370Z or Boxster?
 

Which would you choose?

The muscle, power and value of the 370Z are appealing, but the build quality and neutral handling balance of the Boxster is also very appealing.

I know the battle between Nissan and Porsche is well documented, as is the ownership experience of the Boxster, but I would love to hear from anyone who has owned/driven both.

Comments?

boxster = overpriced and underpowered..Get a cayman if your going porsche....at least.

Otherwise go with the 370.

Oh and dont forget repair cost of the porsche.

Ask member Modshack, he owns both.

don't those fancy porsche tend to leak out oil from the rear main seal and intermediate main shaft seals and blow up the engine? or did porsche fix that?

haha always :stirthepot:

They fixed that, years ago.

I've owned both.
370z. The end.

depends on if cost is an issue. i wouldn't go with a boxster however, i'd probably go with a cayman.

for best bang for your buck, 370z. overall performance without cost in play, cayman (although its a pretty close battle).

I totally agree.

Between 370Z and Boxster, Z wins.

Between Z and Cayman, performance-wise, both are the same. Quality-wise, Z wins. Overall handling, Cayman wins. Look-wise, Cayman wins (subjective). Cost-wise, Z wins (Cayman is $20K more than Z).

For me if i can afford, I'd buy the Cayman. In my opinion, it looks nicer than Z. Otherwise, Z it is.

Ehhh...I'm not gonna get into these keyboard shoot-outs. Sold mine awhile back. The Boxster is a great car, the 370 is too..Money no object I'd probably choose a Boxster over the Z. Cayman is just a Boxster hardtop...either would suffice. The only thing I really don't like about the Z is the Tractor motor. Other than that (and the $$) it's a close call as driver's cars go....

tractor motor? hahaha. :D

naw, a true tractor engine is the johnny popper.

If I could afford it, I'd get the Boxster Spyder any day.

All things equal, the Porsche is better. But considering they cost $20k more, the Z wins by a mile.

You think the Z is better quality than the Porsche?????:confused:

If I recall correctly, the new Boxster posts some pretty sweet performance numbers.

QUOTE: don't those fancy porsche tend to leak out oil from the rear main seal and intermediate main shaft seals and blow up the engine? or did porsche fix that?



hahaha thats wrong :happydance: :rofl2:

No i take it back. Cayman has better quality. I meant in terms of reliability, Z wins.

But the question is, will the Cayman have better quality than Z, if you strip it down to $30K? I doubt it.

If we consider the price for a Boxster(assuming its the S)and a 370, I'll take the 370 any day. But for the Caymans S I'd be willing to swing for that if I could afford it. If money was not an issue CS all the way for me. But I just can't settle for a Boxster knowing the 370 is out there.

If I had to choose between the Porsche Boxster and the 370Z Roadster, apples to apples, I would buy the 370Z.

97' Porsche Boxster
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articl...97boxster1.jpg

07' Porsche Boxster
http://img.blogcu.com/uploads/blackl...7253203031.jpg

Same tired a$$ design 10 years later. I'll pass on Porsche.

I might also add a Z4 to this consideration set to further perplex you. I believe all three cars (370Z Roadster, Boxster and Z4) are pretty close in subjective and objective areas where it counts.

As a former BMW *** hat, it's hard for me to acknowledge the P-car, but it is an amazing design. I read through their board at all the blown engines back in my near trouble-free MZ3 days and wondered how people could love such a car. Trust me, it's fine design and a fixed problem that has kept that car on top for 10+ years.

I cross-shopped the three of these for my purchase (made last week). In the end, they were all really close. So, it came down to the two with the freshest designs -- the 370Z and Z4. Then, I couldn't pass up the sheer value of the 370Z. Compared to either the Porsche or BMW, the Z delivers about 95% of the appeal at about 75% of the price. Build quality is similar (my observation) reliability is superior and styling in equal or better (again, my observation). The only really big category that's lacking is brand cachet, which in a roadster seems really, really off point.

