I agree with bguernsy about the chick magnet thing. I see a lot of TTs on the road nowadays. Hardly any S2000s still up in seattle.

chick magnet... it's all about the driver, baby.

 

Please, please everyone...it's a Boxster, not a Boxter...have a nice day

 

I'm actually pretty impressed by how torquey the 2.0 feels. Here's a question: Being that we have such a high redline, are we able to run a lower overall gear ratio in each of our gears?

If so, and considering that the gear ratio is in effect a "torque multiplier", our real world torque ratings may stack up better w/the Boxster (at least the 2.5/2.7l) than we think.

Anyone done a comparison of the gear ratios between the two cars?

FWIW, I wanted a Boxster S as well, but the price ultimately turned me away. I bought an S2k and a GTI1.8t instead...

Scott.
'00 S2k
'00 S4
'01 GTI1.8t

 

Yep, S2000 has very low gearing. Not only are the gears pretty short, they are pretty short with reving to 9k, that is why a 2l engine can keep up with engines double it's size.

But, even though the gearing is very short in the S2000, it still cannot match the low-revs pull of a BoxsterS. BoxterS has the pull of of a nice V8 (very responsive at the bottom) - it's very torquey at the bottom and still has a top end just like you want from a sprortscar. It has more power at the top that S2000 (not much though, between 1 and 9kW depending on where you live) and also it has the low-end torque. Drive a BoxterS and your 1st impression will be how much faster than S2000 it is (that was mine). Though, that is the case only bellow about 70km/h ... after that the S2000 hangs with it. It is the low-end that gives you this impression. Also, remember that BoxsterS also has 6 speed gearbox which has very short gearing as well. 1st gear is even shorter than the S2000's and that combined with that low-end torque is one thing that S2000 cannot match no matter how you look at it.

Remember that BoxterS has 310nM of torque compared to the S2000's 220nM. That's about 40% more torque at the peak. At the bottom end BoxterS has 2x the torque that the S2000 has to offer (it is still more than S2000's max). Not only that, but the BoxsterS revs out to 7,200 revs which gives the S2000 'only' extra 1700 revs ... that's 'only' extra 23%. Not enough to offset the torque, but enough match the top end.

The Boxster2.7 is a different story. It has 'only' 5 gears and 'only' about 20% more torque. The S2000 can more or less match the 2.7's low-end response. Maybe not 100%, but it'll be very close. I'm confident that the S2000 will beat the 2.5 Boxster even at the bootom of the rev range no matter how low you go.

Here's the gearing for the S2000 and BoxsterS:
------------
BoxsterS speeds at 7200 revs:
1st = 63km/h
2nd = 109km/h
3rd = 159km/h
4th = 198km/h
5th = 237km/h
6th = 287km/h
-------------
S2000 speeeds at 9k revs:
1st - 69km/h
2nd -105km/h
3rd - 144km/h
4th - 186km/h
5th - 223km/h
6th - 266km/h

 

The more astute amongst you realised I was not attacking the S2000. I think it is a great car. I was just trying to point out that it is not the ONLY great car out there. It has strengths and weaknesses, the same as the Boxster. Everyone attacks the Boxsters price, but you get more for your money. The S2000 gives you great performance for the $, but believe it or not, there is more to cars than performance.

As for the Boxster engine being "too quiet", I can attest to the fact I have reached redline (at the track) without realising it until it started to stumble. I have cruised for a while at way higher RPM than I would have liked. All because the engine is quiet and doesn't mind rev'ing one bit (although not to 9000 RPM!). Hearing every Civic with a sport exhaust around these days, a loud exhaust note has lost some of its luster. And being a proclaimed tree-hugger, I have come to appreciate a quiet car and the fact it can pass by without having to announce its persence. (Lets not bring up the cobra) Plenty of Boxster owners do go for sport exhausts to give it more of a noticable note, but I have come to appreciate it for what it is.

Now I go in search of an S2000 torque curve graph online. It seems hard to believe the torque curve is flat, with the noticable pickup at VTEC kick-in. I am sure you guys know your car; just want to see it myself.

 

When I decided to buy a roadster, after looking/driving the SLK, TT, Z-3, Boxster and s2k, it really came down to either the s2k or the Boxster. Both cars are extremely fine cars. But both have short comings as well. Frankly I do not like the interior of either car, hence the Rick's upgrades that I have done in my s2k. Also I do not like the boot of the Honda, the boxster in much nicer. But like Barry, there is not a Porsche dealer within 180 miles of me.

Both cars handle extremely well, better than any of the other roadsters I looked at. I do like the smooth feel of the Boxster, and the exterior of both cars. I did feel more one with the road in the Honda. It has a 'go-kart' like feel.

Lets face it, these are two fine autos. For me it was a difference of distance to dealer, cost of up keep, and finally I like the fact that I own a Honda. I have owned them before, and they have always been great cars, with few problems. Since I paid cash for the car, the money was not a huge deal, but then again I was able to keep some of my money in the stock market, which has just gone in the toilet since then. Oh well.

I say, hey they are just cars, enjoy!

 

Heh, I hear you GDW. That was one of the things that made my purchase of the Boxster more palatable. I got a bunch of money out of the market to buy the car right before things went in the toilet. So I tell my wife "See honey, look at all the money I saved!"

 

Here's a much better more simple one:

http://www.gr8ride.com/cgi-bin/pm/common/f...Asian&oid=16817

 

The Porsche is nice because of the name and its solid performance. The review was right on. Two different feeling cars. Boxster for the more sedate crowd, the S2000 for the rev-happy, edgy crowd.

In terms of styling, the front of the Boxster looks good because it's very similar to the 911... but the back looks hideous. The side views are also very ugly. The S2000's styling definitely wins me over, but the Boxster's name evens that out.

I'd just like to hear more B-S v. S2K stories.

 

S2k is noiser at any speed. However, with the top down, it really makes no difference.
At the same price, it would be a tough choice.
I'd take S2000 for styling, but Boxster would be my close second choice. However, for 20k difference in price, the choice was fairly simple for me. Of course, that's my personal opinion. There are plenty of people who like the boxster styling more. My sister in law will go for the Boxster or Boxster S. She doesn't like Boxster styling more, she just doesn't want to own the same car.
I wouldn't mind either car in my garage. I think I have the car I'm more happy with. I just wish I get to drive it a bit more often(it's my wife's).