OK, I know this is a Z board and the opinion is biased, but I had to ask. I've owned a Boxster in the past and now have the opportunity to get a new one. However, equivalently equipped, there is a 15k difference in favor of he ZR.

So I'm asking is the Boxster worth another 15k? Does anybody have any experience with the ZR?

I currently have a G35c and the ZR drives similar. Need to get a convertible again.

Thanks

 

I'll go with the NEW BOXSTER. I am not bias. I own a 350Z Roadster.

I am just giving you a honest opinion.

One thing for sure. Boxters has way better tranny.

 

this is SOOOO easy
new boxster
better yet boxster S........incredible car

 

Depends how much you love/want the Porsche name and the prestige that goes with it. The Boxster S is a superior performance vehicle, and is in a higher "class", but it does have glitches and reliability issues. Also, for $5000, you can upgrade to a full Nismo suspension, wheels, and fat rubber that will outhandle the boxster. You'll still have $10,000 left to do many other things to the ZR. From an appearance standpoint, the Z wins hands down. Other than a real exotic, I have never seen a car that turns heads like my Z roadster. The Porsche styling is very dated. Some may call it classic, but to me it just looks old. Porsche needs a completely new look....the way they did with the old Porsche 928 in the late 1970's. I could have bought the old Boxster S, but I opted for the ZR, and am happy with that choice. The Boxster is not $15k better IMHO.

 

10 things I hate about the boxter:
1. rear engine
2. the HUGE rear wind deflector( The z's is so much classier)
3. not a lot of recent changes(too subtle of changes)
4. price
5. I see waaaaaaaayyy too many of them(ppl buy them to try to impress other ppl by saying they have a porsche)
6. i always laugh when ppl put groceries under the hood(dumb point but...LOL)
7. short(length)
8. UGLY headlights
9. the back looks like the front :-)
10. the rollbars are really, really tall!

 

Well for the price nothing beats a ZR. But in terms of performance Boxster S takes the gold. My Dad has a 04 Boxster and it does drive nice. Tough decision but I would go with a ZR and put the difference in cash towards a s/c, rims, body kit and exhaust.

But them there is the new 911. Mmm MMmmm MMMmmm

But it's not my money!!

 

Hope nobody buys a Boxster for prestiege.... Because if someone buys one, there basicaly saying they can't afford a real porsche... As anyone knows hardcore Porsche enthusiasts do not consider the boxster a real porsche...

That said, I would probably get the Porsche Boxster myself if money was no issue, but then again if money was no issue I would buy the Porsche 911

 

If you gonna get a Porsche, get the 911. As for Boxster vs. 350zr, the 350zr will probably turn more heads. Boxster just says that you can't afford a 911, i mean why else would you even buy a Boxster? And to make matters worst, they have a Boxster AND Boxster S. And trust me, people who don't get the "S" gets a lot of **** for not buying the faster model...

 

Of course I am biased, but a friend of mine had a lot of maintainence problems with his boxer. The top actually got stuck 1/2 way open. He had to drive to the dealership at 25 mph.

Then there is also the costs associated with a car, the porshe is going to be way higher, you can't just go to jiffy lube and get the oil changed. For me convenience is a big deal.

If you really want serious performance take that extra money go FI, add a set of eibach springs and a some new rubber. There won't be a boxster out there that can keep with you, probably not many 911s either.

 

I drove a Boxter for 3 months prior to buying my ZR. The main reason I bought the ZR was the fact that I felt they had the same driving feel. For me the price was a major difference, I could get essentially the same performance and handling with the ZR and save the money with no real loss in the looks dept. I have not driven the B.S. If money is not an issue then the 911 Turbo S would be my choice

 

Well, I drove the 05 Boxster and it did not feel much different than my 03, so I am ruling it out.

This weekend however, I'm going to try the 05 SLK350. It looks impressive. If it does not satisfy, I think I will just go for the ZR.

Any opinions on the SLK350?

 

Chick car.

Seriously though, it's more expensive and less impressive in the performance and looks department. It's got some nice features though like the retractable hard top and "neck warmers"...but that doesn't justify the price for me.

