New S2000 vs used Boxster.
Discussion
Hi,
I'm hoping to replace my car soon(ish), and have a rough £25k price limit. I'm thinking of either a new Honda S2000, or a '97/'98 Boxster 2.5, and could do with some opinions. I've already decided I can't live with an Elise, and the cost of running a TVR would bankrupt me!
Anyhow, Porsche bits aren't notoriously cheap but I'm told by the local dealer it's £300/400 per service, with the S2000 being around the £300 mark. I want the Porsche because it's a Porsche, but I'm worried that it'll need some expensive servicing while I own it (my current car's coming up for a cam belt change at 5 years old, and if a Boxster's similar then this has got to be expensive!).
I'm looking to keep either for 3 years or so - are there any really good reasons I shouldn't go for the Porsche? Should I play it safe and get a new car that'll be under warranty for most (if not all) the time I own it?
Oh - there's a "what car do you have" girls in pubs angle which is colouring my judgement too!
Cheers,
Dan
I'm hoping to replace my car soon(ish), and have a rough £25k price limit. I'm thinking of either a new Honda S2000, or a '97/'98 Boxster 2.5, and could do with some opinions. I've already decided I can't live with an Elise, and the cost of running a TVR would bankrupt me!
Anyhow, Porsche bits aren't notoriously cheap but I'm told by the local dealer it's £300/400 per service, with the S2000 being around the £300 mark. I want the Porsche because it's a Porsche, but I'm worried that it'll need some expensive servicing while I own it (my current car's coming up for a cam belt change at 5 years old, and if a Boxster's similar then this has got to be expensive!).
I'm looking to keep either for 3 years or so - are there any really good reasons I shouldn't go for the Porsche? Should I play it safe and get a new car that'll be under warranty for most (if not all) the time I own it?
Oh - there's a "what car do you have" girls in pubs angle which is colouring my judgement too!
Cheers,
Dan
Fistly, read evo magazine, this months has a head tohead comparison of the two cars you are looking at.
Personally I'd go for the S2000 as it has just been facelifted and had some chasis tweaks that have improved what was already a good car. Also, its different....are you a poser ? or a driver ? thats the main question you need to answer as the cars have different abilities.
I like them both and there is value in a badge (especially in the pub) but the S2000 is still rare in comparison to the Porker and that apeals to me.
The S2000 has bullet-proof reliability. Don't know about the Porsche as the only Porshe Ive had was a 944 and that became a little fragile as it got older.
Test drive them & see what YOU think, at the end of the day you have to live with the decision on a daily basis....
Then again, have the Porsche first for 18 months and then chop it in for a used S2000 later.
>> Edited by s2 giles on Monday 25th March 11:54
Personally I'd go for the S2000 as it has just been facelifted and had some chasis tweaks that have improved what was already a good car. Also, its different....are you a poser ? or a driver ? thats the main question you need to answer as the cars have different abilities.
I like them both and there is value in a badge (especially in the pub) but the S2000 is still rare in comparison to the Porker and that apeals to me.
The S2000 has bullet-proof reliability. Don't know about the Porsche as the only Porshe Ive had was a 944 and that became a little fragile as it got older.
Test drive them & see what YOU think, at the end of the day you have to live with the decision on a daily basis....
Then again, have the Porsche first for 18 months and then chop it in for a used S2000 later.
>> Edited by s2 giles on Monday 25th March 11:54
Haven't read the article yet...but I will. On the Boxster side of things - make sure that they're comparing apples with apples. If the article talks about the Boxster S - this is a significantly more powerful car than the 2.5. The latest 2.7 is also quite a bit more powerful as well. The 2.5 was, by repute, a bit underpowered.
The Honda will be less expensive to run I expect - my Porsche is too young to answer your question but nothing has gone wrong with (AT ALL) since new (18 months old now) but I don't expect to get away with £250 services from now on...
