docwong

Totally personal preference. Having owned a Boxster for a decade, and loved it's handling characteristics, but now I need a "rear seat." At least I can fit my son in the back with a 996 TT. The TTs a whole different car though and I still do miss the Boxster.

Test drove a new Boxster S, Tip with the trick paddle shifters Sunday and boy, if it didn't just have 2 seats, I'd be tempted!

blue2000s

I don't think it's harsh at all. If you read my statement, I didn't say the 911 handles poorly nor do I feel that I even eluded to it.

norcoastal

Has any one seen the zeintekc hard top for the boxster?

It converts the look into a cayman.

mikefocke

last I heard. Someone was trying to resurrect the business but hadn't seen anything on that subject in months.

V225

"Do you enjoy acceleration over handling? Get the 911."

To me that came off as a poor-handling comment. Especially with base carreras, which don't have the hp of the GT or turbo cars. I absolutely love the way my 911 handles. I also like the way boxsters handle. They're both great, and both are fast on a track. They're just different.

sjfehr

They both handle well, and both accelerate well, too, I don't think that's a slight against either. The Boxster handles better, but the 911 has more power. A GT3 Boxster would be the best of both worlds... shame Porsche won't make one

V225

But the idea of "better handling" is so vague. Do you mean a car that feels more stable through corners? Or a car whose rear end can be modulated easier? A car that can power out of corners very early on?

We could compare skidpad #'s, but then who drives on a skidpad? I certainly don't use skidpad #'s when I think of a car's handling.

If we were to compare corner exit speeds(or lap times) of mid-engine vs rear engine types of cars, we'd need to keep every other fact the same, ie engine, suspension, car weight, brakes, wheelbase, etc.

If we want to compare lap times of 911 vs boxster, where so many things other than just the engine position are different(including engine power), I don't see how we can effectively compare the "handling" of the 2 cars.

This is why I think it's all just personal preference. Some people like rear-engined 911's for their corner exit stability. Some people like boxsters for the ease with which you can control oversteer.

Everyone has their reasons, but how can one definitely say the handling is "better"? For me, it's just what I like, which is very personal.

blue2000s

+1, thank you.

blue2000s

Where is the word "poor" or anything even like it in my statement?

V225

Well it looks like that wasn't your intention, so it's all good.

If we want to logically analyze this though :
A car that produces around 250-260 hp at the wheels while weighing 3200 pounds, at least in my book isn't a car that's going to blow anyone's head off with acceleration. 0-60 in 5.0 seconds isn't really that fast anymore. Many non-sports cars can attain this, but I admit it is subjective.

So if you're saying that the car accelerates better than it handles, when it's acceleration isn't amazing (to me) in the first place, then you can only conclude that the handling is poor. At least that was my logic.

niche

Cayman..

smshirk

As noted previously Zeintec is out of business in S Africa. I was able to find out that a relative of the guy who started the company is now making tops under the name of Z-art automotive in Canada and/or Switzerland. Not sure where the manufacturing is done and I can't seem to find a website. There is a Facebook page with a phone number listed at http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...24875237552630

I would like to have one of the tops, but i understand they are even more pricey now than before, although I have yet to get an actual quote.

blue2000s

Again, where did I say that the 911 accelerates better than it handles? How would you even measure that? What I said was that the 911 accelerates better than the Boxster, the Boxster handles better than the 911.

Handles better: more predictable behavior, more easily controlled behavior, more rewarding to drive in a wider range of situations, more satisfying for the driver

I wouldn't consider the Boxster's acceleration as "poor", especially the S. The 986S weighs 2850-3000 pounds curb wt. 200-300# less than the 996. The 996 and 986S have weight to power ratios that differ by only 5%.