[QUOTE]Originally posted by dlq04
[B]PROS: "Some around here call the S2000 the best Honda ever. Whether you agree or not, most at least believe the little roadster has already carved out a chapter for itself in the annals of future classic car-dom. And it's done that in less than three years on the market.

 

Hey snisen, the s2k comparisons I've read to the Porsche Boxster have all made a point of saying it is the STANDARD Boxster they used and not the S version. The standard Boxster is a minimum of $10k more than the s2k and the Boxster S at least $20k more. Minimum of $20k more puts the Boxster S out of the comparison range.

 

If you need to bring an S2k to the Boxster S performance level, you need to spend at least $13-$15K on all upgrades including the engine, suspension, tires, wheels, brakes, etc. But you still can't get the steering response/feedback & driving dynamics from a Porsche. The mid-engine Boxster S is one of the best chassis out there and for which Porsche is famous for. If you ever get behind the wheel of a Boxster S, you will notice the difference between a world class chassis (porsche) and a good chassis (honda).

The comparison on most of the car magazines for the roadsters are only comparing the S2k vs Boxster vs Z4 3.0 due to their price similarities. How could you compare a 5 speed trans to a 6 speed trans?? how could you compare a 220hp Boxster to a 240hp S2000??

Like I said, don't get me wrong, I have S2000 in my garage, it is a nice car, I would recommend people to buy it. But I just want to share my opinions with you guys that the Porsche is no doubt a better sports car when price is not count.

 

B.S. Snisen, boxster S is a overprice pos!! Road test Summary from Road and track. 0-60 S2k 5.5 and Boxster s 5.7. 0-100 s2k 14.3 and boxster s 14.4. 1/4 mile s2k 14.1 and boxster s 14.2. Top speed s2k 163 mph and boxster s 164 mph. Retail price for boxster s $58422. No thanks . You could buy better car for that price.

 

Snisen, you don't have a S2000. You wish you had one.

 

I've driven both and I would say the Porsche is fantastic. Definitely a more "traditional" feeling chassis, slightly heavier steering and a bit more feedback than the S. The chassis doesn't feel quite as light as the S, a bit more solid, but to me the S talks more through the seat than the Boxter did, I like that. As for the engine, they are both so close, a pissing match is silly. The Boxter doesn't feel like it breaths as well as the F20C, a bit more sluggish in its response, but it does have that lowend torque thing happening. It doesn't feel like it spins up as wildely as the S does..... which is what I prefer. While I haven't tracked my S against a porsche, I doubt the S would be shamed.

 

I agree that the price differential (Box. vs. S) is serious. Seems to me that Snisen was clear on that too. The man is entitled to his opinion, guys, especially if he owns both cars! And, as far as comparisons are concerned, the Boxster S is clearly the next "rung" in the sports car ladder... None of the other competition (Audi, Nissan, Mercedes, BMW....) represent true competition to me.

Topcat, you'd be making a serious error to trust the R&T summaries. Seems to me that to get the 5.5 0-60 on the S2000, you have to do clutch drops. If you want that kind of performance, it'll void your warrantee faster than you can say "Gee, do I smell something bad??"

My only issue with snisen's post is that I thought the S2000 and the Boxster S were fairly well matched on the racetrack. Most of the racing results I've looked at over the last few years seem to indicate that (with the S2000 being clearly superior over the base Boxster). But anyway, that stuff doesn't mean much to me.

My problem with the Boxster is the fact that Porschephiles think the Boxster is like the "little cousin" in the family. It doesn't get much respect in the Porsche lineup (though I totally disagree with this impression). The fact that it's 10-20K more than the S2000 doesn't buy you much "Porsche cachet." Again, not that I care....

The Boxster is a truly beautiful car. If it hadn't been so expensive, it's likely I wouldn't have bought the S2000. That's my honest opinion.

The good news is that -- DAMN -- I love my S2000. I have no desire now to be a Porsche owner (unless it's to go REALLY upscale, where price is really no issue). Just my $0.02.

 

Hey Chazmo, Car and driver 0-60 5.4.

 

Still, clutch dump... Call me a liar...

 

If a car company going to charged you $50,000 plus for a sport car, they better have the performance to back it up.