Boxster S vs S2000 vs E36 M3

I forgot to add that I've never driven a boxster, so I have no comparison there.

I have driven a well sorted STU e36 and it's a great all around car. Not quite the same fun level of the s2k, but that doesn't mean it's a bad car in any way.

I've been pondering this as well. Had an M3 already though. I think the S2000 is the easy button with great reliability and easy maintenance access. I'm tired of getting burnt by going with the more potentially complicated and expensive option, so the Honda seems to make sense as a fun daily driver for my easy commute. Boxster is a lot of car for the money though.

The maintenance costs of a Boxster don't frighten me...well maybe a clutch every 50k or so might scare me a little.

It is the possibility of IMS failure that requires you to buy a whole new engine....maybe this is considered normal maintenance in the P car world...if so, way out of my pay grade

So about the IMS issue: does buying the replacement bearings from pelican parts or wherever fix it? Or do those just become a maintenance item to be replaced each time you do the clutch?

I had an e36 M3 that I absolutely loved. Especially with some suspension tweaks you can get some amazing feel from it, and it's incredibly easy to drive. Some basic maintenance and they're pretty well bulletproof, and very easy to work on.

I have only done street driving in Boxters so I don't have much feedback there, but Porsche maintenance cost and how much of a PITA MR cars are to work on would probably keep me away.

I have some serious chub for the s2k, but as others have said it only really works when flogged. Of the 3 it would be my choice, but mostly because it's different than what I've had in the past.

imarcr2 wrote: The maintenance costs of a Boxster don't frighten me...well maybe a clutch every 50k or so might scare me a little. It is the possibility of IMS failure that requires you to buy a whole new engine....maybe this is considered normal maintenance in the P car world...if so, way out of my pay grade

Depending on the style of bearing, failure rates are hovering somewhere between 1 and 5 percent (early single-row bearings are about 1%, while later dual row bearings are stated to be 3-5%.)

Furthermore, a 600 dollar ceramic bearing from LN Engineering has shown to be a pretty darn reliable replacement. They claim over a million miles of testing...

I bought an early car, because I can gamble 7000 dollars on 99% odds that I'll get a good car that won't blow up (plus mine already has the LN ceramic bearing).

They are great deals these days, and the perpetuation of the engine failure fearmongering will only continue to keep the prices suppressed.

Also, I don't have enough money in my budget for all of the flat-brim snap-back hats I'd have to buy to fit into S2000 culture. Way too "bro" for my tastes.

So what? There are WRX owners on here you know, Mk3 Golf owners too...even at least one Harley owner!

Heck do you have any idea what the average Civic enthusiast is like?

Maroon92 wrote: Also, I don't have enough money in my budget for all of the flat-brim snap-back hats I'd have to buy to fit into S2000 culture. Way too "bro" for my tastes.

I'm not a Honda guy, but I really don't get this attitude. Who cares what the car's "image" is? If you like the car, buy one, to hell with what other people think about it.

Maroon92 wrote:

imarcr2 wrote: The maintenance costs of a Boxster don't frighten me...well maybe a clutch every 50k or so might scare me a little. It is the possibility of IMS failure that requires you to buy a whole new engine....maybe this is considered normal maintenance in the P car world...if so, way out of my pay grade

Depending on the style of bearing, failure rates are hovering somewhere between 1 and 5 percent (early single-row bearings are about 1%, while later dual row bearings are stated to be 3-5%.) Furthermore, a 600 dollar ceramic bearing from LN Engineering has shown to be a pretty darn reliable replacement. They claim over a million miles of testing... I bought an early car, because I can gamble 7000 dollars on 99% odds that I'll get a good car that won't blow up (plus mine already has the LN ceramic bearing). They are great deals these days, and the perpetuation of the engine failure fearmongering will only continue to keep the prices suppressed.

I am just too conservative to take the chance...I would be the unlucky 1%. Plus, the S2000 is super reliable, easy to work on, and more "rare" than anything else on the list....still would love a +09 Boxster/Cayman

Maroon92 wrote: Furthermore, a 600 dollar ceramic bearing from LN Engineering has shown to be a pretty darn reliable replacement. They claim over a million miles of testing... I bought an early car, because I can gamble 7000 dollars on 99% odds that I'll get a good car that won't blow up (plus mine already has the LN ceramic bearing).

Wait 1 million miles of testing? Is that 1 car with 1 million miles or 1 million cars with 1 mile. Sounds like advertising speak to me.

