987 boxster vs ap2 s2000 comments welcome

[substance]

anyone here considered the s2000 before you bought ur boxster? what was the difference? why did you buy the boxster instead of the s2000? how much more expensive was the maintenance over the honda? was RMS and other issues a big concern for you? how was the dealer experience? I want to get a 05 so Im going to have to go with no warranty, is this something i should be scared of vs honda's reliability? any other comments that will persuade me to get the boxster over the s2000?

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[mrwonder]

I test drove both, and definitely liked the 987 better. The S2000 felt heavy, and I had to rev it really high to get it going (though I understand the AP1 was worse). Porsche also feels a lot more solidly built.

In terms of reliability however, it's hard to better Honda and maintainence is a lot cheaper. I will strongly recommend a CPO Boxster.

[split]

s2000 is definitely better value. one thing that deters me is that people can buy AP1s for under $15k now-a-days. So even if you buy an AP2, you'll see tonnes of AP1s around that people picked up for real cheap and the average person would not know the difference.

same thing kinda goes with the boxster too though, the 986's are really cheap now and they do look almost the same as the 987 (less so than an AP1 vs AP2)

all that aside, if you dont care about the prestige of saying you own a porsche.. i'd go with the S2000.

[substance]

Originally Posted by split

s2000 is definitely better value. one thing that deters me is that people can buy AP1s for under $15k now-a-days. So even if you buy an AP2, you'll see tonnes of AP1s around that people picked up for real cheap and the average person would not know the difference.

same thing kinda goes with the boxster too though, the 986's are really cheap now and they do look almost the same as the 987 (less so than an AP1 vs AP2)

all that aside, if you dont care about the prestige of saying you own a porsche.. i'd go with the S2000.

honestly i may feel embarrassed if i do say i own a low end boxster. i feel that its inferior to the 911 because most people perceive owning a boxster bc one cant afford a 911. i just dont know how reliable the boxster can be without any warranty and i dont want to spend 71k on a new boxster.

[aln]

they are both very amazing cars. they both handle very well and was a pleasure to drive.

s2k
love the power in the higher rpms
low maintenance costs and lots of aftermarket parts
the honda dealership was actually quite helpful

boxster
more powerful engine and lots of torque
interior is a lot nicer. (in my opinion)
the porsche dealership didn't offer any help or even greeted me

in the end i got the boxster in another city because i like the ride quality and the feel of the gearbox. the s2k felt really sloppy (my opinion again). i like the response and handling of the boxster.

it really depends on what you're looking for. i personally love the exterior of the s2k but the engine, options, interior, and driving quality sold me on the boxster.

[Turbroe]

My .02, having worked in a Porsche Dealership for a number of years and a car guy my entire life, as much as I love P-cars, buying one w/o a warranty is risky. If you drive it everyday, it will break and the reair $$ can be eye-opening for a new
P-owner. If it were me, I would buy the P-car, but maybe not this one, one with a warranty. BTW, I have driven many S2000's and owned a number of Honda's (currently 09 Si). As good as the S2000 is, its not a Porsche.

[Sloopy]

Ive owned both. The S2K is the best value and great drivers car. Best transmission out there and still the one I use for comparison purposes.

The Baxter transmission is almost as good and would be second in line of all the cars I have driven.

Transmission aside, the two are quite different. I have an 08 RS60 and it is at least twice the car of the S2K.. If dollars though are of concern, the S2K is the way to go.

[substance]

Originally Posted by Sloopy

Ive owned both. The S2K is the best value and great drivers car. Best transmission out there and still the one I use for comparison purposes.

The Baxter transmission is almost as good and would be second in line of all the cars I have driven.

Transmission aside, the two are quite different. I have an 08 RS60 and it is at least twice the car of the S2K.. If dollars though are of concern, the S2K is the way to go.

which drives better. i know ur boxster has more power but....

[substance]

Originally Posted by Turbroe

My .02, having worked in a Porsche Dealership for a number of years and a car guy my entire life, as much as I love P-cars, buying one w/o a warranty is risky. If you drive it everyday, it will break and the reair $$ can be eye-opening for a new
P-owner. If it were me, I would buy the P-car, but maybe not this one, one with a warranty. BTW, I have driven many S2000's and owned a number of Honda's (currently 09 Si). As good as the S2000 is, its not a Porsche.

i found 3 cars that i like
05 boxster s with 7000 miles. never titled. demo car . almost no warranty. love the color. black on black. $36000

06 boxster s with 18k miles. 1 year of warranty left. hate the color, silver on black. $36000

06 s2000 white on black. love the white. no warranty left. $24000


i like the 06 boxster s because it has some warranty left however its 12k more than the s2000 and probably require more money for maintenance. however if it is a MUCH fun and better then i ll get it. i dont mind paying for maintenance as long as its reasonable. i dont want to get myself into a money pit and spend thousands on IMS and RMS issues.

[renzop]

The S2000 is smaller inside by a large amount. The S2000 has a smaller trunk by a large amount. The S2000 is more of a go-kart - small steering wheel, faster turn in, worse ride, less liveable as a daily driver. Less torque down low means you will have to rev more to keep up with traffic flow. Not a problem but it does make the commute a bit buzzy.

