Honda-Acura.Net Car of the Week: 2003 Porsche Boxster



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Reviews

Edmunds
CanuckDriver
Car and Driver

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Statistics
General Specifications
- Est. Base Price: $43,365 Boxster/$52,365 Boxster S
- Miles Per Gallon: 20/29
- Curb Weight: 2811 lbs
- Layout: Mid Engine/RWD
- Transmission: 5-speed manual or 5-speed Tiptronic/6-speed manual or 5-speed Tiptronic

Engine (Boxster/Boxster S)
- Type: Flat/Boxter 6
- Displacement: 2.7L/3.2L
- Horsepower: 228 BHP/258 BHP
- Torque: 192 lb-ft/228 lb-ft
- Valve Gear: DOHC w/VarioCam

Performance (Boxster S)
- Top speed: 164 mph
- 0-62 mph: 5.7 seconds
- 50-75 mph in highest gear: 10.0 seconds
- 50-75 mph in second highest gear 7.4 seconds
- 60-125 mph: in highest gear 30.0 seconds

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Competitors

Audi TT

1.8T FWD - $32,686
1.8T AWD - $38,555

BMW Z3

2.5i - $30,993
3.0i - $37,157
M Roadster - $47,166


Chevrolet Corvette

Convertible - $48,875

Honda S2000

Base - $35,389

Mercedes-Benz SLK

SLK230 - $36,822
SLK320 - $43,836
SLK32 AMG - $55,565

Nissan 350Z Convertible (Coming Spring 2003)

Track - $34,568 (est)

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Pros: Wonderful build quality, Porsche panache, timeless styling, sweet sounding and kick ass flat six, awe inspring handling, very luxurious when optioned

Cons: EXPENSIVE, lotsa options, dealer service, reliability

HAN Take: Certainly the best roadster under 60 grand for comfort, looks, and power. But is it 20 grand better than the S2000? We'll get back to you on that.

 

Gallery

 

I chose the 2003 Nissan Fairlady Z. I think its one of the most beautiful cars Nissan has ever made. It is truly a work of fine art.

Perhaps, you should have not put that as a choice.

 

Perfect, we have an "other" already

Anyways...money no object, Boxster. I love everything about the car. But the S2000 is just such a damn good bargain I could never buy the Boxster over it if I wasn't making a huge pile of cash. The 350Z is definetly a good bargain too...Boxster-like torque for the S2000's price. That's another very viable option. The SLK32 AMG is also overlooked...it may have a 5spd auto but it is still capable of 1/4 mile sprints as fast as any car there.

I woulda included the Z4, but obviously little is known about it 'cept its basic stats and pics so noone can rightfully vote for it.

What do you all think?

 

MFB, the vote is between stock cars in this class.

 

Boxster(money no option) or S2000(i bought it).

 

Tough call on this one.
S2k is best value and reliability.
Vette is best bang for buck.
Boxster is sweet but in my opinion still a chicks Porsche.
I choose S2k, save $20,000 and buy a comptech sc, i, h, e.

 

I voted for the S2000..... I know it's a blasse choice, this being HAN and all, but when you consider the whole package (which is what being the best is, right?) I just thought the S2000 slipped past the Boxster. But only because you can do the routine maintainance yourself, and I like to keep other peoples hands in my car as little as possible . You don't see many Porsche owners changing their own oil!

 

If I was a rich SOB I would get the Porsche for the simple reason it is more rare than the s2000. Fantasy world set aside the s2000 is a much more reasonable car for me right now.

 

If I was a rich off my ass, I might go for the Boxster S.
Other than that, $50k is way too much to spend on a
not-made-for-daily driving roadster. But even if I
was living extremely comfortable, I still rather go for a S2000
for a weekend drive and a modest sedan (eh hem... Accord or BMW)
for my daily car.