Boxster:Z4 or Honda S2000 which is the best?
- Thread starter daro911
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Guest
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hiya
i have to say i have owned a 3.0 z4 for two months and like it. However it is in no league to my Boxster 2.7.
There lots of things that i like about the boxster.
The sound the drive it goes where i point it, the seats are better and the look of the car.
it feels quick and i cant tell difference even though z4 was 231bhp compared to 220bhp on my 2.7.
plus i get more respect as i own a porshe compared to a BMW or Honda.
What this crap that it is a cheap 911 and owners cant afford a 911?
I could have bought a three year old 911 or a new boxster.
I have had these comments before and my reply is simple if they can afford to spend 35k to 40k on a car and afford to pay the insurance and running costs then they can crticise me. also if the bostr is a cheapmans 911, before they criticise they shoud go out and buy a 911.
But as usual these people drive company cars that are bmw or mercs.
If they had to buy a car im sure they would opt for a fiesta
i have to say i have owned a 3.0 z4 for two months and like it. However it is in no league to my Boxster 2.7.
There lots of things that i like about the boxster.
The sound the drive it goes where i point it, the seats are better and the look of the car.
it feels quick and i cant tell difference even though z4 was 231bhp compared to 220bhp on my 2.7.
plus i get more respect as i own a porshe compared to a BMW or Honda.
What this crap that it is a cheap 911 and owners cant afford a 911?
I could have bought a three year old 911 or a new boxster.
I have had these comments before and my reply is simple if they can afford to spend 35k to 40k on a car and afford to pay the insurance and running costs then they can crticise me. also if the bostr is a cheapmans 911, before they criticise they shoud go out and buy a 911.
But as usual these people drive company cars that are bmw or mercs.
If they had to buy a car im sure they would opt for a fiesta
My friend owned an S2000. He sold it after 1 year for an Audi TT. Need I say anymore? No. But I will 
Its main problem is that it has no torque at real world levels, he has to take it over 6000rpm to get any bite out of it, it became tiring for him seeing as he did a lot of town driving, and he soon gave up. He reckons the TT 225 corners a lot better, is more luxurious, looks better, and is a lot more practical, and has a lot more torque at lower levels. The TT doesnt even compare to the Boxster, considering the chasis comes straight frm a skip.
Its main problem is that it has no torque at real world levels, he has to take it over 6000rpm to get any bite out of it, it became tiring for him seeing as he did a lot of town driving, and he soon gave up. He reckons the TT 225 corners a lot better, is more luxurious, looks better, and is a lot more practical, and has a lot more torque at lower levels. The TT doesnt even compare to the Boxster, considering the chasis comes straight frm a skip.
Guest
New member
Having driven all 3 I concur with Rodney...
S2000 has to be hammered to get any degree of satisfaction - also chuff all boot space.
Z4 Nice, lots of smiles for your £, really good value at 10k less than the Box S but not a Porsche.
Box S The ultimate!
To be honest if I was comparing the Z4 to the 2.7 Box it would be a very close thing.
[8|]
S2000 has to be hammered to get any degree of satisfaction - also chuff all boot space.
Z4 Nice, lots of smiles for your £, really good value at 10k less than the Box S but not a Porsche.
Box S The ultimate!
To be honest if I was comparing the Z4 to the 2.7 Box it would be a very close thing.
