I still own both of these although in the previous generations. The 2.8 Z3 and the 2.5 Boxster, both from 98. Both awesome cars. The BM's E36 motor is marvelous with that incredible low down torque. The Boxster really excels on the track and at high speeds much better, safer and more stable. BM now on 400 000 kms and Boxster only at 210000 kilometers. I purchased them second hand some 10 years ago and they still retail for the same monies or slightly more. Both incredible cars and with you tube's how to-videos,easy and fairly cheap to maintain. IMS issues on the Boxster were just plain bullsh!t. These cars are literally the best fun with your pants on. Thanks guys for an excellent upload.
I own a 99 boxster base 2.5L with 47,000 miles and it is a lovely car to drive.....I did major research before buying it and have come to the same conclusion about the IMS issue.....And since mine has the double bearing which is in the 1% failure rate anyway I'm just going to drive it and not worry about it.
Michael Li...so true, there is nothing in between the two cars in terms of normal driving but the prohibitive running cost of Porsche is just a deterrent form my future ownership of the prestige marquee. My Z4 3.0 Si coupe is easy on my wallet, looks better than the Cayman equivalent IMO and I will relish the prospect of meeting 3.2 boxster at the traffic light as the straight six will sing. Porsche got the upper hand though. 🤗
Definitely a better comparison would be the Porsche with the 3.0si engine much closely matched in speed and price Great video nonetheless and enjoyed watching it.
Good review guys I got the 3.4 slightly later boxster not a great deal difference in power but love Z4 as well, but have to admit u can't beat the go kart rawness of a boxster, no badge snobbery either, invest in one of these drive it for few years take care you will still make a profit, you can't put money on smiles per galleon 😁
The reason these videos fail is because they tell you everything you can look at a glance to a features sheet. And they spend literally no time on what you can not tell from a spec sheet: How the cars feel when you drive them. Rookie mistake and many, many, make it. These guys are not alone.
If it was a Z4 M I would say the m car. I drive a 3.0 SI Z4 coupe with an upgraded M suspension and it's absolutely amazing , however I have driven a Porsche Boxster S as well and I got to tell you it was much tighter n the corners than the BMW. Although they are both roadster's they both have a very different feel about them anyway you choose you won't be disappointed!
@@marksmith-nx8kgM weight about 150kg more then an 3.0si. but all Z4 e85 and e86 needs upgrades on suspension and angles to deliver all the potential, but is correct was street touring car, And it wasn't BMW's flagship car. Boxsters had better suspension development also because it was their "flagship" car, plus they only made 3/4 chassis...
The 987 came out in late 2004 which was a complete redesign (not just a facelift of the previous 986) with the S having a 3.2. In 2006 they enlarged the S engine to 3.4 producing 295bhp no other changes. The facelift model was in fact the 987 Gen2 which came out in 2009 featuring a new type of 3.4 DFI engine producing 310bhp. Also the Gen2 had a newer & better auto-gearbox which was the PDK! 3.2S 0-60mph was 5.2secs; 0-62mph (100kph) was 5.5secs with a top speed of 167mph 3.4S 0-60mph was 5.1secs; 0-62mph (100kph) was 5.4secs with a top speed of 168mph 3.4S Gen2 0-60 was 5.0secs; 0-62mph (100kph) was 5.3secs with a top speed of 170mph All figures quoted above are for the manual gearbox. As I mentioned previously Ben, the Milltek Sport exhaust (rear cat delete), not only makes a great sound (deeper & meatier) & introduces some pops & crackles too (not that loud) but it does bring a sense of occasion on deceleration but the torque curve is spread across a wider range & you get some more power. It really transforms the car & the tail pipes look great too! I bought a 2006 987S as a sort of project car so I can tell you that the Milltek transforms the drivability & makes gear changes far less frequent when crusing around. I found it also opens up the performance in that the car feels more responsive across the rev range & more exciting to drive; a worthwhile investment.
Agreed, having had the Z4 I would be keen to drive that generation of Boxster. I drove the 718 Boxster S and it rides soo flat round bends its unreal compared to the Z4
You don’t see a Z4 that often as a Porsche so it makes the Z4 more unique. But they are both good looking sports cars. I wish people would drive them more again instead of these bulky SUV’s now.
The lure of that badge though....I mean I actually tried to pull this girl once.....she literally said to me "I have a boyfriend" and even though I don't own a Porsche for some reason I said "shame I wanted to give you a lift in my Porsche"....she then said to me "You know I don't even like my boyfriend".....I then said "I'm only joking". I will always remember that conversation though.
