Z4 3.0L or Boxter 3.2 S ???!
Discussion
Hello, So after running around in a 323i for 10 months after selling my 450hp Nissan it is time to get something a bit more 'fun' again! Sorry Auto BM, you are 'fun' and oh so reliable, but you always knew it was going to be a short term affair.. 'SOTW here you come!' 
Narrowed down my choices to the 2 cars in the title. Had looked at S2000's as well but they just don't do it for me like these two!
- upto 6k budget
- 2 seater
- Fun and fast
- As much power as possible!
- Reliable (ish)
- Holds it value (will prob sell after 12 months)
At the moment, the BM is winning for me. I can get a newer car (03-05 as opposed to 99-01 for the Boxster) for the money and i really like the looks, the build quality and interior is lovely, so much more modern feeling than the Porsche interior! This car will primarily be a weekend fun car but also my daily commuter (all of 8 miles!) so needs to be reliable. I know the Boxster has more power but if im honest, i am a little bit scared of it going wrong and ending up with a money pit! With the BM, i know the engine is a lot more reliable and less 'needy' than the Porsche
Have looked at a couple of each but not driven either yet, so keen to hear peoples opinions! Ta!
Ideal Boxter: http://goo.gl/EFEHHJ VS. Ideal BM: http://goo.gl/Czbb2G
Narrowed down my choices to the 2 cars in the title. Had looked at S2000's as well but they just don't do it for me like these two!
- upto 6k budget
- 2 seater
- Fun and fast
- As much power as possible!
- Reliable (ish)
- Holds it value (will prob sell after 12 months)
At the moment, the BM is winning for me. I can get a newer car (03-05 as opposed to 99-01 for the Boxster) for the money and i really like the looks, the build quality and interior is lovely, so much more modern feeling than the Porsche interior! This car will primarily be a weekend fun car but also my daily commuter (all of 8 miles!) so needs to be reliable. I know the Boxster has more power but if im honest, i am a little bit scared of it going wrong and ending up with a money pit! With the BM, i know the engine is a lot more reliable and less 'needy' than the Porsche
Have looked at a couple of each but not driven either yet, so keen to hear peoples opinions! Ta!
Ideal Boxter: http://goo.gl/EFEHHJ VS. Ideal BM: http://goo.gl/Czbb2G
They both seem to come with a rake of problems and as much as I'm not a fan of Honest John, it's probably still worth looking into some of the issues:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/bmw/z4-2003/?...
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/porsche/boxst...
Compared to: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/honda/s2000-1...
How about old school: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
Or: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
There's also the 9-3 Convertible 2.8T - bags of torque and pre 2006 will be cheaper tax.
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/bmw/z4-2003/?...
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/porsche/boxst...
Compared to: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/honda/s2000-1...
How about old school: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
Or: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
There's also the 9-3 Convertible 2.8T - bags of torque and pre 2006 will be cheaper tax.
Out of those two I'd take the Porsche - it's faster, has infinitely better steering, a better ride, a better balanced chassis, better brakes and just generally feels much more special to drive.
If it was the Z4M you were considering, it'd be a bit more of a competition. I'd still take the Boxster but because I prefer it rather than because I think it's objectively better than the M.
In my case, in roughly the same position as you (but with a slightly higher budget) after test driving loads of cars), I ended up buying an Elise and haven't regretted it for a moment. You wont get an Elise for 6k, but you might get a VX220?
If it was the Z4M you were considering, it'd be a bit more of a competition. I'd still take the Boxster but because I prefer it rather than because I think it's objectively better than the M.
In my case, in roughly the same position as you (but with a slightly higher budget) after test driving loads of cars), I ended up buying an Elise and haven't regretted it for a moment. You wont get an Elise for 6k, but you might get a VX220?
Edited by kambites on Friday 6th June 11:34
Z4 3.0 for me.
They are a solid car... Only real issues are snapped rear springs (cheap to fix) and the electric roof motor (getting cheaper to fix). Great sound, WAY more modern looking than the Boxster, good MPG (for what is is), as fast as you'll ever need etc.
If we were talking £10-£12k I'd pick the Boxster, but at £6k I'd rather take an 03/04 over a 99/01.
They are a solid car... Only real issues are snapped rear springs (cheap to fix) and the electric roof motor (getting cheaper to fix). Great sound, WAY more modern looking than the Boxster, good MPG (for what is is), as fast as you'll ever need etc.
If we were talking £10-£12k I'd pick the Boxster, but at £6k I'd rather take an 03/04 over a 99/01.
Yeah, see the Honestjohn link on the Boxster just puts me off it even more! That engine worries me! The BM is simple / reliable, engine in the front (you can get at), tough gearbox and RWD ( all be it missing an LSD).
I am sure when i drive both i will love the Porsche more but i know everytime i drive it hard i will be worrying about it going t**s up! Been there with my 200sx many a time!
