boxster or z3?

I am considering both the boxster and z3 as a daily driver/commuter. I already have a 996, but dont want to put the unnecessary miles (150/day) on it. I would be looking for something under $20K. I dont know much about either car in terms of reliability. Any suggestions? I figured that I would start on the 996 board first to get some unbiased opinions of the z3.

I paid ~20k for an 01 S this summer. however if I already had a 99 996 I would just keep driving that. your 911 is going to depreciate a lot less than 20k no matter how much you drive it. Post this in the Boxster forum too. you could always buy a 99 996 with high miles for 20k

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Drive both and your decision will be easy. The Z3 will be cheaper to buy, but it pales in comparison to the Boxster. Don't take my word for it. Go for a drive.

+1 on the test drive. I would find it hard to believe that you would pick the Z3, but I am not you.

I have had both a Boxster and 996's that I have used on a long daily commute. Other than the fact that the Boxster is a cab and my 996's were coupes they were both quite similar when used that way. The 996 has more power and the bigger cockpit does make you feel more comfortable. The biggest difference is that the when the top on the Boxster is up your visibility out the back and the sides is not as good as a coupe. On a long commute you really begin to notice that. You would find the same thing with any convertible. You really notice when you pull up to a light and realize just how big a blind spot you have on the rear sides. For that reason alone I would opt for a 996 coupe. Of course if you live in a place you can drive all year top down, that issue goes away.

I drove a Z3 for 7 years. Very different from the P-car, and not as good at many things. But it does have its charms, including being much more easygoing in traffic and much easier to maintain. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions that you don't think would interest the group.

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There's no question here--find a decent Boxster S and enjoy. As far as I'm concerned, the Z3 isn't even in the same class.

I have had both as well and I have never been in a Z that impressed me even a little bit.

Do yourself a favor and buy the boxster. Try the 986 forum for more hands on info!

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+1 I don't understand the financial logic behind running two sports cars instead of one. If you simply *must* have a commuter car, at least make it economical, comfortable and cheap - I recommend more or less any Japanese four-door. Personally, I use my '02 996 day-in, day-out and I'm pretty sure it's cheaper than running a "weekday" car as well.

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+1. If you want a solid DD with a good warranty and nice features for a reasnalbe price, get a Hyunda, Honda, Toyota, etc. If you want to drive a "look at me" car as a DD, just take your lumps with the 996. IMO, having two porsches just to keep the miles down on one isn't a sound financial decision, as BOTH will still depreciate... -td

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Vs a Boxster S, you're absolutely right. Vs a Boxster, the differences start to become a bit more subjective as long as you avoid the 2.3/2.5s. Not advocating for the Bimmer, here. Just saying, horses for courses.

Boxster over the Z3, better all around. I think it's cool you would buy another Porsche as a second car, makes sense to me.

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Fair enough. I do clearly remember the Miata crowd I used to hang with always comparing their cars to the Z3 and S2000, but *never* the Boxster. It was almost like an undrawn line they'd never cross out of respect for the P-car.

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It's an interesting tale. BMW never got it quite right, or at least never soon enough. The Z3's rap came from the ridiculous decision to launch the car with a 4-cylinder engine, and all but confess that it saw a market niche for an upscale Miata. The Porsche was not the original target, because it hadn't launched yet. But in branding, it's often very difficult to overcome your first impression, and that dogged the Z3 forever, no matter how much better the later cars got. What should amuse Porsche owners is that every improvement to the Z3 was an effort to catch up to the Boxster, with the ultimate example being the hastily conceived M Roadster, which was the result of the Boxster S giving them heartburn in Munich. When the Z3 was killed after just over 200,000 units built, some automotive journalist described it as a 'secretary's car'. BMW forums were on fire for weeks after that. Casualty of bad marketing. The later M54 powered cars were terrific, if very different driving experiences from the Boxster (and never quite the handlers). And the M Roadster, if slightly crude, was a rowdy good time to drive.

Z3, no way! Now maybe a Z4 3.0 and a Boxster would be a better choice. I would go Boxster S, Z4 3.0, Boxster, Z4 2.whatever and then to the Z3. But again go drive them and enjoy whatever you like and not what I or others like.