With the age of the cars ( not that’s a problem, because i have an 2002 E46 330ci convertible ) i would go for the Z4, as its easy to work on the engine when things go wrong and they do. Easy repair for anyone that likes hands on, but not so good for the Porsche i would have thought. Still both nice cars
The newer gen 1 Z4s got the N52 which is an amazing engine. Mine is proving to be reliable too. 90,000 miles now and Thrashed it to death and serviced it every year. Same story with my E46 with the M54 engine. I got 15oK out of that engine only having to replace the coolant reservoir... Shitty plastic. Other than that I replaced the spark plugs and that's about it. I had to take the passenger seat out and replace the occupancy sensor when that failed because the seatbelt light came on. EBay £30 and maybe an hour of labour. It took one custom tool from Halfords at £20 or so for the weird BMW star screws. All in all if you can turn a wrench old BMWs are really not the nightmares people make them out to be. Your biggest enemy is rust on the wings. New pattern part wings are easy to get so FFS don't scrap an E46 because the wings are rusty. £200 will see you fixed right up. Rattle can sprays if you take your time will look way better than it looks now. Don't let perfection get in the way of progress. My 2002 E46 was a very high spec individual colour with orange flecks though metallic purple (Tourmaline Violet) with an extended leather interior of Nappa leather Blackberry. (purple) I loved that car. It was only a 2.2i six cylinder but it was an amazing car. Luv and Peace.
Enjoyed that one! I’d like to test drive a boxster to see the differences for myself, the boxster would be one car I’d consider buying after my e85 but my only worry would be buying a bad example and having the repair costs! Both excellent cars for the money looking forward to more videos with the boxster
i reckon, if you can afford it, go for the Boxter. but the Z4 is a lot more home mechanic friendy, a lot of the maintenance will be easier to do at home.
@@UnseenSpirit it's an old car now, so only if you know you can afford the occasional trip to the repair shop. They are quite reliable cars and fairly simple, but age takes its toll on everything old (rubber hoses going bad, radiator, bushes etc).
@@UnseenSpiritAre all the same engine from 2003 to 2005, all M54, and all the same from 2006 to 2008 (All N52). On M54 you can find a lot more info and parts about.
Great video as always i enjoy watching both of your content. Tho i would argue a bit in favor of the Z4 (nothing to do with the fact that i have one o swear) the Porsche does seems nice for sure and maybe she is a bit more fun to drive. But these two cars let's be honest are kinda cheap now and the BMW will be a lot easyer to Maintain that the Porsche because parts are cheaper and working on the front engine is waaaay simpler than in the mid engine of the Porsche who often are money pits... that + gas mileage beeing a bit better on the Z4 i would say that if you want a fun car but you can't afford to go to the dealer every few month because something went bad ... i would definitly say the Z4 is best. If you don't care much for money then go for the porche But anyway great video and @Joel Z4 dies a bit higher RPM stock you can change that by having a stage 1 reprog on it for around £400 that will make it that much more enjoyable :)
The z4 is a nice car but mid engine balance all the way , you have to really work the engines on the boxsters basically thrash the shit out of them get them ,on song they are great back lane sports cars ... I would fined a boxster a bit hard work for everyday driving they are a bit raw , I’m sure the Z4 would be a better daily , you have explain this very well , most people are buying boxsters for weekend cars , on my second 987 boxster started with a 2.7 manual now have a 3.4 pdk love it , got my Pruis for daily and work lol People say don’t you hate getting out the boxster and driving the Prius ? To be fair I actually love the Prius it’s like sitting on a soft sponge after driving the boxster with rock hard suspension... but there again when you get back in the the boxster it’s like being in the space shuttle lol
Had a z4 3.0 smg and now got boxster s Z4 way to light on the rear but smg box was fun Boxster s is planted on the road no traction control but dont need it Boxster better car all round in my eyes
The Boxster acceleration traits sounds very similar to the Porsche 944 Turbo I used to own: it was pretty tame in the low revs, but once you passed 3000 revs all hell broke loose! Great video mate, I’m actually looking at buying a Boxster S, so your insight and review is very much appreciated!
Great review, I've owned both these cars and found them to be totally different from that silky smooth Bmw z4 6 cylinder to the more aggressive power plant of the flat 6 Porsche, both great cars to drive Z4 a lovely cruiser tends to tram line a little, the Porsche is definitely the bad boy.
I have also. the Porsche was noisy and rickety. the interior fel cheap and unwelcoming. the wheels were no frills. very anemic on power. wing only worked when it wanted to. headlights were glazed and clear coat was fading in the corners. at 77k the engine had a catastrophic failure. out 19000 dollars. the z4 looks better. the leather was better quality. better ride. better sound going down the road. I think the z4 was a world apart from the porsche
Get rid of the run flat tires. My 2007 z4 3.0si is way more fun than my 911 that I got rid of. Plus it looks so much better than the boxster. Roar is much better as well. To this day I smile every single time I drive it. Z4 is the baddest.
