Carrera26

One quickie on the S2000 vs. Boxster, the Boxster would be the better car to daily drive with it's far torquier delivery. I remember test driving a used S2K and feeling so dissapointed that I had to drive it like I was looking to get arrested to make it feel any faster than my SVT Focus. Faster on track, but unless you live on a track or are really looking to be competitive in the SCCA....

Upkeep for Porsche definitely is expensive, and I am a confirmed Porschephile. I went through this same decision and ended up with the RX-8. The 2 deciding factors for me were the upkeep costs and having to live with a drop-top (just can't make myself like convertibles, and couldn't afford models that came with the hardtop)

mikefrombarrie

When you mentioned that the boxster is expensive to maintain, Why would it be more expensive then the RX-8?

Are the parts expensive for the boxster? Thats the only thing that I can think of that would make it more expensive vs the 8.

New Yorker

I believe that, compared to Japanese cars, German cars cost more for both parts and labor. In the case of BMW—and especially Porsche—I've heard it's way more. Often a shock to unsuspecting used Porsche buyers, who had no idea that even routine maintenance costs so much.

Cooper47

I sold my 911 and bought an RX8......I'm a dedicated Porsche guy but currently not in the right income bracket to drive ANY porsche. Servicing the RX8 makes me want to tip my mechanic.

mikefrombarrie

what kind of problems did you have with your porsche and how much was it for the repairs?

sosonic

If I had the cash to burn, I would not mind buying a Porsche 911 GT3. That is if I had a pile of extra money to burn...

I rather supercharge or turbo an RX-8 and it would save me a whole bunch of cash as oppose to buying a 911.

I would never buy a Boxster, as it would be still better to FI an RX-8. Plus, its the "poor man's Porsche", so you lose out on snob appeal. Furthermore, fixing it will burn a hole in your pocket for sure.

Also, at that price range I would take a look at the Corvette Z06 first, then make a decision from that point.

At our price range, I would be tempted to look at a 350Z (cause they keep delivering HP unlike Mazda), IF Nissan re-did the body (damn thing looks like a mini-tank....thus I have the RX-8) or there were some aftermarket kit to make it worth the while to change the front out.

Overall, like the RX-8, just need another 75HP to 100HP.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...49&postcount=7

and the rx8 diy friendly.. the flat 6 porsche motor not so much...

beers

Ike

I always hate comments like this... Loving your car is one thing, but saying you prefer it over a clearly superior car is another. It wouldn't take a whole lot of money for me to make my Evo outperform a stock GT3 in all regards. However, there's no way in hell I'd take my car or a boosted RX-8 over a GT3, even if I could get an Evo to 1000+ whp and still have lots of money to burn compared to a GT3. I guess it would be a tough call for me if we're talking a base 911 or even Carerra 4S, but I've got a bit of horsepower junkie in me and the Evo already outperforms those cars. I think it's safe to say that the average RX-8 owner isn't a horsepower junkie in the least.

Cooper47

I had an older SC so it's not in the same league at the Boxster......Still, the Boxster's have their issues and you just need to prepare yourself. As for how much will repairs cost you??? Like they say, if you have to ask you probably cannot afford it. I spent over 10K servicing my 911 in a 1.5 years....

Yeah, I'm very happy with my RX8 right now...

MazdaMonkey

Good review.
I have driven all 3 and would pick the Porsche if money was not a concern. RX-8 is definitely the most practical.

dynamho

I agree with Ike on all counts from a performance perspective. I haven't driven a Boxster, but I've driven an S2000. I can't say that I'd choose S2000 over RX-8 even if it has superior performance because of one thing - I really love the suspension tuning balance of ride quality and performance in the RX-8 (truly amazing), the practical aspect. The S2000 was pretty hard, especially if one lives in a region where roads are of poor quality.

