SLK, Boxster, S2000, or Z4

Ok, I'm not sure how to get photos on a post, so you'll have to look them up if you dont know what they look like.

So, the new SLK, the long established Boxster, the quwirky Z4, or the back to basics S2000.

Bare in mind that the new SLK has a beutiful 6 speed manual, a proper handbreak, great traditional sports car handeling, and you can switch all of the electronic driver aid gismoes off! theres the options of a 200 kompressor, the 350 V6, and a naturally aspirated SLK55 AMG V8 (only available in tiptronic auto)

Im my oppinion, the SLK is a dream. It handles better than a Boxster, which says a lot, and looks stunning. It also winns on the practicality of the folding metal 'Vario-roof'

What do you think?

I absolutely love the combination of power and styling of the new SLK350, it seriously looks like a mini SLR. I would choose that car out of the four. Followed by the BMW Z4, I'm starting to like the Z4 more and more. Third would be the Boxster S, not sure if the Boxster S was part of the comparison, well it should be. 4th and not a bad car at all, would be the S2000 in my opinion.

Cannot stand the porsche boxter when I think of the 911 and how superior it is, its just so un-porsche like...The Honda is nice but it does need more torque, but its the best bang for your buck...I would choose the Z4 over the S2000 because I like its styling, and the slick manual of the Bimmer over a mercedes auto...I would only take it though, with the 3L

I'd take the Honda S2000; it's the purest sports car of the group, and the six-speed transmission is a thing of beauty. Of course, I'm only 18, and it looks like you're "finally retired". So, I can understand if you like the Mercedes better :)

This is a kinda tough comparo...

Going by the money, the S2k is far superior to the likes of the Boxster, Z4 3.0, and SLK. Every time Car & Driver tests this car they have loved it. High redline, lightweight, good handling, and a great 6-speed manual, all for about 10,000 less then the Boxster or Z4 (not sure on new SLK price). C&D had this car beating the TT, Boxster, Z4, and 350z, and the S2k was on the Top 10 cars list.

The Boxster is a great car if you want a Porsche but cant afford a 911. Its still a good car, but it seems to have aged. I've been seeing all kinds of articles that talk about a new Boxster coming out shortly after the 997 (including a coupe). I think that the new one will set the bar for sport roadsters, but the older one is too old to compete well for the price.

Z4... I do believe this was one of Bangle's first works... But I think the car more then makes up for that little fact. The BMW 3.0 is a great engine, and BMW's transmissions are the best in the world. The handling of the Z4 is also pretty good. Smooth car that I think could be better and costs a little too much.

I dont know too much about the new SLK. Finally_Retired said that it "handles better then a Boxster," which I have a hard time believing. I'd really like to know where you found this info. Im also gunna go ahead and guess that its a little on the heavy side being a merc. I like the new styling, and the hardtop is cool, especially if you live where it rains all the time. However, I just dont think I could have as much fun in the SLK as I would in the others.

Im gunna hold of on actually voting because I have a hard time choosing between these cars.

....i'd be tempted to say 'sod it'
and go get a tvr tamora instead.....

if it had to be from the list
well, mercedes are for old people.... and women.... and hairdressers.
i'm none of those so not for me (yet)....

s2000, looks good (in certain colours) sounds great (whilst doing illegal speeds, otherwise it just sounds like any other in line 4) but not enough to tempt away from the two other german offerings.

porsche.
yeah, the stigma of it being a 'lesser' 911 is too much.
especially seeing as you can get a nice 2nd hand 993 for the price of a new (or nearly new) boxter(s).

that leaves me with the Z4.
not sure i like the look of it.
but
i know a girl who likes it... so it might get me in her good books!

but hey....
the choice does also depend on the reason for the car right?
i mean, if you are choosng a second 'fun' car, your choice would be different to the choice you would make if you were looking for a sensible, usable yet still sporting main car.

Ok, stereotyping is not what I'm after. Its not so much the badge on the front, as it is the driver involvment, quality, performance and handeling. Sure, Tamora's and t350c/t's are great, but its more of a muscle car than a roadster, and is no where near as practical. (still a damn good drivers car however!)

