A friend who's a car dealer offered me a 2002 Boxster S with 5500 miles on the clock for $17,800 and my S2000 with 17,000 miles on it. I took the Porsche home to see what it would be like to live with. The boxer engine is really nice - torque from 1 rpm making it a dream to launch. The motor begins to become short of breath prior to the red line so you hang shifts well before the rev limiter but it gets there quickly.

The Porsche is very luxurious and edgy at the same time. The only thing I can fault the car for is it's handling and subjective ride feel. In the S2000 I feel like I'm in the Car, in the Boxster, I feel like I'm on the car. Even though the Boxster has the sport suspension, it doesn't feel as together as the Honda nor does it have the go cart like handling. Turn-in isn't as sharp and body roll is more pronounced. I took the Boxster through a familiar off-camber left-hander that the S2000 handles with aplomb and it unsettled the Porsche!

Anyway, I'm thinking that I'll call the dealer in the morning and tell him, "Thanks, but no thanks, I'm keeping the Honda." Am I nuts?




.

 

I was talking to the local porche dealer a couple of weeks ago and he said he has an s2k and that they are much more fun to drive compared to the boxster he said if you want a better car get a 911 and laughed

MORAL OF THE STORY KEEP THE HONDA YOU'LL BE HAPPIER

 

If the Boxster S had a bigger engine (it doesnt because of this . . .) it would destroy the 911.

The Boxster S is toned down so it does not cut into 911 sales.

 

Hmmm.... Boxster S is good..... but the S2000 is BETTER!!!! It definitely value for money with a kick a@# attitude performance and handling!!!!! But i like that toning down form slicing into the 911 sales stuff...

 

Interesting comparison.
One of the magazines three years ago said that the Boxster S was more predictable at the limits. They called it easier to drive fast because you could get some forewarning before you lost it.

I don't know.

I don't really like the Boxster styling as much as the 911 or the S2000. There is no Porsche dealer in Wyoming, Montana or South Dakota. I'd have to shop in Colorado or Utah.

The same is true if I go for an Acura NSX.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Barry WY Silver/Black '01
[B]Interesting comparison.
One of the magazines three years ago said that the Boxster S was more predictable at the limits.

 

I think if you drove the Boxster S the way most people drive the Boxster S (more sedate) you'd be happier in a Boxster S. But if you drive the S2000 the way "most" people drive them (at the limit) you'll be happier in the S2000.

I test drove both before getting the S2000 and I felt the same way as you with regards to the "in" vs. "on" feeling. Also, the S2000 just made me laugh it was such a blast to drive....so I bought the S2000.

But the Boxster has some real nice creature comforts....

 

I also drove both head-to-head (along with a TT) one right after the other (my dealer network and salesperson conveniently sells all three makes) when I was shopping for my toy and agree with the others here: When I drove the Boxster, I came out of there thinking, "that was pretty nice...comfy little car"....Then, when I drove the S2000, I was a totally different animal - I could NOT stop grinning from ear to ear and laughing in absolute joy... I was like, "Hot damn, now thats a car!!!" I was sold right there!

The other thing I remember pretty vividly in the Boxster was the cowl shake - I couldn't believe how shaky the car's structure was over bumps and transitions vs. the rock-solid structure of the S2000...I'm still to this day in awe at how amazingly rigid the structure is of our car...far more solid than most cars with real roofs!

Anyway, the cars are both cool...they're just built for different clientele tastes...my taste is for 'pure toy' and thats where the S2000 absolutely shines!

 

I wanted to test drive a Boxster, but was unable to sit down into the drivers seat before my leg was wedged below the steering wheel. I am only 6ft 3in tall.