@@marksmith-nx8kg Makes me think. I love my Z4 2.5si. The noise of it, the looks of it and the sublime balance when I'm really pushing on. As I've said above I had an MR2 for many years and whilst not as fast as the z4 it felt more dynamic in the corners. It was like a go-cart when on tight B roads and could carry so much speed. My feeling is I want that mid engined feel back but with a powerplant like the Z4. My Z4 is 218bhp. The idea of a 280bhp boxster 3.4S is very appealing as the best of both worlds. I have to say the N52 engine is the best engine of any car I've ever had. It's quite torquey low down but it does build relentlessly to over 7000. And it does scream sonorously. Crazy good fun at even legal speeds. I understand where you're coming from Mark. Luv and Peace.
It is not the right engine on Z4 to make a fair comparison because a 3.0si was needed. N52 Is one of the best petrol NA engine of the history. And with a few little tweaks to the suspension it also becomes much better to drive!
I dont know about you guys, but when someone talks about cars, Audi R8, Corvette Z06, Mustang Fastback...I love talking about them and saying "this one is awesome, but...." Then there is Porsche. Somehow Im still not sure what to put after the But. cus that is where the engine is.
My Mr2 had a step at 5500 rpm. It had an ACIS header on the throttle. It would noticeably step up at 5500 rpm. The exhaust hardened and the engine made more torque and HP. That engine made 174hp at the top end. Makes really crap torque below 5500 rpm. The MR2 only went up to 7250 rpm so in most driving it's gonna be left behind on acceleration tests. I got left behind briefly by a 320i owned by a friend a few years back. It just took off ahead of me got it caught it up. Ended up owning that e46 320I. Loved it. I guess the moral of the story is it's not about the top power you can put out but about the power under the graph over the whole rev range. The BMW 320i with 170bhp was quicker than the MR2 at 174bhp because the BMW made more power sooner and for longer. The Mr2 had a very peaky power curve. Area under the graph is the true measure of power and speed. I learnt my lesson. Luv and Peace.
I had an mr2 that was mid engined. I'd say I could approach a bend more quickly in the Z4. I've driven a 3.2 s Boxster too. It felt pretty solid but I'd not want to throw it around. Z4 feels a little more handleable. Luv and Peace.
Is the opposite: on daily driver you need more power on low revs,That's why all the new turbo petrol cars have come closer to diesel power output, because it's more useful to have the power low down. Then for a fairer comparison the N52 engine would have been perfect with 260hp and would have had even more torque low down since they managed to get a constant torque from 2500 to 4000rpm.
@@ziofrenko Be that as it may… driving in town traffic between stop lights & signs, I doubt there’s very many people that are thinking of any of that. There’s a difference between a daily driver & an enthusiast car. My point was that Porsche bridges that difference better than any other super car I’ve owned or driven.
@@TomLongusa boxster is not a supercar, is a street sport car like the z4. Hundreds of people used daily like z4 because they are designed to be used every day.
@@ziofrenko fair enough, I was thinking & speaking more of a 911 than a boxster. But the manual boxster does have an issue with its “tall” gearing that leaves it less computer friendly. When you’re at the top of 2nd gear you’re doing 85mph. But Porsche does protect the 911’s pedigree at the booster’s expense.
That is incorrect. LSD is an option-and not a common one at that-on SOME Porsche models. The vast majority of Boxsters available DO NOT have LSD. It’s part of the PTV (Porsche Torque Vectoring) option. Good to have for the track, but otherwise, not necessary to really push these cars and have fun.
Actively looking for 08+ boxster S now. Z4 was a lot of fun but I missed the MR2s scythe like approach to corners. 3.4s Boxster will be even better. Big Props to the 06 2.5si Roadster though. Lots of fun for 3 years. Fast enough to leave anything for dead on the twistys. Especially SUVS up in the highlands. (up to 60+ every straight then 40 mph through the corners.. Makes it very hard to overtake but you're still held up.) - Curse those bastards. Very comfortable in motorway traffic. Very comfortable too once you swap out the shit tyres they come with. Luv and Peace.
