What are they talkin' about?

[Doug Zielke]

The latest Excellence magazine pits an S against a regular 2.7 model. They give the nod to the regular car, calling it "sweeter" or some such editorial nonsense. I respect Excellence's writers, but don't know what the hell they're smokin' down there in NorCal.

Would I trade my S for the vanilla version? Having driven both, the answer would be:
NO WAY!

[Wayne 962]

Interesting, I'll have to check that out...

-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

Okay, they said that the 'S' model is probably not worth the extra 20% increase in price over the base model ($9000). You get some more trim, the larger engine and a six-speed gearbox.

They also mentioned that the six-speed might be considered a bit too much for around-town driving - they might be right on that.

If the two cars were identically priced, then yes, there would be no question, but they're not. Excellence's point was that the base model is not visibly inferior to the 'S' model, and that you are paying a heavy price for the luxury of the larger engine, and the 6-speed gearbox...

-Wayne

[Doug Zielke]

The price difference? If you were to mod the 2.7 engine to make the same (reliable) power,
then, buy and install the S brakes and 6-speed transaxle.....you'd have spent far more than 9k. Not to mention the workmanship and warranty issues.

[Wayne 962]

That is true, but I can say that about putting a 3.2L in a 911SC as well. I think that what they were saying is that pound for pound, the price difference wasn't generally worth the extra 20% in price.

It all depends upon what you're looking for. I'm sure some people scrape together enough money to purchase/finance a Boxster, and some have enough to buy an 'S' in mere pocket change! For those in-between, I think it offers a good compromise...

-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

A more appropriate comparision or test might be the Boxster 'S' to the 911 Carrera Cabriolet, or the Boxster 3.4L modified RUF car to the 911 Carrera Cabriolet...



-Wayne