That's a crazy take. A design that stays fresh for ten years is something to be celebrated. How do you feel about 911s?

Don't people know that Japanese build quality is the best in the business or is perception lag still lingering. The latter it seems.

I owned an 01 Boxster S and I now drive an 09 Mt. All things considered the 370 is better value but if you have the $$ the S version of the Cayman or Boxter is awesome.

The porsches are very bland looking. I'll continue modding my Z.

What kind of a statement is that? Jesus...

:iagree:
Really. Porsche doesnt want their car at that value as they are looking for a specific type of person to drive their cars. They dont want their cars modded to the hilt and featuring in Fast and Furious, which is why Porsche stays with the same design for the most part. So if you asked that question then you should ask this one too. What would the Z cost if you brought it up to all the top quality things Posrce has in their cars? If you add DSG, FI and AWD to the Z you are looking at the same price that alot of other cars are costing, probably around $45K. Cars are made for certain types of people in mind and they all do good at achievieng those goals.

Honda S2000 anybody? Everybody loves 9,000rpm..

Hehe, Spanner into works....

Nope...

like music to my ears on the gixxer.

I agree! The Porsche is classic and doesn't need to follow fashion fads. A 911 is still recognizable as a 911 decades later. The Boxster is following that same path.

One of my major complaints about Japanese and American car designs is that a lot of the manufacturers don't have a consistent design motif across their range. It's a collection of random 'whatever they feel like' that fashionable at the time and then there's the mid life crisis refresh (usually involving little stick on chrome decal accessories or headlight changes) before a completely different looking and performing vehicle comes along claiming to be the same thing, but updated.

Love the Z, but it has changed so much over the years. It's not really recognizable as coming from the same stock, is it? Unless you're into it, you just wouldn't see it.

Me personally I'm not a big fan of roadsters/convertibles. I always notice performance reductions from there coupe counterparts and I rather have performance than people seeing me in my car. That being said the boxster would be an out and the 370z lives.
Though when mentioning the cayman, especially the cayman S, I might be persuaded to go that route mainly based on the fact the cayman is much smaller and lighter making it more agile if not faster. BUT THE z is an uncompromising value and I would be more attracted to the less refined more rambunctious VQ37HR. So the 370z wins again. :)

I guess it all boils down to $$$; if you've got plenty of it, you could go either way. It's your call, man!

I am thinking you could get one new porsche
or
a new 370z to drive on the weekend and a new economy car for daily driving.

i would go with a new 370z and a new economy car.

280Z
http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/wp-...n-280z-500.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...w/600-370z.jpg

I see it, and its blatantly obvious. The 370 took alot of design cues from the 280, as stated by Randy Rodriguez himself, they share alot of the same lines, the 370 just made it more modern. Technically speaking, the design hasnt changed too dramatically at all. Just think of the 370 as a 280 throwback.

Actually...I think the 370Z is the closest to the 240Z since the 280Z..The 300Zs and the 350Z added design elements and direction that didn't exist in the earlier gens. The 370Z really pulls the heritage of Z design in a very modern way.

How's this....

2009 370Z Sport 6MT = $30,040
2009 Acura TSX 6MT = $29,500
Total = $59,500 , which is about the price for stripped Cayman S

Screw the Acura, i'll take an 08' G :tup:

Why dont you slip every other Z in between and see how they relate?

http://www.newcarbuyingguide.com/ima...08Datsun01.jpg

http://www.niot.net/niot_570/nissan_...%20%282%29.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...w/600-370z.jpg

I TOTALLY SEE THE RESEMBLANCE :rolleyes:

The resemblance was likened to the 280, the 300 and 350 are the exception.

Indeedy!

:tup:

There are some design elements that are similar, but overall only a Z nerd would really be able to notice them. There is no real constant, consistent theme through the years that you can spot without geeking out on it.