But this test im sure was the new boxster s which has been changed... (right?)

 

My friend's '03 took more effort to drive than my '05 but seemed a bit more "edgy" and exciting. I felt like I needed to keep the revs up in hers...doesn't seem as important in mine. Basically, I think the '03 & earlier are more sporty than the '04 & '05...but mine's still pretty damn fun to drive.

 

Carry $20,000 in quarters in the trunk everywhere you go?

 

Interesting... their list of top 5 sports cars is made up of 2 GT's, 2 roadsters, and only 1 real sports car.

 

On the planet that I come from, they're all considered sports cars.

Anyway, the particular Boxster S in this test is the new, 280hp version with active suspension management trickery, wide tires, etc. etc.

First, to give an '02 S2000 the same suspension as an '04-'05, I think you'll simply need the new rear swaybar (which has been softened) and a set of all four '04-'05 coilovers (due to various changes.) Oh, and the different sized wheels and tires. Other than that, the models are identical. (Discounting the extra frame stiffening that went into the '04-'05 models...)

To bring an '02 "up to" a Boxster S? Hmm, that really depends on your personal opinion on where the Porsche is superior to the Honda. Certainly a supercharger is an easy way to get an extra 100hp or so on the top end. But I don't recall all the factors that R&T considered the Boxster S to be better in...

 

i'd only consider the carrera a true GT (it's 2+2 isn't it?).....the rest are more or less sports cars

 

The Boxster S in the R&T test is the new 2005 version. The new Boxster S is the real deal, to say the least. So, I disagree that it's "tough to be behind the Boxster S", but rather expected.

That's not intended to slam our beloved S2000, but let's be real here. Stock for stock, the new BS beats the S2000 in acceleration, braking, skid pad, slalom, lap times, and on and on. This shouldn't make you lose sleep however, because as I am always quick to point out, the BS costs twice as much.

So take solace in the fact that the S2000 scored very close to the Elise in the four spot and not that much lower than the universally adored 911 in the three spot, costs about the same as a fully loaded Accord or Camry, and will run forever.

 

Speaking of which- Why does the Carrera GT have "GT" in its name? I thought a GT was usually a heavier, 2+2 sport car. Am I wrong?

 

GT can mean any number of things, depending on the context. GT could indeed mean "Grand Touring" and refer to cars like the Mercedes AMG cars - heavy, lots of hp, great for touring.

In racing, it can mean any production-based race car. GT1 has evolved into the Prototype classes in Le Mans now that there's no longer any homologation rules. The Porsche 911 GT1 and Mercedes CLK-GTR are examples of such. GT2 used to be cars like the old air-cooled 911 Turbo. These days it's called LM GT1 and includes Vipers, Corvette C6-Rs, Saleen S7Rs, and of course the new Astin Martons. The old GT3 class is now called LM GT2, and is typically cominated by the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.

SPEED Challenge includes Touring Car class (four seaters only, I think) and the GT class (Vipers, 911s, Corvettes, and other high-powered cars like Caddy CTS-V and Audi R6...)

So while person 1 uses "GT" to mean comfy cruiser, somebody else might have a completely different definition.

 

Oh, and to get back to your original question - my guess is that the Carrera GT has "GT" in its name to harken back to the days when Porsche dominated GT racing.