New Boxster S Experience
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From: Laguna Beach
New Boxster S Experience
A while back I posted a topic 'Bored with S2000'
Turns out you guys nailed it on this one after all. I test drove a C6 and 05 Boxster S back to back. Also checked out some 996 cabs with some miles on them.
The corvette was too 'big' and honestly a bit too 'Chevy' for my tastes. Faster but so what. My wife liked it because we were thinking of the Auto 6sp (hey with that much torque why not) and the bodacious shape. Used 996s were nice, but to me simply not as much fun to drive - and more expensive to own.
The Boxster S is everything the S2000 wants to be when it grows up (hey for a serious extra chunko change it effin better be). My new car was almost exactly twice as much as the one I sold. Is it worth it? Yes, if you can afford it.
I was able to find a superb deal on an '06 987S w PASM/Sport Chrono/18s. Guy who sold it to me had it for less than a month and only 400 miles. His Z06 order came in early and my gain. Picked it up in Malibu and had a scream on the roads up there.
Comments on the differences:
987S steering absolutely rocks. Absolutely feels like it can read your mind. More feedback. Porsche guys have said, you can tell how many legs were on the bug you just ran over. Interestingly enough too when steering at high speed, its way less twitchy. The S2000 makes significant changes in directions with 1/4 wheel movements - you have to concentrate a lot more at 80MPH+ speeds to center your car in the freeway lane. Something about the 987 has that on-center tracking like a Benz, but still feels as to respond to input like the S. All the while providing way more feedback than either. I didn't think it possible - its absolutely F#$*# amazing. The car is just dead rock solid at any speed. Bumps do nothing to set it off center. Not sure why but I think the variable ratio thing works reaaly well.
Way more comfortable. Top up is way quieter. Way less noise inside too. Heated seats - sounds dumb for Calif. but you have a lot more fun with the top down when your ass is toasty.
This car also has the PASM option. (active suspension management) which when switched on lowers the car 10mm and tightens it up. The PASM really locks the car down on the road. With PASM off, the 987 is way less harsh than the S, while still providing great feel.
987 has way more torque, way more grunt. You can pop off the line pretty well without a clutch dump. And you can go pretty quickly without buzzing your fellow motorists into thinking you're trying to race.
Nice burble and growl as opposed to buzz and scream. (both are good but different is also good). Cool sewing machine noise behind your ears is a Porsche trademark not to be missed.
Handling: MID ENGINE. Steers with the gas. You can see and feel the nose float and point it accordingly with amazing precision. I think on super tight 1st gear corners the S will be quicker if you set the alignment up right, but then you are gonna be way more twitchy than I like out there on the interstate. This car could put a LOT more power down easily without getting squirrily. And with the PSM (stability management) only a very incompetent or foolish driver is going to get in trouble. I think the S is more demanding of the driver.
Gearbox: good but not as good as the S2000. I think the gates are a little more obvious and easier to find. Probably harder to mis-shift the 987, although you can certainly shift the S faster. This is no crappy volkswagen linkage however, it puts my old 911 to shame.
Interior: No contest. No video game instrument panel. (sorry that's probably the worst and only truly ugly thing on the S2000 - even if it is perfectly functional).
Gizmos: SportChrono is an integrated lap timer thingy. Its cool and also gives a sport mode edge to PASM. Nice factory radio (that you can actually hear).
Options: Its good too have choices, but some of that Porsche stuff is just stupid with respect to the price. My car has nothing but performance adds.
I think for a pure track car I would think a supercharged S with some alignment mods would be faster and certainly as much fun, but then if you could mod the 987 (again for ridiculous money most likely) you could start the debate all over again.
For a daily driver and cruiser, the 987 is extremely better.
Value: S2000 still the world champ. Of course you don't need an S2000 either, a used Miata might be a better value for some guys. I think the 987S is the Porsche value. Hard to justify a 911 if you want a convert you've gotta get into a cab.
Anyway I will probably hang here now and then because you guys are fun and interesting. The S2000 will always be a good memory and I still have high regard. No doubt a tuned one can kick my Porsche butt so I'll always have respect.
Turns out you guys nailed it on this one after all. I test drove a C6 and 05 Boxster S back to back. Also checked out some 996 cabs with some miles on them.
The corvette was too 'big' and honestly a bit too 'Chevy' for my tastes. Faster but so what. My wife liked it because we were thinking of the Auto 6sp (hey with that much torque why not) and the bodacious shape. Used 996s were nice, but to me simply not as much fun to drive - and more expensive to own.
The Boxster S is everything the S2000 wants to be when it grows up (hey for a serious extra chunko change it effin better be). My new car was almost exactly twice as much as the one I sold. Is it worth it? Yes, if you can afford it.
I was able to find a superb deal on an '06 987S w PASM/Sport Chrono/18s. Guy who sold it to me had it for less than a month and only 400 miles. His Z06 order came in early and my gain. Picked it up in Malibu and had a scream on the roads up there.
