Z4 or Boxster?

[Blitz]

Which one do you guys recommend. Is the Boxster a lot more to maintain?

Budget £10-£13K.

[mabz]

z4 all day mate boxsters are gash imo,they look like someone gave up designing the rear end.but if i had that money to spend the thought would not even enter my mind to buy either.old skool all the way

[kieran325]

I'd go for the Z4 over the Cockster.

[Blitz]

Any engine recommendations, as I can see the later ones are 3.0si and 2.5si but they are much more expensive.

[TheHeap]

Z4. The Boxter is

[bss325i]

Any engine recommendations, as I can see the later ones are 3.0si and 2.5si but they are much more expensive.

They were introduced with a 6 cylinder only with the M54B30 and B25.

Later on the 4 cylinder version came out with the N42B20.

There is also the Z4M with the S54B32.

Go for a 3litre one.

[pac1982]

All I think when I see a boxster is "look that bloke couldnt afford a 911"

tbh a Z4 aint all that if you want a "real" sports car but its still a great motor but you've really gotta want one to full appreciate it

[harry_p]

boxsters are actually very very good cars, just a shame they're always going to be living in the 911s shaddow and have a slightly limp wristed image.

then again, virtually every 2 seater open top car is going to get hairdresser comments. a z4 is hardly macho is it

[appletree]

All I think when I see a boxster is "look that bloke couldnt afford a 911"

Me to, the people who normaly buy them are also the kind of people who buy all the merchandise so they can let everyone know they have a "porsche".

[harry_p]

All I think when I see a boxster is "look that bloke couldnt afford a 911"

all i think when i see someone in a normal e30 is "look that bloke couldnt afford an m3" ;)

pretty daft attitude to have

[Falkster]

What a pile of hairy bollox! I really hate people that say 'you've got a poor mans Porsche'. When we were looking for a car for Sarah she wanted a convertible sports car. She liked Z4s, S2000s, SLKs and crossfires but when we had a look at Boxsters and more specifically the 'S' they p1ss all over the other and destroy the Z4s with the only one coming close would have be the M but they were far too rich. We never once thought, we want a Porsche so what's the cheapest we can get.
Not once has Sarah said 'I want a 911' and tbh she (and I) think 911 drop tops are sh1t and would only want a hard top.
They are great cars to drive. You don't realise exactly how good they are until you drive others!!

[Simon13]

no contest the porker is a much better car. It is the benchmark in its class the one to beat

[B7]

I've never been a porsche man, never have never will! Every one I've ever driven has been a disappointment.

No offence falkster but ever Porshe owner I've ever met has been a w4nker that doesn't know any better. 90% of them have the money but actually know very liitle on the car front. They want a "supercar", and they want the kudos. And thats about it.

People who don't buy a Posche are the "dare to be different, researchers".

[pukar]

i've had 2 z4 roadsters....one 3.0 and one M. both were pretty awesome cars. never had a boxster so cant say how it drives, but loved the drive of the z4 and prefer the looks. i know a guy who had a 2.0 and regretted not going for a bigger engine as it was a bit "mild".

i gotta say that the M was insane and scarred me on a number of occasions, but the 3.0 wasn't that far behind. if you encounter some traffic on your daily drive, then the paddle shift was nice and easier to use than the 3 series version. you could use one hand to shift up with the fingers and down with the thumb instead of having to use both right and left hands...

if you do get one deffo go for teh 18inch 5 spoke split rim alloys as they look the best imo. also look out for the carver sound system as it sounds pretty damn good.

i would say drive both if you like the looks of both...at least that way you wont keep thinking "what if??"

[Andyboy]

Boxsters drive well but they cost a fortune to repair. The engine has a well known weakness where the top of a cylinder liner can collapse leading to the engine going onto five pots and pushing all the coolant out in the space of around ten seconds with a big bang and a cloud of steam/smoke. Porsche parts prices are obscene and they're bastards to work on. No, they're just a four wheel fail.

