350z or used Porsche?

I need to purchase a new car and for new cars the 350z seems like the best fit in my price range. I am wondering if in the 25 to 30k price range a used porsche boxster or 911 would also work. I don't neccesarily need the newest thing out there but need the car to be reliable for everyday use. What do you guys think? Thanks for your help.

get a used boxster, + it handles better than a 911 cheaper to buy cheaper to insure cheaper to run more luggage space - only two seats (not a prob if you are looking at 350z) less power does't have the 911 image You will have difficulty finding a good low mileage 911 for 25-30k, but a boxster should not be an issue

Here's one thought - If you go the either the Z or the Boxster, Everytime you see a 911 pass by you wish you would have gotten the 911 instead of whatever it is that your driving at that time. Trust me amigo, I know this lesson well. Personally I like both the Z and the Boxster, but nothing is like driving a 911 (996/997), again, it's all relative...... Good Luck..

OK so if it's a boxster, which one do you reccomend; what year, what engine/trans, any specially good options? And what should I look out for? I can afford regular maintenance but not a 12k faliure. Thanks again.

Obviously a 911 would be awsome, but I need to have a low mile or refurbished car for it to be reliable. I don't need the fastest car in town so a base model or a reliable earlier version would be OK. Any reccomendations? Thanks.

Not neccessarily. There are a bunch of 944, 914 guys who don't even want to look at 911. I think same applies to the Boxster.

As a former Boxster owner here are some thoughts.....in the perfect world try to get one with the glass rear window ('02 and newer I think) there are many advantages to it. However if price and options cause you look at the plastic window don't worry because the biggest advantages of the glass is it is easier to take of and less likely to get damaged but the plastic works you just have to be more careful with it. All Boxsters are very fun to drive. Quick and very nimble feeling (much more so than the 911). Drive both the Boxster and the S version. They have different driving characteristics. The base car actually has better low end torque but loses out on the high rpm HP. Which you like will depend a lot on driving style. There are so many options it is almost impossible to say what is best for you. Much of it is comfort and style. Personally I think heated seats and the wind deflector (comes in some of the packages also) are important for extending the top down driving season. PSM is a very nice option but rather difficult to find. Most of the options are about personalization so they are up to you. the MY 00 saw dramatic changes to the interior material used and there was a very noticable increase in power and torque to the base model. Personally I would not get anything older than the 00 becuase of the increase in power and torque because it really improved the around town driving characteristics.

Sounds like a certain someone has a small ego problem. You sound like the type of owner that gives the rest of us a bad name. The 911 is a great car and it's better than the Boxster in some ways (mostly power) and worse in others (handling). I own both and I don't feel better or worse when I see any other Porsche. Back on topic, I would recommend the Boxster. It will fit the price range and has more storage space than the Z. It also handles and looks better than the Z (IMO) and is about 600 lbs lighter. Good luck with your choice!

Get a 2000 or later. Have a PPI done by a Porsche mechanic and have your local dealer pull the service history on the car. If you want the extra power look for an "S", however understand that you will be able to find a newer/lower mileage 2.7 in your price range. If you are concerned about a warranty, buy "certified used" from a Porsche dealer. Good luck...

As a 968 owner who spent extended periods of time in Boxster loaner cars (1 base '01 and 1 '01 S), they are different cars, but both a lot of fun. If you don't feel like you need the fastest car, I'd go with the newest base model you can afford.

My friend has a new 350Z and I have a -new to me- 996. While performance wise they stack up very nicely, I still win when we race, not much, his nose is on my tail at 60 but still. The Z looks great on the outside but the inside is very cheap and plasticy if you ask me. I found my 996 with 17k miles for 41k and am very very happy. While i dont have an ego problem there is something nice in knowning your behind a Porsche. if it were me, and it was not to long ago the 996 is the only way to go. Boxsters are nice, but a 911 is nicer.