Comments on the differences:
987S steering absolutely rocks. Absolutely feels like it can read your mind. More feedback. Porsche guys have said, you can tell how many legs were on the bug you just ran over. Interestingly enough too when steering at high speed, its way less twitchy. The S2000 makes significant changes in directions with 1/4 wheel movements - you have to concentrate a lot more at 80MPH+ speeds to center your car in the freeway lane. Something about the 987 has that on-center tracking like a Benz, but still feels as to respond to input like the S. All the while providing way more feedback than either. I didn't think it possible - its absolutely F#$*# amazing. The car is just dead rock solid at any speed. Bumps do nothing to set it off center. Not sure why but I think the variable ratio thing works reaaly well.
Way more comfortable. Top up is way quieter. Way less noise inside too. Heated seats - sounds dumb for Calif. but you have a lot more fun with the top down when your ass is toasty.
This car also has the PASM option. (active suspension management) which when switched on lowers the car 10mm and tightens it up. The PASM really locks the car down on the road. With PASM off, the 987 is way less harsh than the S, while still providing great feel.
987 has way more torque, way more grunt. You can pop off the line pretty well without a clutch dump. And you can go pretty quickly without buzzing your fellow motorists into thinking you're trying to race.
Nice burble and growl as opposed to buzz and scream. (both are good but different is also good). Cool sewing machine noise behind your ears is a Porsche trademark not to be missed.
Handling: MID ENGINE. Steers with the gas. You can see and feel the nose float and point it accordingly with amazing precision. I think on super tight 1st gear corners the S will be quicker if you set the alignment up right, but then you are gonna be way more twitchy than I like out there on the interstate. This car could put a LOT more power down easily without getting squirrily. And with the PSM (stability management) only a very incompetent or foolish driver is going to get in trouble. I think the S is more demanding of the driver.
Gearbox: good but not as good as the S2000. I think the gates are a little more obvious and easier to find. Probably harder to mis-shift the 987, although you can certainly shift the S faster. This is no crappy volkswagen linkage however, it puts my old 911 to shame.
Interior: No contest. No video game instrument panel. (sorry that's probably the worst and only truly ugly thing on the S2000 - even if it is perfectly functional).
Gizmos: SportChrono is an integrated lap timer thingy. Its cool and also gives a sport mode edge to PASM. Nice factory radio (that you can actually hear).
Options: Its good too have choices, but some of that Porsche stuff is just stupid with respect to the price. My car has nothing but performance adds.
I think for a pure track car I would think a supercharged S with some alignment mods would be faster and certainly as much fun, but then if you could mod the 987 (again for ridiculous money most likely) you could start the debate all over again.
For a daily driver and cruiser, the 987 is extremely better.
Value: S2000 still the world champ. Of course you don't need an S2000 either, a used Miata might be a better value for some guys. I think the 987S is the Porsche value. Hard to justify a 911 if you want a convert you've gotta get into a cab.
Anyway I will probably hang here now and then because you guys are fun and interesting. The S2000 will always be a good memory and I still have high regard. No doubt a tuned one can kick my Porsche butt so I'll always have respect.
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I've been reading this board through the summer and had decided to get the S2000. I figured before I did I'd try the Boxster S and the SLK350. You are correct, the S2000 is nice but the Boxster is worth the money if you can afford it. I took delivery 3 weeks ago on a 06 Boxster S. Mine did not have the PASM but did have the 19" Carrara S wheels. I wanted the sport crono and PASM but I'd have to order. I wasn't wanting to wait until February. The 987's handling is amazing, not as twitchy as the S2000 in my book. I like the extra creature comforts as well.
I sat down and read the manuals, 26 pages on how the door locks work!! I'm a geek at heart so I have no problem with that. I will say the Bose with Nav I have is needlessly complex for turning the audio off. Wait until you go to program the garage remotes.
I ended up calling the Homelink people, they sorted it all out.
Enjoy!!
I sat down and read the manuals, 26 pages on how the door locks work!! I'm a geek at heart so I have no problem with that. I will say the Bose with Nav I have is needlessly complex for turning the audio off. Wait until you go to program the garage remotes.
I ended up calling the Homelink people, they sorted it all out. Enjoy!!
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From: MoCo
Enjoy. The Boxster S has defintely improved since the '02 models that I originally compared with the S2000. Enjoy the new car and pop on over to rennlist.com or ppbb.com for your 986/987 forums.
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Originally Posted by boughtans2k,Nov 14 2005, 02:26 PM
Enjoy. The Boxster S has defintely improved since the '02 models that I originally compared with the S2000. Enjoy the new car and pop on over to rennlist.com or ppbb.com for your 986/987 forums.
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From: mount airy
Great car. It's a toss-up which would be 'better" BS, C6 or Elise. They all should be better at some things than the S2000, the BS would be my first pick.
It's so nice. it's about everything you need/want in a sports car with some luxury to boot.
did you mean it cost 2x more than your S2000 cost (when new?) or cost 2x more than your trade-in? <You said 2x more than the car you sold.>
Good luck, may be there some time myself. But I'm gonna stick it out some more with the S2000 (put some money into it).
It's so nice. it's about everything you need/want in a sports car with some luxury to boot.
did you mean it cost 2x more than your S2000 cost (when new?) or cost 2x more than your trade-in? <You said 2x more than the car you sold.>
Good luck, may be there some time myself. But I'm gonna stick it out some more with the S2000 (put some money into it).
