If you're considering a 350Z Roadster, be advised that not all tracks allow the Roadster without an aftermarket roll bar. I've been told the bar behind the driver and passenger is not considered a roll bar.
The exception is when the track is rented for private use such as the Porsche and BMW clubs do, that requirement is often overlooked.

 

I have an 07 Enthusiast w/25K. I have pushed pretty hard the day I hit 1K and up to date no problems as there aren't any major issues w/ the 07+ Z's. If your into the track scene I'd advise the 07/08 Nismo Z or just wait for the 370Z.

 

You've obviously never driven a Porsche then or you wouldn't be asking this question.

You can't beat the superior balance, weight distribution, and handling of a true mid-engine sports car. The Boxster has better handling, balance, steering feel, weight transfer, and feedback than the 350Z. I love my Z but it's no Pcar.

 

Now that is a fair argument and one that I agree with.

 

66 yrs old huh...buy a new one with low miles if you can then will it to me.


got an 03 developed by NASA that im in love with. my gf accuses me of cheating. not one damn problem cept for the tire feathering issue. I also beat it up when i can on the parkway. Boxter's weren't so bad to take care of like the rear seated engine porches. so the z will be around the same kind of caring. The Z is a faster and better handling car compared though to the Boxter, so that one comment it aint no boxter upsets me in a way.

compared to the
m3
s2000
miata
boxter

the Z comes out above all.
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Well steering feed back for one. Somewhat better brakes, I realize brembos might fix that.

Better dampening and less weight resulting in quick turn in.

Smoother power. but agreed less.

The Porsche does not have limited slip though.

Maybe zero to 60 or a 1/4 mile no, but an AX or technical track the Pcar with same driver should prevail.

But I'm mostly on the street and really it is a reliability issue for me.

 

huh? Thanks for your welcome.

 

Pisses me off big time that you pay $80K for a car and they are too cheap to put a simple LSD on it. I installed a Quaife on my Cayman and it has worked out really well for track duty.

 

It's quicker but no match for a Boxster in the handling dept.

And it's a Boxster.

 

Steering feel=meh


You forgot to mention two other important factors: Horse Power and Torque.

I'm being honest in saying that I don't know what the numbers are for the Boxster (non-S) but I'm guessing that they are lower than the Z's in DE-trim (non-HR).

It's not like the Z's handling and balance are horrible either.

 

hey man,

why dont you just wait a few months for the new 370Z?

 

i've driven both cars. Z's got the boxter beat in all department's sorry to say. Downshifting in the cornering to acceleration when exiting the z's got the boxter beat hands down. stock vs stock Z wins man. Boxter's were deisgned to be a cruising car with the top down wind in whats left of the buyer's hair. Z's made to track!!

 

If you want to autocross your Z, I would get an HR. 07 or 08.

I autocross a slightly modified 05' and it does very well, but a couple weeks ago I had a chance to drive an 07 on our "test and tune" track.

With just one run in a bone stock 07 (down to the craptenza tires) I was able to get within .3 seconds (on a 32 second course) of the best time I could lay down in my 05. (Quaife LSD, SSR lightweight wheels, 275/255 good street rubber, RS-R springs, Hotchkis sways, Koni shocks.)

I have been autocrossing for a few years now and slowly modified my Z. Each time I did a mod I was able to see a drop in my times on the test and tune course. The mods have made my car a good bit faster than stock. (about 2 seconds, +/- a few tenths, on the T&T course, but I started with an open diff.)

What is the big advantage? There is a power advantage but I don't think that's why I got so close to my times.

I think the 07/08 is better because you get more speed out of each gear. The HR motor revs higher and has the power to push to the top of the tach. I run out of second in two spots on the T&T course in my 05. The 07 was able to give me a few more MPH for a second or two, where my 05 would be on the rev limiter.

I sooooo wish I had just a little more second gear like the HR's have.

 

I don't even think the Boxster qualifies as Pcar... Z is easily modified to out-preform a Boxster (not that there's a huge dif anyways). If OP is a track guy, I wondering' why he ever bought a Boxster in the first place... a Boxter S is what, almost $20K more than a Z? Whew... If I had cheese like that, I would have gone with a vette

 

I'm already convinced on the Zs performance and am satisfied..in case you missed it I'm fed up with Porsche reliability.

So again I ask any REAL issues....like imploding motors or disintegrating transmissions??

I did not mean to start a Boxster/350 Z debate.

 

Ha. You found us out. The only REAL issue with the 350Z is people on this website arguing ad naseum about X car < 350Z.

As mentioned, early cars had tire feathering issues (fixed with an alignment at the dealer, should not be an issue even if you get a used car)
Occassional transmission issues on the early cars as well. Honestly the wrinkles have been pretty well ironed out by now. The Z is approaching the end of it's life cycle. You should be able to get a good deal.

By the way, my 06' Z has been very reliable in my two years of ownership. There is also a standard 5 year 50K powertrain warranty on Z's.

 

LOL. That was below the belt Dr. BTW is your keyboard missing the "S" key because I can send you one from my old Commodore if you want?

My first Z had the feathering issue. A decent alignment rectified that. Other than that no problems. The new one has been fine so far.

 

...by the way, we own a G35x also. That is what made me look at a Z, same motor, same platform (shortened) and really have had zero issues with it since we bought in '04. It has 56K on it now.

 

honestly you will not regret getting the 350z, its a really nice car

i own a 2005 Z, base model, and its the best car i have ever driven, you seriously will love the car, from the engine to the exhaust =)

 

I have owned my '05 Enthusiast coupe for almost three years and a bit over 30k miles. In that time, the only replacements have been wear and tear items (brakes, tires, battery). NO component failures - not one. It would be a VERY rare Porsche owner that could make that claim.

Regarding the "which is better" argument, I would also disagree with the "89-90%" assessment. I have driven any number of Porsches over the years, including the Boxster (S and non), 911 (993 and 996), 928 and 944. I have yet to understand why people willingly pay such a premium for the cars, both at purchase time and for maintenance. I would agree that the Boxster and 996 have more steering feel, and that any mid-engine car will have sharper turn-in than a front engined one. However, the Boxster also has cowl shake (like all convertibles) and a stiff clutch that makes it a non-starter as a daily driver. Not to mention the disturbingly frequent (and ongoing) catastrophic failures of an engine design they have now been building for over a decade. What other company's customers would put up with $11,000 engine failures that the maker seems unable or unwilling to correct? Inexcusable.

Buy the Z. In the long run, it's the better choice.