@@milchomarkov8158 You can drive into a corner much faster than you could in a rear engined RWD car. It will change direction and you can get on the power earlier because the weight transfer is much more yours to control. If you accelerate at the apex or just before the weight will move to the back and provide loads of grip to bolt out of the corner maintaining much more momentum than Front engined cars. The bugbear of mid engined cars is going into the corner fast, turning in then realising you are carrying too much speed. Your instinct is to lift or brake but that would be a disaster. Instead you have to commit plant the throttle and handle the oversteer and exit quick again. If you slow down after the apex the back of the car will have more momentum than the front of the car and it will skid and continue rotating forwards. Typically inexperienced drivers counter steer at this point then once a bit slower the rear gains grip and the angle is towards the side of the road and you catapult off into a field or a tree or something. That gets called a Tank Slapper. While your learning mid engine go in a bit slower than you think is the limit. You can still punch it on the way out and make time. Over time you can test the boundaries but when you've already drilled in the mashing the pedal at the apex you're a lot less likely to crash. It's all about weight transfer and grip. Worth looking at the theory a bit. Luv and Peace.
Handling happens after the limit of grip is reached before that you are talking about grip and turn-in. The Boxster probably does handle well but you never got near testing that in this test. Don't conflate handling with road holding. Two completely separate measurements in a car.
Get that back box deleted, you won't regret it ;) Such a sick sounding engine! Also recommend getting some lowering springs, mines pretty low, but gives it way more presence and stiffens it up a little without being uncomfortable.
@@be1441 Sick man!! It honestly transforms the stance of the car, mine actually looks low enough to scrub everywhere but it only tends to over speed bumps!
I love both of these cars. But the Porsche not being able to pop the hood or should I say easy access to engine is a big deal. If you are buying a mid 2000's Boxster or Z4 you need access to the engine. They WILL break. I love the Boxster but I do work on my own cars. That's the fun of it. The Boxster is scary in that department. With that being said. I am in love with the rawness of the Porsche. So honestly I am more confused after seeing this video. LOL! :)
Access to the engine is far more accessible than people think. To get to the belts, theres a removable panel behind the seats and to change coils/sparkplugs, you can acce6then through the wheel arches
@@be1441 BTW Ben you're a bad influence! :) I have owned 2 BMW's, 3 VW's, 1 2009 Audi A4 that had catastrophic engine failure thank god I had the extending warranty. (Won't do that again). Don't you think Porsche is just a natural progression? I mean it is nature I am 50 years old it's time. :p Anyway, greetings from the USA Northern New England. Good video love both of those cars.
Well the z4 is reliable. Mine has needed two throttle bodies from eBay £30 a pop and thats from 66000 miles to 117000 lol. I've had no issues from the roof because I always make sure the roof drain holes are clear. I did consider a boxster but pathetic repair costs put me off. And the fact that the engine can blow up if a certain nut comes loose lol. Also people know the boxster as a poor man's Porsche, the z4 does not have that stigma attached to it. Each to their own but mine looks better than any stock older boxster. Im lowered on staggered 19in with a few other cosmetic mods. My z4 looks like how it should of came from BMW looks like a beast. Ben's is the revised boxster so I do quite like it. But if you talking about the older one with older headlight then don't even compare that one to the z4 lol. Looks pure shit. But opinions are like arseholes we all have them. So each to their own. Drive which you prefer and be happy.
The front end turn-in is gonna way better on the BMW than the Porsche. You can take liberties in turn in on the Z4. A mid engined car will not turn in anywhere near as quick without understeer. A mid engined car can be powered out of a corner quicker. It gets grip much quicker on a corner. Porsches are very long geared. BMWs are very neutrally geared. My BMW Z4 2.5si is great fun up to 60 and it does build power until redline. I'm gonna swap my Z4 2.5si for a Porsche Boxster 3.4 s I used to have an MR2 and I loved the scalpel like driving characteristics of that car. I've loved my z4 2.5si but I'm looking forward to the Porsche S. Luv and Peace.
I have 987.2 Boxster in Basalt black with the 19 inch Sport Design alloys in Satin Platinum, PASM + DSC v1, PSE, PDK, Sport Chrono, Sport Seat Plus & Sat-nav/bluetooth, have to say I like the first and second generation Z4s, beautiful looking cars...
You've bought a great car. I've got a 3.4 also in black. Side vents and front vents are also going to be blacked out. And mate, you'll get a lot of looks and smiles off women, which is slightly uncomfortable if they're with their boyfriend! Lol
The boxster is mid engine? Well this may come as a shocker, but the z4 is also mid engine... The front mid engine layout has its advantages over the rear mid engine layout, and vice versa, just thought I'd let you know. And the light steering/clutch etc... Don't even get me started. The boxster has stiffer bushings, stiffer sway bars and harder shocks than the z, so it FEELS faster and aspires confidence. Just like slapping on a fart can makes you feel like you are driving a faster vehicle. In reality, if you take both cars to their limits, its going to be neck to neck if they have comparable power/tires, especially in the real world. So all that talk abut the boxster being a more sports car than the z is simply bening an engeneering and marketing deceit. The z is more comfortable, the boxster is rougher, thus more emotional. Different strokes for different folks. And yes, it would make sense to compare this boxster to an e89 35i, since they cost roughly the same. Or to an e85 with mods that place the cars in the same price league.
