obviously know nothing about which they speak. Second, I thought being a Porsche owner was like joining some sort of fraternity or something (with slogans like "save the flash"). But it's more like Boxster/S owners are the red-headed-step-child of some dysfunctional Porsche family. Did all entry level Porsche owner's (914, 924, 944, and now Boxster) get this much crap when they bought their new Porsche's?

Besides all that, buying a sports car is as much emotion and desire as it is technical data and statistics. I gave up 65hp, and 26 ft. lbs. of torque (along with 250+lbs.) because I liked the feeling of the Boxster better than the M Roadster. I was all set to get the M too. Money in hand (so to speak) on my way to the dealership when I thought I would "stop and checkout the Boxster,
just for kicks." An '01+ M Roadster/Coupe will hands down drive circles around an '88 951, '91 911, and my Boxster S all day long. Sure, they may have to take it slightly slower around the curves but they will definitely out accelerate all us and be waiting at the finish line. How's your ego now?

But my point is, I got the Boxster S because I liked it better than anything else I drove. It was the feeling of being in the car and the emotion that it brought out that sold the car, not the technical data. And I am sure not going to apologize to anyone for buying a 2002 Boxster S. Do you think Ferdinand Porsche would be disappointed in my decision?

Just my $0.02,
/mike

P.S. My definition of a "chic car" is one that promises a lot and then fails to deliver, not because girls drive it. You may consider the Boxster/S a "chic car" compared to a Carrera 4 Turbo. But that Carrera 4 Turbo is a "chic car" compared to 575M. And a 575M is a "chic car" compared to McLaren F1 LM. So I guess what is a "chic car" is relative to what you have.

Nicely written!

We had a discussion on the 951 board a few weeks back about what constitutes "blowing away" another car. I agree that the Boxster S is superior in many ways than the 951 and inferior in some. It is also a brand new car! We all agreed that beating someone 0-60 or in the 1/4 by a few tenths of a second is not "blowing someone away". Driver ability comes into play also.

As I understand it, the Boxster is virtually unbeatable in the twisties by nearly ANY car due to it's mid engine placement.

Boils down to this:

If it's got the Porsche badge on it and it makes you happy (as my 951 makes me VERY happy) then that's what matters.

I, for one, would give my left knard for a Speed Yellow Boxster S.

I've read some ugly "anti-Boxster" rants here too.

What can you say, except that these people are not really Porsche enthusiasts... They have their manhood/ego attached to their car, which may or may not happen to carry a Porsche badge. If you want to link your self worth to horsepower, best to get a Viper or perhaps some supercharger rice burner. Let's face it: there is always more horsepower available.

The Boxster is a true joy to drive. Long after the carpings of certain individuals have subsided, people will be enjoying their Boxsters.

These are great cars, some of the best Porsche has ever produced. The more I drive mine, the more convinced I am of this fact.

Life is too short for Porsche owners to bicker. Just drive your car and enjoy...
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

BTW 951Badger, you may not have to give up your knard, just 63K. There's a '02 Speed Yellow S (w/ body colored wheels) at the dealer down the street. Very sweet! About 10K in options, including the Sport Exhaust. If you send them the check I'll drive it for you until you can get out here and pick it up :D .

/m

I currently own a 1987-944S and I think my next car will be a Boxster.I like the blend of 550 Spyder from the past with a modern look to it.I have owned a 1974-911S and enjoyed that car,then moved on to the 944S and am enjoying it also.I think it is easy to get caught up with the Jonses mentality when it comes to horsepower.Its funny,most Porsche folks condemn rice burners and American iron for just being straight line horsepower cars,and yet we have some people that just equate performance with 0-60 times or quarter mile times.I think whatever model you own,enjoy it for what it is and drive it,thats what it was meant for! <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

I love the styling, and the performance of the new S. I hate that until now they only put a plastic window in the top. I love the way you can personalize the car with great options. I hate how much it costs to do this. I'm not surprised about the 'red haired step child' comment; I have a 968. I never can believe that Porsche will outfit an interior of a 50K plus car (and the 996) with plastics inferior to my wife's Audi. I love the dynamics of the Boxter. I hate that they've sold a gazillion of them, so many that I can't drive for 10 minutes without seeing one.

For the price of a new S I'd rather get a nice used 993. My two cents.

I have been lucky to have owned and driven many Porsches; 87 911 Targa, 95 993 Coupe, 89 944 Turbos S, 70 911 T built to resemble 73 911 RS and my 00 Boxster S. Each of these cars have had their strengths and weaknesses but ALL have been very fun to drive and own.

For now I only have the Boxster S and really enjoy the versatility of the car. It can go for a nice leisurely top down ocean side drive with some nice music comming from the speakers or it can be pushed to the limits on a track and drive like it is on rails. The Boxster is well balanced and relatively easy to drive quickly compared to other Porsche cars, say for example the early 911. For sure even the S is not a torque monster but when it is on cam it is way fun to drive and handles the twisties well.

All the posts recently about the Boxster being this or that (girls car, yada yada) is kind of foolish. No car is one thing to all people. That's why they make chocolate and vanilla so you have a choice.