350z or used Porsche? u are comparing a datsun with a porsche..... nice......

I've had a 2006 boxster to drive for the last week (car in shop for various small items) and have completely enjoyed it. The 911 and Boxster (imho) are completely different cars suited to individual fancies. I could see owning both . Although the 987 is the newer version, a used Boxster 02+ should be quite similar in overall driving execution, right. If so, I would highly recommend driving them to see which fits your needs and desires more. A 350Z is nice, I've never spent an extended period of time with it.

It is all about what you like when behind the wheel. There are countless times that I walk out into the garage a pick my Z over the 911. Now granted the Z is 24 years old but it is in showroom condition and been in my family since new. Why would I drive it over the 911 so often? Very simple. I love the way it drives and how it feels driving it.....that 81 is a pure rear wheel drift car and extremely fun to drive. Moral to the story: Go drive the Z, and several Boxsters in your price range (both base and S) on extended test drives.....NOT JUST AROUND THE CORNER. You really need to drive some city miles and highway miles. Then sleep on it after the test drives have been done and the next morning after you WILL know which car you long for more.....go buy that one and enjoy with no regrets. Good luck with your decision.

Look for the most/best 911 your budget will allow. You will be pleased

In the 25K range? Not a chance.

If you gotta ask.....911 vs 350Z no comparison.

350z - I had one and traded it in for my first p-car just 3 months ago. For the money, the performance is hard to beat. For a daily driver, it's dirt cheap to maintain - dealer oil filter $5, 5 qts of castrol reg oil $10 and if you trust jiffy lube - $19.95 and you are ready to roll. Downside: the interior was a disappointment; HUGE blindspot on both sides; here in SoCal, 350z & G35 are very popular among the fast & furious crowds, it was extremely annoying to have these kids cutting you off/turning on their blinkers trying to start a race on a daily basis. And mine was 100% stock. Boxster - I don't have one but I am sure you can find an used one with low mileage and great condition in the $25k-$30k range. However, maintenance will cost more. 996 Carrera - I don't think you can find one in that range. Unless you are willing to get a salvage titled or high mileage or one of those "too good to be true" on ebay

You can look at 964s in that 25-30K price range....very similar to my 993, and I use my 993 as daily transport. I would also highly recommend looking at 968s--have never driven one, but it is a much more unique car than the Boxster and even the 911 [not many produced]...left-field choices can be a lot of fun Please let us know what your decision is, and honestly, these cars are NOT cheap to fix when something goes "boom"...you need to understand that if you are coming over to Porscheland, you should have a few grand ready to drop at any given moment should the need arise... Good luck on your search!

Well said. test drive both then listen to your heart...don't just buy a Pcar because the name.

Who is going to let you go on an EXTENDED test drive?

Somebody that wants to sell you a car. Listen, I'm not talking about several days, but enough time to get a good feel for the car in many different condition. If you can swing the overnight deal (usually only a dealer would do this) then better.

Yeah, I guess....maybe. But I may sell my car soon, and there is no way I am letting anyone take an extended test drive.

6 years ago I bought a mint used 968 cab over a new boxter without the slightest regrets. Boxters are nice, but the older boxter couldn't begin to compare to my 968cab. I understand newer boxters are nicer (quality and performance) so it may not apply today. Problem is finding a low mileage 968 in good condition. If you find one, let me know.

