Is Car and Driver in bed with Porsche?

[blakeatwork]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Marshallj
If you're going to get a Porsche, get a real Porsche like the 911 Turbo. I'm not a fan of the Boxster, while I'd love to have a 911 Turbo.

I'm sure the Boxster is a well rounded car, but it's no 911.

Would you not consider a 911 Carrera, Carrera 4, or GT3 a "real" Porsche? How about a GT2?.

Those are all fine cars also. I wouldn't mind having any of them.

There's something about the Boxster that I never liked. It seems every guy with a mid life crisis gets a C5 Vette or a Boxster.

If someone gave me a Boxster, I'd immediately sell it and buy something else.

It's the price. That's the snobbish thing about it with people

When the Boxster was introduced, it cost roughly $39,500 in base form. And THAT'S where it started. The car was too good and too cheaply priced to be considered a "real" Porsche. If the Boxster cost $60,000 at launch, people would be screwing it up the tailpape while eating a bowl of sour kraut. It was a little low on torque, but could still manage to score 0-60 of around 6.1 seconds which was enough to toast all the other roadsters of the day (Z3, SLK, Miata, etc.) and it's handling was second to none in the class.

Now your looking at about $45,000 for a "decent" Boxster and close to $60,000 for a loaded Boxster S. I think that as the price has gone up, people have warmed up to the Boxster. Funny correlation

Conversely, it's something akin to what companies pay for top-level IT contractors... If you're not billing high enough, then the level of your work obviously isn't going to be very high either... Could never figure that one out...

Back on topic though... When I first saw the Boxster.. I thought "Poor man's Porsche", and it was.... Porsche was bringing their name to the masses, and not just fat execs with fat bonuses, and golddiggers on their arms... Now, I see more Boxsters' then any other model, but at half the price, I understand why.. they're a great drive, and has enough junk in it's trunk to be able to make most ricers cry, but the elitest in me still cries whenever I see a GT3 or Carrera 4... now THOSE make me want to hump the leg of the Porsche CEO..

 

[NFS4]

but the elitest in me still cries whenever I see a GT3 or Carrera 4... now THOSE make me want to hump the leg of the Porsche CEO..

And the elitest in me wants to shoot that leg off whenever I see a Cayenne

 

[Howard]

I'd say they were in bed with BMW also.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: NFS4
If the Boxster cost $60,000 at launch, people would be screwing it up the tailpape while eating a bowl of sour kraut.

Lol

 

[zCypher]

IMO the Boxster is one of those cars that looks much better in person than in pics. Also, unless it's the S, it's slightly underpowered - but I'm sure even the regular Boxster is a HELL of a lot of fun to drive. After having driven Civics, Protoges, Outbacks, etc ... Just the difference between those and Cams/Firebirds is astounding (power, handling, comfort, etc). I can only imagine how nice a Porsche, whether Boxster or 911, would be to drive. Acceleration isn't everything - but the Boxster has plenty of that anyway.

People who worry about what others think based on their car have some issues. When I get my car - it's gonna be because I love that car, not cause I'm thinking "oh, everyone will think I'm badass/cool/rich" in that car or whatever.

 

[zCypher]

wtf? lol
Highs: Unique design elements. Yes, Billy, you can get a subwoofer for your engine! Gorgeous nterior. Quicker than a Boxster.

Lows: Extraneous design elements. Some ride harshness. Less fun than a Boxster.

 

[NFS4]

People who worry about what others think based on their car have some issues. When I get my car - it's gonna be because I love that car, not cause I'm thinking "oh, everyone will think I'm badass/cool/rich" in that car or whatever.

And that's why people didn't like the Boxster...b/c it wasn't expensive enough

Snobs!

 

[mrCide]

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Marshallj
If you're going to get a Porsche, get a real Porsche like the 911 Turbo. I'm not a fan of the Boxster, while I'd love to have a 911 Turbo.

I'm sure the Boxster is a well rounded car, but it's no 911.

Would you not consider a 911 Carrera, Carrera 4, or GT3 a "real" Porsche? How about a GT2?.

Those are all fine cars also. I wouldn't mind having any of them.

There's something about the Boxster that I never liked. It seems every guy with a mid life crisis gets a C5 Vette or a Boxster.

If someone gave me a Boxster, I'd immediately sell it and buy something else. The car itself may be good, but the people who buy them have given the car the reputation as being the "poser" Porsche... they buy it and make sure that everyone knows they have a Boxster... put it in their sig, etc. Typical poser stuff.

haha. because i put pictures in my sig i'm a poser i also put in my certs, does that make me a poser? how bout people who put in their computers, are they posers? i think you're just bitter, then again all the posts ive seen you make are bitter i didn't tell anyone i know i got the car, but ill tell all you atot people, why? because its atot

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

I would be in bed with Porsche if they gave me cars to test drive.

 

[mrCide]

Originally posted by: PCMarine

Originally posted by: mrCide
boxster > z4.. see sig

No offense, but only in American will you see someone with some nice ass cars (boxster s, mercedes), and not a nice ass house to back em up.

house is paid off

 

[deftron]

I thought it was Ferrari

 

[LittleWolf]

Originally posted by: mrCide
boxster > z4.. see sig

Absolutely.... As they say - Porsche - There is no substitute. The Z4 is ho hum compared to Boxster. Not to mention the Z4 looks like some rice boys got together and clapped on a body-kit to a Miata.

