DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 18 Reply 1, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 4143 times:
M3 definately does not belong in that trio... the 330CI sport or Z4 3.0 does.
That said all three are very good cars and put up good numbers. Comes down to a matter of taste and needs and $$$.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
Positive rate From Australia, joined Sep 2001, 2143 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 4136 times:
Regarding the 350Z, yes i think it is a fair comparison to the Boxster. Both have very similar performance and handling. Given a choice i'd take the 350Z over a Boxster anyway- the only Porsche i actually like is the 911.
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, RR: 58 Reply 4, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 5 days ago) and read 4118 times:
The Boxster is the most interesting, or less conventional of this trio. It is mid-engined, has a flat-six engine, and it is a Porsche. My gripes with the Boxster are the high price of options, and the cheap interior. The M3 of course is legendary, and enough has been said about that car in this forum. The 350Z is a bargain compared to the other two, and will not exactly embarrass itself in their company either.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
Ryanb741 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 3219 posts, RR: 17 Reply 5, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 5 days ago) and read 4114 times:
Actually the 350Z cabriolet will compete directly with the Boxster and will be priced at about the level of a Boxster without the add-ons, which of course are included in the Nissan. I would go with the Nissan actually - I love the design. Not sure why the M3 is in this category - it's the finest of the 3 cars here but is a totally different type of car with price to boot.
I used to think the brain is the most fascinating part of my body. But, hey, who is telling me that?
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, RR: 58 Reply 6, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 5 days ago) and read 4108 times:
The M3 is actually priced roughly the same as a Boxster S. So really, we should question why the Nissan is in the same comparison. It is clear that the Nissan will compete relatively well against the two Germans, but for much less money. This is an interesting comparison.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
Jetguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 4099 times:
I'm actually in the market for a new car and I've test driven these cars. There's one more that I'm also considering - the Honda S2000. In my mind at least, it boils down to how many seats do you want? Right now, I've trying to decide if I can really get by with just two seats. If I go that way, I'll probably go with the Honda. Besides be as fun to drive as the Boxter it's a "bullet-proof" as a Civic. (And I'll use the difference in price to get my helicopter and sea plane ratings.) Personally, I just wasn't that impressed with the Nissan. If I end up deciding that I've got to have the 2 back seats then it will be the BMW.
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 18 Reply 10, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 4088 times:
Lets hope this link works. This is just a listing of all the basic specs between the 350Z Track, Porsche Boxster S, BMW Z4 3.0, and the Honda S2000. I'll try to find some performance numbers later.
The Boxster is definately pricey, starting @ US$52,000. Though while costing close to what a M3 costs, the M3 still (IMO) outclasses it performance wise and would be a better match for say a Z06 Corvette and a 911 C2. And while in the original trio the Z is downright the cheapest, which can be explained by the fact it shares its platform with a 4dr sedan and a SUV (which also explains why the Z is a porky 3200 lbs too). Plus the VQ series 3.5L V6 is used in almost everything Nissan sells. So there are some decided cost savings inherent in the Zs design... Porsche certainly cannot acheive economies of scale that Nissan can.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
Airbus Lover From Malaysia, joined Apr 2000, 3248 posts, RR: 10 Reply 11, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 4088 times:
Thanks for the replies guys
Tsentsan- I am just exploring the ideas. Who knows what i might get when the time comes. You gotta start dreaming now and hopefully get one by then haha
Stretch 8 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 2561 posts, RR: 19 Reply 12, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 4076 times:
Nissan - just say NO to rice rockets.
Boxster - if you can't afford a 911, forgedaboudit.
M3: Best of all worlds.
Maggs swings, it's a drive deep to left! The Tigers are going to the World Series!!!
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, RR: 58 Reply 13, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 4069 times:
Boxster - if you can't afford a 911, forgedaboudit
Why? I disagree. The Boxster shares something like 70% or more with the 911 (I forget the exact amount). It is a true Porsche in its engineering, and according to most reports actually handles better too. It has the same interior (which isn't that great in the Boxster's price range, nevermind the 911's price range), and in the form of the Boxster S, it does not give up that much in terms of performance. Yet it is a lot cheaper. The 911 needs to be redone. There isn't enough to justify going from a Boxster to a 911, unless image is the primary concern. All IMHO.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 18 Reply 14, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 4067 times:
You should rephrase that... not enough to justify going from a Boxster S to say a 911 C2... but change that to a C4S, or a Turbo... then the 911 wins, hands down.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
Fritzi From United Arab Emirates, joined Jun 2001, 2762 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 4062 times:
A Porsche is a Porsche, no matter what anybody says. Even if its a Boxter, its still a Porsche!!! Just because its cheaper, why should it not be good enough to be a Porsche?