OK If a 996 is not practical at $25k-$30k what about an earlier 911 like a 993 or 964? Is it practical to go even earlier like a 3.2 Carrera? I love all of those cars, I just don't know if they are dependable enough. Thanks

OK A little bit of background here. Obviously a 55K Boxster or 75K+ 911 is in a whole differrent league than a 30k 350z. I have been told that now is an excellant time to buy a used Porsche because the supply and prices are favorable to buyers. I don't know if that's true but wanted to investigate the idea. Thanks

Since cost and reliability are the issue, and the top price is $30,000, the best choice is a new 350Z. I have a Boxster and a tt, and fully understand the costs. You can buy a brand new 350Z for $30,000 tax included and pay next to nothing for years. That will not be true of any used Porsche. A brand new car will be more reliable than a used car, and will spare you concerns over new tires, pads, and the next service interval. Wait for the Porsche until costs are not as big an issue. A brand new car warranty will get you a perfect car, while all blemishes will remain with the used one. Porsche certified corrects some of these concerns for an additional $1800, but the cosmetics will be what they are. Your daily transportation is a practical question. Your fun car is emotional. AS

When I was in college I had a 912, and I loved that car. It was lite and when I took it in the hills it stuck like glue. It had no power down low but when it hit the cam it was great. So I feel like a 911 would have what I liked about that car in a 35 years more advanced interpretation. With more power and ac I had a fiero 2m6 with the v6 high output motor and ws6 suspension and had alot of fun in that car. I drove it till it fell apart. It seems to me that a boxster takes that same concept of a 6cyl mid engine and implements it the Porsche way. I have no doubt that I would be happy in a boxster or 911 I'm just not sure about the dependability - would I be able to get the 10-15k miles a year that I would need as a daily driver. In checking out the message boards it seems the only problem the 350z has is tire cupping. In checking out the Porsche boards I have read about more serious problems: https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...3&page=1&pp=15 https://rennlist.com/forums/boxster-and-boxster-s-986-forum/210360-wife-s-550-se-boxster-engine-expired.html https://rennlist.com/forums/boxster-and-boxster-s-986-forum/213751-if-your-boxster-engine-fails-what-will-you-buy-next.html I looked at the wrx and tried to get myself psyched up but couldn't. I respect those cars and the similar evo's and srt 4's for what they are. The idea of an ecomomy car with a big engine that's funny looking is OK for the kids but it's not my cup of tea. The 350z was the closest thing new that I think I could live with. Thanks

Thank you for the input. A Porsche may be to exotic for me. I don't have a problem with tires/brakes/scheduled maintenance, but a major faliure could be a problem. Thanks again.

Before I bought my 911, I test drove the 350z. Over and over, I kept wondering if I would enjoy the 911 twice as much as I would enjoy the 350z (since it costs approx. twice as much). In the end, I concluded that I wouldn't enjoy the 911 twice as much as the 350z, but I'd probably enjoy it 50%-75% more as I really think the laws of diminshing return apply to these two cars. I also concluded that if I bought a 350z, I'd regret not buying the 911 everytime I saw a 911. Now that I've owned my 911 for a year, I don't regret my decision even though the engineer/financial analysts in me can rationalize the decision. For me, it really was an emotional decision. Now to answer your question more directly, I think it really depends on your driving preferences. If you're interested in going to the track and experiencing everything the car has to offer... 1) GET A PORSCHE. Since you're looking for a daily driver and reliability is important, I'd recommend the newest, lowest milage Boxster you can afford. 2) Join PCA and sign up for the next DE event. If you're not looking to spend time on the track and just want a sporty car that will get you to work on time every day, get a new350z. From what I understand, the Nissan enthusiasts aren't as active as the Porsche guys and don't offer as many track events with instructors that can teach you how to drive YOUR car at the limits so you won't have as many opportunities to go to the track in a structured, controlled learning environment. Yeah, there are independent track organications, but my impression is that the independents aren't as well run/organized and safety focused as the Porsche (and BMW) guys. Additionally, a new car with a warranty poses less risk to your bank account. Just my $0.02

