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Okay, before sitting in an S2000, I drove four Boxsters for test drives. I did a bunch of research because I was all set to buy one.
Here's what I found: It's the cheapest Porsche that's not an SUV. Because of this, you get the smallest motor. Base boxsters range from 217 in their 1998 form to 245 in their newest form. If you're comparing boxster to s2000 however, I'm going to guess that you're looking used because otherwise, price becomes a major factor. If you're buying used, everyone suggests a PPI at an independant dealership which also runs 2 to 400 dollars.
The boxster still being a porsche handles like one. It feels heavier than the S2000 because it is, but it's mid engine design keeps the weight distribution the same, so it sticks through corners. The S2000's steering feels more precise and the wheel is smaller than the boxster. The three spoke design doesn't appear in the boxster until the 2000 model year.
The shifter is night and day. The boxster's shifter is cable run, unlike it's sibling the 911 which uses rods. This causes a mushy feel and the shifter requires long throws even compared to my last car (a 2002 Honda Civic SI). The S2000 shifter requires wrist movements, not arm movements.
Now, here comes the killer. It's a porsche, and if you can't do the maintenance yourself, expect to pay anywhere between $85 - $120 per hour at a dealership for maintenance. It requires maintenance every 15,000 miles which at the major ones, 60k for instance, can run anywhere between 2k to 4k.
Now, after hearing all that. Here's why I chose an S2000. I really wanted a Porsche, and after driving one, it felt much better than anything else I've driven. The only problem was that maintenance costs kept scaring me away, especially trying to find a good used one that wasn't abused or not kept up. You don't get a glass window in a boxster until 2004. Xenon HID's are an option.
So on a whim, I drove the S2000. Its just as fast, it feels more connected to the road, and it carries the same reliability as any other Honda, amazing for a motor that winds to 9k. Does it get the looks that a Porsche does? No, but are you trying to find a car that's fun to drive, or are you looking to impress the neighbors?
Matt
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