Michelle won a Boxter S for two weeks. It is an '04 with 49,000 ish miles on it. After playing with it for a couple days I would say it is a nice car but it is no better than the SRT. The roof stopped working after 3 times, the ride is comparable, handling is not that much different to me. I doesn't feel like it has more power.
Cant see where it would be worth $30,000 more than list price for a SRT and it no way compares when you factor in what the SRT cost me.
I guess I just dont get the Porsche mystique. Pictures are in my gallery.

 

Some people think that little piece of metal that says "Porsche" costs $30,000.

 

This car is hard to beat at $25,700!

SF

 

It doesn't:
2004 Porsche Boxster S
258 HP, 229 TQ
2,911 lbs
lb/hp = 11.28

2005 SRT6 Roadster
330 HP, 310 TQ (most likely downplayed from 349 HP, 332 TQ - some say)
3,328 lbs
lb/hp = 10.08 (using 330 HP)

 

The Boxster is crap...

I drove an '03 about a year ago and would say its build quality and interior materials are on par with a 1991 Taurus...

Jaded people that are overly conscious of image don't seem to mind though. The one I drove 19,000 and creaked, rattled and squeaked like an old man in a rocking chair.

 

I was speaking to my friendly Porsche mechanic a couple of weeks ago about this. He has worked on Porsches for years and says the later cars Boxters, 996 etc are nothing special at all; they're built by penny pinching accountants like most modern cars. Last time I was at his workshop he had a 996 cabrio in which i had a good look around and to be honest the sprayed silver plastic dash didn't look or feel much different to our Crossfires, the body fit and finish was no better, and there have been all sorts of problems with the electrics and engine warranty claims. The earlier cars, up to the 993, always seemed to stand out from their rivals in terms of engineering and to a large extent deserved their reputation.

I don't know about the SRT but from my experience the Limited isn't exactly put to shame by a Boxter S, certainly in terms of handling and braking.

Boxters Vid

 

Yeah, the Boxster S sucks. How many years did it hold the skidpad record for a production car? Why is it still the most neutral handling porsche made? All those lap records and SCCA class wins are as fake as the moon landings.

New Boxster S Nuerburgring: 8:21 < Semi wet parts of track
Old Boxster S Nuerburgring: 8:23
SLK32 AMG Nuerburgring: 8:26

The older 996 Boxster typical 1/4 mile time is 13.4-7@103mph. The new 997 can run 12.8-13.3@107. What does the 330hp SRT6 run? Mid 13's@107mph if your good.

The srt-6 is a fun car, and I enjoy mine. However I would never take it to a lapping event. The brakes fade to fast, the suspension is OK for sport driving, the steering feed back is a bit numb, and the car understeers to much when pressed hard into a turn. The gear changes are not fast enough either.

Two different cars, for two different purposes..

 

I'm not sure if your figures are for Boxters or not since the 996 and 997 are not Boxters, they are the current and previous versions of the 911; completely different animals. The Boxter is a 986.

 

Mid 13's? That is easssssy! These cars are 13.0-13.2 material stock(at sea level). Heck I pulled a 13.25@105 in 90 degree weather 50% humidity. WITH A HEAD WIND!!! In really good air, this car will break into the 12's IMO........

 

maybe you are talking about carrera 996 and 997.. as there is no boxster under these numbers...

the fastest recorded boxster S at quarter is 13.6 check dragtimes and even that I find hard to belive....

O and by the way nurburgring is a very inaccurate test

I have nothing against Porsche I like it... but that is if u are purchasing a good Porsche like the 997 Turbo, Carrera GT, or maybe the Cayenne...

 

A Boxster S running a 12.8 1/4 STOCK?!?!



Yeah, maybe if Thelma and Louise drove it off a cliff...

I'm not saying it isn't a great performance, because it is. I am saying it's overpriced and cheaply built. The fit and finish is average and the interior quality is NOT GOOD AT ALL! Cheap Plastic and flimsy switchs. There is more cheap black textured surfaces in there than in my moms old '99 Caravan...

 

Yes, as I said it is a nice car. I just don't see the $30,000 to $40,000 dollar difference!

 

Google is your friend. Now the question is, do you like to read.
http://www.caranddriver.com/shortroa...boxster-s.html

You can take a cyber walk to the boxster forums and check out the times.

Here's a 2005 S running a 13.4 by some editors.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ecs_price.html

13.2 @ 105 UHT OH!
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=116535

Faster than an ENZO on the slalom.
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=729

My srt does not do this from the factory.

200-ft Skidpad: 1.00g
Braking (60-0 mph): 107 ft
700-ft Slalom Speed: 73.9 mph

The nurburgring is a great test of a cars ability. Anyone who thinks otherwise smokes crack.

 

This thread is getting a bit trollish...

but jtvr4 I just think folks were questioning your numbers- you gave a 12.8 1/4 mile (which is a poor judge of a car, I also like Nürburgring times better) and that time hasn't been seen... no big deal though

everyone is entitled to their opinions- the Boxster was criticized early on for being a "chick car" but proves to be one of the better all around sports cars out there.

however, this is a forum for the crossfire, so we never talk about how another car is better than ours.

not to mention this topic has been worked before:
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...ead.php?t=6119

but, the trump card is holding an official victory in print with no misquoted numbers or unequal comparisons- behold, the Road & Track comparison with like model years, an official SRT-6 victory!:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=1985

 

Fastest Boxster is on Dragtimes... Stock... 13.6... so the question is who do you believe?
http://www.dragtimes.com/Porsche-Box...slip-5022.html

I find dram times to be much easier to believe than any of you links... I again am starting to think that you have this car mixed up with something else... possibly the 911?