Z3 is a very underdeveloped vehicle. A lot of chassis flex. Even Bmw techs say it's a junk. It is a very simple car and always got kind of left overs as far technology goes. Z4 is so much better. Like others said Boxter would be the way to go.

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Yeah, but those Z4 looks. It's like saying you should date Rosanne Barr because she can cook.

If you're going to buy an inexpensive sports car, I personally like to find a car that, even if a few model years old, still looks new and modern. The Z3 is a discontinued car so to most people, including me, looks a little dated. On the other hand, you can buy a well sorted 1999 Boxster and, aside from a few subtle details known only to guys like us, it still looks like a brand new Porsche. That's why I just bought a 1999 C2 as a daily driver/track learner car. In the two weeks I've owned it, I have been asked innumerable times how much I spent for my brand new 911. You won't get that question in the Z3.

I don't know what the original poster was thinking asking this question on a Porsche forum....

s2000

I had an EU Z3 2.8i Roadster with M suspension prior to my 996 C2 Cab and liked it a lot. It was a very involving driving experience. I've actually choosen one despite intensively test driving a base Boxster and a SLK 230 Kompressor. Sitting just in front of the rear axle makes it feel like driving a kart. However, today I'd go for a Z4. They are reasonable priced on the used car market. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX35G...elated&search=

I have to agree with you hwk72. I had the Z3 2.5 for 6 years and I really enjoyed driving it. It's small and feels like a go-kart. I too enjoyed driving it more than the base Boxter and SLK 230 that I test drove before making my purchase. It felt quick and had lots of low-end grunt making it a pleasure to drive. I think it all depends on what you want the car for. A newer Boxter is obviously faster and more "track-ready". The Z3 offers tons of fun for normal driving and some windy mountain roads. Looks is in the eye of the beholder. I personally think the design of the Z3 is very classic and I believe it will stand up to the test of time much better than the Z4.

A fair assessment, Swede_Matt. I really enjoyed my Z3, too. I had a 2.8 Dinan S. It was a hoot to drive, very easy to live with and (flame suit on) I got WAY more attention in that car than I do in this one, not to mention much less hostility in traffic. But I'm a Porsche guy now. I don't know why on earth I waited so long.

The Z3 is more of a true roadster in that its small, light, long front and short rear. And since its smaller, lighter, shorter car it requires less power to go fast, the epitome of a roadster. It's a great design and the real shot in the arm that the roadster segment needed. On the other hand the Boxster is the roadster of the Porsche brand but not in the same way the Z3 is. Since the first gen Boxster is basically a Carrera from the doors forward, it's a tad large for the classic roadster label, in the Lotus Elan, Miata, Triumph, etc. way. But Porsche made it work in a big way by placing the engine in the middle giving it handling and agility that sets the bar in the roadster class, either classic or modern. But...... you still miss a certain something sitting in a Boxster interior that is identical to a 996 coupe in size and comfort, the classic roadster feel of z3, 550, elan, Miata is really not there in the Boxster, s2000 or the Z4. But its apples and oranges. Now in terms of daily commuting, I wouldn't recommedn driving any small roadster. Too many 2 ton suv's driven by clueless drivers all travelling 80+ mph. I'd hate to be behind one of those Navigators in a Z3 tin can as its about to tip over and fall on top of me. If you are driving far every day and must drive a purpose built roadster get an S2000, Z4 or Boxster. But I would recommend a hybrid. If I drove every day I would have a Prius, leave the sports car for the weekends.

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Going off topic here and I'm putting my flame suit on too ....I have the same exact experience. When the Z3 was new I got tons of attention. However, the biggest difference is the attitude of drivers around you. When I drive my P-car I sometimes feel like it (the 911) is somehow making people around me drive way more aggressive. Cutting me off, racing me, tailgating etc. And I never felt the same thing in the Z3. Love my 911 though. Wouldn't trade it for anything! (ok, maybe for a Ferrari, Aston Martin or GT3)

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+1 The S2000 is an amazing car and you can't beat Honda's reliability and low maintenance costs.