Having a "Porsche" is nice, though - don't underestimate the value of the label
Drivers aren't fooled by the label, mind. As a driver - if you buy a Boxster its because you want mid-engined practicality and handling.
The Honda will be less expensive to run I expect - my Porsche is too young to answer your question but nothing has gone wrong with (AT ALL) since new (18 months old now) but I don't expect to get away with £250 services from now on...
Having a "Porsche" is nice, though - don't underestimate the value of the label
Drivers aren't fooled by the label, mind. As a driver - if you buy a Boxster its because you want mid-engined practicality and handling.
Cheers folks - I'll check out Evo to see what they've got to say... The S2000 is probably the 'sensible' choice in many ways (I know for sure that I can afford to run it!), but this isn't really the reason I want to buy a car.
Barring a tragic accident I've got many years of sensible motoring ahead of me, so I want to avoid the practical cars whilst I can get away with it!
Thanks for the advice.
Dan
Barring a tragic accident I've got many years of sensible motoring ahead of me, so I want to avoid the practical cars whilst I can get away with it!
Thanks for the advice.
Dan
IIRC the Evo article was comparing 25k S2000 with a 39k Boxter 2.7 with extras.
I've got an S2000 on order so I may be a little biased, but my take is this:-
Boxter has better steering feel (I have only driven an S but I'd guess they're all similar). and more torque (though not sure about 2.5) meaning that although the power is less than the S2000 it's more easily accessible.
However resale values for the 2.5 are falling simply because it's the least desirable Boxter.
Boxter is a Porsche, it will always have more cachet in pub conversations.
S2000 is much more powerful, although the peak power is at 8700 rpm. However once you have taken a trip into vtec land, you'll want to rev the nuts off the car every time you drive it.
It can be driven below vtec and still be responsive, unlike the impression you get from many magazine articles.
People want to know what it is, so in a way it's a different kind of pose than the Porsche - although replying 'A Honda' to the question 'What car do you drive?' is never going to be a good conversation starter.
The S2000 handles superbly - it's a fun car to drive but not for the faint hearted, the back end grips and grips, but when it eventually lets go, you have to be quick to catch it.
The only way to choose is to drive both cars, you'll know which one suits you best because they are very differnt drives.
>> Edited by Mark Benson on Monday 25th March 13:21
I've got an S2000 on order so I may be a little biased, but my take is this:-
Boxter has better steering feel (I have only driven an S but I'd guess they're all similar). and more torque (though not sure about 2.5) meaning that although the power is less than the S2000 it's more easily accessible.
However resale values for the 2.5 are falling simply because it's the least desirable Boxter.
Boxter is a Porsche, it will always have more cachet in pub conversations.
S2000 is much more powerful, although the peak power is at 8700 rpm. However once you have taken a trip into vtec land, you'll want to rev the nuts off the car every time you drive it.
It can be driven below vtec and still be responsive, unlike the impression you get from many magazine articles.
People want to know what it is, so in a way it's a different kind of pose than the Porsche - although replying 'A Honda' to the question 'What car do you drive?' is never going to be a good conversation starter.
The S2000 handles superbly - it's a fun car to drive but not for the faint hearted, the back end grips and grips, but when it eventually lets go, you have to be quick to catch it.
The only way to choose is to drive both cars, you'll know which one suits you best because they are very differnt drives.
>> Edited by Mark Benson on Monday 25th March 13:21
Mark, you lucky bugger
Ive just taken delivery of my Accord Type-R and part of me wishes i'd had the S2000 but I already have a soft top toy in the garage for weekends so couldnt justify two.
I use the Type-R for lots of work mileage (had it 8 weeks, done 5500 miles) so thought the saloon would be practical.
I love the VTEC kick at 5800 on mine, very adictive..
a tip for you, use Super plus unleaded with a RON value over 97, much better power & response. I find Shell's new optimax has an average 98.4 RON value and it does make a difference.
