What Car - Boxster or Z4

What Car - Boxster or Z4

Author
Discussion

Rick101

Original Poster:

6,959 posts

149 months

Sunday 22nd November 2015
quotequote all
Hi,

Mrs wants a change of car. Currently in a 57, MX-5 1.8 Coupe, maybe 30k on the clock. I'm guessing worth 5.5-6K.

She likes convertibles so was thinking either Z4 or Porsche Boxster.
She has about 5K plus the Mazda so total budget is around 10-12K.

I don't know a great deal about either car so hoping a few on here could give some pointers. I was thinking about an early Cayman a while back so am aware the Boxters have engine issues but not sure what year these were solved, if ever?

I don't know much about the model spec of either car tbh. Have done some reading about Sports Chrono and PASM but these 'sport' features are overkill. She doesn't want something for fast driving, just a 'nicer' convertible car for posing rolleyes. If we went for the Z4 I'd quite like the 6 pot, I'd guess that's the 2.5 or 3.0?. Porsche would be the 2.7? Only thing she is bothered about is it being reliable and having nice leather heated seats.

Reliability is an absolute priority
Milage is low, maybe 5K per year.
Don't mind buying and older or higher milage car
We are both tall so interior space is a factor
We do have a very good BMW indy near us, nearest Porsche is prob Revolution 1 hr away
We tend to spend the money on purchase, and buy very clean FSH cars rather than cheaper ones that need work


If you see any bargains in the classified, please let me know.

Edited by Rick101 on Sunday 22 November 21:47

Denis O

2,141 posts

242 months

Monday 23rd November 2015
quotequote all
You'll probably get more car for your money buying a Z4.

I owned a 2003 3.0 for a year and found it a bit dull. Quick enough and reasonably economical but dull. Main issue with the Z4 is the steering gets notchy when the car is hot. It's electric power steering and I felt it became almost undriveable. Most people live with it as to resolve it's £3k for a new steering column. They eat springs as well although this is a much cheaper fix and an easy DIY. Oh, almost forgot. Ditch the run-flats, if it still has them. The car is much nicer to drive with regular tyres. A good resource, if you go the BMW route, is http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/

As for the Boxster, I test drove one, hated it and bought a 911, which I loved. Can't help any further on that one.

There is a lady member of the Z4 forum who moved from a Z4 to a Boxster who maybe helpful with your deliberations.

ZesPak

24,421 posts

195 months

Monday 23rd November 2015
quotequote all
We had a short list that contained the s2000,z4,boxster.
Eventually we ended up with the SLK, it has been a great car. The z4s interiors didn't seem to stand the test of time from the cats we've seen.
As for the Z4 vs the Boxster, the Z4 is the more practical car by a mile. Forget about any meaningful cargo with the Boxster. As for how they drive, the moment you get in the Boxster, it's hard to deny it's a sports car rather than a nice rwd convertible like the rest of them.

Rick101

Original Poster:

6,959 posts

149 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
Test drove a 2008 Boxster S yesterday. Well specced and well looked after car with chrono and pasm, high miles at 98k but drove very well.

Had been thinking an early Z4 but saw a couple at Sytner main dealer which weren't too far from our upper budget. Now considering an 2009/10 Z4 if we can find the right one.

Did like the porsche but mrs thinks it might be too much too soon coming from a 1.8. A 2.7 is an option but i can get the 3.4 we test drove at a comparable price so seems silly to buy the smaller engine.

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
Rick101 said:
Test drove a 2008 Boxster S yesterday. Well specced and well looked after car with chrono and pasm, high miles at 98k
In your situation I wouldn't buy that one. Spend your money on a more basic car, perhaps a 2.7 without all those go-faster toys which will never get used. IMO you will achieve better value that way.

Orangecurry

7,398 posts

205 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
I'd go Boxster 2.7 - DYOR as I am not an expert on these engines, but the 2.7 allegedly has the least issues IIRC.

Sometimes size isn't everything.

Tuvra

7,920 posts

224 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
Not a convertible, but start at £13k nowadays:-

Nice Cars....

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
Rick101 said:
Reliability is an absolute priority
Why?

Even more so when:

Rick101 said:
Milage is low, maybe 5K per year.
Lets face it, most modern cars, since maybe 1970'ish have all been pretty reliable on the whole. Maybe you are fussing way too much over something that really has little or no importance in your buying decision.

lostkiwi

4,584 posts

123 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
Rick101 said:
Test drove a 2008 Boxster S yesterday. Well specced and well looked after car with chrono and pasm, high miles at 98k but drove very well.

Had been thinking an early Z4 but saw a couple at Sytner main dealer which weren't too far from our upper budget. Now considering an 2009/10 Z4 if we can find the right one.

Did like the porsche but mrs thinks it might be too much too soon coming from a 1.8. A 2.7 is an option but i can get the 3.4 we test drove at a comparable price so seems silly to buy the smaller engine.
I seem to recall reading (and I hasten to add I am not an expert on these by any means) that the 3.4 is the one to avoid as they are prone to bore scoring/scuffing issues as well as intermediate shaft issues.

I'm sure someone will be along soon with more info on these issues.

Rick101

Original Poster:

6,959 posts

149 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
Thanks all.

To briefly answer some questions

3.4 vs 2.7 - in terms of value i can get the 3.4 with toys for less than a 27 without. Seems Silly to pass up a better car even if it won't be used to its full potential.