You can get a Mercedes for around 22,000€, but then you can also get one for 100,000€. They still carry the same brand, Mercedes, but they are in different price classes. Just like the Boxter and 911.
People with a lot of money who like the Boxter more than the 911 will buy the Boxter, not because of the price tag, but instead they buy it because they like it more.
Same thing with the Mercedes. If a wealthy person wants to have a smaller coupe, he/she will buy a CLK instead of the CL. He/she maybe wouldn't have any problems paying for a CL, but they may not like it.
Why buy something you don't like??
If people like the Boxter more, why give a sh*t if its the cheaper one?
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, RR: 58 Reply 16, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 4054 times:
DesertJets, I still wouldn't claim a victory for the 911 hands down if moving up to the C4S or the Turbo. We are talking at least double the cost for not even close to double the performance. I strongly feel that a base Boxster S provides the best bang for the buck from Porsche. Given that, however, and money not being an object, of course the C4S or Turbo are my favourites. But taking money into consideration, the Boxster S isn't that bad of a deal.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
Greg From United Kingdom, joined May 2005, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 4047 times:
The Boxster is marketed as a woman's Porsche here in the U.S...so it's not a good choice unless you're a girly man (no offense...Porsche is aware of it and is trying to market to more guys but they tend to buy the 911's). And no, Captain...the Boxster is NOT 70% compatiable with the 911. Porsche says "some" equipment such as "underpinnings and calipers are from the same bin, ...." So actually, very little is identical (and no, the headlights are not share either, a common misconception).
M3 is a lot of car for the money. But being a tried and true Beemerphile that's all I'll say.
The 350Z is the value leader. Questionable styling...but beautiful performance from the reviews. If you want a nicer 350....look into getting a G35Coupe (nine less horses....1000% better interior!).
Greg From United Kingdom, joined May 2005, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 4045 times:
According to Porsche 30% of the parts are common to both the 911 and Boxster.
I stand corrected from an earlier source (German) which stated that very little was common (in translation they were talking about the drivetrain, engine, and suspension).
Kay From France, joined Mar 2002, 1884 posts, RR: 3 Reply 19, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 4035 times:
Jetguy,
nice selection there. The S2000 is sure cheap, and extremely fun to drive. I did however get a feeling that usually in the States, cars with slightly more torquy engines get to be more popular. Just to make sure you are aware of that.
CPDC10-30 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2000, 4759 posts, RR: 26 Reply 20, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 4036 times:
For once I am agreement with Greg. Nissan is cheaping out on their interiors and has been for a while now. I wish I spent the extra few grand for an I30 rather than the Maxima I have now, but hindsight is 20/20...
Even though I am a Nissan owner, I still don't think that the 350Z is in the same class with the other two cars. Although I haven't driven one, I don't imagine the handling would be quite as sharp as either the Boxster or M3. However I have seen in the CR review that it gets great gas mileage for some reason...and it is a LOT cheaper than the other two.
Only thing I wish is that the 350Z and the G35 coupes switched exteriors! I think the 350Z looks a lot nicer, but Nissan dealers and interior quality details are the sh*ts. Infiniti owners get a lot better service.
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, RR: 58 Reply 22, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 4023 times:
I honestly thought it was a higher figure, but I'll accept 30% as the compatibility between the Boxster and 911. The structure, nose (including the original headlights), most of the interior, doors, all these things are compatible between the 911 and the Boxster. Behind the driver is where the majority of the differences occur. And while the Boxster may have a higher proportion of female drivers than 911 buyers (still not close to being a majority), it is still an exceptional sports car. Besides, part of the reason there are more female Boxster drivers is the lower price. Females don't generally spend as much money on top end vehicles as males do.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
Ryanb741 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 3219 posts, RR: 17 Reply 24, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 4017 times:
BTW - I'm surprised nobody mentioned the Mazda RX8 in this category. That would be the one I would go for - good performance, unique styling and very practical with the innovative 4 door system. And it's even cheaper than the Nissan.
I used to think the brain is the most fascinating part of my body. But, hey, who is telling me that?
Jetguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 25, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 4019 times:
"...I did however get a feeling that usually in the States, cars with slightly more torquy engines get to be more popular. Just to make sure you are aware of that...
You're absolutely correct, but I'm not in it for the power. I'm one of the lucky ones, I get my "rocks off" at work when I get to standup the power levers on the corporate jet. No car will ever be able to compete with that. What I'm looking for is a car with great handling and one that requires some "finesse" to get results.
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