Porsche Boxster Vs Nissan 350Z

**YO!Edward** · 07.19.06, 04:11 PM

Yo! I am currently in the market for a new ride and have whittled it down to two real fine cars. The Porsche Boxster and the Nissan 350Z.

Right now it is neck and neck between these two. The Boxster (due to me not being very rich) would be a 2000 - 2001 model with approx 30k on the clock. The Nissan would be around a 2004 - 2005 model with approx 10k on the clock. Both these cars are famed for reliability and quality of build so buying into the second hand market shouldnt be too much of a problem as long as I have full service history etc.

Anyway, I went to view a Nissan 350Z the other day and it blew me away. What a car! Sat in it and fired it up and the 3.5litre V6 sounded amazing....just couldnt help but think of driving along with Halen jamming out at high volume. Total Van Halen style car. Only slight concern with this is from certain angles (behind I think) this car looks a bit boring - and its a Nissan.

Not yet viewed a Porsche but the Porsche is well, a Porsche! They look cool, and the 3.2 S version (which is what I would prefer) can rival the Nissan on power and speed. Only slight concern is that you see a lot of chicks driving these cars where I live (england)

Bit of background info on me is that I am 25 and at Law school and single. So basically this is a car for me to enjoy and ride around in with Halen blasting out loud!!!

Interested in everyones opinions. I do have a MUCH more in depth knowledge of the ins and outs of these cars and have been researching for like 6 months - I just dont wanna bore you with all that! Sorry no pics either cus I dunno how to post em on here but if you google image search you will get em quicker probably! Thanks for any views!

**OLO** · 07.19.06, 07:02 PM

I have spent a fare amount of time behind the wheel of a Boxster, my Mom owns a 2003 Boxster S. Its fast, very fast, not 911 fast but still very fast. I would say driving a Boxster is like driving a go kart that has been on steroids for 5 years. Comfortable on long drives, I drove it to Spokane, Wa for a weekend its a 5 hour drive from. Seattle. Not once did I fell uncomfortable. The automatic top is very nice and goes up and down with out a hitch, just push a button and it does its thing. You will have to twist a lock down that sits above the mirror, the days of getting out of the car to put the top down are over. When the top is up is a quiet ride, not a lot of road noise, I drove a 911 rag top years ago and it was very noisy when the top was up, lots of wind noise.

Trunk in the back and the front, plenty of room for bags and stuff. Don't expect to move a washer and dryer in a boxster but a few bags fir fine.

The cab is classic Porsche, leather, very clean, very simple not a lot of bells and whistles. It doesn't have much room though, there is no room behind the seats. Well you could fit a hat and a coat behind the seats but that's it. No drink holders, this is a pain in the ass if you stop at a espresso stand and have to hold a cup of extremely hot coffee. Great sound system. With the top down the wind is not much at all, the way they designed the car you don't have to worry about losing your hat.

You have to really give it some gas when letting out the clutch, you almost have to gas it twice or it will die. Once you are rolling its a exciting car, it corners like its on rails. I have driven my Moms car pretty hard a few times and it does not budge. If you push the car to a point a hidden fin pops up out of the back to help stabilize the car, it will go back down on its own once you slow down. G-forces and speed set fin off. I had to read the manual one time because it didn't go down on its own, I had to manually role it back.

Maintaining the Boxster is a bit pricey. My Mom took it in one day to have a tune job and some minor other stuff. The tune up $900, her total bill was $1400.00. Once again its a Porshe you are going to pay.

Overall the Boxster is a great car.

I have no idea about the Nissan. My guess is the Boxster will always get a higher resale price just because its a Porsche.

**jrk5150** · 07.19.06, 07:07 PM

Not an expert on either car, but my first thought would be maintenance - not just anyone can work on a Porsche, and they tend to cost a lot of money even for an oil change. A Nissan is, well, a Nissan, and most can work on that.

But a Porsche just might get you laid, not sure a Nissan will do that...

**jimmy** · 07.19.06, 07:39 PM

I was watching a show one time about Cars.....it was a British show...can' t remember the name...anyhoo.

The guy said the only people who buy Boxsters are the one's that can't afford 911's.

I'd score a used NSX

**fast98dodge** · 07.19.06, 07:43 PM

You're probably thinking of Top Gear, the greatest car show on Earth...

Now for my $.02

Save your money and buy a Challenger in 2008...

**Brett** · 07.19.06, 07:51 PM

If you can't afford the maintenance, then you shouldn't be owning a Porsche. Keep that in mind...and they do need work from time to time. You can't just take it to anyone either.

I raced a Boxster S off the line about a year ago, and blew the shit out of him. So either he was a complete retard who didn't know how to shift right, or maybe it wasn't that fast. I bet he felt stupid getting smoked by an American car that cost half as much though.

The 350 Z's do nothing for me. Very bland looking.

And yes if those Challengers look anything like those pics I've seen...totally badass.

**blacknblue** · 07.19.06, 11:11 PM

I haven't seen what the new Challengers will look like. Don't know what the Nissan looks like, either (wasn't that the company that used You Really Got Me in an ad?), but I've always been a sucker for a Boxster. Test drove one once. Wish I could afford one!

**twonabomber** · 07.19.06, 11:38 PM

my dad's worked on some Porsches. even if you can find someone like him that's reasonable on the labor, parts are still gonna be pricey.

**YO!Edward** · 07.20.06, 03:08 AM

Yup some good points. I think the maintenance, parts and servicing could become the deciding factor. Heard some scary stories of the price of replacing brake disks on Boxsters and I aint even gonna go into the price of wheels!

**ZeoBandit** · 07.20.06, 05:57 AM

The Boxster is a slow dog, and the Nissan has had a few significant maintenance issues with it (Tire feathering anyone?).

Save your money. Get a GTO, Charger SRT-8 or a Mustang GT. All will kick the crap out of both cars and cost a fraction of the price long term.

**YO!Edward** · 07.20.06, 07:25 AM

Dont forget I am in England! The American cars you are mentioning are nice but maintenence and parts on those is even worse than Boxters and 350Z put together!

Plus the fact that they are rare and this makes them more expensive than the prices you will be paying in the US.

Although I do really like the new Mustang

**ZeoBandit** · 07.20.06, 08:34 AM

Then just get a Mini Cooper S!

**YO!Edward** · 07.20.06, 11:38 AM

Ewwwwww lol

**MF5150** · 07.20.06, 09:58 PM

The Nissan 350Z are sweet looking cars in my opinion. They really catch your attention if you see one driving down the road, yet it isn't so flashy that it makes Ray Charles flinch like some other cars.

If I had to pick between Porsche and Nissan I would have to pick Porsche, however between the Boxter and the 350Z I would definately pick the 350 just because it looks so much better in my opinion. I feel that the Boxters look stupid. They look retarded in my mind. still nice cars but I think they look dumb.

**YO!Edward** · 07.21.06, 07:21 AM

Man I wish I knew how to post pics. If you put some SWEET alloys on the 350Z it TOTALLY changes the look of the car and makes it piss all over the Boxster.

One of the 350Zs I am lookin at has VOLK LE37 alloys on (approx £2000 for a set of four - approx $3500) and it makes the car look amazing!

But come on when it comes to the crunch and your off to pick up your date....rolling up in a Porsche will always have more impact when it comes to her big end of the night decision! lol

Anyway, off to look at a Boxster S today. Will report back soon!