Reliability is because it is for the mrs who is a great worrier and would be 8n a right fret over regular faults. The MX 5's we've had over last 5 years have needed nothing more than regular servicing and usual consumables.

3.4 ims and bore scoring are a concern but figure at 98k with a good service history from reputable specialists it should not be a problem. I may get car checked over before committing if we were to go for the porsche.

PHmember

2,487 posts

170 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
I had a 3.2 Boxster S (02 986) for a few years before my current 3.0 Z4 Coupe.

Briefly, the Porsche wiped the floor with the BMW in handling & driveability. Although it's not a completely fair test as the BMW is still on the awful runflats.

I feel that the BMW engine is better & accelerates through the entire rev range better than the Porsche.

The Porsche has plenty of luggage space with the two boots - & the front 'boot' being reasonably deep.

Not much in it between the interiors in my opinion.

I didn't suffer with any of the IMS or RMS failures that the Internet will tell you are mandatory for Boxster ownership.

I love the way the Z4 Coupe looks, but wouldn't choose a Z4 convertible over a Boxster.

Also if you're driving it in the winter you may prefer the Porsche with its mid-engine over the driven wheels, but that's quite an extreme reason to choose one over the other.

budfox

1,510 posts

128 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
I bought a 3.0Si Z4 Roadster having considered a Boxster 2.7.

The Porsche was cheaper and from a trusted friend, but there was nothing to make me want it other than the fact it was a Porsche.

The Z4 was quicker, a lot newer, better looking, more practical, almost certainly cheaper to repair, better equipped and cheaper to fuel and insure.

TommoAE86

2,659 posts

126 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
I get a lift in a Z4 coupe everyday, its a lovely machine and the convertibles have a better ride than the coupe's though you may find the interior a little cramped

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

190 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
Lets face it, most modern cars, since maybe 1970'ish have all been pretty reliable on the whole. Maybe you are fussing way too much over something that really has little or no importance in your buying decision.
If it's your only car even 1 break down is a pain, and on a Boxster potentially expensive.

mat205125

17,790 posts

212 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
Rick101 said:
Reliability is an absolute priority
Sounds like the 3.0 BMW is going to be the better option then, albeit it will lack the driver appeal of a Boxster.

Sadly the budget is shy of what a Z4 //M roadster will require.

Personally, I'd put the funds into a Boxster S, and buy the very best that I could afford, to minimise the risk of some of the documented Porsche weak points.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
james_gt3rs said:
300bhp/ton said:
Lets face it, most modern cars, since maybe 1970'ish have all been pretty reliable on the whole. Maybe you are fussing way too much over something that really has little or no importance in your buying decision.
If it's your only car even 1 break down is a pain, and on a Boxster potentially expensive.
But any car can break down. So is the risk really any higher? I suspect we are talking lottery winning odds here.

As for expensive, maybe. But that can be true for a lot of cars too. If you had the replace the engine in the BMW, would it be substantially cheaper?

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

190 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
But any car can break down. So is the risk really any higher? I suspect we are talking lottery winning odds here.

As for expensive, maybe. But that can be true for a lot of cars too. If you had the replace the engine in the BMW, would it be substantially cheaper?
:shrug: For the use described in the OP I guess any car would be fine. But going from a low mileage Japanese car to a car that shares most parts with a £60k 911. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

mat205125

17,790 posts

212 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
........ If you had the replace the engine in the BMW, would it be substantially cheaper?
Probably a lot cheaper, as I'd find a nice low mileage 3 or 5 series in the scrappy to donate a good used motor to swap in it's place.

Not remotely conceivable in a Boxster, and much less likely to be a driveway job too.

Statistically, therefore, the Porsche could be argued to be more likely to go wrong. Potentially order of magnitudes more expensive if it did. Much more difficult to work on for a home mechanic, and therefore more time consuming and expensive.



Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
Rick101 said:
3.4 vs 2.7 - in terms of value I can get the 3.4 with toys for less than a 2.7 without.
Ask yourself, why is that?

Rick101 said:
Seems silly to pass up a better car even if it won't be used to its full potential.
Define "better".

Quickmoose

4,482 posts

122 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
quotequote all
I've just been through the exact same 'choice'
Started with TTS
Went to Z4 i35s - forums were a dpressing place to be given the multitude of issues faced.
Went 2.7 987 06 - superb but I had that nagging feeling that for little extra cash I could have the xtra grunt....
Went to 3.2 987 S 06 - got cold feet about funding it as an ongoing prospect...I hate the internet sometimes

Ended up buying a mint S2000.
Why?
I'm a Porsche fanboy but financially I just didnt feel comfy with the upkeep... I might've gone in for the risk for the right colour/spec (but a mass of grey, dark grey and black cars with black interiors bored me)
I drove them all...and The Porsche oozed character and class.

The S2000 though, will lose a lot less money, is more relaible, more affordable IF they go wrong, and after a test drive displayed an equal/alternative character to the Boxster...love the digi-dash, the vtec noise and most of all the 'rifle-bolt' gearchange: The others have nothing on that.

I also got hung up on £490 a year tax, so I got the best early 06 I could find.
Hardtop, FHSH, Miltek exhaust, K&N, AEM ecu upgrade, below average mileage but not a garage queen....all of which left me budget for new roof (a 10 year old roof no matter what condition the rest of the car is 'tired' IMO) and a few other improvements to come.

2 or 3 years of sunny day use and I may move onwards and upwards, but the S2000 deserves your attention and a test drive.