Z4's are really only based on the E46 like the Z3 was based on the E36 Compact. They're pretty reliable and not hard to work on, plus plenty of decent cheap bits from ECP. The 2.0i four pot is a waste of time, the 2.2i is quite nice to drive, the 3.0i is very quick but the 2.5i is a nice compromise. Sports have a VERY harsh ride. The later post 2006 cars have the all new engines which are less DIY friendly. If it's an Si, it has the newer engine. They all have electric hoods. Avoid the SMG models - it's actually the wanktronic SSG Magnetti Marelli system as used on the Alfa 156 Selespeed - enough said.

£10'000 should get you a very nice 50'000 mile 2.5i SE in a good colour - BMW main dealers are competitive on price these days so check the AUC website.

[pac1982]

I'd spend the same sort of money on an older 911, much better car and you wont get hit by the deprecation as much if at all.

I've got a feeling that in the next few years boxsters will be worth next to nothing

My view is quite biased though as I won’t drive anything that’s not at least 15 years old modern cars all seem a bit dull to me plus that fact that over 10k can buy you a hell of a lot of car if you’re talking about anything 10+ years old.

Admittedly I can’t afford a 911 or a Boxster but to me a Boxster is just an excuse to have a Porsche badge, not that there shit there just not that good either.

[Bob_S]

I'd spend the same sort of money on an older 911, much better car and you wont get hit by the deprecation as much if at all.

I've got a feeling that in the next few years boxsters will be worth next to nothing

My view is quite biased though as I won’t drive anything that’s not at least 15 years old modern cars all seem a bit dull to me plus that fact that over 10k can buy you a hell of a lot of car if you’re talking about anything 10+ years old.

Admittedly I can’t afford a 911 or a Boxster but to me a Boxster is just an excuse to have a Porsche badge, not that there shit there just not that good either.

You have no idea what your on about and stuck in 1990.
New cars don't have the character of older cars (ie your no lying under the buggers every weekend fixing something that has fallen off or perished.)
I would have a Boxster over a normal cooking Z4 all day long. I've not driven a Z4m and until I do I won't say a word it looks entertaining on paper certainly.

I really like the Porsche snob orientated comments.. coming from owners of effectively old scrap. Don't you think BMW, merc, audi all have buyers simply on a badge?
for example, VW and audi are effectively the same, so why do people buy a poorly specced audi over a high spec VW? it's all the same.
I bet you wouldn't entertain buying a Seat exeo over an audi A4 would you?

[Falkster]

I've never been a porsche man, never have never will! Every one I've ever driven has been a disappointment.

No offence falkster but ever Porshe owner I've ever met has been a w4nker that doesn't know any better. 90% of them have the money but actually know very liitle on the car front. They want a "supercar", and they want the kudos. And thats about it.

People who don't buy a Posche are the "dare to be different, researchers".

No offense taken Trev, I wonder where I fit into that? I'm a total w4nker but do know about cars?
It's really not a kudos or badge thing as most of the time, if we go out together, we take my car beit my old 156, my old 147, my old 330d, my old MX5 or now the lancer and other than the Evo none of them scream 'look at me'.
They are great to drive, the 'M' as been mentioned before is just far too savage. To me the Boxster is the best of all worlds because they're cheap to maintain (atleast no more expensive then others), reliable despite talking about the potential known issues (it's like the vanos myth and the s14 timing chain myth) and they feel great at 20mph through town and 160mph on the autobahn. We've had ours for 18 months and Sarah has completed 18,000 miles for the massive sum of £300 annual service and a pair of tyres. The car is worth no less than it was then and we're even tempted to get a 987 because of our experience with the 986.
I would prefer to get a Z Alpina but Sarah loves the car and it's her choice.

[Touring Whore]

I'd spend the same sort of money on an older 911, much better car and you wont get hit by the deprecation as much if at all.

The maintenance will be far higher though. Far, far higher.

[pac1982]

I'd spend the same sort of money on an older 911, much better car and you wont get hit by the deprecation as much if at all.

I've got a feeling that in the next few years boxsters will be worth next to nothing

My view is quite biased though as I won’t drive anything that’s not at least 15 years old modern cars all seem a bit dull to me plus that fact that over 10k can buy you a hell of a lot of car if you’re talking about anything 10+ years old.

Admittedly I can’t afford a 911 or a Boxster but to me a Boxster is just an excuse to have a Porsche badge, not that there shit there just not that good either.