[8|]
ian edwards
New member
Road test in CAR mag. last month.Boxster 1st.Z4 2nd and AUDI TT 3.2 last.No Honda.See full report onFlat-6.net Forums.
huw dolphin
New member
as a 993 owner and soon also to be an s2000 owner i found these posts really interesting. i did drive a boxster s before deciding what to buy but wasn't as overwhelmed with it as i'd expected, particularly given the great things i'd read about it. the s2000 i was surprised by, though i think only the latest versions have started to address the lack of power low down.
then again, no complaints of the s2000's power over 6,000....
i'm not seeking to diss the boxster though - i just think the comparison is interesting. in the real world outside of car mags there is no comparison because the boxster exists in a different price league. the s2000 is costing me £24k new with a discount. i couldn't get anywhere near a new boxster with that and to be honest if i was looking new in the 30k+ bracket i doubt whether i'd be looking down the lists for an s2000 either but would be looking straight at a boxster. don't start me on z4's.....
then again, no complaints of the s2000's power over 6,000....
i'm not seeking to diss the boxster though - i just think the comparison is interesting. in the real world outside of car mags there is no comparison because the boxster exists in a different price league. the s2000 is costing me £24k new with a discount. i couldn't get anywhere near a new boxster with that and to be honest if i was looking new in the 30k+ bracket i doubt whether i'd be looking down the lists for an s2000 either but would be looking straight at a boxster. don't start me on z4's.....
Then why buy new, unless you have to? You can buy a used Boxster S for that money, and you wont be suffering the depreciation costs the Honda will. Having to constantly keep the Honda at such a high revs is tiring on the ear, and is too much hard work imo. If you just want a normal drive in town (you cant thrash the thing all the time), a VW Polo has more low down torque.
Thats why the S2000 doesnt even register in most car mag comparisons, it is just too flawed, as an all round package. After the inital thrill of the test drive wears off....real life kicks in.
However, when it is thrashed, its a great car, with an excellent drivetrain, and the sound of the engine screaming at high revs is awesome!
Horses for courses.
Thats why the S2000 doesnt even register in most car mag comparisons, it is just too flawed, as an all round package. After the inital thrill of the test drive wears off....real life kicks in.
However, when it is thrashed, its a great car, with an excellent drivetrain, and the sound of the engine screaming at high revs is awesome!
Horses for courses.
huw dolphin
New member
as you say i could buy a used boxster s but that would be over 3 years old i suspect and out of warranty. having found out the hard way how much an older porsche costs to run and get fixed - see my 993 - it takes it out of the equation. i can only speak as i find but i didn't find any problem with low down power on the s2000. the latest version has addressed this issue to some extent, but lets face it the appeal of the s2000 is how it goes at high revs not low ones.
having said that if i chopped my 993 and s2000 in the future the boxster would be high on the list of replacements - if that makes any sense!
having said that if i chopped my 993 and s2000 in the future the boxster would be high on the list of replacements - if that makes any sense!
Guest
New member
The 'upgrade' to a Boxster from the Honda is not some odd amount of change you might find down the back of the sofa, its hard earned proper cash. I have owned an Integra Type R and have genuine aspirations on the Boxster. The pre 01 S2K is not as torquey as the latter, and the suspension is much more 'pointy'. However 15-16K buys you something with 240HP, add another 2-3K for coilovers and the rear end can be sorted. Show me a Boxster with 240HP that can match it for 18K?
Yes I want a Boxster but they are not 'value' cars, especially when you factor in the servicing?
mwadams
New member
What is with this "can't afford a 911 so bought a BOXSTER" comments about.......
I like daro911 changed from 911's to a BOXSTER 'S' and not because of cost, etc
My last 911 was a 996 C4, and previously owned 2 993's and a 964, people are real idiots when it comes to comments like that.........really gets my back up !!!
My BOXSTER 'S' feels much more sportier than the 996 IMHO !!!!!!!!
Mark
I like daro911 changed from 911's to a BOXSTER 'S' and not because of cost, etc
My last 911 was a 996 C4, and previously owned 2 993's and a 964, people are real idiots when it comes to comments like that.........really gets my back up !!!
My BOXSTER 'S' feels much more sportier than the 996 IMHO !!!!!!!!
Mark
I'm reading this with much interest i being a VX220 Turbo (at the moment) looked at every single one of these cars though no-one has mentioned the VX220 turbo or the Lotus Elise for that matter mine does 0-60 in 4secs how manny cars do that and when it comes to handling well ......