Regarding the cash to burn aspect... I can sympathize with both sides of the argument. A superior car is a superior car. However, there's some innate satisfaction in bringing an inferior car up to a superior car's level. There was an episode of Top Gear where a modified EVO was "racing" a Lamborghini. I was literally cheering out loud for the "underdog".

Ike

That was a Stock Evo FQ-400. Yeah, it's great to mod a car to be able to take out much more expensive cars or even have a car stock that will outperform cars twice its price. However, I'll still take the GT3

mikefrombarrie

$10k over 1.5yrs?!?

What exactly costs so much? Can you tell me in more detail what you had to have done?

dynamho

Me too. Haha. GT3 <

devildog1679

My father in law just got a 2002 Boxter (non S). It deffinitly is quiker then my 8, you really feel the torque difference, handles better and does have that I'm in a Porche feeling. If money is not an option I would deffinitly go for the Porche. He got it straight from a dealer that gave him a 2 year 24K warranty.

Cooper47

I had some mechanical work done the took a big chunk of that....Still, it's maintainence and someone has to do it. A valve job will cost anywhere from $5000-$10000 even more if you have it done through a dealer. Clutches can easily cost $2000, oil changes can be a couple hundred.

If you're lucky enough not to have anything out of the ordinary happen to your Porsche then they're not too bad......Of course, the reason I sold mine is that I was tired of worry about how much something was going to cost me if it broke. Seriously, when the cost of rebuilding your engine is more then the value of your car it makes you think......

Joel Ramsey

I'm waiting for a nice used Caymen in about five years. Until then it's an RX-8 for me.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

fixed

even though I still love S2k's though

Rootski

iTrader: (1)

New, well equipped Miatas are not much cheaper than an RX-8.

Ike

Hey, whatever makes you feel better.

scsi

porsche are nice in general but i hate the boxter, i think its awful and they should stop making it.

mikefrombarrie

Which part of the boxster do you hate? Technical aspect of it or its styling?

scsi

styling is personal preference, but i personally think its kind of plain.

technical aspects... i guess that would be the problem, but mainly because of the price. so much better can be had for the same amount of money

Jethro Tull

iTrader: (6)

Performance issues aside, I was uncomfortable in the Boxster. The car is just too small for a six-foot, 200 lb. adult for any length of time. I also am not a fan of the styling- kind of chickie to my eye. The third and last strike against it in my book was the lack of passenger/cargo space.

The RX-8 "fits" me like few other cars have, and the styling is superior. I don't take mine to the track, so the performance is terrific for my style of driving. Still plenty of horsepower, more than enough to get me into trouble if I don't watch myself.

Logic will never trump desire. You either like a car, or you don't. I don't like the Boxster. YMMV.

clyde

I sold my RX-8 last fall after three years of commuting and competing with it to buy an Aramada to commute, take family trips, and tow the 2000 Boxster S my co-driver bought.

I never grew that fond of the interior or exterior of the RX-8, but it's definitely a more livable car than the Boxster as sole transportation. The interior of the Boxster isn't all that great, IMO. The shifter kinda sucks in comparison to the RX-8, but it's a blast to drive. The rearward weight bias makes it more entertaining to drive, but when you're up near the limits, it's not quite as forgiving as the RX-8 (lift throttle oversteer is much more pronounced in the Boxster, although not as bad as in a 911).

The biggest gripe I have with the Boxster is that it lacks an LSD. I haven't driven the car on the street, so I don't know if it makes much difference in the real world, but for how we use the car, it's annoying lighting up one tire on launches and out of certain turns.

For SCCA Solo competition, the lemming mentality is that the RX-8 is the car to have for its class. The most accomplished driver that was running something else the past few years sold his 350Z after Nationals last year and replaced it with an RX-8. In the class where the Boxster runs, it's not so clear. We still think that the car has a chance, but we're not completely convinced. It's a lot easier to focus on fixing your driving problems when you know that it's not the car holding you back. When the car might not be good enough, there's always a temptation to blame the car instead of whatever it is that's actually making you go slow.