A couple other factors to consider: After owning my Boxster for 5 years, I've learned to appreciate how gracefully Porsches age. This cannot be said of most other "trendy" body styles. I expect that in another 5 years, my Boxster will still look great, whereas other cars (same age) will look prehistoric. Also, Boxsters right now are dirt cheap. I would imagine that the depreciation on a used Boxster which has already taken a ridicuous depreciation hit would be less than on a new 350Z. Thus, consider your ownership horizon and not just initial purchase price. Finally, I would go for as close to 2000 as possible. There were significant upgrades starting in Y2K. Skip the newer models for either an extended warranty or bank it for that odd chance you might need it. Everybody makes these cars sound like time bombs, but my Boxster has been more reliable than our Honda. The Honda got the extended warranty, not the Boxster. For me, the mid-engine layout is incomparable, but it depends on what kind of roads you have. I just hope some day, Porsche will build a Boxster/Cayman with one of the big 911 motors. That's what it would take to get me out of mine. And do a good PPI. Good luck!

The local dealership in Austin normally just gives you the keys and you're on your own. I've always put at least 10-15 miles on each test drive. Lots of nice winding roads in the Austin area. -Richard

When I went to UT; we used to rip out on 2222(I think, it's a little hazy) to Lake Travis. That was 20 yrs ago.

Then a quick dip at Hippie Hollow follwed by cocktails at the Oasis !

get an extended warranty the 350z has a **** quality interior - even worse than my 97 boxster some people here have a ***** extension thing going on with their 911 - the boxster in isolation is the best in its class by far AND - with the boxster you have an upgrade path to aspire to also, i'm actually quite likely to 'downgrade' my 996 to a cayman (boxster coupe) http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...n&cardist=1738

Thanks for the info, they have some beautiful cars there

I think you offer very prudent advice. I have two friends at work who own used Porsches. They both bought high mileage 993s at bargan prices, and they absolutely love their cars. These guys love working on cars and spend many weekends either doing routine maintenance or adding another mod. So for someone who has the mechanical ability and the time, a used Porsche is an awesome car. On the other hand if you have all of the maintenance work done by Porsche mechanics, a used Porsche, especially one that has no warranty, can get to be very expensive. One last thought. If you buy a Porsche , buy it because you love its handling, style, sound, etc. Don't buy it because you think it'll impress someone. The vast majority of people aren't car enthusiasts, and they couldn't care less what other people drive.

Some other options http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...81&cardist=100 http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...981&cardist=48

for me, porsche is far better car than 350z. but p cars are also far more $$$ than 350z. forget the purchasing price, alexander stemmer is correct in running costs. if you drive it a lot, you will be eating tires very fast. a cheap set of of 911 tires is 1k. and if there's no warranty, a medium sized mechanical prob will empty your wallet.

beautiful, Thanks

If you can find a '99 with less than 75k miles for less than $30k, and I think you can, run don't walk to buy it. Remember, this was a $75k car that was very well regarded when it was released. And you would buy it at more than 60% depreciated, genius. And have you seen these 350Zs? They look like rolling pieces of turd, inside and out. I don't see how the flys can tear themselves away. Keep in mind I don't even own a Porsche (Corvette baby) so I don't have a dog in this fight.

A 350z runs 17/18" tires 225F/245R and many people recommend upgrading them to 245F/275R on 18" or 19". I'm not sure if the tires are going to be that big of a difference compared to a boxster. What about a low mileage newer boxster like deons mentioned? "2004 Porsche Boxster, LN, 2400 miles, warranty, standard shift, leather, loaded, $28,500 Tulsa" http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...981&cardist=48 Would a low mile boxster be that much more difficult to maintain compared to a Z? Thanks

Like AS said, with a 30k ceiling, warranty should rule the day, go with the 350z, sure it's a peice of crap compared to a 996 but your time will come and you can buy yourself a brand new carrera . Older 911's are not for the frugal, they can break and cost a small fortune to fix, a friend recently had his valve guide 993 situation fixed by an independent shop, 7k. Any car you find for 25-30k is going to have the crap beat out of it and you never want to buy somebodies troubles, buy new whenever you can.

not more difficult, but only a little more expesive than a BMW that car in tulsa is nice. whatever anyone on here says, the boxtser offers 80% of 911 experience for a lot less cash, and if you are a young guy with no ties like kids etc then it could well be a great option. go to a porsche dealer and take a boxtser for a drive theres no way I would own a 350z but i never buy new cars as I like other people to take the depreciation hit I would ALWAYS prefer to drive a slightly older EXCELLENT car than a new PIECE of CRAP like the 350z.