BUT i want a 3.2S although i could only afford a LHD one and i'm hoping to get a 2003 model just purely based on cost over RHD
I love roadsters and wish i could have a number of them so i could choose which one i wanted to drive any day of the week, S2000,Z4,TT,SLK,Crossfire,Boxster,VX,Elise,MG
I could go out and get a S2000 or Z4 or Crossfire now but i think i would only have it for 6months before wanting a Boxster S, it's bad when you love drivable cars there should be a club where people can swap cars therfore never getting bored of your own.
All these cars are good in there own right just depends which one you prefer at the time.
J
BUT i want a 3.2S although i could only afford a LHD one and i'm hoping to get a 2003 model just purely based on cost over RHD
I love roadsters and wish i could have a number of them so i could choose which one i wanted to drive any day of the week, S2000,Z4,TT,SLK,Crossfire,Boxster,VX,Elise,MG
I could go out and get a S2000 or Z4 or Crossfire now but i think i would only have it for 6months before wanting a Boxster S, it's bad when you love drivable cars there should be a club where people can swap cars therfore never getting bored of your own.
All these cars are good in there own right just depends which one you prefer at the time.
J
Elliot Davies
New member
Me too :lol:
Luke you seem to have missed off the fun factor and thrill the Boxster delivers at all revs, the total package is more than just about bhp, its about the engine, chassis, suspension, steering, brakes,practicality,performance build quality, and desirability. The higher residuals than an S2000 will still be there when you sell and servicing costs are not as bad as you think when using one of the many excellent Porsche Specialists.
huw dolphin
New member
since my original posts on this subject two things have happened - first i picked up my s2000 (btw £24.5k on the road after a small honda discount from honda main dealer - what sort of boxster could i realistically get for that?), second i've been reading more about rms problems on boxsters and 996's. added to this is the fact my 993 let me down again the other night - the least reliable car i've ever owned bar none and that includes crap from bl and fiat! running in the s2000 below 5,000 revs at the moment but i can assure you it feels lively enough - can't wait to get 1,000 miles on the clock and really get it going.
result is no regrets going for the honda. sadly the rms problem plus general concerns over porsche build quality means i probably won't go down the 996 route to replace the 993.
result is no regrets going for the honda. sadly the rms problem plus general concerns over porsche build quality means i probably won't go down the 996 route to replace the 993.
What happens over 5000 rpm...?
Driving North in my Boxster in the rain last year last on the M18, just as you go east up onto the M62 in a nice sweeping bend I came across a Honda S2000. It had a little Police involvment since it was parked against the crash barrier on the central reservation facing the oncoming traffic. A miserable looking owner was prowling the hard shoulder. I'm guessing that in the wet the back end got out of shape and he spun - no other cars invovled; very little traffic.
Has the S2000 taken over where the apparently dreaded, tail happy 911 of old left off [8|]?
Andrew
Driving North in my Boxster in the rain last year last on the M18, just as you go east up onto the M62 in a nice sweeping bend I came across a Honda S2000. It had a little Police involvment since it was parked against the crash barrier on the central reservation facing the oncoming traffic. A miserable looking owner was prowling the hard shoulder. I'm guessing that in the wet the back end got out of shape and he spun - no other cars invovled; very little traffic.
Has the S2000 taken over where the apparently dreaded, tail happy 911 of old left off [8|]?
Andrew
huw dolphin
New member
the s2000 certainly has that reputation - at least the earlier ones do. i wouldn't have fancied an earlier one myself but magazines like evo really rated the changes to the latest versions. having said that i know the owners of early versions feel it's the purest and best - i suppose again like the 911.
and over 5,000 revs comes 6, 7, 8, and 9,000 revs at which point the power and sound it produces is fab!
and over 5,000 revs comes 6, 7, 8, and 9,000 revs at which point the power and sound it produces is fab!
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