RE: Boxster vs. Z3 vs. SLK: Time for Coffee

RE: Boxster vs. Z3 vs. SLK: Time for Coffee

Wednesday 7th December 2016

Boxster vs. Z3 vs. SLK: Time for Coffee?

Small Porsche versus BMW and Merc tests have been going for 20 years now; here's one of the first!



Isn't it funny how accepted opinions become entrenched in motoring folklore? An opinion is suggested, it gains traction, and then that becomes the go-to judgement on that car forever more. Or so it seems.

Which is why it's nice to revisit contemporary tests of cars to see exactly what the score was back then. This US triple test between the Boxster, SLK and Z3 - as well as featuring some top slacks - is great for discovering just what was made of the three back in the 90s, before the stereotypes set in.

Alright, so you can probably guess the finishing order, but there's no wooden spoon here. All of the cars are found to have their respective qualities, all are apparently enjoyed by the testers and all spring the odd surprise too. Wait until you hear the SLK's 0-60 time, for example, or see the BMW's interior...

So as well as being a glorious nostalgia fest, a video crammed with 90s graphics and very 90s clothes, it's an interesting watch to rediscover just what was made of these three when they were new. Wonder what this triple test will look like in 2037?

See the video here.

Author
Discussion

cluckcluck

Original Poster:

851 posts

184 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
The initial message was deleted from this topic on 13 December 2017 at 14:59

ChilliWhizz

11,990 posts

160 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Zee 3.... Gaaaah

Bencolem

1,013 posts

238 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Good find. Remember the Boxster getting so much criticism for its design when launched (to be fair mainly in comparison to the fabulous looking concept) but it looks great in this context.

Atmospheric

5,305 posts

207 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Can we have more of these please?


Edited by Atmospheric on Wednesday 7th December 13:44

aka_kerrly

12,415 posts

209 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Good find.

I really like all 3 of the cars in different ways.

The Boxster really appeals as they represent good value for money and even a 2.5 would satisfy most. The worry is the cost of one or 2 big jobs that can be quite costly.

The Z3, love the retro styling, a good I6 engine and it has just enough creature comforts with a degree of simplicity. It gets slated for having the E30 back end but not complimented for having a M3 back end??

The SLK, folding hard top is very impressive, certainly adds security and comfort. However Merc just cant make a decent manual gearbox.

Tough call!

Benmac

1,465 posts

215 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
"excellent steering feedback" in the SLK apparently!

That's a surprise to me! My wife has had two, the last one we've had since new and still have 13 years later. I have an odd relationship with it because it embodies a lot of what I hate about some cars in that it is stodgy, unresponsive and that steering feel is more like you'd expect in an oil tanker but the bloody thing has never let us down in 110k miles, just keep on plodding on, and is certainly a comfortable place to be for longer journeys.

suffolk009

5,344 posts

164 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Had an SLK for a while. The poster above's comment about the gearbox is spot on. The manual box was plain horrid. Took the Merc to north Wales, did the triangle amongst other things. Above 8/10ths the handling just fell apart, a truly awful drive.

Since upgraded to a Boxster S. Much better. Better engine, better gearbox, better noise, even a better hood. Took that to North Wales as well. Wow. Just brilliant. Annoyingly good in fact - I'd wanted to hate it, it's my wife's car and she refused to get a Lotus. I was utterly grumpy about it all until I got used to driving it. Its a brilliant complete sportscar. Damn it.

Kawasicki

13,041 posts

234 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
I drove a SLK from this time on the track, it wasn't a particularly sharp tool, but the handling didn't go to pieces at the limit. It stayed quite stable, balanced and the turn in was pretty decent. I enjoyed it. A completely different target market to the Porsche though.

Matt Bird

1,450 posts

204 months

PH Reportery Lad

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Atmospheric said:
Can we have more of these please?


Edited by Atmospheric on Wednesday 7th December 13:44
I feel like I'm giving away some big secret but the 309-video Motor Week 'Retro Review' playlist is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQYkhqx6-xI&li...

Enjoy!


Matt

mko9

2,327 posts

211 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
My wife had a 2001 SLK320 Sport for a few years, and loved it. We sold it because the clearcoat started peeling, and it was going to cost a small fortune to have it resprayed. I am still in the market for a decent replacement, because she wants another one. As said, the 6spd gearbox was atrocious. It was like stirring a bowl of oatmeal, no feel whatsoever. I probably had more missed shifts in that car (which I didn't drive very much) than in all other cars I have ever driven, combined.

