Someone that doesn't own one always makes useless posts like these. You have no clue what you are talking about. The NISMO out handles the S2K CR in tests. The NISMO has handed the Porsches there *** in tests. It is a very good handling car. I have driven Porchses, Vettes, and my NISMO on road courses and I know how well it does.

Wow you don't even know what the tire sizes are stock. Laugh. Go away.

 

I know i will probably get hell on this forum for this statement but here we go. Have you ever thought of owning a gxp (turbo) solstice or saturn sky. I would go as far as saying that the car controls better than the 350z and is easier to mod with it being a turbo platform. With a tune and an exhaust on a gxp people are seeing 12's in the 1/4 and they are no slouches when it comes to the turns. Oh yeah, they do weight alot less than the z which helps a bit. As far as comparing a gxp to a nismo i have no clue i have never driven a nismo. As far as getting easy horsepower i would go with the gxp.

 

I wasn't talking about stock tires, but thats kind of my fault for not writing that response very well... and handling can be a matter of opinion. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to how a car handles. The FACT that the Z is heavier it doesnt feel as good or as poised going into corners as a lighter car, especially one with the engine in the middle. I'm not saying the Z doesn't handle good though, its just a different sort of handling. Forget technical specs i'm referring to how a car feels and how one interacts with it. The Porsche feels better into the corners than the Z I think. But statistically, the NISMO may handle better.

Next time, instead of being a douche you could use a more mature response, but I guess your too much of a **** for that.

 

boxster and boxster s isn/t even comparable ot a Z, when I see an old man driving them next to me in traffic i just laugh that they couldn't A) Afford a better porsche B) smart enough to buy a better porsche, I'd rather buya less expensive brand but the best model they make then buy a ferrari moped just to say i got a ferrari

 

 

I haven't had any issues with my Z. You know the Nissan 6 speed is not as smooth as the Porsche. You will surprise some young pups in a NISMO.

 

Why is the Boxster-S AS class then?

I have no doubts the NISMO-Z is a good performer and can beat the lil Porsche some of the times, but you make it seem it's a walk in the park. I'm not talking 1/4 mile either.

Not being very objective are you?

 

Gentlemen, my hats off to you Sounds like life is treating you well, and I hope to be in your shoes one day

 

Thanks for all your responses. The (not a real Porsche :-)) Boxster was finally getting the motor out yesterday and I should know soon whether I'm getting a new motor or the present one will be repaired. Big difference to me.

I guess many young pups don't realize that the FIRST Porsche (prototype) was a mid-engined roadster. It was then reconfigured to the rear engine setup for production.

Sorry my Boxster isn't "real" enough for some of you....but these engines (M96s) FAIL in the wasseboxer 996s and 997s too.

...but once again that was not the point of my post...keep reporting on your 350Z experience/issues.

 

Don't forget there was a big gap from the previous Z to the 350. The 370 will have had the 350 and G37 (engine etc) to work from.

 

I am a lucky man...not that my life was without some sadness, I've lost a spouse and a grandchild...but you'll not find me dwelling on the past.

I am not really wealthy, but I have enough to do neat things without the burden of going to work each day...who could ask for more.

Life is good as espressed by my new wife. Hopefully she'll be smiling just as broadly next to the 350Z.

 

I thought I would chime in since I have done exactly what you are contemplating (other than the one other member with the Silver Boxster)...

Thats my previous Boxster which I sold to my Uncle and I bought the Z.

Boxster.. I loved the boxster, don't get me wrong. It handles amazingly well, better than the Z does Period. Mid engine is better than a front engine car in everyway, and you can tell when you go from one to the other. Anybody who argues with this has not driven a well balanced mid engine car. My Z has full suspension with sway bars etc.. and still isn't as confidence inspiring around corners as my Boxster was. The sound of the boxster is amazing to, I had an EVOM intake an the roar it made was just music to my ears. The interior was also amazing, where the Z interior is a bit lack luster and kinda klunky and really plasticy as well.

The boxster isn't fast enough however, even the S with 250hp is weak sauce. My Z would walk all over the Boxster so easily. And with a few mods the Z can make 320hp the engines are very tunable and respond so well to upgrades, Boxster? Not so much. If you are lucky you might get another 10hp from it with a chip, intake exhaust etc etc... The only way to go fast is a 3.6L swap which is huge dollars.

The one reason I went to a 350Z from the Porsche was the price to fix the car, much as you are experiencing. The Engine? $1500-2000 bux for a good wrecker motor. Look at this listing from a member here: https://my350z.com/forum/engine/3850...-block-fs.html

A tranny? 1000-1500 bux, and they are fairly easy to change, you can do it in your garage if you're man enough. Otherwise, having a shop take out a normal rear wheel drive tranny is pretty simple and cheap.