Have fun
Ive just taken delivery of my Accord Type-R and part of me wishes i'd had the S2000 but I already have a soft top toy in the garage for weekends so couldnt justify two.
I use the Type-R for lots of work mileage (had it 8 weeks, done 5500 miles) so thought the saloon would be practical.
I love the VTEC kick at 5800 on mine, very adictive..
a tip for you, use Super plus unleaded with a RON value over 97, much better power & response. I find Shell's new optimax has an average 98.4 RON value and it does make a difference.
Have fun
quote:
Drivers aren't fooled by the label, mind. As a driver - if you buy a Boxster its because you want mid-engined practicality and handling.
Drivers may not be fooled by label, but people are!!
If you want to impress the girlies in the pub, either car will do it - but lets face it, the porsche is going to have the bigger effect.
But......if you're going to get a car for driveability you really need to look at the Boxster S. Anything less than that, you are buying the car purely for the label.
quote:
But......if you're going to get a car for driveability you really need to look at the Boxster S. Anything less than that, you are buying the car purely for the label.
Oh I don't know. The grip and balance of the car should be the same whether its an 'S' or not. I love the additional power but even the 'S' is hardly a 'grunt' car (e.g. any TVR). The brakes are fabulous though.
If an 'S' is outside of your range don't write off the lower spec cars - they should still be good. IMHO.
Having said that. I got an 'S'.
quote:
If an 'S' is outside of your range don't write off the lower spec cars - they should still be good.
Good to hear - the 'S' is certainly out of my price range, sadly! As someone in another thread has said, I'm going to spend quite a lot of money by my standards, but not by Porsches!
Having said that, I visited the local Porsche dealer on Saturday (H R Owen), and they couldn't have been nicer. I'd guess I'm pretty young compared to their normal customers (26), but I was well looked after and taken a lot more seriously than I expected! (Unlike the local Audi dealership, who really didn't want to know... I didn't really like the TT, but I'd certainly not buy one now!)
A friend of mine had exactly the same problem, he was 22 at the time. He was driving an Audi A3, went to the Audi dealer and asked for a TT test drive - no way sonny, come back with your dad and we might entertain you. Went to a Honda dealer for an S2000 test drive - sorry, no S2000test drives for under 25's.
Went to the Porsche dealer and walked out having bought a Boxter S for 45 grand.
Went to the Porsche dealer and walked out having bought a Boxter S for 45 grand.
quote:
Ive just taken delivery of my Accord Type-R.
I use the Type-R for lots of work mileage (had it 8 weeks, done 5500 miles) so thought the saloon would be practical.
I love the VTEC kick at 5800 on mine, very adictive.
What do you think to it? I was thinking of one of these to replace my current car as/when/if finances allow.
quote:
..the 'S' is certainly out of my price range, sadly!
Dan - have you actually had any quotes yet? You may find that the "S" has better residuals, therefore if you're buying your car on finance the monthly payments may actually be LOWER on the "S" than on a 2.5, as these are more common and may depreciate faster..
just a thought
quote:
quote:
..the 'S' is certainly out of my price range, sadly!
Dan - have you actually had any quotes yet?
Nope - I've not looked too closely at quotes for the thing from Porsche. The salesman was trying to tell me it would be £500/month for £28k, if I put £14k down and wanted a £6k balloon (over 3 years). Seems waaay over the top to me, so I guess we must have been talking at cross purposes (maybe he didn't get the £14k deposit bit or something).
I'm not overly keen on car finance, as I actually want to own the thing at the end - it's my house deposit money I'm chucking at the car, so I need to have some kind of 'asset' in the car rather than a huge balloon payment at the end. I know I'll be loosing money as it depreciates, but I can live with that so long as I don't loose it all!
Still, I should probably check it out to see just what I can afford... Surely depreciation on a Boxster isn't too much though, even on the 2.5? (Judging by the prices the things still seem to command!)