Flight Service wrote:

Maroon92 wrote: Furthermore, a 600 dollar ceramic bearing from LN Engineering has shown to be a pretty darn reliable replacement. They claim over a million miles of testing... I bought an early car, because I can gamble 7000 dollars on 99% odds that I'll get a good car that won't blow up (plus mine already has the LN ceramic bearing).

Wait 1 million miles of testing? Is that 1 car with 1 million miles or 1 million cars with 1 mile. Sounds like advertising speak to me.

I presume it is an accrued mileage spread out over several cars. I don't know of any Boxsters with 1 million miles on them, so it must be...

Yes, it's definitely marketing speak, but they have yet to see any failures, so...

Tom_Spangler wrote:

Maroon92 wrote: Also, I don't have enough money in my budget for all of the flat-brim snap-back hats I'd have to buy to fit into S2000 culture. Way too "bro" for my tastes.

I'm not a Honda guy, but I really don't get this attitude. Who cares what the car's "image" is? If you like the car, buy one, to hell with what other people think about it.

Sorry, my internet sarcasm font was broken.

I love S2000s, but for the money, I'd rather have an NC Miata or the Boxster that I ended up with for WAY less money.

Tom_Spangler wrote:

Maroon92 wrote:

I'm not a Honda guy, but I really don't get this attitude. Who cares what the car's "image" is? If you like the car, buy one, to hell with what other people think about it.

+1

S2000---- you are a brotato

M3-- you are a douchebag middle manager

Boxster--- you are a porcupine

Who cares what the "image" of a car is......there is a negative image for nearly every car. I'm more concerned for how the car makes me feel--- not those around me.

Just remember S2000 owner must go to gym and wear tanks everywhere.

That helps. I don't really go to the gym so I guess that knocks the S2000 off the list

Wait, I am a douchebag middle manager! With a 19 year old M3. I must have failed somewhere.

What are you going to use the car for? Auto-x? Track days? Weekend driving? Rallycross? A mixture of daily and auto-x/track use? You need to drive them all for whichever uses you're going to use the car for.

I can't even give you a good suggestion because I haven't driven any of these cars. I do own a E36 328i and I love it.

I would also put a late model C4, NC Miata, and a Z3 on the list but that's just me.

How is the s2000 to live with? Are they easy to work on and maintain? I love the styling top up and down, and they even look great in yellow!

The car would be a nice weather DD and autocross toy. I will have the 4runner if I need to carry people/things and/or if it's not pleasant out. I autocrossed my miata and definitely want to return to it. I love the idea of tracking a car but it really isn't a thing I can afford at the moment.

I owned a 2004 S2000 for several years. It wasn't just the best car I've ever owned, it was the best anything I've ever owned. Some observations:

Maroon92 wrote: Also, I don't have enough money in my budget for all of the flat-brim snap-back hats I'd have to buy to fit into S2000 culture. Way too "bro" for my tastes.

Yeah, if that kind of thing bothers you, it's going to bother you. The cheapest S2000s have gotten into affordable car territory, which brings some flat brimmed hats with it. But no more so than an E36 BMW.

Besides, I ended up going to some S2KI gatherings when I had mine. You know what I learned? A lot of those people are actually pretty cool. And they probably think spending a day to drive around some cones five times is just as silly as we think "stance" is. We're both right. :)

Mitchell wrote: How is the s2000 to live with? Are they easy to work on and maintain? I love the styling top up and down, and they even look great in yellow!

Oh gosh yes. But mostly because you won't have to fix anything. In over six years and many hundred autocross runs, I did the following:

1. Fix a broken interior door handle

2. Replace the clutch as a precaution, which turned out to be unnecessary

3. Replace one broken wheel stud. I ended up doing a "while we're in there" and replaced all of them, along with new wheel bearings, all four corners.

4. I changed fluids in the engine, diff, and trans on an unreasonably aggressive schedule. The car didn't get driven daily so I changed fluids on a time basis. Diff and trans annually, engine oil quarterly.

That was it. It never let me down, it always made me giggle, and I made some new friends. I'm one of the S2000's biggest fans.

Anyone want to trade a nice S2k for a high-mile SV650 and a sackful of good vibes?

You loved your Miata, why not return to one? With a modest (what you're looking to spend it sounds) budget you could even swap in all the driveline bits from a CTS-V and have Chevy ease of maintenance, Miata handling, and the power to crush anything mentioned yet.

Just thinking outside the box here. :-)

In reply to Mitchell:

Haha hah ah

A LS powered miata would be killer but CA hates fun and won't smog it. I guess the header requires (for no steering shaft interference) isn't CARB approved