Why on earth do you Brits confuse people by using imperial for fuel economy and then in the same stat, show fuel tank size in metric? LOL... Come on, come over to the civilized world and use ALL metric units.
Because different countries do things differently. Don’t presume you are the one in the right. Things are just different. There’s lots we could laugh at that you yanks do, so pipe down.
What, storage behind the seats of the Z4? Please tell me where because I have the same car and I have absolutely NO storage behind my seats. Oh, and how about that GREAT glove box....lol.
@@yannickandraschko1812 exactly. I mean amg's are built like a Swiss watch and Ferrari's are basically fast expensive Alfa Romeo's with the same build quality as a fiat. Who would compare those? 😃
No IMS bearing problems with BMWs. I've run an M54 to 150,000+ miles without any expensive problems. I almost bought a Porsche Boxster the thought of a cheap bearing failing an lunching my engine put me off. I'm now in an N52 IS engine Z4 and it's been sweet as a nut for 2 years with about 70,000 on it.
@@anthonygillesse7242 Yeah, that would suck. The bearing issue lasted like 4-5 years but resolved back in 2005. In more current times, Consumer Reports has Porsche at the top 3 for the past several years in overall and reliability. BMW not so good and tons of recalls overall based again on Consumer Reports. This was one of the factors why I didn't go with one.
Since you had the 987 3.2s, a much better comparison would have been the z4 265si. Because even though they have the same age, the z4 you tested is basically the same since 2003, while the 987 is an improved version of the 3.2 252hp 986 boxter S.
My dad used to have a 986s then the 987s boxster. Loved the noise, power and handling but the older 986 was my favourite as it was a bit more raw and exhaust sounded even better. It felt more frightening yet somehow still safe when driven hard. It's been replaced by an Slk 55 AMG which sounds like thunder, and throws you back in your seat. Great fun but it's so fast you can only enjoy that mega sound briefly unless on a track and doesn't handle quite as well with that massive engine up front. The first boxster was slow enough to let you enjoy the noise for that much longer. But maybe it has a memory because it's the first time I experienced a porsche and thus surprised me that bit more. Lucky enough to drive all 3. Never a z4 but BMWs 6s are nice and like you say but nicer as a daily drive. More civilised though watch BMWs in the wet as traction can be an issue.
Spot on, I have a 2004 3.2S. I upgraded the IMS bearing for the EPS version which has a 5 year warranty. It just drives like a car built by a company with multiple le Mans wins should. I wouldn't bother with a Z4, even an old S2000 if you can find one would be better.
Matt3667 It does. It’s 0-62MPH in 4.5. Faster in the U.S. too apparently. Great mix of technology, comfort and roadster.... although not the best time of year to buy one! First world problems!
Good comparison, as rightly acknowledged the Z4 30Si would be more ideal in the bhp department, but the Boxster may have a displacement advantage. I noticed from my ownership of both z4 3.0 and the updated Z4 coupe 3.0 Si, the latter is very light as the engine is magnesium, if am right, bonnet and boot are aluminium so the power to weight seems good. Nice content.
I have the 3.0si and it’s a wicked thing, and closer in performance- drove the boxter too before I bought the beemer. The Porsche was much easier to drive on the limit and some might say to easy, but imo the bm is more thrilling for that exact reason.
I've had 4 Porsche's and a few years ago felt the need for a convertible because I sold my 911 convertible in 2009. I looked at the Boxster S and it is a great car, but chose the Z4///M (E85) instead ... its GREAT! One of the best choices I ever made!
Boxster will never be special. Just another Porsche. But E85 Z4 is the special one. The stepchild of the BMW family. Still looks mad beautiful, modern and stunning after more than a decade. Keep your boxsters and S2ks. I will roll with the E85 all day anyday.
Boxster will never be special? how old are you? you seem to know nothing about porsche. It saved them and got the porsche badge a big boom, also there is not just "another" porsche. No one can archive what they did. Even till today looking at nürburgring gt2rs or their newest taycan.