To MEMSDesign
Accord Type-R...Love it, its bigger than a 3 series on the inside (and probably out) built to last, handles really well & no front tyre spinning considering 215Hp through the front wheels. Performance to beat a 328 (330 is .4 quicker)and yet economy of a 2.2
Before buying one I would suggest a weekend loan car from your nearest Honda, you need to be prepared to live with a bit more engine noise (No sound proofing on bulkhead) and a lack of extra's.
The Type-R philosophy suits me well, bare essentials interior (you must add A/Con) great Recaro's and beautiful power and handling.
Driving, it pulls like an ordinary 2.2 upto 4000, then picks up a bit until at 5800 rpm the sound, power & charecter of the engine changes and pulls hard until 7800 rpm. Its similar to a turbo kick, i'd estimate an extra 40 Hp suddenly gets switched on.
If you change up at 7750 Rpm (just before the limiter)then it drops straight back to 5800 and your off again, get it right and its a glorious noise & virtually nothing can touch you... saloon car wise anyway.
Ive had drags with Scooby's, an RB5 has taken me but a standard car couldnt get passed and settled with sitting behind me. A scooby is a rally derived car and the Type-R is a Touring car based machine & that theme although diluted is abundant in the Type-R.
Have fun.
Accord Type-R...Love it, its bigger than a 3 series on the inside (and probably out) built to last, handles really well & no front tyre spinning considering 215Hp through the front wheels. Performance to beat a 328 (330 is .4 quicker)and yet economy of a 2.2
Before buying one I would suggest a weekend loan car from your nearest Honda, you need to be prepared to live with a bit more engine noise (No sound proofing on bulkhead) and a lack of extra's.
The Type-R philosophy suits me well, bare essentials interior (you must add A/Con) great Recaro's and beautiful power and handling.
Driving, it pulls like an ordinary 2.2 upto 4000, then picks up a bit until at 5800 rpm the sound, power & charecter of the engine changes and pulls hard until 7800 rpm. Its similar to a turbo kick, i'd estimate an extra 40 Hp suddenly gets switched on.
If you change up at 7750 Rpm (just before the limiter)then it drops straight back to 5800 and your off again, get it right and its a glorious noise & virtually nothing can touch you... saloon car wise anyway.
Ive had drags with Scooby's, an RB5 has taken me but a standard car couldnt get passed and settled with sitting behind me. A scooby is a rally derived car and the Type-R is a Touring car based machine & that theme although diluted is abundant in the Type-R.
Have fun.
I was in your shoes in November and it was a choice between to S2000 and the 2.5 Porker. I went for the S2000 as I have to say I hated the 2.5 Boxter it felt so slow. The S2000 did feel slow coming straight from a Chimeara/Lotus 340R, but it felt so much more fun to drive than the porsche.
Picked my UK spec X-plate for 22.5K with 10k on the clock so they do hold there value very well regardless of what anyone else says, due to the lack of them about. Watch out for imports only go for a proper UK edition.
As was said earlier very reliable and still fun to drive. Much nicer inside than the porsche too (Still cant get over the crap switchgear).
Picked my UK spec X-plate for 22.5K with 10k on the clock so they do hold there value very well regardless of what anyone else says, due to the lack of them about. Watch out for imports only go for a proper UK edition.
As was said earlier very reliable and still fun to drive. Much nicer inside than the porsche too (Still cant get over the crap switchgear).
Hi Dan ... Sorry if I annoy any S2000 owners, but I was underwhelmed. So you know where I'm coming from, I've got no prejudice against Japanese performance cars, I've owned one and driven several others and been mightily impressed. But S2000's handling didn't seem sorted. It seemed to get really skittish over rough surfaces through corners. It was also impossible for me (6ft4) to find a comfortable driving position. I've not driven a Boxster, but the reviews praise its handling. Each to their own, and all that, so go out and drive as many as you can find.
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