Reliability comparison, 986 Boxster S vs S2000 AP1

Oh GRM, help me make up my mind.

I'm currently trying to decide between two cars - a 2001 Boxster S that I'm taking for a PPI this afternoon (not buying a Porker without one) and a 2003 S2000 AP1. Both have similar mileage (a bit less than 45k), both appear to be well looked after.

My reading seems to be that a non-crashed S2000 that's had its oil levels checked and topped up regularly is about as reliable as, well, every other Honda out there. A Boxster isn't, and seems to have the ability to create the typically outsized Porsche bills if/when stuff goes pop.

Either car would see DD use unless we get severe weather (then it's Jeep time), plus some HPDE and maybe some hamfisted Auto-X attempts.

So far, the decision points I've encountered are:

Pro Boxster:

• It's a little cheaper to buy and insure than the S2k, but that's only the case if I buy this particular one.
• Hardtops are much cheaper to buy, but you have less choice
• It's, well a Porsche. Wifey loves Porsches. I like them, too.

Con Boxster:

• The ability to generate bills that would bankrupt small countries if things go wrong, and I'm pretty good at picking cars that tend to go wrong
• Resale values seem to be dipping faster than S2k resale values (ie, there are more cheaper Boxsters around than cheap S2ks)
• Probably less DIYable than an S2000, plus it's a 100-odd mile roundtrip to the nearest Porsche dealer or specialist.
• Tire costs as I'd need two sets (silly summer tires and snow tires)

Pro S2000:

• Honda reliability
• Running costs appear to be lower than for a Boxster
• I like the way it feels like a Miata with most knobs turned up to 11.

Con S2000:

• Cost of a hardtop for SCCA HPDE and winter driving. There's tons of cheap E36 M3 made in China for it but I don't like supporting those, so I'm looking at at least 2.5k for an OEM hardtop or at least $4k for a US-made CF "tribute" to the OEM hardtop, with the other choices being even more expensive
• It's not a Porsche

I'd really appreciate people who have driven both for longer than ten minutes chiming in; I can't afford to make another vehicle purchasing mistake after the Talon and the CJ so I absolutely have to get this right.

I think if you have to get it right it's the Honda every time and twice on Sundays.

I have not driven an S2000, but I do have a lot of Boxster experience (albeit only at the autocross). Honestly, if you want to have the top for HPDE, the Boxster wins this one.

This would be a very tough choice for me as SWMBO loves Honda's and the Boxster. We'd likely end up with the Boxster anyways since we like the PCA, etc, but if she drove an S2K first I don't know if that would change her feelings.

The top (at least for the Boxster) would be both for winter use (no heated rear screen on the 2001 Boxsters as it's plastic) and HPDE, even though I think I could probably run the latter with the Brey-Krause rollbar extension.

S2000. I don't have an informed opinion but I like the S2000 better.

I would go for the S2K, simply because it's among the best looking convertibles from the last two decades, in my eyes.

I lust after a nice s2k, I would drive a boxter if it came along. From your post it seems like the opposite for you. I would personally not want to have the potential of the huge porsche repair bills hanging over my head. I'm sure both will be fun on track and as DD's.

I personally would pick an S2000, and I don't know how they compare for reliability. But I know the S2000 has great reliability, and (if IRRC) the Boxter was rated by CR as being the most reliable Porsche.

The S2K will feel quite similar to a Miata, up to the point V-tec kicks in & all hell breaks loose. The Porsche is less peaky.

I think you may have access to cheap used Porsche parts from Greece soon too...

It feels similar... except better in every way in my opinion.

The only thing it loses out on is side to side room (has more legroom) and it's not as.... "fun" at sane velocities.

Miata = Toy
S2000 = srs bizness

Handles better, feels more solid, much faster, better engine, better shifter feel.

How do you not need snow tires for the S2k, but need them for the boxster? They're both rwd cars...

The Honda is more reliable. Period. However, if you want the Boxster more, that's the one you should buy.

I'd need snow tires for the S2k as well, but they're significantly cheaper when I looked. Plus, used S2k wheels are cheaper, too, or I could pick up a set of Rotas...

Want factors into this, but want also got me a lot of yard art and that's completely out of the question atm.

this is a hard one

For the S2K, the MotoIQ build of a solid track day car might be of use to you.

MotoIQ project S2K

Some of it isn't exactly grassroots ($$$ wheels and brakes, etc.) but information about the cooling system and other little stuff could be useful.

I know a guy who sold his S2000 for a Boxster S and loves it, and another guy who bought an S2000 after wrecking his Boxster and loves it. I'm pretty sure that in either case, you win.

In reply to coll9947:

Yep, I've already studied that to the extent that I'm carrying a mental shopping list with me.

Admittedly the shopping list for the Boxster is shorter - sump extension w/ lowered oil pickup, throwing out the audio stuff and replace it with a single headunit, and an oil pressure gauge, preferably in the form of a 996 cluster - but I'm not sure it'll involve much less money.

Having raced an S2000 I would choose it every day of the week including the as of yet unnamed eighth day. The experience ruined me.

The reliability factor of the S2000 would sway me for anything but toy use - nothing kills the fun of a fun daily driver more than shop time and shop bills. I don't always have time to fix the daily myself, which can mean paying shop rate to get it done. I love the sound and tq of the Boxster, but some of the engine failure stories (exaggerated?) scare me. I'm used to driving cars that have replacement engines available "everywhere" for well under 2k.

And Stacey (Porsche snob ;) ) prefers Aircooled P-cars.

so I'm looking at at least 2.5k for an OEM hardtop or at least $4k for a US-made CF "tribute" to the OEM hardtop, with the other choices being even more expensive

I just lost a lot of respect for every s2k owner who bought a hardtop.

I would go for the Coxster S EVERY TIME!

01+ is by far the better car. You get things like a glovebox and a heated glass rear windscreen. You really don't need the hardtop in winter, the soft top seals well enough. I do recommend the snow tires though.

If it matters to you the S2k seems to class better in SCCA autoX. They seem to be the cars to have in STR and Bstock.

The only boxter I really really lust after is the spyder, and I get the feeling that I will never be able to afford one.

FWIW you can get a US made fiberglass replica of a Mugen hardtop for ~$1300 on s2ki. Not sure if SCCA HPDE requires hardtops to be made of a certain material or to be an OEM replica but there is a relatively cheap option out there.

The Honda makes more sense in just about every way (reliability, service costs, parts), but I'm pretty sure you want a Porsche. That's what you should buy.

Reminds me of the old medium format film days. You could always find guys who bought the Bronica because it was the practical decision, but after the purchase they'd wish they'd bought the Hasselblad. I never met anyone who bought a Hassy and wished they had bought a Bronica.

After a year with my AP1, I would shake my head and laugh if someone offered to trade me straight up for a Boxster. I'm not even sure anymore if I'd sell it to buy an Elise, which was my 3-ish year plan when I bought this car.

Club support is outstanding for the Boxster,

then again my local PCA club will let anyone play so long as there is room on the track.