370Z or Boxster?

pulpz · 01-19-2010, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerBee370

Having owned (wifes car) and driven a Boxster for a number of years, I can give a simple point by point opinion of each.

Boxster:
Pros--
- Great fair weather car (can't beat a convertible with the sun on your face).. however the 370z has this covered now as well.
- Surprisingly comfortable on longer trips
- Trunk space is a bit better than expected and for those really large items, you can always drop the top and use the passenger side to get that coatrack home

- Superb handling in stock form.
- Nice features, quality feel.

Cons--
- Quick but runs outta steam compared to lesser priced cars (370z)
- Chick car styling. Let's face it, this is a chick car. (The Cayman isn't much better as it's called the "Cockster")
- Expensive upkeep.
- For the price you pay, Porsche's ALWAYS need to come equiped with STANDARD things such as Xenon lights, multi-disc CD players, etc. They do not.
- Did I mention it's a chick car? The only thing a guy could drive that looks more pathetic is a VW Beetle.

370z:
Pros--
- Interior styling and quality is on par or better than that of the Boxster (well it is with my touring package anyway)
- More powaa!!
- I've seen women driving them and it's sexy but it's not a "chicks car" like the Boxster.
- Lower maintenence costs.
- Lot's more pro's...

Cons--
- Small trunk space. It was better in the Boxster.
- Same blind spots as a Boxster with it's top up.

Porsche is a strong company but if I ever get a Porsche again (and I plan to), it will be a GT2 or GT3. Between the Boxster (or even the "Cockster") and a 370z... There's really NO comparison. 370z all the way.

I think your assessment is pretty fair - as you've said you've owned them both.

However, I have to disagree with comfort. I test drove a '09 Cayman (not S) the same day I test drove the 370Z. The 370 has a greater seating position latitude than the Boxster/Cayman. I couldn't get the Cayman into a comfortable position for even local driving. I couldn't imagine a long trip.

No upper leg support and and no room for leg extension. My knees were butted against the steering wheel, with the seat in the full back position.

I am 6'2", 230 lb, which is makes me taller than average, but I was surprisingly disappointed, considering this is a German engineered car. But given the platform (short wheel base, and mid-engine) it's an inevitable design constraint.

So as much as I loved driving the cayman, and have always wanted a p car, this alone eliminated it from my consideration.

Furthermore, Its one of the things i really like about the 350/370 as stand out value compared to other sports cars- plenty of leg, hip, and elbow room (more so in the 350, but still very accommodating in the 370). Just wish it had a telescoping steering whee.

One other note - my '09 Acura TSX 6MT accommodates by far the most perfect seating position (for me) I've experienced in any of my 20+ years of driving.