I have driven the new SLK at Castle Combe (in Wiltshire) Which is quite a chalange. It feels totally different to the outgoing model. Its more aluminium than pig iron now, so the weight is dramatically cut. The engine is set back from the fromt axel, effectivly making it mid engined, and the wieght balance and poise through corners is superb. The weight is noticed on the SLK200 K as it lacks the torque at high revs, but the 350 that I drove was a joy.

Its is available in a 5 and 6 speed manual as well as AMG's tiptronic
SLK200 K - £27'470
SLK350 V6 - £34'270
SLK55 AMG - £49'570

On the Z4 front, I have just learnt that BMW is droping the current 3.0l straight six, in favor of an all aluminium 3.0l straight six. It will debut in the 630Ci, and also the 530i and 730i. Next year it will make its way into the X3, X5, and Z4. BMW claim that it is the lightest 6 cylinder in the world. I cant wait to try that one out.

I think that I would be best to compare the SLK350, Boxster S, Z4 3.0 and S2000 GT. (I know its only a 2.0l, but its just as quick as the Boxster.) I considered the Audi TT 3.2l DSG, but it lacks the pace of the rest of the group, and with 4WD, its not the traditionalist's definition of a sportscar.

I'd take the Z4...nice balance of handling, power, and luxury.

S2k next, then the Boxster S.

...hey, the tamora has quite a decent boot.....while the hood is up....
okok i concede.
just cos it's a 'soft' tvr, well, it's all relative isn't it.....

and um, sorry for dishing out the stereotypes
but um, i'm just a young'un and the stigam of image still haunts me.
doesn't help that i'm a design student....
there's just something very 'contrived' with the z4 and well, in my part of the woods (of the concrete variety) owning a bmw paints you as an arse.
z4=a very big arse.

anyway.
i've always had a thing for the boxter.
what i like about it is cos i've always loved the fact that 911s are actually quite small and tidy.
well, the boxter is smaller still.
and well, it's mid-engined.

in S form, it really is a tempting proposition.
or perhaps get the slk now, and then see about trading it for the new boxter a few years down the line....

I like the way the Z4 looks.

I'd take the Honda S2000; it's the purest sports car of the group, and the six-speed transmission is a thing of beauty. Of course, I'm only 18, and it looks like you're "finally retired". So, I can understand if you like the Mercedes better :)

i agree, the S2k is by far the best of the 3, most power, the most bang for your buck, and with an extra few K for a supercharger, you will be taking on all 3 and beating them mercilessly. Also, the S2k is the most fuel efficient and has the nicest interior of them all in my opinion. The S2k motor is like no other, pushing out 120 hp per liter (refering to last years model as opposed to the new 2.2 l), the only other car that comes close to this sort of displacement to hp ration is the enzo ferrari with a 660 hp 6.0 liter engine pumping out 110 hp per liter. Over all, the S2k would be my pick, plus, it handles like no other, it is in a class of its own, honda is usually over looked in terms of quality and performance because it gets a bad name from the ignorant minded misinformed crowd, honda's engineering is actually one of the finest in the world.

Other cars produce more than 100 hp/liter and even more.

Porsche GTR RS 111 HP/LITER
Ferrari 360 CS 118 HP/LITER

but then look at exactly what cars those are?
one is the most extreme porsche you can buy,
the other is the most extreme ferrari you can buy...

kinda puts the s2000 engine in a new perspective.
don't forget, it is after all, just a wee little 4 cylinder thing....

but then look at exactly what cars those are?
one is the most extreme porsche you can buy,
the other is the most extreme ferrari you can buy...

kinda puts the s2000 engine in a new perspective.
don't forget, it is after all, just a wee little 4 cylinder thing....


exactly, the s2000 is by far the fastest naturally aspirated 4 cylinder engine on the market today, which is very impressive alone as it is, but what is more impressive is having the HONDA s2000 be compared to the likes of porsche and ferrari, honda can be a big name player in the super sports car market and compete along side ferrari lamborghinis and porsche, but unfourtunately no one wants to pay more than 50k for a honda.