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miata

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+1

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Not sure if you're kidding, but I actually think it's a great car. You can use everything it's got, which is big fun.

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There aren't many quicker ways to carve through SoCal traffic than in a Miata with the top down for 360 visibility. You can fit through almost any gap, and spend most of your time hard on the gas!

I moved from an '03 Boxster to an '01 Z3 2.5. In my experience, the BMW was more fun to drive. This is not to say that it was a better car; rather, I found it to be more fun to drive. It seemed less loaded down with technology, the suspension was firm but compliant (making it a good commuting car), it's overall handling, braking, and steering were real strengths, and the visceral aspects of driving were there, not filtered out like some of today's cars. The driving position was spot on (it seemed to fit like a comfortable old glove), and the car was very responsive in its handling (some would say like a go-kart). As for the engine....BMW makes wonderful in-line 6-cylinder engines. They're smooth, they're torquey, and they sing when you get on it. The car lacks trunk space, so if that's important to you, look at something else. Otherwise, as a former owner of both the Boxster and Z3, I have no hesitancy in recommending the latter. Good luck.

At 150 miles a day cabriolet added road noise can realy were on you. As much as I like our Boxster I find my track prepped 996 easier to take on long drives. One word "Cayman".

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+1 on the Miata idea. Heck, I believe that Bimmer magazine all but called the Miata a better car in its first Z3 review. Anyway, I'm surprised to see such positive Miata talk here...just last week I was wildly laughed at for even calling the Miata a sports car, much less admitting to enjoying driving one...and I really enjoy driving lightweight cars, which is why I still keep my '95 Miata around.

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I was surprised by the anti-Miata bias on the thread you mentioned. I didn't dare say anything there because I don't own a 996 Cab but I dearly loved my '96 Miata. If I'm ever short of the cash to run a Pcar, I'll revert straight to the Miata life (maybe with a '94, to get probably the best model year).

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i am not kidding, miata is a great car with a very reasonable price. the only thing is i am not sure not using it as daily commute, as far as safity goes. it's too small.

if the miata isn't a sports car, then the porsche cab is a freakin' pudding van

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I've recently said that my Miata is more of a sports car than my GT-esque 996 C4 coupe and a couple of P-car owners seemed offended. I'd venture that anyone that knows anything about sports cars wouldn't laugh at a Miata. One person actually claimed in a private message to me that the Lotus Elan that essentially inspired the Miata "barely qualified as a sports car". Ohhhhh-kayyyyyy.

Hi, I have also owned a MY99 Z3 2.8 and I currently have a Boxster 2.7. Both are great in their own ways of course but as VGM911 says the BMW engines are great and the Z3 is an "involving" drive The Boxster has more "image" if that is important - it wasn't for me Regards

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If I was going to say something like that, I think I'd want it to be private

For what it's worth, the Boxster won every head to head competition with the Z3 that I read over the years. As a matter of fact the Boxster, particularly the 987 version, has been highly praised by almost every automobile journalist as being one of the best "street sports cars" on the market. In other words just because a car turns in fast lap times on the nurburgring doesn't necessarily mean that the same car will perform well on the street, but the Boxster does perform well on the track as well as on the street. Personally I like the looks of the Z3, but BMW's forte is building high performance coupes and not verts.

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Really? I've not seen any Porsche Cab with >500hp or Roadster with >300hp but BMW makes them.

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Your post suggests that a sports car should be judged simply by its HP output. By that criterion the Z4 M roadster with its 330 HP is far superior to the Boxster S with 295 HP. IMO the Boxster S is superior to the Z4 M in virtually every category other than HP. This is also the view of every magazine that I have read comparing the two cars, and it's the view of the general public based on the disappointing sales of the Z4 M.

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No, I don't suggest that hp is the rule but you said: "...BMW's forte is building high performance coupes and not verts." and I just showed two high performance convertibles that are not too different from BMW's high performance Coupes. It's correct that most magazines say that the Boxster S outperforms the Z4M on the track and it's also a fact that the M6 convertible is a heavy pig compared to the 997 turbo Cab.