You have no idea what your on about and stuck in 1990.
New cars don't have the character of older cars (ie your no lying under the buggers every weekend fixing something that has fallen off or perished.)
I would have a Boxster over a normal cooking Z4 all day long. I've not driven a Z4m and until I do I won't say a word it looks entertaining on paper certainly.

I really like the Porsche snob orientated comments.. coming from owners of effectively old scrap. Don't you think BMW, merc, audi all have buyers simply on a badge?
for example, VW and audi are effectively the same, so why do people buy a poorly specced audi over a high spec VW? it's all the same.
I bet you wouldn't entertain buying a Seat exeo over an audi A4 would you?

My main gripe over buying a new or nearly new car is that fact that you stand to lose so much money which makes no sense to me, plus I’m of the general opinion that most new vehicles just aint built to last, there made to be easily recyclable and made from cheaper materials these days.

Car manufactures just can’t afford to build cars as well as they did back in the day.

Even if I were extremely rich I would never buy a brand spanking new car as it seems stupid that as soon as you roll off the forecourt you instantly lose several thousand pounds
Whichever way you look at it you get more for you money buying an old car over a new one, you can buy a brand new car now for sub £5000 but it will be an extremely shit car and £5000 would buy you an older car which is far superior, the same applies for expensive new cars as well.

Saying that you spend most your time fixing an old car just aint true touch wood in the last 2 years my 20 year old E30 has never let me down once and it gets used everyday where as my mates nearly new Corsa VXR spends more time off the road getting fixed than it does being drivin and guess what he ends up driving most the time? A mk3 golf with over 200K on the clock

[Speedtouch]

^ +1.

[pac1982]

I'd spend the same sort of money on an older 911, much better car and you wont get hit by the deprecation as much if at all.

The maintenance will be far higher though. Far, far higher.

I'm fairly sure that the difference in maintenance would be outweighed by the fact that a classic 911 wont lose any money, potentially a boxster could lose around £5000 in the next few years give or take

[bss325i]

After 12 years in the trade working at main dealers and independants, I find newer cars alot less reliable than a well maintained older car.

This rings true with all makes i have found, especially BMW. E9x 3 series have far more problems than E46's and E36's.

[Bob_S]

I'd spend the same sort of money on an older 911, much better car and you wont get hit by the deprecation as much if at all.

I've got a feeling that in the next few years boxsters will be worth next to nothing

My view is quite biased though as I won’t drive anything that’s not at least 15 years old modern cars all seem a bit dull to me plus that fact that over 10k can buy you a hell of a lot of car if you’re talking about anything 10+ years old.

Admittedly I can’t afford a 911 or a Boxster but to me a Boxster is just an excuse to have a Porsche badge, not that there shit there just not that good either.

You have no idea what your on about and stuck in 1990.
New cars don't have the character of older cars (ie your no lying under the buggers every weekend fixing something that has fallen off or perished.)
I would have a Boxster over a normal cooking Z4 all day long. I've not driven a Z4m and until I do I won't say a word it looks entertaining on paper certainly.

I really like the Porsche snob orientated comments.. coming from owners of effectively old scrap. Don't you think BMW, merc, audi all have buyers simply on a badge?
for example, VW and audi are effectively the same, so why do people buy a poorly specced audi over a high spec VW? it's all the same.
I bet you wouldn't entertain buying a Seat exeo over an audi A4 would you?

My main gripe over buying a new or nearly new car is that fact that you stand to lose so much money which makes no sense to me, plus I’m of the general opinion that most new vehicles just aint built to last, there made to be easily recyclable and made from cheaper materials these days.

Car manufactures just can’t afford to build cars as well as they did back in the day.

Even if I were extremely rich I would never buy a brand spanking new car as it seems stupid that as soon as you roll off the forecourt you instantly lose several thousand pounds
Whichever way you look at it you get more for you money buying an old car over a new one, you can buy a brand new car now for sub £5000 but it will be an extremely shit car and £5000 would buy you an older car which is far superior, the same applies for expensive new cars as well.

