Z4 M Roadster v. Porsche Boxster S

[DinanM3_S2]

Which would you rather have? The Porsche Boxster S or the new BMW Z4 M Roadster.

At first thought this should be easy, Porsche v. BMW the Porsche should win pretty much every time right? Well it isn't that simple. BMW has put its 3.2L I6 in the Z4 to compete with Porsche's 3.2L. But where the Porsche's engine produces a respectable 280hp, the M Z4's makes 333hp. Thats an over 50hp difference. The BMW should get to 60mph in about 4.8-4.9 seconds, while the Boxster S Manual will do it in 5.2. So in a straight line the BMW wins.

But the Porsche isn't done yet. Much like a Lotus Elise or a Ferrari, the Porsche is mid-engined and its about 200lbs lighter then the M Z4. So it should have a handling advantage over the Bimmer. That should be true, but after watching this video of a race between the Boxster (not the S) and the BMW Z4 3.0 I'm not so sure.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qTlr5AluI...h=Boxster%20Z4

Price? They start pretty close together, but once you start optioning out the Porsche with things like metallic paint, leather seats, xenon lights, PASM, or god forbid ceramic brakes it becomes much more expensive.

What about the car's image? While BMW is pretty prestigous, it isn't Porsche. Porsche is up there pretty close to Ferrari and Lambo in terms of name recognition. However, there is also the problem with the Boxster's image, it isn't a 911. As said on Top Gear, the only reason anybody ever bought a Boxster is because they couldn't afford a 911. The Boxster is the poor man's Porsche. Remember, "Cocks buy Porsches." The BMW M Z4 doesn't have that same stigma attatched to it. In fact, it might be the best BMW M car in terms of all around performance.

What do you guys think?


or

[NISSANSPDR]

I drove a Porsche Boxster and a BMW Z4 3.0 liters. The Porsche Boxster was not that impressive and nothing I would give my car up for...granted it was not the Boxster S.

Now the Z4 I am simply in love with...I have driven it now on 3 different occasions and loved every minute while I was in one. I even raced against a C6 Vette and only wished I had some extra power to make it a closer race.

So the concept of a Z4 M.R. is something I wanted for a long time...as soon as they came out w/the 333hp M3 and the Z4 was around, I logically wanted them to drop the engine in there so this has been a dream coming for quite a while.

[del]

i don't buy into that whole notion that the boxter isn't a geniune porche or it's the "cheap man's porche". that's just silly. although i would rather have a 911 cabriolet (who wouldn't?), the boxter is respectable in and of itself. i love that porche went back to the round headlights and i think they look great.

but i dont' think of porche as quite up there with ferrari or lambos but certainly a few cuts above a bmw or mercedes as far as image. you see a lot more porches on the roads than a ferrari or lambo. so they don't as much of an exclusivity factor. they don't wow people like a lambo does on the roads. don't get me wrong, to me a porche is always a head turner.

i haven't had the chance to drive either. i've only sat passenger in a boxter and haven't even ridden a Z4, let alone the M version. i can only go by word of mouth or articles i've read on them. so i can't really choose one over the other from experience. i'd have to say though i'd love to come home to a porche in my garage anyday of the week. now if only i had a garage. haha.

[crayzayjay]

I don't know... It seems the Boxster brakes and handles better from that clip. Its disadvantage stems from having one less gear (not an issue on the S), and less torque than the Z4 (2.7L plays 3L)

I'd go for the Boxster S.

[thrasher]

I think I'd have to say the M would be my pick, the extra 50 horses does make a big difference and the 3.2l in the M has extraordinarily smooth power delivery. Sure you lose a little in handling to the Boxster, but I wouldn't race either car (who would, they're convertibles?) and the extra power is simply more gratifying.

[blakscorpion21]

as much as i hate bmws, im gonna go with it, those m roadsters are sharp.

[drunken monkey]

i think it's a little unfair to infer that only porsche have a bad image; around my parts, cocks buy BMW, cocks with money buy porsches.
(present company excepted, jay...)

also, from what i gather from the press, the boxster is a victim of its own abilities with the car being so able to go fast that the speed/handling seems ordinary. Could this be part of the reason for some people's preference of the Z4; because it feels like it's doing more?

[kman10587]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

i think it's a little unfair to infer that only porsche have a bad image; around my parts, cocks buy BMW, cocks with money buy porsches.
(present company excepted, jay...)

also, from what i gather from the press, the boxster is a victim of its own abilities with the car being so able to go fast that the speed/handling seems ordinary. Could this be part of the reason for some people's preference of the Z4; because it feels like it's doing more?

That should be remedied with the Z4 M, which should out-accelerate the Boxster and Boxster S handily.

[crayzayjay]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

i think it's a little unfair to infer that only porsche have a bad image; around my parts, cocks buy BMW, cocks with money buy porsches.
(present company excepted, jay...)

also, from what i gather from the press, the boxster is a victim of its own abilities with the car being so able to go fast that the speed/handling seems ordinary. Could this be part of the reason for some people's preference of the Z4; because it feels like it's doing more?

Thanks

I get what you're saying, maybe the Boxster is too accomplished for its own good...

[drunken monkey]

Originally Posted by kman10587

That should be remedied with the Z4 M, which should out-accelerate the Boxster and Boxster S handily.

but is that due to the car being "better" or just because it has an extra 60-70 odd horses?

[kman10587]

I dunno, but either way, it'll show how the Z4 really handles at higher speeds.