Well yes I am American and if I'm not mistaken your alphabet just has the letter Z not Zedd so I don't quite understand what being American has to do with anything so I guess a zebra is spelled zeddzebra or how about zeddero 😂😁😃
I still own both of these although in the previous generations. The 2.8 Z3 and the 2.5 Boxster, both from 98. Both awesome cars. The BM's E36 motor is marvelous with that incredible low down torque. The Boxster really excels on the track and at high speeds much better, safer and more stable. BM now on 400 000 kms and Boxster only at 210000 kilometers. I purchased them second hand some 10 years ago and they still retail for the same monies or slightly more. Both incredible cars and with you tube's how to-videos,easy and fairly cheap to maintain. IMS issues on the Boxster were just plain bullsh!t. These cars are literally the best fun with your pants on. Thanks guys for an excellent upload.
I own a 99 boxster base 2.5L with 47,000 miles and it is a lovely car to drive.....I did major research before buying it and have come to the same conclusion about the IMS issue.....And since mine has the double bearing which is in the 1% failure rate anyway I'm just going to drive it and not worry about it.
05 Boxster S here, 140,000 miles of smiles. I modded it for 300+ hp. Traded in on a 981 Spyder last year😹
Looking forward to the inevitable straight piped exhaust video 👀😂
Ben wait till the car goes wrong,you will wish you had your bmw bud,had one so so expensive.great vid boys .
Michael Li...so true, there is nothing in between the two cars in terms of normal driving but the prohibitive running cost of Porsche is just a deterrent form my future ownership of the prestige marquee. My Z4 3.0 Si coupe is easy on my wallet, looks better than the Cayman equivalent IMO and I will relish the prospect of meeting 3.2 boxster at the traffic light as the straight six will sing. Porsche got the upper hand though. 🤗
both great cars. Joel's z4 does have 150k mileage which might affect his car, wonder how the porsche would compare to lower mileage z4.
I have 145,000 on my 05 Boxster S. Compression tested #1 cyl 160lbs, #2 cyl 160lbs, #3 cyl 160Lbs, #4 cyl 160lbs, #5 cyl 160lbs, #6 cyl 160lbs.
I watched Joel's video when he bought his Z4, both are great cars...only i think Z4 is a bit kinder and merciful to the wallet...
Definitely a better comparison would be the Porsche with the 3.0si engine much closely matched in speed and price
Great video nonetheless and enjoyed watching it.
I have an '06 3.0 si and love it. Bought it last year.
Good review guys I got the 3.4 slightly later boxster not a great deal difference in power but love Z4 as well, but have to admit u can't beat the go kart rawness of a boxster, no badge snobbery either, invest in one of these drive it for few years take care you will still make a profit, you can't put money on smiles per galleon 😁
The reason these videos fail is because they tell you everything you can look at a glance to a features sheet. And they spend literally no time on what you can not tell from a spec sheet: How the cars feel when you drive them. Rookie mistake and many, many, make it. These guys are not alone.
If it was a Z4 M I would say the m car. I drive a 3.0 SI Z4 coupe with an upgraded M suspension and it's absolutely amazing , however I have driven a Porsche Boxster S as well and I got to tell you it was much tighter n the corners than the BMW. Although they are both roadster's they both have a very different feel about them anyway you choose you won't be disappointed!
Completely agree 🙌
Careful about the M. The non M handles better! The M is just faster on a racetrack...who cares! I drove both many times and z4 hands down.
@@marksmith-nx8kgM weight about 150kg more then an 3.0si. but all Z4 e85 and e86 needs upgrades on suspension and angles to deliver all the potential, but is correct was street touring car, And it wasn't BMW's flagship car. Boxsters had better suspension development also because it was their "flagship" car, plus they only made 3/4 chassis...
The 987 came out in late 2004 which was a complete redesign (not just a facelift of the previous 986) with the S having a 3.2. In 2006 they enlarged the S engine to 3.4 producing 295bhp no other changes.
The facelift model was in fact the 987 Gen2 which came out in 2009 featuring a new type of 3.4 DFI engine producing 310bhp. Also the Gen2 had a newer & better auto-gearbox which was the PDK!
3.2S 0-60mph was 5.2secs; 0-62mph (100kph) was 5.5secs with a top speed of 167mph
3.4S 0-60mph was 5.1secs; 0-62mph (100kph) was 5.4secs with a top speed of 168mph
3.4S Gen2 0-60 was 5.0secs; 0-62mph (100kph) was 5.3secs with a top speed of 170mph
All figures quoted above are for the manual gearbox.
As I mentioned previously Ben, the Milltek Sport exhaust (rear cat delete), not only makes a great sound (deeper & meatier) & introduces some pops & crackles too (not that loud) but it does bring a sense of occasion on deceleration but the torque curve is spread across a wider range & you get some more power. It really transforms the car & the tail pipes look great too!
