Here is where it gets interesting. Right now Porsche of all people is running a killer lease deal on a brand new Boxter or Boxster S. $499 a month for the vanilla Boxter and $599 a month for the chocolate Boxster S for 48 months with a $4000 cap cost reduction (down payment). Boxster sales have dropped 31% this year but payment wise this puts a Porsche into the reach of everyone here getting a Z.

 

That is a great price. The payments are less than you will be making if you only put down $4K on a Z. Of course, comparing a lease to a purchase isn't exactly fair.

 

Interesting.

I think the 350Z is a better car though.

Not only is the Z 3-times the value, but the Z will be quicker and a better all-around car. The Boxster is very "purpose built" and still isn't as fast.

So: the Boxster is slower, doesn't stop as fast, harder to drive, doesn't handle rainy weather as well, expensive to maintain and repair, may not handle any better, AND you get to pay 3 times as much once you option it like a Z!

No thanks.

 

What about the Boxster S though?

 

That's what I'm talking about, the Boxster S.

According to Porsche's Web site, the S will do 0-62 in 5.9s. Compare that with Z which will do somewhere in the range of 5.2 to 5.5 (I don't think the extra 2Mph will make much of a different in spec's).

Metallic paint is $3k, VDC is $4k, leather another $2k, and every little logo and colored doo-dad costs between $200 and $4000!!!

Plus maintenance (I've had great luck with Nissans), insurance, etc. etc.

I can afford a Porsche, I just don't want to.

Porsche Boxster S? Give me a Z!!!

 

Porshes figures are very conservative. R&T says 0-60 in 5.6 and 1/4 in 14.0 @ 100.5mph. Pretty much a dead heat with the Z.

 

Well, for me personally, even if the Porsche were a little faster I'd still go with the Z.

Did you see the price of those accessories? Outrageous.

Plus with a lease, the car isn't really yours. If you look at the cost of the car with a few accessories its about $60K. Then look at insurance & maintenance.

I have a Beamer now, and if you bring it into the dealer for the "Inspection I" or "Inspection II" light that flashes twice a year you're out $600 each time. I'm tired of this extortion.

I'm gonna save the $30K, buy a Z, and do something else really cool with the money, like buy a yacht (fishing trips fellow Los Angeles Zers?), travel, buy some investment property, buy a new house, or buy 2000 shares of Nissan stock (and watch it go up along with the demand for the Z!).

PS Thanks for bringing the Porsche Lease to our attention though! Its always nice to be aware of one's options!