2007 Porsche Boxster

[Jay01]

I am interested in replacing my Mazda MX-5 with a new Porsche Boxster.
Anyone has experience with this car? (handling, safety, performance etc.) How is it compared to the MX-5?

What is the best way to get one which can save the most money (without going through major hassle).

Thanks!

[cipher]

I am interested in replacing my Mazda MX-5 with a new Porsche Boxster.
Anyone has experience with this car? (handling, safety, performance etc.) How is it compared to the MX-5?

What is the best way to get one which can save the most money (without going through major hassle).

Thanks!

Do you really have to ask if a $60K+/245+HP car will handle/perform better than $30K/166HP car? Especially a Porsche?

[Neb]

haha, that is a big step up. I dont think you will be able to compare those 2 cars. The porsche will be alot of fun to drive, more so than the Mx5, but it does cost twice as much.

[mdc]

I can't comment on the 07, but I have driven an 05 a lot ... I also have some seat time in a 04 Miata

That being sad, the Miata is a lot more "fun" to drive than the Boxster ... the Miata feels like an extension of your body. The handling feels better, the engine (while not a powerhouse on paper) feels good in that car ... it is like driving a go kart

That being said, the Boxster is a great car ... The handling is very balanced, the engine is so nice and the interior is miles and miles ahead of the Miata

If we are talking about which car I would rather have for autocrossing or a weekend fun car, I would take the Miata ... as a daily driver, hands down the Boxster is the way better car. More comfortable, more useable power in all RPMs, better gearbox and clutch, better everything ...

[Spray]

Get the best of both worlds in an s2000

Boxster is a nice car...that being said I'd never, ever ever buy one new.

So many better cars you can get..like a Mallet Solstice.

[mdc]

the S2000 is a horrible daily driver ... I wouldn't touch one with a 10 foot poll.

Both the Miata and Boxster outhandle the S2000 and the S2000 has nothing for power below 5500rpm ... I don't know about you, but in city driving, 5500rpm is not where I usually like to be

The S2000 is way overpriced for what you actually get

[Quick_lude]

the S2000 is a horrible daily driver ... I wouldn't touch one with a 10 foot poll.

Both the Miata and Boxster outhandle the S2000 and the S2000 has nothing for power below 5500rpm ... I don't know about you, but in city driving, 5500rpm is not where I usually like to be

The S2000 is way overpriced for what you actually get

Lol.. how can the S2000 be a horrible daily driver compared to the other two rodsters? The S is larger than the Miata, has a bigger trunk, more interior space and a power folding top vs manual. Have you ever driven an S2000, especially the model with the 2.2L engine? You don't need to be at 5500 rpm for city driving .. lol.. I usually shift in the 3-4K range and that's enough to keep up with traffic. And don't tell me that the Miata or Boxster outhandle it.. if anything it's a toss up. If you compare it to the Miata it might seem overpriced but when compared to the Porsche, it's good value, especially considering the low maintenance costs and very good reliability.

Just in case my opinion seems biased since I own one , check out Britain's Top Gear survey, the S2000 has won the 1st place award three years running, as the most satisfying car to own.

"You don't see many of these on the road but when you do, the driver's always wearing a smug grin, thanks to this sports car's unbeatable combination of screaming performance, rock-solid reliability and built-in individuality.

Again the S2000 shows that a highly tuned car doesn't have to be a headache to live with, even one with an engine capable of wanging right round to 8,900rpm. In fact, the only areas it scores just less than top marks in are practicality and the, at times, scary handling"

[DISH]

I'd take a M3 convertible over the boxster.

Or go non convertible and pick up a base 911

[mudmojo]

You sound like a marketing guy?!

Regarding the 2.2 S2000, I certainly don't call a 1/4 mile time of 14 flat (C&D May 06) "screaming performance" but a mental picture of molasses does come to mind. On the track the S2000 is a monster (relatively speaking again) but guess it really depends on where one personally obtains value from a road registered car. Every one is different. If you love it, that's all that matters as you're paying the bills. 3 years running is a good title though keep in mind that

Top Gear looked at factors such as build quality, craftsmanship, driving experience, ownership costs, customer care. Not everyone cares about these things equally and the UK demographics is different from those of the North American demographic.

To the OP, just drive the cars and go with what you can live with or more importantly what you can't live without. Oh and when you are mocking up your budget for the Porsche, be honest with yourself about the affordability of it because no one is going to suffer but yourself if you get the #'s wrong.

[aquariaguy]

Go post in a real car forum for porsche and mx5. Don't come here and expect real comments lol
I would get the M3 over the Porsche.

[bobbings]

s2000 is really hard to drive if you are not experienced, its one of the hardest car to handle

but his question is not about an s2000, it about the boxster.
if you are rich enough to drive a boxster in the summer and buy another car in the winter, go and buy it, you get class, you get envious looks from ppl and you get a good handling car

id say go for the bmw 3-series coupe, thats a nice car

[McLaren]

if you are rich enough to drive a boxster in the summer and buy another car in the winter, go and buy it, you get class, you get envious looks from ppl and you get a good handling car

I doubt you get envious looks from 911 owners, would be more like 'psssft couldn't afford a real porsche eh"

[warpdrive]

Compared to the MX-5. The Boxster will feel more composed and more refined when you start to push it, and reach higher speeds with less drama (and make really nice noises in the process). The MX-5 is still going to be more fun at lower speeds and around town due to its light weight and short wheelbase.

I'm not sure that a Boxster is more "fun" than a MX-5 overall. The Boxster is a far better cruising car, the ride isn't as jittery, the body is stiffer, and it eats up rough roads better while still giving you a good sense of the road. Like the MX-5 it is also really easy to drive, more so than the S2000 which feels more like a MX-5 on steroids.

The thing that always scared me from considering one is the maintenance costs which are even more pronounced due to the engine positioning.

[bobbings]

I doubt you get envious looks from 911 owners, would be more like 'psssft couldn't afford a real porsche eh"

i doubt that too but a porsche is a porsche, not the average car you see on the road, what you're saying is like, a billionaire looking down on a millionaire, theyre still rich when compared to the average guy/girl, id b happy with a porsche, just like id be happy being a millionaire

[actng]

Do you really have to ask if a $60K+/245+HP car will handle/perform better than $30K/166HP car? Especially a Porsche?

uhhh you can't be more wrong.

the porsche boxter is the bottom of the product line which means they took something successful (carrera) and tried to replicate it by cutting corners. the boxter sucks more than a 1.8T.

the mx-5 on the other hand is probably mazda's best car. it is carefully engineered and the handling is exceptional. the only thing missing is a little bit of oomph but that's nothing a supercharger/turbocharger can't take care of (or the mazdaspeed mx5).