Originally Posted by Shamu

Agreed as someone who has torn apart both 370z and Boxster the Porsche has engineered incredible efficiency into their cars. I will say earlier boxsters do have some terrible design features in motors and transmissions but newer cars seem to have overcome the issues.

My 986 2.7 liter and 2.5 liter Boxsters got about 21 mpg combined and about 26 to 27 highway. Clearly newer boxsters are more efficient but I suspect combined mileage is still in mid 20s.

For me it's tough to compare the $30k Z to $45k Boxster. They really are quite opposite of each other.

Boxster is refined drivers car while Z is a basement bargin sport GT car. The Z packs ton of value But it will never be a match to much lighter balanced Boxster as a refined road car. Now when it comes to performance the Z definitely packs a punch. I'm a long time Porsche club member. Since the 70s. The 370z is truly equivalent of 240z was back in the 70s. Not as well designed as 911 but packing huge value.

As a driver I got bored with boxsters perfect handling. I know that sounds strange but the car on the street was so nueteral and balanced that for me it was boring. The 370z feels very retro to me. I love looking out over that long hood with a car that actually will toss the tail out with very little effort. Yeah Z is not most efficient car but it's built like a tank? This means we can go to the track and beat 370z and not worry about reinforcing every area of the car. Yes it has little foibles such as hot running VQ , ice mode abs issues, and fuel starve but in general the car is bullet proof.