 

I thought I wanted an SLK. Then I sat in one. I was actually disappointed in the switchgear and other interior bits on the Mercedes. From Nissan I might expect some plastic painted to look like aluminum. You would think Mercedes would want to do the real thing.

 

Um...the Boxster S is a MID-Engine high performance car that outhandles/out accelerates/ and IMO outlooks the ZR.

A ZR with 5K in NISMO upgrades still CANNOT take a corner like the perfectly neutral Boxster.

New Boxster S hands down and IMO the best handler of ANY car south of 100K!

 

Enthuziast your smokin pot dude.... THe Nismo Suspension gives the 350z neutral handling, and you can notice the difference over the stock setup big time...

I have driven the 05' boxster and it does handle nice, but it does not feel that much different the my ZR with the Nismo Suspension on it, when taking it into the corners.... And the 911 ($90k I beleive is what it sales for now) is far superior in handling then the Boxster... The boxster is the poor man's porsche plain and simple.... Atleast with the 350ZR we admit we either can't afford or don't want to spend that much money on a 911... people who buy the boxster are hoping nobody notices its not a 911 :P

 

If your over 50 or a chick, or a guy under 50 who's gay, then the 05 SLK350 is a cool car

Thats just my opinion tho

Although if you test drive it and really like it, I wouldn't worry about what other people think about the car....

 

I believe that you are the one smoking pot. The new Boxster S can and does outhandle the rear engine Carrera.

Just giving the heavier FM ZR a suspension does not give it the same potential for handling that the smaller/ better built ME Boxster S has.

Call it a chick car I dont care about that but to say it cannot handle just about better than ANYTHING on the road means you are just not educated on the chasis. Get back to me after you do some more research

 

EnthuZiast is right, read the latest track results for Road&Track. Boxster S is a killer car. However, the Z still seems to be better when looking at price and the fact you will always have the Carrera hanging over your head. AT least the Z is top of line at the moment for Nissan!

 

Hate quoting "mags" but its the only proffesional opinions I can find you on paper.

Motor Trend:
"Of course, if we put the 911 engine in the Boxster, it would outperform the 911." This refreshingly candid aside, delivered by Dr. Wolfgang Duerheimer, executive VP of research and development, pretty much sums up the entry-level Porsche's predicament: Despite the mid-engine roadster's inherent handling advantage over its rear-engine big brother, the junior model must never be allowed to out-hustle the iconic 911. It must remain a rung or two behind as the 911 climbs the performance ladder."
"Perfect chassis balance"
Curb wt, lb 2850-3050 (mfr)

Car & Driver:
All is forgotten on a sinuous mountain road where the Boxster squirts from corner to corner with race-calibrated steering, peerless damping of body motions, and delicious machine noises from the back. Decreasing radii, pitching surfaces, granular pavement—the Boxster keeps you grinning through it all. Even one Corvette lover was moved to comment, “That’s about the best 10 miles I’ve ever had in a car.”


I just don't think you understand just HOW AMAZINGLY this car handles.

 

Ok after reading a few articles, i'll give you this, the Boxster will spank the 350z at the track, but in real world driving, i've driven both back to back up highway 74 (which has a LOT of corners in it, and the boxster does not feel that much better then my 350z with the nismo on it... Of course i'm not pushing the car to its limits given there are 300' drop off's but I doubt anyone in the real world pushes there cars to the limits when driving... And I did notice one huge difference between the cars, the ride in the boxster is extreamly stiff. It translates any imperfection from the road straight up your spine....

as far as specs goes, according to the magazines its only doing 0-60 in the low to mid 5 second range, not much faster then the 350z... and 1/4 miles times in the high 13's (13.9 in couple magazines)

Anyways thats my opinion on the car AFTER driving it.... Im curious if you have driven both cars back to back? Or all your opinions based on magazines only.

True im not a professional driver and don't have access to a race track to really push a car to its limits to see how great it handles when pushed, but I doubt most people on here are either and when it comes down to it, how the car feels in the real world is more important then how it feels at a race track...

BTW, I would never call the boxster a chicks car.... Far as im concerned it has nice lines and does not look femine at all.