Edited by mko9 on Wednesday 7th December 15:22

srdtvr

332 posts

267 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Z3 looks out of proportion so its a no from me
Porche - always wanted one but never achieved high enough status to run one (houses kids blah blah blah)
SLK probably the best car I've owned ( I've had a few!) mainly because I paid Shed money (£1000) had it for 3 years just replaced the odd perishable it did a great job - good fun
sure it was a bit squishy but she lifted up her skirts and went well
If I'd paid a lot for it I may not have enjoyed it as much but I didnt !!

motco

15,918 posts

245 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Is it just me or is anyone else left exhausted by that presenter's delivery?

I have a Z3 6 cylinder but 2.2 not 2.8, and it is a really nice weekend soft top for an affordable price. Unfortunately as a product of the final week of production before the Z4 started, it has the dreaded fly by wire throttle. I hate FBW because it gives a woolley and disconnected feel to the pedal which makes fine low speed control very hard. The DSC stability control is superb though and has saved my bacon on one occasion when a rapid lane change at 70mph was required to avoid a veering car alongside. On a damp road to dial in a big steering input could have left me fishtailing all over the M25, but the DSC calmly seized control and it handled like a 40mph swerve on a dry surface. For a 2002 built car that's remarkable.

devnull

3,745 posts

156 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
FYI, the motorweek channel has plenty of retro vids like this https://www.youtube.com/user/Motorweek

CaptainRAVE

360 posts

111 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
The first SLK was a great little car. That hard top changed the playing field entirely. The bodywork didn't last well on them though. The SLK32 was a beast.

Have since owned each iteration of the 55. Shame AMG are moving away from this model, the 43 is a pathetic car in comparison.

WJNB

2,637 posts

160 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
I've never ben able to get my head around the bland cack-handed styling of the Boxster, until the current model that is. Looks even more boring in silver.
The Z3 was always just a Series 3 in drag - nuff said.
The SLK rear looks too angular but comes across as the more grown-up car suited to real-life day to day driving conditions & variable weather, in the UK especially. In any case Mercedes trumps a BMW or Porsche any day, unless you're a smart-alec salesman or office girl.

MaxA

238 posts

143 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
Unfortunately, of this trio, I've only ever driven the SLK, but while it was nice to look at, the steering/brakes/gearbox were all pretty awful, straight out of a C class. The 2.3 Kompressor seemed unbelievably exotic at the time, but 190odd bhp wasn't enough in a car of that weight. Most of the time, I felt like a bit of a wally.

I'd take the Boxster every time.

Oddball RS

1,757 posts

217 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
Bencolem said:
Good find. Remember the Boxster getting so much criticism for its design when launched (to be fair mainly in comparison to the fabulous looking concept) but it looks great in this context.
I think its safe to say one has aged better than the other two!

ooid

4,049 posts

99 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
I love all of them, great reminder of late 90s. 986 boxster was a win for me though, due to its engine position and handling. Z3 is a beautiful, very well made imho, and still so nice to drive in somewhere like London during spring. SLK wins due to its hard-top and merc engineering.

Bargain classics thumbup

T1berious

2,242 posts

154 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
I remember driving my partners Z3 3.0, I thought the handling was shocking! Looked fab but oh dear, when the Corrado was back from repair it made me realise how good it was.

To be fair the Mrs wasn't mechanically sympathetic, probably needed better tyres and the tracking sorted but it felt at any minute it wanted to dump me into a bush.

motco

15,918 posts

245 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
T1berious said:
I remember driving my partners Z3 3.0, I thought the handling was shocking! Looked fab but oh dear, when the Corrado was back from repair it made me realise how good it was.

To be fair the Mrs wasn't mechanically sympathetic, probably needed better tyres and the tracking sorted but it felt at any minute it wanted to dump me into a bush.


Tyre choice and pressures are important IMHO. I have driven my Z3 on a track when it was too damned cold for my Westfield, and while there's no comparison between the two, the Z handled far better than I had been led to expect by the naysayers. There's an awful lot of received 'wisdom' in the world of cars and the myth of poor handling by the Z3 is an example. Mine, on none too brilliant tyres, would under or oversteer dependent on power input, and remain fairly level on fast cornering. Admittedly the grip in a cold December isn't too good, but it didn't disgrace itself at all. It is essential to switch off the DSC on a track or the brakes - already weedy for such driving - will be cooked in no time as the system tries to spoil your fun. As above, the brakes on mine went long and soft very quickly on standard (fresh) fluid. DOT5.1 will improve them if my son's Z4MC is anything to go by. Perhaps Bluestuff pads as well...