I don't really compare the 350Z to the boxster to be honest because in most areas, the boxster doesn't stand up. Its slower, doesn't look as nice, not as much of a focused performance car etc.. I would compare it more to the Cayman, though I have smoked quite a few of those with my car to the surprise of their owners. Really its like a 996 C2 if you wanted to pick a Porsche on a level playing field. I race my buddys 996 with headers, exhaust chip etc. and he's pretty well as fast as I am. After the race I laugh and talk about it, he wonders if his tranny will take another WOT shift tomorrow and if he just "spent" $8000 on a new one or not.

The Z, is fast, bullet proof and highly predictable. Its very much an over steer car vs. a neutral feeling car like the boxster is. It sounds like an angry race car when you stomp on it, its just retarded, I love it. The interior is simple and useful and has LOTS of room. No cramped interior like the boxster had. I'm 6.0 and I have room to put the seat back farther and can lean back a lot more. The BOSE stereo in Z is great and puts the Boxster to shame. With an aftermarket headunit the Z stereo simply Rocks. It has a 10" subwoofer stock which does the trick nicely. Finally some bass, the Boxster never had ANY bass at all. The Z doesn't have the trunk room the boxster had with the front and rear trunk but you can still get everything you need in it. Yes two sets of Golf clubs fit in the back, I do it all the time.

Need an oil change? No longer 9L of 0W-30 which you can never find anywhere and a $50 oil filter. Its now 5L of 5W-30 and a $12 oil filter, thank GOD!

The Braking in the Z (I have a 13" rotor upgrade) isn't as strong as the Boxster. If I had to do it again, I would get a car with the Brembo Package on it. Look for that, trust me, or put out the dollars for a real BBK with a caliper (mine is 13" rotor and a new caliper bracket to move the caliper out for the larger rotor, works well, but no BBK)

Need some parts for the Z? No problem, you can get anything mechanically or cosmetically for less than half what it would cost for the Boxster. An exhaust can be had for 500-1000 bux, not $1800 for a Dansk muffler, $600 for some sport cats, and $800 for headers like you are used to.

Working on the engine? No more lifting the convertible top and laying under the thing that goes up to hide it all. Its in the front where it should be so it's easy to work on and has lots of room.

Turbo or Supercharger? Sure, many used kits for $4000-5000, and new from $5000-8000 and are fairly straight forward to install. You get 380-400whp from a bolt on kit. On the Boxster? $8000 for a turbo kit, $3000 to install it and 320whp, whooptie do.

Should I go on? PM me if you want me to answer some specific Z vs. Boxster questions that you have if I didn't answer them all already. Good luck and have fun leaving the Porsche guys in your dust in your Japanese crap can.

[EDIT] I think I remember your car from either Renntech or Porsche Pete or 986Forum, I remember the stripes on it... I got kicked off 986Forum for arguing with guys over strut tower bars and how much they HELPED the car lol...

 

Thanks for you honest assessment on the 350Z vs. the 986S. I think your comments should help Dennis is his quest. I agree with your comments knowing both cars. I would say that the 987S with the 3.4 would be quicker then the Z especially with 295 hp(maybe more) and lighter weight. However, the torque of the Z makes is feel more in the seat of the pants. The Porsche does whine and whine...It appreciate you honest assessment on both vehicles. Some are so proud of their cars that they get blinded by pride and can't see other cars for what they are. Many on this board seem to look down on Boxster owners without realizing what a great handling car the mid engine Boxster is. They think it is not a real Porsche when the 986 has 85% of the parts of the 996. Many think the owners should have bought a real Porsche however, do not think the same could be said of 350Z owners who don't own a GTR or C-6 Corvette owners who do not own a Z06 or ZR1. the fact is that all the cars mentioned are great cars. It is what you choose to afford and how much enjoyment you get out of what you drive. Again, I appreciate your honest assessment and reports such as yours is the reason I keep coming back to this board. I am in the same situation as Dennis in that I am being pulled away from Porsche and looking hard at the Z.

 

^ Kudos on the last two posters -- civilized & unbiased.

OP, the 350Z is a great autocross & track car. With the right suspension mods, you'll feel a significant improvement in handling. The 350Z in stock form is already a good platform to start with.

IMO, I would find a used Z in good shape and mod it for your autocross & track preferences. The $$$s you save versus buying a new one can be used for mods. If you need more power, there are plenty of reputable tuners in this forum who can install an FI kit for $5K+, and you'll be at the 400-500+ hp (built motors will cost more but they'll be bullet proof). I say, stay stock until you get used to it and FI if you feel the need for more speed.

 

9 liters of oilf for the Boxster? Why so much???

 

big oil pan

I believe you can go farther between oil changes in the Boxter because of that. (at least thats what I read here at the forums at some point, which doesnt make it true lol)

 

I've never owned a Boxter but I did have a 914 back in the day. Nothing handles like a mid engine car. The 914 was fantastic but lots of folks derided the 914 as "not" being a Porsche. How times change but remain the same.

Les

 

Common for German cars. Don't have to change oil as often, helps keep oil in the oil pan in cornering(not that their engines don't get oil starvation).

 

Doches? Maybe you need to be more careful HOW you word your responses. Grow up.

 

Because I have driven both cars and you haven't. EOD.