mikefrombarrie

I am thinking about getting a used 2002 Porsche Boxster or leasing a new 2007 RX-8. I haven't driven the Boxster, so I have no idea what it is like. The specs for both cars seem to bet the same.


Which would you pick?

DarkBrew

new

Throwdown

iTrader: (1)

Too bad the Boxster looks like ****. It's the poor man's Porsche.

j_tso

but it IS a Porsche.

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

why don't you drive it then ?

mikefrombarrie

Like I said, I am just thinking about it. But the question is, is all the hype about a porsche true and it is really worth the extra money?

swoope

iTrader: (5)

i know the porsche is a great handling car... but you have to mantain it.. i would be lurking in the boxster forum about that.. and with prices the way they are i would buy a deep discounted rx8.. dont know how that is in the way up north..

hope you come back..


beers

Ike

Both very nice cars...

The Boxster is probably a tiny bit faster and handles about the same (maybe a touch better), but at the same time feels different due to the MR layout. The engine and exhaust note is VERY nice and they're one of those cars that when you drive them you know it's something special. Anyone that just dismisses them as a poor mans Porsche has never driven one.

The RX-8 has a better shifter, more legroom, and nearly the same abilities. You won't get the fun in the sun, but the RX-8 makes up for it with a little more practicality. Reliability goes in the RX-8s favor since it's new, but it will be the thirstier of the two.

Conclusion: Buy an S2000, it outperforms both cars and has the fun of a droptop, and a shifter equal to or better than the RX-8 for far less money than the Boxster.

magikone69

ive driven a non S boxter and its not to bad. handles pretty well and it does give u that high class feeling like "hey im in a porshe" its not a bad car. for the price id much rather have the rx8. for me having practicality of a working trunk, and room for a friend or two means more than being bale to say im driving a porshe. if i wanted a roadster type car id be all over a newer model s2000, it feels much more crisp and a hell of a lot quicker. the boxter sacrifices a little performance (just a little) to make it more civilian friendly to all the doctors graduating from law school who cant afford 911's yet, but the s2000 is a track bred performer. rx8 is somewhere in between, strong handling characteristics and fun feel of a roadster swift performance wraped in a coupe'esque type chasis taylored for everyday driving. just my oppinion tho

dshiznit1489

Is this some sort of joke?

GRGJTSN

I agree with Ike on just about everything, except I prefer the shifter in the Boxster.

I sold my '02 Boxster to buy my RX-8. Not out of preference, but because of money. I still owed 4 years on the Boxster, but now my RX-8 is paid off, which was my main motivation.

Obviously there are advantages to both. The RX-8 being new and having warranty is nice, because Porsche's aren't cheap to fix. In the year and 4 months I had mine, I never had a major problem, or even a minor one for that matter, just scheduled maintanence. But, if something does break, they are expensive to fix.

The Boxster (imho) handles a little better, sounds better, looks a little better, and overall just feels better to drive. But the older they get, the more chassis flex they get, which I didn't like. The fabric top and plastic rear window (up to '02) do wear out (depending on how they were taken care of) and are really expensive to replace. ($3-4k ish I think).

The RX-8 is more practical, and is still a blast to drive.

The Boxster is a better car than a lot of people give it credit for. It is unfortunate that ignorant people who have only read about them in magazines and never driven one for themselves write it off as a "Poor man's Porsche", because it is a fantastic car to drive.

You will be happy with either car, but given the warranty of th RX-8 vs. the probable maintanence costs of the Boxster, I'd go with the RX-8.

GeorgeH

iTrader: (2)

I've driven both too. The Boxster is the better sports car, but the RX-8 is more practical. Both have fantastic chassis. For the (list) price of a loaded RX-8 GT you should be able to get a nice Boxster S, which has a much stronger motor than the Renesis.

As for the S2000, it is the bang/buck champ of these three cars. I've driven both the 2.0 and 2.2 versions, and frankly, I found the 2.7l Boxster much more satisfying to drive on the street than the S2000. Yes, the S2000 has incrementally higher performance, but unless you are looking to dominate A-Stock in your local SCCA club, the performance difference isn't worht mentioning, IMO. The Boxster's six feels special throughout it's rev range (unlike the high-revving S2000 power plants) and makes much better noises. But the Honda would be cheaper to own in the long term, I'm sure.