Just traded the O2C2 for an 04 GT3. Went with a CPO rather then private sale due to CPO. I can't afford to own one of these cars without a warranty! As the wise ones have said above......consider the warranty!

Don't understand that. YOu can spend $80-100K on a car yet can't afford it? The car would still have full warranty anyway and the cost to keep the GT3 up are usually not warranty items (brakes, rotors, tires, etc.).

I know this is a pretty long thread but I have to throw this out there for the original poster....... This weekend I had the opportunity to go against a 350Z, not because I wanted to but because I had to..... This was Saturday and I was doing my usual 80 on the highway and came up on a 350Z in the fast lane doing about 65, so I proceed to go around him and pass. I noticed when I made my way into the fast lane he was immediately on my *** and made is seem like I "forced" him into the car pool lane... "Whatever"..... Anyhow about a mile or two down the highway this guy waits until were neck and neck (he's still in the carpool (no passengers) and I'm still in the fast lane. He jumps out of the carpool, swerving in front of me where he proceeds to drop it down to a 20-30 MPH, I figured It's Saturday and I have nothing to do so what the hell.... here we go..... I hop into the next lane, drop it to 2nd gear and punch-it!!! All I have to say is that his head was smaller than his ego by the time I hit 100..... I'm estimating a 15-car spread "at least"...... Sad, sad, sad....... -Eli

What a jackass that guy was. Slamming on your brakes on the highway is just plain stupid.

thats actually what my first thought was!! my 996 has an upfront cost well within my affordibility range and the ongoing maintenance is a bit higher on the scale but still fine. A gt3/turbo for my current income level is just a little bit too much upfront but WAY outside what I can justify for on-going costs

Shark, you are missing the point completely. First off, Depreciation has very little to do with List price of a vehicle. It has to do with supply and demand, and there is a large supply of Boxsters and 996s out there right now, so it's a buyer's market. You could buy a 350Z now and if they are in short supply [Like in the UK], you can almost lose nothing on it after a year. Remember the Mini when it first came out? They were selling over sticker. BMW Z8s have not lost much value. On the same token, I think a lot of people who have bought these cars secondhand realize that they aren't necessarily cheap to operate, so they toss the car when a major problem comes up, hence some of these really low prices. A 1999 with a leaky RMS and a blown clutch would cost $2500 to set right out of pocket immediately after buying the car. The poster was asking about continuing ownership costs, so it was a valid question. I think the true "genius" is you here buddy, as you don't know WTF you are talking about nor did you read his original question. With respect to your second comment, I don't particularly like the looks of the 350Z either, but the poster probably does, hence his question about pros and cons one versus the other. Opinion is opinion, just that. Not right or wrong. Oh, and the plural of "fly" is "flies" GENIUS. Take your lame-*** flaming to another board--no one here wants to hear you run your mouth if you aren't contributing to the matter at hand.

Couple points.... 1. Buy on PPI/history/etc not price......just look at those inside a budget set forth. 2. Your opinion on the Z is out of line. 3. Why are you on this board soliciting advice about Porsche's if you are a Vette guy? 4. Talk about a turd. You are acting like one with comments like that.