Like the White 350 in the link above.. Shame its not a drop top!
If the Z4M was in budget... this thread wouldn't have started and i would be driving one now! LOVE them! (Maybe next year!)
I am sure when i drive both i will love the Porsche more but i know everytime i drive it hard i will be worrying about it going t**s up! Been there with my 200sx many a time!
Like the White 350 in the link above.. Shame its not a drop top!
If the Z4M was in budget... this thread wouldn't have started and i would be driving one now!
LOVE them! (Maybe next year!)What do you really want from this car?
We just bought a Z4 for my wife. It's a nice place to be with the roof down, and it feels like a quality item. You feel kind of cool in it.
It also lacks driver involvement. The steering is numb, there is too much travel in the clutch and accelerator, the gearbox is very notchy, you can't see out of it that well and it rides far harder than there is any justification for. I have a mk1 mr2 which is twice as satisfying to drive.
It doesn't give you that confident, agile, "one with the machine" thing that you really want it to. You never quite feel in full control.
A decent cruiser, but one with a pointlessly hard ride.
All the reviews seem to love it though.
PS - Absolutely excellent turning circle.
We just bought a Z4 for my wife. It's a nice place to be with the roof down, and it feels like a quality item. You feel kind of cool in it.
It also lacks driver involvement. The steering is numb, there is too much travel in the clutch and accelerator, the gearbox is very notchy, you can't see out of it that well and it rides far harder than there is any justification for. I have a mk1 mr2 which is twice as satisfying to drive.
It doesn't give you that confident, agile, "one with the machine" thing that you really want it to. You never quite feel in full control.
A decent cruiser, but one with a pointlessly hard ride.
All the reviews seem to love it though.
PS - Absolutely excellent turning circle.
Did you drive the S2000? Because I was after similar cars to yourself, until I drove the S2000... then looked at all the bills for the Z4 and Boxster, and decided I wanted money in my pocket and bought the s2k. Honda come top of all the reliability tables for good reason and the s2k is no exception...
Bennet said:
What do you really want from this car?
We just bought a Z4 for my wife. It's a nice place to be with the roof down, and it feels like a quality item. You feel kind of cool in it.
It also lacks driver involvement. The steering is numb, there is too much travel in the clutch and accelerator, the gearbox is very notchy, you can't see out of it that well and it rides far harder than there is any justification for. I have a mk1 mr2 which is twice as satisfying to drive.
It doesn't give you that confident, agile, "one with the machine" thing that you really want it to. You never quite feel in full control.
A decent cruiser, but one with a pointlessly hard ride.
All the reviews seem to love it though.
PS - Absolutely excellent turning circle.
I need this car to be reliable as well as fun. If it was fun (heart) first then the Boxter would be top of the list. We just bought a Z4 for my wife. It's a nice place to be with the roof down, and it feels like a quality item. You feel kind of cool in it.
It also lacks driver involvement. The steering is numb, there is too much travel in the clutch and accelerator, the gearbox is very notchy, you can't see out of it that well and it rides far harder than there is any justification for. I have a mk1 mr2 which is twice as satisfying to drive.
It doesn't give you that confident, agile, "one with the machine" thing that you really want it to. You never quite feel in full control.
A decent cruiser, but one with a pointlessly hard ride.
All the reviews seem to love it though.
PS - Absolutely excellent turning circle.
SO the Z4 kind of sits nicely in-between both, hence why it is currently top of the list. The fact remains that i am yet to drive them so i may end up hating them both!
Hard ride doesnt bother me. Used to that from my old 200sx on coilovers. I know what you mean RE: accelerator pedal, i think most BM's suffer from this.
I have been a passenger in an S2K but not driven one. I know the engine is great.. im just not a 4 cylinder fan! Plus i like torque!
BRMMA said:
I've owned a 986 S and Z4 3.0si
the Z4 will definitely cost you less to run and will frustrate less for doing more mundane duties, however for driving hard the Boxster is by far the better car
Exactly this. I've just changed from 986S (3.2l) to a Z4 coupe (3.0l). the Z4 will definitely cost you less to run and will frustrate less for doing more mundane duties, however for driving hard the Boxster is by far the better car
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Z4, it's really grown on me. Faster in a straight line than my Boxster, but the Boxster is in a different league in the corners.
I feel no regret at selling the Porsche, but I'd also gladly have one again.
I've my my Z4 3.0 5 years, superb car, still feels fairly modern/solid and looks more than it's worth. Boxster was a more fluid and involving drive but the Z4 has less issues, costs less to run, and interior is way better. Also it sounds awesome when you take the soundfoam out (1min job).
Change the runflats for normal tyres for a better ride. Mines got the dreaded roof problem, and Ive had 2 cracked springs. Great car.
Change the runflats for normal tyres for a better ride. Mines got the dreaded roof problem, and Ive had 2 cracked springs. Great car.
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