OK, so a lot of you would say it's not a fair fight and I'd agree.... but I had a chance to drive one last night, so here we go...

Handling: pretty close to my surprise. Both are very easy to drive fast around corners and are easily corrected mid turn (though the rx feels a bit better balanced). The boxter had better tires and just felt tighter. Winner: too close. The porsche does feel smoother at speed, but the 8's steering feel and feedback is better.

Engine: you can certainly feel the extra torque in the boxter and it feels faster (it is), but when you get right down to it..... not by much. Plus, it took very little to get the clutch stinkin in the porsche. I was a bit surprised by that. Winner: porsche

Brakes: the rx feels better, but according to every test out there, the boxter is better and by a healthy margin. Plus, my brakes squeal. Winner: porsche

Ride: porsche..... not even close. We talk about how well our 8's handle considering the relatively nice ride. The boxter takes it to the next level. Super smooth.

Interior: this one's close. porsche really did a nice job with the 06/07 compared to the previous boxters. It's 'richer' than the 8, but I really like the layout and appearance of the 8, plus it's more comfortable, user friendly and has back seats. Options are very similar. Winner: rx8

sounds: OMFG! The boxter s sounds brilliant. Also, no squeaks or rattles. To the 8's defense, mine only has the right/rear interior rattle that some suggest may be the speaker grill against the window. I should try to fix mine, because it's really friggin annoying. Winner: porsche, not even close.

Stereo: very close. both Bose. Porsche comes with a bit more factory thump, but I'll call it a draw.

Appearance: porsche vs mazda. I think they both look stunning, but we all know which one's gonna get more attention. I would contend though, if the 8 had a marque badge on it, everyday people would find it just as appealing. Winner: tie IMHO

Overall: don't flame me, this is just for fun. The boxter s feels more expensive.... twice as expensive??? Not really. In terms of all out performance, $10k toward wheels, tires and FI and the 8 would easily out-perform the porsche in all areas. Put another $2k into brakes/suspension and the gap gets larger....... but in the end it's still not a porsche Anyway, I still love my 8, even after driving new a boxter s. They are much closer than I expected and more a compliment to the 8 than a negative on the porsche. Enjoy

 

I have nothing against Porsche's
As long as the are rear engine, air cooled flat 6's

Did you get a chance to test drive the average repair bill??

 

As much as i admire the performance characteristics of the Boxter S, i still cant ignore that little voice in my ear saying..... "it looks like a chick car".

 

I like the cayman S, boxster......not so much

 

I agree, except for the guy who saved 12k and got the Boxster, instead of the Boxster 'S'....when you meet one of these cheap bastards it is your DUTY to give them the pwning they so rightfully earned! Any manual RX-8 is more than a match for those slugs.

(....and note the spelling - Boxster - please....)


S

S

 

Boxster reeks of "Couldn't afford a Caymen". If your going to go quintessential don't go entry level.

 

yea i woulda taken a cayman for a tad bit more. iono why, i just like the cayman...ok maybe it needs to be cayman s, but still.

 

definitly a Cayman S,

 

Never thought these words would ever come out of my mouth, but, i AGREE w/ Taj.
IMO the Cayman S is the best LOOKING Porsche. They are nasty looking little buggers.

 

I must agree that Porsche Cayman does look better than Boxtser... but if I remember correctly, both Boxster or Boxsters S and Cayman or Cayman S, have the same hp, but at around the same price you get a soft top with Boxster.

If I could afford a Porsche, I would probably go for a Boxster S... you see?! I have never owned a convertible... lol

 

My brother in law has an 03 Boxster and he and I have driven against each other in autocrosses before and traded cars between runs. The cars are very equal, and proof of it is that I could consistently get a bit better times in my car than his, due to my familiarity with mine vs. his, and he consistently got better times driving his than when driving mine.

The new ones are a LOT stronger. LOTS stronger!

 

the new Cayman S and Boxster S have equal hp rating, but thats not the case since The Cayman
1. looks better than the boxster
2. has more frame rigidity than the boxster
3. gets wayy better track time than the boxster
4. doesn't have shitty ragtop
5. has more trunk room, which is always a +
6. the interior is better than a boxster IMHO

so if you're gonna buy a boxster, shell out the extra 2k and get a Cayman
besides the boxster looks like a chick car for real......

 

...convertibles are for chicks too.

No offense Van.

 

In the end of the day a Porsche is a Porsche. I would rather have a Cayman S

 

speaking of which I hope u guys call it Pors-sha

don't do that crap and call it porch

 

My feeling too I would get the Cayman. Since they are very close in perf, I could pretend? This guy is 6'1", 230 and benches over 350.... doesn't look the part of a boxster driver, then again, this is his 3rd one.

 

Sorry, never really paid attention.... and I'm the most highly educated shitty speller you'll ever meet

 

These guys are in the carrera gt tax bracket.... he just really likes the boxster and isn't about the all-out perf

 

Viper being the exception IMHO

 

S2k?

 

Agreed

 

read your sig and take your own advice... some of the best cars ever made are roadsters/open cockpit

 

Sounds like basically what you're saying is, you want to pay more to get the name-brand car, instead of going with the cheaper one that even after making it into an after market monster, still would cost you way way less.

People have mixed reviews about Porsches, some people like them, others will just automatically assume you're a ***** for driving around in it.

It has its pros and cons.

If you like both cars enough to be able to argue which one you want to get, then take a look at the reliability of both of them and think about after the warranty goes up how much it'll cost to repair them both.

Think about the long term rather than just the upfront purchase of the vehicle.

 

When I got my RX8, the Boxster was in the consideration running, but price killed it. REsonably equipped the car was pushing $50K and I could match performance with it with my RX8 and still have a back seat.

 

Ok but does it have suicided doors?

9,500 redline?

Didn't think so.