When Porsche stopped making the 924,944,968 series, had they introduced the 350Z people would have sung their praises- especially in 1998 or 99. The Z has a bland interior, but the driving dynamics are fine. Porsche doesn't have a better engine than the 350Z V6, the Porsche trans doesn't shift better, and at street speeds, the Z ride and handling are fine. Sub 35K, the Z, WRX STi, and Evo8 are better choices than a used Porsche for everyday use, if cost is an object. Having said that, I'm the guy who put 4 snows on a 964C4 and drove it to 100,000 miles, and put 4 snows on my ttX50. If you can afford it, Porsches are better. But that's a big if. AS

FWIW ---> My latest ebay score These cars are out there, if you're somewhat handy, a 996 can be had for sub $30K.

I've owned several Porsche's. I've always owned German cars. My first was a 2000 Boxster. This was an awesome car. I had it for a year, with absolutely nothing but good times. I upgraded to a 2001 996 C4. Again, perfect car. At the same time my wife upgraded her Audi A6, which was a very high quality car, to a Mercedes M-430. That car was a piece of crap. Anyway, I unfortunately I got laid off and had to downgrade my 996. This was 3 years ago. I'm driving a 1986 911 now, which has 88K miles. I've had to install a new alternator. Other than that I've had absolutely no mechanical problems. I've got the urge to upgrade now and have been thinking about a 993 or even a 996 or maybe even a Boxster. This last weekend I drove a 2005 35th Anniv. 350Z just to see if I could be happy with it. I've got a friend who works at the dealership so I was able to take my time with it. The interior looked cheaper than my co-worker's little Psion. It drove OK and I think as good as the BMW M3 I drove back in 2001, but just didn't give me the same feeling as any of the Porsche's I've owned. I think a good condition 1985-1989 911 is the way to go for inexpensive to buy in and from what I've experienced, and heard from others, just as reliable as my wife's Toyota 4Runner.

The interiors of the pre-996 have really never done it for me.... I know some out there think that the face lift inside was a bad thing but hey we are all intitled to our opinions..... -Eli

I'm the guy who put 4 snows on a 964C4 and drove it to 100,000 miles, and put 4 snows on my ttX50. ___________ that's what they are for... drive them.

As much as I love Porsches, I'm always concerned about recommending them to potential buyers who have limited budgets, unless they have the skill and the time to do most of their own maintenance. Even if you can buy a Porsche for around $30K, it probably cost at least $75K when it was new, and replacement part prices will be in reflective of a $75K car. Having said that I have two close friends who have 993s that they absolutely love, but they do all of their own maintenance and get most of their parts at bargan prices on ebay. So if you can do your own maintenance or are friends with a good mechanic who will cut you a break, a Porsche is the easy choice. Otherwise you can't beat the price and dependability of a 350Z.

It is what it is and a Nissan will never be a Porsche.......

Amen! Scott

My 2 cents: The 350Z's get eaten alive at the DE events I attend. I mean destroyed. Just like M3's. No matter how hard the drivers try, they will always be passed by all the Porsches. Meanwhile, a well driven Boxster can sometimes pass a 911 or two. On paper, M3's, 350Z's, etc. all look very close to being Porsches, but, at the track, the men get separated from the boys pretty quickly. There is a pretty obvious difference between a Porsche and just about anything else. IMHO there truly is no substitute.

*cough* www.lumpocole.com *cough*

LOL. I love it. Honestly, a 350z cannot compare to a 911. If the budget allows it, I would choose the 911. But I've never seen 996s in the 25-30range unless they were severly damaged or are lemons... My friend has the 350z and everytime I'm in it, the interior feels so cheap and "plastic-ey". The exterior looks great though. Also, I wouldn't recommend the Boxster if you are a bigger guy. I've had both (well still kind of do, my cousin drives the boxster S now) and the seats in the boxster are really uncomfortable. Also, when the top is up, i always feel very claustrophobic. But again, that's just my opinion. Handling is great on the Boxster, but you will always be longing for a 911. IMHO

The 350Z's get eaten alive at the DE events I attend. I mean destroyed. Just like M3's ______________ huh??? assuming euqal drivers a well driven e36m3 can keep up with a equally modded 964. a well driven e46m3 should have no prob tail gating or passing a 996. as long as the hp ratings on the m3 and porsche are close, either car may be ahead.