but then the combination of the long gearing and high rev nature of the engine means that it isn't easy to keep it in the v-tec 'zone'.
it is almost a 'flawed' machine.
but then again, 'flawed' doesn't mean it isn't any good.

besides, i see the s2000 4 cylinder as a tasty hint of what their V8 will be like (if we ever get to see it)

but then the combination of the long gearing and high rev nature of the engine means that it isn't easy to keep it in the v-tec 'zone'.
it is almost a 'flawed' machine.
but then again, 'flawed' doesn't mean it isn't any good.

besides, i see the s2000 4 cylinder as a tasty hint of what their V8 will be like (if we ever get to see it)

True, the vtec only kicks in at high revs, but still, the s2000 is quick, even before vtec takes effect. As far as honda v8's go, im not really sure what will become of that, the japanese car companies seem like they either want to stay away from v-8's or that they have trouble with it, because lets face it, there are not that many jap v-8's out there, even their high end sports cars like the NSX does not sport a v-8, but a v-6.

In my opinion, the japanese car market, and companies like honda, do not need to spend more money on dropping V-8's into their cars, i mean, if honda can squeeze 240 hp out of a N/A 2.0l 4 banger, what do you think they can do with a v-6 3.5 liter? There really isnt a need for a v-8 for japs, they focus more on efficiency rather than displacement or cylinders for that matter, they should stick to 4's and 6's.

S2000's are only good if you cane them, they are unresponsive to modification and less practical than the other four and the chassis is too snappy.

The Z4 has better brakes than the S2000, better handling, much better interior and a superb engine (Biased :p)

The new SLK looks awesome, but I'm yet to drive one- but the fact that the recirculating ball steering is gone is very encouraging.

The Boxster is my pick though, it's the fastest of the four, has it's engine in the right place, has what is easily my favourite interior, offers superb trackability and is as practical as a roadster comes- it's VERY hard to fault the Boxster S.

S2K in the real world.... cheap (compared to others), lightweight, good HP/Kg ratio, good handling, good looks, reliable, fun to start ur car with a red button, cool digital gauges, the best honda after the NSX. . .let downs: low end torque or lack therof.... soft top (less rigidity worse aero) but can be replaced with hardtop easily fixes aero and slightly stiffens car, 2 seater

The Boxster is my pick though, it's the fastest of the four, has it's engine in the right place, has what is easily my favourite interior, offers superb trackability and is as practical as a roadster comes- it's VERY hard to fault the Boxster S.

I'm affraid I can't agree with that. The SLK350 is actually faster both to 62mph, and to 100mph than the Boxster S, and the 55 AMG will blitz it.

Bare in mind that the Boxster (launched hear in late '96) has been around for 8 years now, relativley un-changed.

The S2000 is slower, but only marginally, and you must realise that we are comparing the fastest Boxster, the S, with a price tag of nealy £40k, to a £25k Honda.

I do appreciate that the Boxster handles like a dream, but the merc, much to my surprise, handles better.

I really want to see the new Boxster in action. The current one is geriatric in this company...

I'm affraid I can't agree with that. The SLK350 is actually faster both to 62mph, and to 100mph than the Boxster S, and the 55 AMG will blitz it.

Bare in mind that the Boxster (launched hear in late '96) has been around for 8 years now, relativley un-changed.

The S2000 is slower, but only marginally, and you must realise that we are comparing the fastest Boxster, the S, with a price tag of nealy £40k, to a £25k Honda.

I do appreciate that the Boxster handles like a dream, but the merc, much to my surprise, handles better.

I really want to see the new Boxster in action. The current one is geriatric in this company...
The magic of the Boxster is that it's so good all these years on :) I'm yet to drive the SLK, hence why I'm reserving all judgements of it ;)

Guys this is a month old thread please don't vote anymore or post in old threads. You can read the car comparo guidelines at the top of the page.