S2000 vs Boxster S vs BMW Z4

[mikey_p]

Hey guys,

Well it looks like my chase is back on for a 2 seater roadster after parting ways 5 years ago with my s2000. I'm looking to add in a summer fun car that will be driven lots when it's nice and stored in our winters. I've decided to look at 3 different roadsters, the s2000, Porsche Boxster S and the BMW Z4.

I'm looking for some advice from guys that may have owned them. Here are the cars and prices that I'm looking at.

2001 Honda S2000 AP1 bone stock with 152,000kms - $15,000
Pros- 9k rev, blast to drive, reliable, know what to expect
Cons- loud road noise, Not comfy on long trips,poor stock stereo & price

2003 Porsche Boxster S bone stock with 174,000kms - $12,000
Pros- great handling, good power, vety refined
Cons- IMS problems, higher kms, boring interior, maintenance costs

2003 BMW Z4 3.0 bone stock with 132,000kms - $11,000
Pros- price price price, great interior, good power, lower kms
Cons- lack of available mods, some like the look and some hate it


Thought I'd pick everyone's brain. Thanks guys!!!

[Kloubek]

The Porsche has too high of k, IMO. I owned a Boxster, and parts were far more expensive than average. Ims always made me wary, but it was the best balanced car I've driven, save for my 944.

Same rings true for the Z4, I imagine when it comes to part prices, but at least it has lower k.

Personally, never been a fan of the s2000. It's a great car, but the build intention feels way different to that of the German cars.

Given your choices, id be going with the BMW.

[Sentry]

S2000 > Z4 > Boxster

That being said, that Z4 is a bargain and low k. Also BMW parts are not as expensive as you would think, and certainly nowhere near as bad as a Porsche.

[faiz999]

I stopped at "revs to 9k"...

i drove one a while back and i immediately understood what ppl have been saying about the s2000 since it came out. it's serious fun and a somewhat sound investment and it revs to 9k!

i think you'll have plently of opportunities to pick up a used boxer/cayman/z4 in the future but i think it's becoming increasingly more difficult to pick up a clean ap1.

[dimi]

Save your money and get an ap2, it's just a better car overall. At the very least get a 02-03. I used to own an 01 and there were a lot of updates to the 02-03 vehicles.

The others I would stray away from given expensive parts/maintenance.

[95EagleAWD]

Definitely an 02-03 S2000. They're wicked fun cars, and have the glass rear window, and all the good updates inside.

[max_boost]

Originally posted by dimi
Save your money and get an ap2, it's just a better car overall. At the very least get a 02-03. I used to own an 01 and there were a lot of updates to the 02-03 vehicles.

The others I would stray away from given expensive parts/maintenance. AP2 for sure :thumbsup:

[Kloubek]

Originally posted by 95EagleAWD
Definitely an 02-03 S2000. They're wicked fun cars, and have the glass rear window, and all the good updates inside.

2003 Boxster had a glass window as well. (For what supreme difference that makes in whether or not one buys a particular vehicle)

[know1edge]

.

[962 kid]

Originally posted by know1edge


He just means in comparison to the 00-01 s2000s which have the plastic window

The early boxsters (up to '03) had a plastic rear window as well

[mikey_p]

So I found a Z4 for $9500 with 10,000 more kms. Turns out the couple are moving and need to sell it. The maintenance is alright for me. I work for a dealer group (mostly GM) and can get employee discount on parts and labour. This should curve some of the expense. Downside is we don't have a BMW dealer here so that kinda scares me a bit. Saving $5k over a ap1/ap2 might be my best option. If I don't like it I could resell it next spring. I'm sure it will be worth more than $9500.

[zhao]

I've never owned any of those, but I have driven a bazillion cars on the track, and I did not like the student's 986S I drove. It was one of the most surprisingly bleh cars i've driven, mainly because I had high hopes for it being a porsche and all, but honestly you could of slapped a subaru badge on it and I would of believed it; a ratbag RX8 feels miles better (an rx8 is actually an amazing drivers car, but you don't expect a porsche to feel worse than a car worth a few thousand). I would not buy a $10000 porsche either.

The S2k... I did like that (AP1) mainly because it felt pretty raw. I love porsches but to me I think it's a no brainer getting an s2k over a 986.



Z4 I can't comment on.

[Neil4Speed]

Have you considered an E46 M3 or 330ci?

Seem to be in your budget range now.

[Redlyne_mr2]

s2k!

[klumsy_tumbler]

Well, obviously I'd lean towards the Porsche... but it would be imperative to make sure that the IMS issue was already addressed.

Our cayman is the most well-balanced car I have ever driven, so you can't go wrong with the boxster if that's what you're looking for. 986/996 interiors weren't the greatest in terms of aesthetic appeal, but the materials will last.

All that said, the S2K would also be a fabulous choice. I love those cars.

[LilDrunkenSmurf]

Originally posted by Neil4Speed
Have you considered an E46 M3 or 330ci?

Seem to be in your budget range now.

The M3s I've seen are still going for 20k+, and I personally have never liked the convertible versions of the e46 (which it sounds like he would be looking for).

Personally, I love my AP2. I don't like the lines of the Boxster vs the Cayman, but I'd love to own/drive one. one day.

My personal list would be
S2000 > Boxster > Z4

[jabjab]

Why not find MK1 Audi TT? Easy to mod for more power and AWD :)

[G-ZUS]

If you don't want the z4, can you pm me details on it