[edit]

I test drove all of the cars above, including the RX-8, on the same day. I ultimately bought the RX-8 because I could afford to keep my Miata with the RX-8. If I had to have only one sports car (and keep in mind my wife has an Outback, so I always have a practical car to fall back on) I'd pick the Boxster. But the Miata/RX-8 combo is pretty sweet.

AJ's Shinka

How do you want to express yourself?

Look like your Ballin' and need people to acknowledge it=Porsche that looks a lot like the third gen MR2

Sexy Car with practicality for friends or family=RX8

Almost Ballin' single guy=s2000


This is a slightly biased opinion.

Rotary Rasp

iTrader: (2)

Center exhaust is fugly.

bmxbobby2004

my dad has a boxter. its a fun car to drive but its no practical. its 2 seater so your really can't take anyone with you.i like the fact that the rx8 has 4 seats. but the boxter is a lot of fun to drive and people are always looking to see who is in the car

tj7723

If it was me i would take the Porsche, but i have always been a big fan. On the Top Gear show, the rx-8 had a faster time on there test track than the boxter

bruce_van

I'd get a brand new Miata if you are looking for a convertible. 90% of the performance, with 50% of the cost.

Sure not, a Porsche, but have you you ever had to service a Porsche? BIG BUCKS!

More_Revs

A friend has a Boxster and I've driven it. Didn't push hard since it was new then, but it sure has lots of grip and handle well. The suspension is more firm than the 8. It wasn't a S, so it wasn't all that quick; but then neither is the 8. You can just tell where the money went sitting in it, the material are just better in the Boxster. It's a pain to work on though, you can't see the engine from above. Anything more than topping up fluid require going under the car. Oh, and golf bag don't fit in the trunk.

The Boxster has potentail to be better than the 911, which is why Porsche didn't give it more power. I'd say if you're single, already have a daily driver and want to be noticed, get the Boxster.

tajabaho1

I did the exact same thing, I was like, omg omg get a used porsche its better than the rx-8 blah blah,

from personal experience, get the new rx-8 please please please, don't do the same thing I did, I used a 2001 porsche boxster(manual) before I bought the rx-8, the reason I sold it, too much problems, old porsches are
1. very very hard to maintain
2. all the stuff starts malfunctioning
3. the depreciation sucks ***

so seriously, if you got a choice between a new car and a used one, go with the new one, the rx-8 might not be a porsche, but it sure is a hell of alot better for the price

MazdaJeff

Funny you should ask this question. I just went through the exact same issue. My choices were initially a new 350z roadster GT or a slightly used Boxster S. I drove both and they both were nice cars, and drove great.

Comparing performance is tricky. Each car has their strengths and weakness. I ended up going with the RX-8, so I can drive around in my car as a family. The 2 seats of the Boxster and 350z was really the determining factor. Besides, I personally think the 8 is the best looking of the three.

Like so many have said before me a lot depends what you will use the car for and how you want to be seen. There is no question that 90% of people will say "Wow, cool Porsche" very few real world people actually know the difference between the different models.

Good luck, whatever you choose.

NoTears316

I would take a Cayman over a Boxster... and an 8 over the Boxster as well. I just don't like the way it looks.

alfy28

If you can get a 2k or a cayman get that. if not then ill would pick the 8 over a boxster.

Labop

I've driven both, my RX-8 and my Dad's Boxster S. The Boxster was fun, but for daily use I prefer my 8.

My Dad's biggest complaint about his boxster was the expense of repairs (his was an '01 and past warranty as I'm assuming your boxster will be). His second complaint was the uncomfortable ride, he was commuting two hours each way to Seattle.

When he came out to visit and rode in my 8, he said something to the effect of, "I need to get one of these." He didn't, he ended up with a G35...

9291150

I've driven both too, if I could get away with a 2 seat softop I'd take the Boxster. It has many similar qualities as the 8; great handling without a punishing ride, extremely forgiving and responsive dynamics, a very smooth motor, very refined, etc. Some have suggested the S2000 instead, but it doesn't have any of these things so????

But, no way would I take a 5 year old Boxster over a new RX8. The RX8 would be the equal in performance of a base prev. gen. Boxster, so why get used?

BTW, the new Boxster looks far more crisp than the old one, I'm not crazy about the soap bar shape of the prev. gen...looks kinda fem.

MazdaJeff

That is a pretty good point. I think 2005+ are much better looking.