But the S2000 will be much cheaper with maintenance. Also, you will not get as much attention from others in the S2000. This is good and bad. Good because of the ego stroke but bad because of the constant jealousy and potential for vandalism. If you are close to the limit of your funds just getting into the car and its going to be your only car than the S2000 might be the one for you. Its cheaper in both the short and long run.

In the S2000 you will feel more like a racer. In the Porsche you will feel more like a sports car driver.

Test drive both, on the highway, on the twisties and in town. Then decide.

[Bob Z.]

Originally Posted by substance

i found 3 cars that i like
05 boxster s with 7000 miles. never titled. demo car . almost no warranty. love the color. black on black. $36000

06 boxster s with 18k miles. 1 year of warranty left. hate the color, silver on black. $36000

06 s2000 white on black. love the white. no warranty left. $24000


i like the 06 boxster s because it has some warranty left however its 12k more than the s2000 and probably require more money for maintenance. however if it is a MUCH fun and better then i ll get it. i dont mind paying for maintenance as long as its reasonable. i dont want to get myself into a money pit and spend thousands on IMS and RMS issues.

Have you searched the classifieds here? There are 987s for not much more with lots of warranty, which would seem to put your mind at ease regarding repairs.

[Spec]

I wouldn't worry as much as you seem to be with the Boxster and maint cost. Once a year you have it inspected. Before you but it have it inspected. Porsche ownership shouldn't be about maint cost. But the purity and sheer joy of owning a Porsche. I own an 06 350Z and can say that I was actually in the same boat as you. S2000, E36 M3, 986 Boxster, or 350Z. I chose the Z because of stupidity and power over all the others but if I could go back to yesterday I'd gladly choose the Boxster S. I'm telling you. Porsche ownership is much more than any other manufacturer. Own a Porsche or a fan boy killed car. Your choice.

[Josh@TPCRACING]

Ok, I don't post much but I can't hold back on this one. I own a 2001 Honda S2000 and as an employee of TPCRacing, I have driven just about every model Porsche around.
My OPINION:
For the cost of a used S2000 ($13,500 for mine last year with 60,000ml) there isn't much around that will be comparable. The car has the moves of a miata but enough grunt to make you smile. Again, for the cost, the transmission can't be beat. every shift is precise and smooth...no guessing what gear you're in. The engine will rev all day long...and something about hearing a car engine screaming 9000RPM gets my blood pumping. The interior is nice, it's not Porsche quality, but there are no cheap materials, everything has a good fit-and-finish. The softtop operates easily and quickly and it is and absolute blast to drive.

On the other hand, the Boxster is mid-engined. These cars handle like they are on rails. Upgrade the sway bars and you have a car that will handle as well as any 911. You also get the power the Honda lacks. Much more torque makes leaving from a stand still far more enjoyable. (if you want to ever launch the Honda you have the rev up to at least 6000rpm and dump the clutch or it will bog down). The Boxster also has far more storage capacity, you won't fit a set of golf clubs in, but it has 2 trunks.

As far as reliabilty goes, it's hard to beat a honda...you take care of it, and it will run for a million miles. However, these 986s are outstanding cars as well. Like the Honda, as long as these cars are taken care of, they rarely have any major issues.

Now if you see mods in your future that makes the decision much harder. Then budget really comes into play. For example if you wanted more power, you could buy a good S2000 turbo/supercharger kit for ~$5,000-$6,000. with these kits you could easily make 450+bhp. However, our Boxster Turbo kit retails for $9,999. As reliable as these cars are, you must realize that Porsche parts are significantly more expensive than honda parts. Also with the Porsche, you are getting into larger sized tires, which can cost +$1000 to replace. I'm not trying to point you in one direction or the other, they are both fantastic atomobiles, and i'm just trying to lend my insight. Really it's all about what you want from the car; other than that, drive what makes you happy!

Good Luck with you decision!

[mrwonder]

I think you can also buy extended warranty if the car is still in warranty.

[BoxsterGirlie01]

Originally Posted by substance

honestly i may feel embarrassed if i do say i own a low end boxster. i feel that its inferior to the 911 because most people perceive owning a boxster bc one cant afford a 911. i just dont know how reliable the boxster can be without any warranty and i dont want to spend 71k on a new boxster.

Low end? Ouch! You can get 911's at reasonable prices right now as well. I personally know several Boxster owners that chose their Boxster based upon the way it handles and drives. Not just because it was less expensive and that's all that they could afford. A few of them have a Boxster along with a much more expensive exotic. They appreciate the Boxster for the mid-engine handling, the fun they have on the track with it, and what a great DD it makes.

As far as reliability goes, I've personally had no issues with mine and I drive the heck out of it. Yes, routine maintenance will probably run you more in a Porsche than a S2000. But, it's a Pcar, so that just comes with the territory. It's also about which one you enjoy driving better, car clubs, events, and all that other stuff that comes with the car you choose. To me, I enjoy being part of the PCA and other Porsche related events, so it was an easy decision.

If I were to do it all over, I'd pick a Boxster time and time again. We also have a 911 which I do enjoy, and I'm glad we have it. But there is just something about my Boxster that after 2.5 years of owing it, I still get excited to start that engine every morning and taking her out.

Okay....I feel all better now!

Best wishes!