 

[NFS4]

LOL, the funny thing is that the original poster was complaining about C&D turning the Z4 review into a Boxster love fest...

Same thing has happened in here

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: Howard
I'd say they were in bed with BMW also.

Yes, that's for sure. They're been pimping the "outdated and overrated" 3-series cars since they were originally released YEARS ago :disgust:

 

[Mani]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
I guess BMW is gonna be pissed when they find out C&D is cheating on them...

 

[Nemesis77]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Well, the Boxster is an almost perfectly balanced sports car. The Z4 is nice, but it's no Boxster. Also, the Boxster is THE benchmark in the segment...PERIOD. So the accolades are appropriate.

I'm planning to arrange a private guided tour of a Porsche Boxter manufacturing plant . Hopefully with pics. My older brother works there (assembling Boxters) and he might be able to set it up .

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: mrCide
haha. because i put pictures in my sig i'm a poser

Yes.

Originally posted by: mrCide
i also put in my certs, does that make me a poser?

Yup

Originally posted by: mrCide
how bout people who put in their computers, are they posers?

Yes they are.

Originally posted by: mrCide
i think you're just bitter, then again all the posts ive seen you make are bitter

Yes I am.

I'm like The Grinch, but not quite as happy as him.

 

[djdrastic]

Every single magazine I've read says the boxster is miles better than the Z4

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: Howard
I'd say they were in bed with BMW also.

I'd say they're in bed with BMW first and any other brand second. I've started skipping the pages where they talk about BMWs. Nice mag but the do need to accept that there are other 'better bang for your buck' performance cars.

The Boxster is nice - wish I could afford it.

 

[Mani]

Originally posted by: djdrastic
Every single magazine I've read says the boxster is miles better than the Z4

Some mag - I think MT - did a comparison recently and the Z4 won.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Mani

Originally posted by: djdrastic
Every single magazine I've read says the boxster is miles better than the Z4

Some mag - I think MT - did a comparison recently and the Z4 won.

It won not b/c it was the better car, but b/c it was about $13,000 cheaper

 

[LittleWolf]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Mani

Originally posted by: djdrastic
Every single magazine I've read says the boxster is miles better than the Z4

Some mag - I think MT - did a comparison recently and the Z4 won.

It won not b/c it was the better car, but b/c it was about $13,000 cheaper

And oh yeah, not to mention that MT is about as good as a toilet paper i.e. crap. MT car of year awards as actually *bought*. The only half decent US car magazine is C&D. European mags like CAR, Top GEar and EVO are much better (but they do have their biases too).

 

[Mani]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Mani

Originally posted by: djdrastic
Every single magazine I've read says the boxster is miles better than the Z4

Some mag - I think MT - did a comparison recently and the Z4 won.

It won not b/c it was the better car, but b/c it was about $13,000 cheaper

In MT's words: "In the end, the Z4's classic-roadster layout, ultra-accomodating cabin, and $13,000 price advantage carries the day with most of us". Doesn't sound like it was solely price that tipped the scales.

Also, I scoured the magazine for ads - I found 0 BMW ads and 1 for Porsche...the Boxter no less. I even checked for BMW ads in the March and April issues - nada. So unless BMW's doing some shady side dealings, I don't think it was a bought decision either.

 

[bozack]

Hmm tough call since I really like both cars...I also think the Boxster gets a bad rap and I really don't know why, sure the performance isn't stellar in terms of torque and HP but still, it supposedly handles like a Dream, looks pretty decent in person and have a very very nice interior....

if money were no concern I believe I would opt for a Boxster over a Z4...funny how so many like the Z4 now when before it came out so many were skeptical over its looks.

Also marshall, what is wrong with the mid life crisis guys wanting a Vette or a Boxster?? I think you can safely add Mustang Cobra's, Saleens and Vipers to that list as well as Harley Davidson's and Ducati bikes.

Just admit it Marshall as this isn't the first time you have harped on the Boxster....you just hate them because they are popular and somewhat common...you shouldn't be ashamed you are an eliteist

 

[FacelessNobody]

And oh yeah, not to mention that MT is about as good as a toilet paper i.e. crap. MT car of year awards as actually *bought*. The only half decent US car magazine is C&D. European mags like CAR, Top GEar and EVO are much better (but they do have their biases too).

Ha. I have a subscription to CAR now, I cancelled C&D after I read my first CAR magazine. That's beside the point, however, and it's not just C&D agreeing that the Boxster is better than the Z4. Several other magazines agree, and unless Porsche is giving free cars away to auto-journalists, I think the Porsche just might be the better car . I've owned seven BMWs and am a huge fan of their 80s cars, but in the few instances where BMW can actually go toe-to-toe with Porsche, BMW will usually lose. Porsche is not nearly as diverse as BMW, and what Porsche does well, it does REALLY well. Except for that Cayenne thing, I don't know what the hell they were thinking. For every brilliant German, there's an insane one.