I just wanted to put out the question to you all. Why did we choose the s2000 over the Boxster ??? I know living in Toronto, Canada, Boxster's are a "dime a dozen" they are everywhere you go. Right now, it's the "in" car to have and I am literally quite turned off of seeing them.

However, there was a time I was considering it. But the determining factors for me were 1. INTERIOR 2. THEY ARE TOO MANY OF THEM IN THIS CITY 3. IF ANY MAINTENANCE HAS TO BE DONE, THE ENGINE HAS TO BE DROPPED...- COSTLY..!! 4. LOCATION OF THE SHIFT LEVER

Personally, I can't stand the Boxster's interior. I think is ugly and I didn't like the position of the shift lever. I enjoy resting my right arm on a console for those short throws.

But when it comes down to actually being in the market for a roadster, what was THE DEFINITIVE factor for YOU in choosing an s2000 over the Boxster. This is of course assuming that you did consider it. :-)

So I am interested to know what you ALL think...

Take Care and Keep Rev'ng

simon2000
Toronto, Canada

 

Boxter or Boxter S? If its the "S" and you have the spare cash... the "S" is quite a nice car-- if money is no object. Bang-for-the-buck, there isn't anything out there that touches a S2K. If your considering a plain "Boxter", well-- Save some $$ and get a S2K, a little look here on the forums will show you why.

$.02,
-- Aaron

 

Test drove the Z3 and Boxster. I liked both cars. Each has it's pros and cons. The Boxster is more spacious. The interior looks really cool. The top has a single latch in the center and it kind of moves a little first and then you pull a switch and the top drops. Very cool power top. Gotta love the 2 trunks. In the end, I went with performance and price. The handling on the S2 is much more precise, and it feels more like a race car. I don't think you can go wrong buying either car. What do you want? Performance, Savings, Luxury, Prestige? All this is quite personal and very subjective. Looks is a preference as well.

 

The twenty-grand difference in price, insurance and maintenance costs were the deciding factors for moi.

 

The Boxster wasn't on my list, but the Boxster S was....the 2 major reasons I pick the S2000.

1. The S2000 was at least $20,000 less.

2. The chasis of the S2000 felt much more rigid than the Boxster S

 

In order of importance:
1.I prefer the styling of the S2k.
2.Price!! Not just purchase, but maintenance too
3.Can't see the engine! Part of the pleasure of owning a sports car, is being able to pop the hood and see the heart and soul...
4.Although the Porsche is more expensive, the S2k seems more exclusive (fewer of them).

Not to say that I don't respect the Porsche. It's still a fine machine. The S2k just edges it out in all the things important to me.

 

The reason you see so many Boxsters is Porsche's leasing program. Since resale on the car is decent, they allow mid-income individuals to lease at attractive prices.
There was no Boxster S when I got my S2000, so I can't really say if I would have bought one never having driven one.
I do believe you can build a better S2000 for $52K than the Boxster S out of the showroom is at $52K.
Porsche's are expensive to maintain, but they're around 20 years after purchase looking as good as when they rolled out of the show room. I can't say as I would be very disappointed in life with either one in the garage.

 

When I was shopping for a roadster the S2K and 2000 Boxster 2.7 were on the short list (Boxster S not out yet). I would have been very happy with the Porsche, but the Honda had more power and I liked the way it handled better. Also, like smccurry mentioned, I like to be able to see and work on the engine. In the Boxster you need a lift and about 30 minutes of panel removal to get to the beautiful flat 6. The Porsche fit my body better and had more storage; the Honda fit my personality better.

 

As with all of my car purchases, the sinle most important factor was driving!!!!!

 

Simple. The Boxter's German, I and refuse to buy German cars, even when they're made in somewhere in South American, say Argentina .

Seriously, a key point for me is that the S2000 is largely hand built, and built in Japan in the same factory as the NSX. Honda has put a lot of engineering talent and energy into this car, and I happen to think that Japaneese auto engineering and manufacturing is the best in the world. The German stuff is way over rated, all largely the result of our Western cultural biases.