I bought a 2006 987S as a sort of project car so I can tell you that the Milltek transforms the drivability & makes gear changes far less frequent when crusing around. I found it also opens up the performance in that the car feels more responsive across the rev range & more exciting to drive; a worthwhile investment.
I put a Milltek full exhaust on my 05 Boxster S along with ECU tune, LWF, under drive pulley, ECU tune, Bilsteins
@@clu4uHow does the canvas feel with the different pulley?
@@ziofrenko I’m not sure if I can feel a difference. The LWF is noticeable in 1 &2 gears, the UD pulley should help accelerate with higher revs.
Love the review from both of you, certainly make you consider the options with both cars.
Agreed, having had the Z4 I would be keen to drive that generation of Boxster. I drove the 718 Boxster S and it rides soo flat round bends its unreal compared to the Z4
You don’t see a Z4 that often as a Porsche so it makes the Z4 more unique. But they are both good looking sports cars. I wish people would drive them more again instead of these bulky SUV’s now.
The lure of that badge though....I mean I actually tried to pull this girl once.....she literally said to me "I have a boyfriend" and even though I don't own a Porsche for some reason I said "shame I wanted to give you a lift in my Porsche"....she then said to me "You know I don't even like my boyfriend".....I then said "I'm only joking". I will always remember that conversation though.
Bmw feels more plush inside, and feels better built
With the age of the cars ( not that’s a problem, because i have an 2002 E46 330ci convertible ) i would go for the Z4, as its easy to work on the engine when things go wrong and they do. Easy repair for anyone that likes hands on, but not so good for the Porsche i would have thought. Still both nice cars
The newer gen 1 Z4s got the N52 which is an amazing engine. Mine is proving to be reliable too. 90,000 miles now and Thrashed it to death and serviced it every year.
Same story with my E46 with the M54 engine. I got 15oK out of that engine only having to replace the coolant reservoir... Shitty plastic.
Other than that I replaced the spark plugs and that's about it. I had to take the passenger seat out and replace the occupancy sensor when that failed because the seatbelt light came on.
EBay £30 and maybe an hour of labour. It took one custom tool from Halfords at £20 or so for the weird BMW star screws.
All in all if you can turn a wrench old BMWs are really not the nightmares people make them out to be. Your biggest enemy is rust on the wings. New pattern part wings are easy to get so FFS don't scrap an E46 because the wings are rusty.
£200 will see you fixed right up. Rattle can sprays if you take your time will look way better than it looks now.
Don't let perfection get in the way of progress.
My 2002 E46 was a very high spec individual colour with orange flecks though metallic purple (Tourmaline Violet) with an extended leather interior of Nappa leather Blackberry. (purple)
I loved that car.
It was only a 2.2i six cylinder but it was an amazing car.
Luv and Peace.
Enjoyed that one! I’d like to test drive a boxster to see the differences for myself, the boxster would be one car I’d consider buying after my e85 but my only worry would be buying a bad example and having the repair costs! Both excellent cars for the money looking forward to more videos with the boxster
Feel free to drive mine any time matey
Mate the next step from the e85 is an e89 35i with a remap. Looks better and would eat the boxster s for breakfast.
i reckon, if you can afford it, go for the Boxter. but the Z4 is a lot more home mechanic friendy, a lot of the maintenance will be easier to do at home.
Would you recommend a Z4 2.5 or 3.0 if you're not mechanically skilled at all? 04-09 cars
@@UnseenSpirit it's an old car now, so only if you know you can afford the occasional trip to the repair shop. They are quite reliable cars and fairly simple, but age takes its toll on everything old (rubber hoses going bad, radiator, bushes etc).
@@UnseenSpiritAre all the same engine from 2003 to 2005, all M54, and all the same from 2006 to 2008 (All N52). On M54 you can find a lot more info and parts about.
Great video as always i enjoy watching both of your content.
Tho i would argue a bit in favor of the Z4 (nothing to do with the fact that i have one o swear) the Porsche does seems nice for sure and maybe she is a bit more fun to drive. But these two cars let's be honest are kinda cheap now and the BMW will be a lot easyer to Maintain that the Porsche because parts are cheaper and working on the front engine is waaaay simpler than in the mid engine of the Porsche who often are money pits... that + gas mileage beeing a bit better on the Z4 i would say that if you want a fun car but you can't afford to go to the dealer every few month because something went bad ... i would definitly say the Z4 is best. If you don't care much for money then go for the porche
But anyway great video and @Joel Z4 dies a bit higher RPM stock you can change that by having a stage 1 reprog on it for around £400 that will make it that much more enjoyable :)
Had the choice, bought z4 3.0 manual 6 speed M sport.