You don't have to tear down something else to build up another something. What does that prove? Nothing. Write what you like and why or if you want, write what you don't like and why. From your experiences we might learn or we might disagree. But in the end aren't we are all people who enjoy and appreciate Porsches (of ALL kinds and flavors) and the fun we have with them? I am and that is why I spend my time here on these boards, so I can see and learn. I have seen and learned allot over the years from this board and from the predecessor boards all the way back to Porschephiles. Enjoy the day, take your car out for a drive!

Well here's a little REALITY check for those who are against the Boxster S.

I just got back from a two-day DE at Heartland Park Topeka and have 300+ photos to show for it (uploading them to my website now)

My run group consisted of 2 Boxster S's, 2 911's, 2 944 Turbos (both red), 1 300ZX, 1 base C5, 1 Z06, 1 modified C4, and a modified M Coupe oh and a WRX with 300HP.

The two fastest times were my own in a Boxster S, and the M Coupe. I have the highest degree of respect for the M Coupe driver, he was very good, but was chipped, running track tires and a modified suspension. He certainly had me on the horsepower and that was evident in the straights, in the turns I held my own. The modified C4 lapped me once on the second day but during a run where I was experimenting with shift points and let him by on the long drag strip straight, I was holding him off in the turns. The Z06 never passed me once, in fact only the M Coupe, C4 and WRX passed me the entire weekend. I was about even with the WRX (turbo and modified, and adjustable coil overs and race tires, no interior or spare) on the second day but passing him on the first. My second day was not as good as my first due to twisted ankle, fatigue, heat and a number of other factors like trying new shift points that worked against me.

Suffice it to say, when I was "on" there was no car faster than me in the whole run group, and even when I was "off" there still weren't many faster. Some of this I attribute to my skill, but being humble, a great deal of it I attribute to the car.

To be clear, I have a Boxster S with Headers, EVO Intake, and ECU reprogram on ROW 030 suspension on Bridgestone S03 Street tires. If I had a set of Hoosiers I might not have been passed at all. The car took everything I threw at it, including a dive into turn one coming off 124 mph in the long straight (best run of the day for me). Brakes NEVER faded despite the heat, car NEVER lost control despite some attempts by me to do so :) and I am left with a weekend of GREAT FUN, and over 300 pictures!

Anyone who puts down a Boxster S, just doesn't know what they are capable of doing. I'm more than happy to show them, or they can take the word of Bob Miller, the president of PCA who at dinner last night said "Oh you were the yellow Boxster I saw out there, you were more than holding your own." (This was after Bob asked me how I felt I did and I had said that I thought I held my own).

Feel free to visit my website, hopefully the pictures will convey some of the fun we had out there this weekend. That's what it is all about, having FUN and the Boxster S is one heck of a fun car!!!

<a href="http://www.smiley.net/boxster/" target="_blank">Heartland Park Pictures are in the Pictorials Section</a>

That car (speed yellow Boxster S) looks SO Godamm GOOD with that hard top!!

I truly think Porsche should make a Boxster coupe!

I think the only reason we give you a little bit of s**t is because we KNOW we will get a huge reaction to laugh about.

Personally, even though I have been snarled at by Robert G and 3.4 whatshisname, I feel the ribbing has been done in an affectionate way and I don't mean anything by it.

Incidentally I flashed (my lights) at 3 Boxsters at the weekend, so Ok I didn't get a flash back because of the 'F**k you, you only drive a 12 year old Porsche' attitude of a lot of Boxster owners here in the UK - but so what? We are all family and as such we should be able to take a bit of stick from one another.

So I don't like Convertibles? Big deal - if I did feel the need to own one it would probably be a Boxster S.

So relax, and please visit the other boards to 'give as good as you get'.

Boxster is a helluva nice car, but in the 951's defense, they are all old as dirt now, but it's very easy and relatively inexpensive to add quite a few bolt-on ponies. 275-300 HP is pretty easily attained, if you have a moderate budget. Of course I can't think of too many Porsches that aren't fine cars, unless you count the 78 924 I once owned. It was a pig.....
Enjoy what ya got......we could be driving Mercurys!

I couldn't agree more. Enjoy what you are driving. We all spent (are spending) our hard earned money on the cars we enjoy. I'm having fun getting mine sideways and I hope you are doing the same.

BTW Christer, I can take it and give it as well as the next guy. I enjoy a good debate very much. I just don't get into it when all it is is a bunch of insults flying back and forth. I would visit the other boards and "give as good as I get" but I can't think of a negative thing to say about any Porsche. I'll do some research though and get back to you ;-).

Come to think of it I don't think there is a model yet which I don't like... Hmmmm, how freaky is that??? I can critize some model from every manufacturer except Porsche. Although, I am a little disappointed that they caught the SUV bug. Up until now all Porsche ever built were sports cars (at least I'm pretty sure that's accurate). Not anymore. Now, they're just another car manufacturer...

/m

NM

Thanks for poppoing by to see us, and yes the pinstripe thing is/was a nice touch. It is very 80's. Did you manage to dig out some of my old photos of the interior, so as to see it with your own eyes?

Actually, no I didn't find any pics. I just based in previous comments in the thread.

Searching for pics now....

/m

Christer,

You are all over the place...and netmaniac...good to see you on the other boards.

Anyway, all i want for christmas is a RUF Boxster 3600S......

Harold

993 C2
964 C4 (ex)
911 3.2 (ex)

<a href="http://members.rennlist.com/complete964" target="_blank">Complete 964 (starting a 993 site soon)</a> <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />