I'm a 66 year old Boxster S owner considering a 350Z
 

...my story: I've had 3 Boxsters since 1999, all bought new
The '99 I wrecked at Pocono Raceway at 30K miles.

The '02 2.7 had a catastrophic engine faiure due to intermediate shaft breaking....covered under warranty.

At 30K miles I traded for a 550 Anniversary Edition S. I autocross and do occasional track days.I also travel often and long (three cross country trips, round trips account for 30,000 of its 64,000 miles.

AND NOW, OUT OF WARRANTY comes another catastrophic engine failure due to intermediate shaft breaking....this is NOT uncommon for these watrecooled Porsche motors.

Porsche will pay for some portion of repair, but I'll still have up to $5,000 to pay.

Sooooo...since my G35X has been a very good machine (56,000miles)
I'm thinking 350Z.I already took on for a very enthusiastic 25 mile test drive.The salesman let me turn off the traction control and we had quite the good time and I'm impressed...it ain't a Boxster...BUT it's at least 89-90% and it has no intermediate shaft.

NOW, am I looking at any serious issues with this car? I already know about alignments.

SPEAK UP GUYS, thanks for your input.

What year were you looking at buying?

Oh yeah, this is my Boxster...
 

..taken last winter. I visit CA for 3mos.

new, an '08.

there's really no issues involving 08's

Get a 2007+ and you should not have anything to worry about. The only consistent problem I know of is the clutch slave cylinder, which is fairly minor and covered under warranty: https://my350z.com/forum/vq35hr/3281...-cylinder.html

Not an HR owner myself [2007+ models], but I'm sure they will chime in.

Huh. I would have suggested an '03-'05 w/o significant miles nor warranty
repairs. My '03 runs like a champ, but if money is not an issue - clearly
get an '07+. Deals abound, so take your time and put the screws to the
dealership/seller for the best results. The '03-'05 cars can be st or tt for
$7-$10k these days. I don't think the boxster could hang thereafter.

What exactly do you mean, not a Porsche but 89-90% there. What does the Z lack that the Boxster brings to the table in your opinion? Always like the boxster, just curios...cause personally I didnt think the boxster could hang with the Z.

...just one comment: GREAT CHOICE, Dennis!
____________________________________________________________ _____
'O4 Touring Coupe: FLAWLESS AT! 13k!! $2O,5OO!!! IN LOVE WITH MY beaZt
SINCE I BOUGHT IT!!!! NO issues!!!!!

You will be gone in 30 days never to be heard from again.

^^ Possibly


With a 2008, the only thing you'll have to worry about is not speeding. :)

You can't go wrong with a Z, certainly not with the newer model (07+). Just to give you an idea, I was in a road course a few months ago and passed a GT3 in one of the sessions, and I know the Boxster is not in the same league as a GT3. But then again, I don't have a stock Z . . . :icon44:

Those would be the years to avoid. Transmission, etc. '06 oil consumption. I'd go for the 07+ like said by others.

Track days = a 08 Nismo 350Z. Great car. Check one out.

my boss owned a 1999 boxster, at the time i had a lightly modded tiburon gt. and the tiburon handled as well and was faster. i now have a Z and he upgraded to a 2008 boxster S, the car is nice. it was slightly faster then my 2004 Z stock, now ide call us even. so an 07 or 08 would be faster. however i feel the handeling of his car was slightly better. so ive drove both overall i like the Z the porsche was too small and for the 55,000 he paid for it he could have gotten a brand new 350z with all the options and then some...

congrats on your choice for a Z....you will enjoy the reliability of the Wards automotive top 10 engine (VQ) for 12 years in a row....i belive they are up to 14 yrs now with the 3.7 L version.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...6/ai_n15949530

plus i think you would like vast mod ability's and multiple vendors out there for this car....

sounds like your looking to get new or newish...so you cant go wrong with the 2007 + suggestions...

but do you know a 370Z is coming around the corner??? for that i would suggest either wait, or get a older model Z for a lot cheaper price..........i wouldn't buy new for a track/auto'X/road or enthusiast car....

- J

That comment kinda tripped me up, too. 'Ain't a Boxster'???

Boxsters are probably the only Porsche that a person driving stock 350Z doesn't get remotely envious of.

A 350z is a much better car than a boxster imo. Althought I would gladly take a cayman s over a 350z you should really look into them. They are badass.

get 370Z next year and you will forget all about your boxter woes

You say it is 90% of a boxster.
Well it is 65% of the price.

90% for 65%= win.