BMW Z4 or Porsche Boxster? which is better? pls help

[fauxhawk]

hi tsikoteers, im a newbie here, hope i get helpful responses. i'm not well versed w/ technicalities of a car. i just buy whatever i fancy that's within my budget. right now, a bmw z4 is giving me sleepless nights. however, my friend showed me his posche boxter s in yellow, a 2005 bought for 3.5m. my budget is around 2.5m only so that can get me a bmw z4 2004 matic, or a boxter 2002 i think. which do you recommend in terms of overall appearance, performance, maintenance, "headturning" factor, etc. pls help peeps. if any of you is also selling those, you may pm me. thanx

[hungryalien]

errmm tough decision.. i've driven only the 3.0 liter z4 briefly and a stock boxster (not s) from sta rosa back to manila. i would say the 3 liter z4 got more power but since the local version is only 2.5L so medyo iba rin (190hp?).. i wasnt too impress with the boxster that time. it sounded nicer than the z4 though and i got a thumbs-up from a bunch of big bikers on the highway as they zoom pass me hehe

as for looks, you can go mild to wild with the boxster and i think there are more kits, rims, aftermarket parts for the porsche din than the z4..

so most likely i will pick the boxster lalo na kung 5 speed manual tranny.. kung pasok sa budget, get the boxster s which comes with 6 speed manual tranny.

[Bry]

Between your choices, I'd pick the Boxster.

For 2M I'd take a look at the 350Z and S2000.

[Type 100]

Posing power? Definitely the Z4

Driving? Surprise, the Z4 again

The only real sore point is the lack of a manual gearbox here.

Any photos of the Boxster you were offered? I'd pass on it if it were the older 986 model (too awkward looking), but the 987 is worth a test drive.

[drey]

Get the Boxster... Remember, it's a Porsche, it's still well-balanced, and you get better brakes. The Z4 is just too Americana for me. In a Porsche, I believe you get better quality, but check the clutch, to test it, take it for a test drive, feel the biting point of the clutch, and check for slips. Another thing to check is the oil filler cap, it's colored yellow located in the rear baggage compartment, check if the there's a white mayonnaise thingy. If it reaches the cap it might be a sign of cylinder imperfections which means a change engine.

The digital odometer of the Boxster is easy to hack... Check the condition of the seats, dashboard if it's at par with the mileage. And of course, check the instrument panel if there are signs of screws.

[fauxhawk]

thanx for informative replies guys, however as i've said i'm not well versed w/ technical terms hehe so hafta do some more research.

i'm inclined to gettting a z4 since i was told to go for a carrera instead of a boxter, too bad my budget is way far from it. isn't this boxter- "poor man's porsche," as they say, actually poor in performance or ok naman overall? at least kse un z4 is not the lowest kind among bmw models diba.

hi drey and hungryalien, prob is, i can't drive a manual so non applicable ang 6gear at clutch hehe

hi type100, the yellow boxter is my friend's, not for sale. pero maganda rin talaga kse 2005 na yellow boxter s, nakaka inlove din so im torn

looks like boxter is getting the lead ha, pero diba mas ok ang specs ng z4? i got confused na tuloy mas gusto ko pa naman z4

[Horsepower]

Either will do but BMW Z4 is more rare than the porsche. It doesn't matter if boxster is the poor man's porsche. It's still a porsche and not everyone can afford it. At the end of the day, V8 and V10 engines will just sweep your wallet on gas expenses.

There's a 2002 Boxster in Buyandsell that sells for 1.7M, though lately it seems to have changed hands since the price went up to 1.9 then now to 2.2.

If you want performance, try to check if your 2.5M can buy you a BMW 530d (E60 body). It combines luxury, economy and power. It's a turbo diesel racing sedan.

[fauxhawk]

thanx for the tip horsepower, will try to check out that porsche, that's quite low for a 2002 ha. i used to dream of owning a 5series bmw, but i find it too daddyish for my age hehe, and i've had sedans in the past, it's gonna be my first sportscar if ever pls keep the inputs coming in guys, it would be very helpful for my decision making. thanx mucho!

[hungryalien]

i've driven the 530d and boy that car got torque! and speed.. went up to around 220kph without any trouble..

kung matic.. hmm the porsche got the tiptronic version, which is sportier.. the bmw got the steptrpnics and the smg version. all have sports mode..

best siguro to test drive both and try it out for yourself.

[Horsepower]

A little tune and some delimiting, it'll go to 300kmh+

It doesn't really look daddyish to me because of its wild looks.

you can mod it to look like an M5 though. hehehe

[Memphis Raines]

I've never driven either of these cars but I have been fortunate enough to sit in them last year. My impression of the boxster is that it is more symmetrical than the Z4 which can equate to a more balanced driving especially around tight bends.

