By the way, there is a BIG difference between a Boxster and a Boxster S.

 

What's your point? I don't remember the base Boxster even being mentioned in this thread until now. The S2000 kicks the crap out of the base Boxster on the track. It takes the Boxster S to be competitive and then it pretty much becomes a driver's battle. In most if not all magazine comparisons the S2000 beats the Boxster S's lap times although on occassion the writers prefer the Boxster because they feel it's easier to drive at the limit. In any case, magazines don't even bother comparing the base Boxster to the S2000 any more.

 

If it was just a regular Boxster, I would lean more towards the S2000. By the way, I'm more impress with the 00-03 S2000 then the MY04 because it appears that the 00-03 is what Honda intended the original concept S2000 to be. But then again, this is just an opinion. A white on red S2000 is the most beautiful of them all! ;-)

The other reason I am considering a Boxster S over the S2000 is because around my neighborhood (Portland, OR), I've seen several modded S2000 by the younger crowd.

I think its cool and everything but the S2000 is going to be more attainable by many people and thus potentially diluting the classic lines of the S2000 with ridiculous mods.

Have you seen some of these ridiculous mods on civics, mitsus, neons, etc...? The rear spoiler (wing) is sometimes larger then the vehicle that its on!!! ;-)

Classic vs. Trend ---- tough decision.

 

Get the Boxster S.

 

I'm still undecided....

Classic vs trend.

Long term vs short term relationship.

Better overall balance vs 9K, I mean 8K RPM of excitement.

So-so reliability vs great reliability

$$$$ maintenance vs $$ maintenance



On a more lighter note.... which car is the "chick" magnet? ;-)

 

Pfft. Both are awesome cars, so I question the objectivity of anyone who makes a statement such as this one.

I've owned both a Boxster S and an S2000. Here's a ramble about how I think they stack up, in no particular order:

• The S2000 feels like a big go-kart. The Boxster S is only a hundred pounds heavier, but it feels much more so; I think this is primarily a function of its slower steering. That's not to say the Boxster feels ponderous; it's just that the S2000 feels exceptionally nimble.
  
  
• The Boxster is one of the best handling cars out there -- it's incredibly forgiving, and to paraphrase an article I once read, it makes you look like a hero. The S2000's handling, in keeping with its go-kart feel, is very, very direct. On one hand, this makes it a marvelous precision driving tool, but on the other hand, the penalty if you step over the edge is much more severe than in the Boxster. This should be improved in the '04, but it's hard for me to imagine the even the '04 matching the Boxster's friendliness.
  
  
• On paper both cars are equivalently fast, but the Boxster is considerably torquier off cam, so around town (and on the track when exiting corners between gears) it feels and is a lot stronger.
  
  
• I'm not finding Honda's maintenance any cheaper than Porsche's despite the latter's reputation for expense. S2000 performance parts, however, are both more plentiful and less expensive than Boxster parts.
  
  
• The S2000's VTEC howl is pretty cool, but the Boxster S's induction growl is the coolest in-car sound I've ever heard.
  
  
• The S2000's cabin is very confining. The Boxster's is rather more comfortable. The first thing the girl I was dating at the time said when she got into my S2000 for the first time was, "I liked the last one (the Boxster) better". The 04's supposed to have a bit more room, though.
  
  
• A lightly optioned Boxster's interior is embarrassingly Spartan and plasticky. A fully optioned Boxster's interior is a place of leather-bound beauty. The S2000's interior is somewhere in between.
  
  
• The Boxster is a surprisingly practical daily driver, thanks to its dual trunks. The front trunk in particular is huge. The S2000's smaller trunk makes it less practical, and turning 5000 rpm on the freeway all the time gets grating in a way the Boxster doesn't.
  
  
• If you care about autocross: The Boxster S is one of the cars to have in A Stock. The '00-'03 S2000 is the car to have in B Stock, but the 04's class has yet to be determined. If it goes to A Stock, my money's on the Boxster (and the C4 Corvette).
  
  
• The people on the S2000 board are mostly bigots who leap at the opportunity to badmouth any other sports car, especially the Boxster. The people on the Boxster board are mostly bigots who leap at the opportunity to badmouth any other sports car, including the S2000. Don't trust opinions on either board unless they come from someone who's driven both extensively.

I'm currently faced with the same decision you are. In a perfect world, I'd own a Boxster and an S2000, but that's not practical for me. That said, my preference is definitely for the Boxster S. The only reason I haven't sprung for one already is the price of parts; I autocross and thus need several sets of wheels and tires, among other things.

One tip: if the Boxster you're looking at doesn't have the M030 Sport Chassis (aka the sport suspension) option, get it installed. You can buy all of the parts for under $1500, and it makes a big difference in the way the car handles.

Steve

 

Forgot one thing:

• The S2000's steering is a touch lifeless; it's very accurate, but it doesn't have much feel. The Boxster's steering, in contrast, has great feel, but it's quite a bit slower. I personally prefer a quick steering ratio, so this one's a tough call.

Steve

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PedalFaster
Pfft.

 

yeah.. hate to say this. but if i were .. u.. for sure
SSSSSS boxterSSSSSS man..
it's just incomparable.. THE NAME!!!
nothing else
but u do have to realize.. everything to maintain the car is more than five times more expensive.. that's all

 

How does a $110 oil change sound to you? If it's no big deal, get the Boxster