Thanks for the welcome guys. I look forward to sharing information and experiences and enjoying our S2000's.

 

This car is a true joy. It'll be hard to find something more enjoyable to drive than an S2K in the morning with the top down and little traffic. The feedback of this car just feels phenomenal.

I haven't driven many sports cars but I can't imagine there are many ways in which this car could be better.

 

Very infomative seeker.

 

Wow. Sold an 06 Boxster S to get the S2000? That's crazy.

My dad has an 06 Boxster (basic 5-spd) and after driving both cars, the S2000 definitely feels more raw. On paper, they are very close in terms of performance. The Boxster has a more comfortable ride. The interior does feel a little cheap on certain parts (one of the buttons was bubbling shortly after getting it and was covered under warranty). The E-brake feels really cheap to me when pulling it up. The gauges are nice. Handling is apparently better than the S2K according to my brother/dad which might be true since it has a little bit of a wider stance, but the feedback and direct feel isn't exactly the same. The S2000 feels much more as one with the driver in my opinion.

I'm saying this and they're both sitting in the garage right now. Both great cars but I personally like driving the S better. Interesting to hear your take on the Boxster S though. I believe it.

 

Kudos to you! That is a fantastic write up! and thank you for sharing your experience over the years.

 

I couldn't agree with you more seeker97! My Dad has owned 5 911's, a 928S, a 930, and a 951 - all from new and he swears by Japanese sports cars now. I agree that the 911 was THE sports car to have until 1991 or so when Porsche priced themselves out of the market and began gouging customers at the dealer. In the 60's, 70's, and 80's there simply wasn't anything built that could match a 911 period because it was as close to a racecar on the street as you could get. Porsche has completely abandoned that philosophy in favor of taking proffits.

There are more Porsches in Southern California than anywhere else in the world now. The prices they demand for a car that marginaly outperforms an S2000 in straight line acceleration is rediculous. BMW and MB are no different. And the piss poor reliablitlity across the brand and cost of service is icing on the cake. Don't even think about owning a modern german car out of warranty unless you are loaded, but even then you still have to deal with taking the car in everytime there is some "quirky little problem" that they are trying to fix. $85 for an oil change plus the cost of oil?!? I just changed mine myself yesterday for $26 and I know the only person F'ing up my car will be me.

The Japanese have had the best product for the best price for years, look at the GTR: it gives you more than 997 Turbo performance for 997 price period. Go back to 1991 and it was the NSX trouncing its Ferrari competitior for half the price. In 89 the R32 GTR was busy setting the production car lap record at the Nordschleife and emberassing not only the 964 911 carerra but also the carrera 4 and turbo - all for a price of around $35,000 in Japan.

When the S2000 hit in 99, I knew it would be the car to have if your in the market for a Boxster or Z3, Honda never gets it wrong. You have a hand assembled, FR roadster engineered by the same guys that worked on the glorious Mclaren Honda MP4/4, 5, and 6 that supplied Honda with no less than 5 F1 Constructors Championships in a row. This is where the tachometer design came from in case you were wondering.

If you ever get a chance to put your S2000 on a road course you will see just what the engineers had in mind with this car. And if you ever get a chance to drive an NSX you'll know why that will be the next car along side my S2000 in the garage.

 

Good Post SlipAngle79, my feelings exactly!

 

welcome seeker97.
Your among friends here that feel the EXACT same way you do.

 

I am a certified Porsche tech. and I believe that you are confusing the annoying yet easily fixable oil leak from the rear main and intermediate shaft seals. With the problem found on random very low milage 1998-99 986 Boxsters, where to fix poor casting issues, instead of replacing the block Porsche decided to sleeve these blocks. The sleeves would slide down where eventually the rings would finally grab the top of the sleeve and pull it into the crank which resulted in what you would call catastrophic failure. But as far as 987 go they are great cars. Occational spark plug tube seals, rear main seal, intermediate shaft seal, and oil seperators leaking are the main compaints. Nothing that would result in engine failure, but might take a hit to your wallet. But after all it is a Porsche, and maintaince costs are high. One request I have for any Porsche owner is too drive the cars and drive them as they were designed to be driven. The ones that sit in garages and never see rainy days are the ones that leak oil, have dead batteries, and have random stupid stuff fail. The few racecars we have in have never had oil leaks. If anyone is looking at purchasing an old air cooled Porsche look out for oil leaks, oil leaks, and more oil leaks. But they are amazing to drive. The sound, the feel, the history of an older 911 is like nothing else. My dream car is 1973 911 RS!

Welcome to the community. One thing I can say is I love the S2K family and you will never find a more welcoming family of automotive enthusists and gear heads anywhere else. Enjoy the car!

Craig

 

It is not that they are unreliable. Its that preventative maintaince costs are high, so most owners of lower end Porsches (986's and 987's) opt not to perform vital mainatance.