Headturner? Both I guess but then it's always a plus factor when you say that you drive Porsche. The porsche name has always been synonymous with being young, sporty and performance oriented so I'll go with that anytime.

One thing I also like about a Porsche is that the engine's sound is certainly like no other. Exclusive so to speak

Now that will make any head turn when you pull up at any parking lot.

[drey]

I am leaning towards the Boxster for a more comfortable ride than the Z4. If I am in your shoes, the power issue regarding two cars isn't really a big thing for me since I will be using it mostly in the city.

Being a Boxster as "poor - man's" Porsche. That's what they say! I don't care! If I am going to buy one, i'd pick the 944 with no hesitation which I believe is a poor - man's Porsche in the 80's. But hey... If you own a Porsche, you ain't poor!

Don't be taken away by Hampster's comment... Ms. Elle Woods didn't complain and she looks freakin gorgeous in her Boxster in Legally Blonde 1.

Also a +1 on the BMW 520d or if you like Audi's, a guy is selling his A4 under 2M and a TT under 2M. The good thing about Audi's, they're not boastful in terms of engine noise, seems like gentle fast euro-luxo cars but some engines don't feel to have a big punch on the acceleration on near top-end speeds, I am guessing about the gear ratios on them. But you know what Audi's are made of... the design of an Alfa Romeo, the comfort of a Benz, the safety of a Volvo, and most of all, the sportiness of a BMW.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=350tD8E7htM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=350tD8E7htM[/ame]

[fauxhawk]

hay i just got more and more confused haha. it seems like you car fanatics know better so i'm noting down your inputs, hope i make a good choice.

hungryalien and hp, i cant handle 220 at the freeway, takot ako baka lumipad na. speed is not really a big factor eh. i agree that 5series or m5? looks young but then i'm really craving for a 2door convertible at the moment

if ever i get a porsche, won't i have problems w/ the papers? since the 2000-2002 models i believe were not locally purchased? ayoko habulin ng customs hehe. would you know anyone selling a yellow? i prefer that over greys and blacks e. hay mukang na convert nyo na ko overnight ah haha. pls provide more infos para maka decide ako mabuti, be fair ha pls hehe

[drey]

Sir/Maam,

Sorry, di po kasi nyo na-address kung male or female kayo. I strongly advice you to take a test drive baka magsisi kayo afterwards... because initially you liked the Z4. Check which is more spacious, more livable on daily basis etc.

Just a comment on the 220 kp/h... a Z4/Boxster can reach that speed as well. :hihihi:

[Horsepower]

It depends on the car you drive, after achieving 200kmh, I'm now lusting for 300kmh. I went to Saudi to go and try that (since it's a desert) but people there cut each other at 200. You will literally see accidents everyday, often fatal. hehe

Autobahn is my only hope. A friend of mine did 337 there :D

A Boxster is good for cruising since it's a small car. I'd be a bit wary driving 200+ in a small car like it. E60 and similar midsized super sedans would provide more stability for higher speeds.

[fauxhawk]

hi drey, im in between eh pano ba un haha? actualy na test drive ko na un z4 kanina, it was ok but maalog lang. i won't have to use it on a daily basis since may driver nako sa suv ko. i will be taking it to night outs lang and mga biglaang lakad, and i was told na delikado baka ma slash un cover sa parking so i'm still keeping my suv. hay hay hay ano kaya? pls keep those replies coming peeps

[Type 100]

hungryalien and hp, i cant handle 220 at the freeway, takot ako baka lumipad na.

From this line in one of your posts, I think you're not much of a spirited driver. I can make a more honest recommendation.

You see, the Boxsters are mid-engined cars. They're inherently "naughtier" and dartier than most cars that have the engine in front. This naughtiness means they're very responsive to turn-in, but also means you have a higher tendency to get the car oversteering and spinning if you're carving up corners too fast and you don't know what you're doing. You don't want to know how much a repair bill you'll get...

Front-engined rear-wheel-drive cars like the Z4 you fancy will be a little slower to react by design. By the same token, though, they should be the safer choice for people who aren't the type who'd take turns at double the prescribed speed.

My two cents

[Horsepower]

That's the only problem with convertibles which still use canvass.

Latest BMW convertibles now use folding metal roof.

Maybe you can take a look at Mercedes SLK (R171 body). The previous SLK isn't as good looking as this one.

you can also try Coupe like Audi A5 / Volvo C30 / BMW 3-series coupe.

[170kphlang]

with a 2.5m budget, i'd wait for a few more months for the evo 10 or sti, brand new na may warranty pa (for the subaru), but between your choices, ummm... boxster nalang kasi medyo mas madami kang makikitang z4 kaysa sa boxster (which is pasok naman sa needs mo na headturner)

[carlo_41786]

how about Mazda MX-5 miata? suggestion lang... pero sa dalawa? ahm. z4. ganda.