Gents I was only fooling, No Ego Here ! I have both P-Cars My 996 and My 986 S, In this case of point I would choose the 986S, also I never found the rear to be that hard to maintain/clean.

Have you ever considered a 944T or Lexus SC430 series? The Lexus has a wonderful V8 and is very reliable. Peronally I really like my 951. Lots of character and timeless looks. People come up to me all the time saying how cool it is. Most of them don't beleive me when I tell them it is 19 years old. Plus the upgrade path is amazing. For $25k you can have a great looking car with enough speed to outrun most cars you see. Drove a G35 (much better looking than a 350Z) and it is fun to drive around town, but doesn't hold a candle to the 951. It benefits are lots of torque all through the rev range. Around town it is a blast. It really falls down in the interior though. Very cheap. I'd get a 300ZX TT before i'd consider a 350Z. I'm not sure of the guy who says a 350 was close to his 911 0-60. A 350 isn't that fast unless it is seriously modified. I doubt a stock 350Z could beat my Volvo to 60 let alone get close to a 911. They are very heavy and the engine is nice, but not that powerful stock compared to truly fast cars. The 951 will dust a 350Z in every category except instantaneous torque.

Don't forget us 928 guys. I barely gave the Carerra i saw last night a second look...especially after the ***** didn't even bother to return my wave. LOL.

"I just hope some day, Porsche will build a Boxster/Cayman with one of the big 911 motors. " LOL...big 911 motor? <------- that's a big porsche motor.

"I doubt a stock 350Z could beat my Volvo to 60 let alone get close to a 911. They are very heavy and the engine is nice, but not that powerful stock compared to truly fast cars. The 951 will dust a 350Z in every category except instantaneous torque." A bone stock 350Z runs the 1/4 mile in 14.1 seconds. No stock 951 will do that, and if you go back a few years most N/A 911 models won't do that either. Of course most here probably don't care about 1/4 mile times i'm sure, but they do give the most accurate reflection of real world US street performance where speeds rarely(cough...cough) exceed 100mph, especially in city environments. You have to go to a Boxster S to beat a 350Z for straight line acceleration, but i'd personally rather have a non S boxster over a 350Z any day of the week. Boxsters are very sharp little cars, and handle tremendously well. I'd suggest you consider a good 928GT V-8 Porsche....but you already said you don't fix your own cars, lol.

I had same choice, for the price of new STi or 350Z I could have older 911, drove them all and decided that as a kid I layed in bed dreaming about 911, not datsun or subaru. I'm now on second 911, no looking back.

If you're going to say that, you might as well replace the word Porsche with VW.

If you're serious about the 30k range - and also interested in some track time, you should drive the STI. I've driven the 350 on the street and track (back to back with my STI) and I can say there's no real comparison if you're strictly talking performance. I cannot say how well either will do in the long run as I only had my STI for 2 years. I had about 25 track days though on my STI before finally moving to Porsche (40th ann. 996). It may not look very good, but it's extremely effective on the track with some decent springs, pads and a good alignment. That being said, after 2 short weeks with my new car, I'd never go back. Best, Bryan

Here is how I decided, I looked at Sti, 350Z and at the time a '95 993. I figure I won't have a bunch of these types of cars so I went with the one that I dreamed about as a kid- never ever did I dream about a datsun- it was 911. I'm now on my second, a '99 C4 and looking forward to a turbo cabrio. Good Luck!

Imagine Auto has a supercharger kit for the 2.5 Boxster, this increased horsepower to the wheels by 38%. This kit wil. make a non S Boxster just as quick as an S if not faster and it provides great touque. So for the same money you could have a regular Bosxter insurance but S performance. If anybody is intrested just email me at [email removed]

not looking to change course on this thread, but i'm wondering about the 964 c4 cabrio's, you guys got any input