Saying that you spend most your time fixing an old car just aint true touch wood in the last 2 years my 20 year old E30 has never let me down once and it gets used everyday where as my mates nearly new Corsa VXR spends more time off the road getting fixed than it does being drivin and guess what he ends up driving most the time? A mk3 golf with over 200K on the clock

You would be right with cost but who cares?
Corsa's are scrap anyway they really are 4 yr wonders.

As for e30's.. driven properly and they break. Trust me that's why I have sold up. I still have one but it's far from your average 20 yr old car.

[pac1982]

I really like the Porsche snob orientated comments.. coming from owners of effectively old scrap.

There's a Porsche snob comment right there, you hit the nail on the head old chap

[Touring Whore]

I'm fairly sure that the difference in maintenance would be outweighed by the fact that a classic 911 wont lose any money, potentially a boxster could lose around £5000 in the next few years give or take

And in that next few years, your classic 911 could need and engine and gearbox rebuild, which could easily overtake the £5k you'd have lost on the Boxster. Or you could find rust.

If you're not handy with the spanners, the 911's can be expensive, and even if you are good with the spanners, the parts can be crazy money.

You could get lucky and get one that needs no major work when you buy it, but you could get unlucky as well.

I prefer older cars, but I wouldn't delude myself that they're cheap to run. I think, like for like prices, the Boxster and the 911 would cost you just as much, one way or another.

[e30shed]

After 12 years in the trade working at main dealers and independants, I find newer cars alot less reliable than a well maintained older car.

This rings true with all makes i have found, especially BMW. E9x 3 series have far more problems than E46's and E36's.

The only time I have broken down in a BMW was in an early N47 engined E90 320d, on the M1. It had 3,000 miles on the clock and some turbo related component failed rendering the car useless.

My E30 has given me almost 12 months of fault free service, and is usually driven quite enthusiastically..

I'd go with a Z4 all day long, especially a 3.0Si - its a seriously quick car with a lovely exhaust howl. Most of the 2.0 cars are very basic and for girls.

[Bob_S]

I really like the Porsche snob orientated comments.. coming from owners of effectively old scrap.

There's a Porsche snob comment right there, you hit the nail on the head old chap

;) you'll understand when you've owned a forray of it

[jaymos]

I like how a few early comments on here are just quotes from top gear

[bss325i]

As for e30's.. driven properly and they break. Trust me that's why I have sold up. I still have one but it's far from your average 20 yr old car.

As i said, a well maintained E30 can take serious amounts of punishment Bob and not fall appart.

Yes, your average bodged up scrapper will have you underneath it every weekend.

[BMracing]

For me it'd be a tough call between a 3.0si (n52 engine) Z4 and a Boxter S.
I think the Z4 looks nicer but the boxter probably handles a bit better, and be quicker in the real world with its extra torque, probably on track too.

If you do look at Boxters:

www.finlaygorham.com

I know the owner and should be working there over the summer, all his cars are top notch!

[Bob_S]

As for e30's.. driven properly and they break. Trust me that's why I have sold up. I still have one but it's far from your average 20 yr old car.

As i said, a well maintained E30 can take serious amounts of punishment Bob and not fall appart.

Yes, your average bodged up scrapper will have you underneath it every weekend.

That's the key though isn't it.. a well maintained e30.
How many people seriously have a good e30 and then maintain it?
In the scope of the forum I don't think everyone's car is as well kept as they would like.
I think my 24v chariot is testament to all the comments!

Pac.. I don't own a porsche, yet

[DanThe]

Your such a snob Bob_S

[jaymos]

Your such a snob Bob_S

Hes from Cheshire, they are all snobs round that way.

[Z3I]

All I think when I see a boxster is "look that bloke couldnt afford a 911"

all i think when i see someone in a normal e30 is "look that bloke couldnt afford an m3" ;)

pretty daft attitude to have

Spot on comment!

All BMW's Porsches, and Mercs are cars that we buy because the decision to purchase was ruled by the heart. Whether its got a 1.6 or a 6.3, we all bought because we want to be associated with with a cool image, no matter where in the scale we put our purchase. Buy the car that always makes you look back at it after you've parked it, no matter which make. model, engine or badge.
I've owned at 2.8 Z3 for 5 years from new, and a 3.2 Boxster as well, and I think I liked the Z3 more for quite a few reasons.
Just buy what you like!