If wanna go for porsche : 911 turbo is the only one
The z4 is a nice car but mid engine balance all the way , you have to really work the engines on the boxsters basically thrash the shit out of them get them ,on song they are great back lane sports cars ... I would fined a boxster a bit hard work for everyday driving they are a bit raw , I’m sure the Z4 would be a better daily , you have explain this very well , most people are buying boxsters for weekend cars , on my second 987 boxster started with a 2.7 manual now have a 3.4 pdk love it , got my Pruis for daily and work lol People say don’t you hate getting out the boxster and driving the Prius ? To be fair I actually love the Prius it’s like sitting on a soft sponge after driving the boxster with rock hard suspension... but there again when you get back in the the boxster it’s like being in the space shuttle lol
Had a z4 3.0 smg and now got boxster s
Z4 way to light on the rear but smg box was fun
Boxster s is planted on the road no traction control but dont need it
Boxster better car all round in my eyes
The Boxster acceleration traits sounds very similar to the Porsche 944 Turbo I used to own: it was pretty tame in the low revs, but once you passed 3000 revs all hell broke loose! Great video mate, I’m actually looking at buying a Boxster S, so your insight and review is very much appreciated!
The 944 S2 I used to own was the same. Hit 3000rpm and the power just hit hard. Not much below that, it was like flipping a switch. Very fun.
How can the difference in engine placement make the bmw feel like its pulling you while porsche feels like its pushing?🤔 They are both RWD.
z4 as a daily is very easy to live with. The engine is a peach. Very linear power delivery.
Great review, I've owned both these cars and found them to be totally different from that silky smooth Bmw z4 6 cylinder to the more aggressive power plant of the flat 6 Porsche, both great cars to drive Z4 a lovely cruiser tends to tram line a little, the Porsche is definitely the bad boy.
I have also. the Porsche was noisy and rickety. the interior fel cheap and unwelcoming. the wheels were no frills. very anemic on power. wing only worked when it wanted to. headlights were glazed and clear coat was fading in the corners. at 77k the engine had a catastrophic failure. out 19000 dollars. the z4 looks better. the leather was better quality. better ride. better sound going down the road. I think the z4 was a world apart from the porsche
Get rid of the run flat tires. My 2007 z4 3.0si is way more fun than my 911 that I got rid of. Plus it looks so much better than the boxster. Roar is much better as well. To this day I smile every single time I drive it. Z4 is the baddest.
@@marksmith-nx8kg Makes me think. I love my Z4 2.5si. The noise of it, the looks of it and the sublime balance when I'm really pushing on. As I've said above I had an MR2 for many years and whilst not as fast as the z4 it felt more dynamic in the corners. It was like a go-cart when on tight B roads and could carry so much speed.
My feeling is I want that mid engined feel back but with a powerplant like the Z4. My Z4 is 218bhp. The idea of a 280bhp boxster 3.4S is very appealing as the best of both worlds.
I have to say the N52 engine is the best engine of any car I've ever had. It's quite torquey low down but it does build relentlessly to over 7000.
And it does scream sonorously.
Crazy good fun at even legal speeds.
I understand where you're coming from Mark.
Luv and Peace.
It is not the right engine on Z4 to make a fair comparison because a 3.0si was needed. N52 Is one of the best petrol NA engine of the history. And with a few little tweaks to the suspension it also becomes much better to drive!
Z4 look is unbeatable
I dont know about you guys, but when someone talks about cars, Audi R8, Corvette Z06, Mustang Fastback...I love talking about them and saying "this one is awesome, but...."
Then there is Porsche.
Somehow Im still not sure what to put after the But. cus that is where the engine is.
My Mr2 had a step at 5500 rpm. It had an ACIS header on the throttle.
It would noticeably step up at 5500 rpm. The exhaust hardened and the engine made more torque and HP.
That engine made 174hp at the top end.
Makes really crap torque below 5500 rpm.
The MR2 only went up to 7250 rpm so in most driving it's gonna be left behind on acceleration tests.
I got left behind briefly by a 320i owned by a friend a few years back. It just took off ahead of me got it caught it up.
Ended up owning that e46 320I.
Loved it.
I guess the moral of the story is it's not about the top power you can put out but about the power under the graph over the whole rev range.
The BMW 320i with 170bhp was quicker than the MR2 at 174bhp because the BMW made more power sooner and for longer.
The Mr2 had a very peaky power curve.
Area under the graph is the true measure of power and speed.
I learnt my lesson.
Luv and Peace.
I had an mr2 that was mid engined. I'd say I could approach a bend more quickly in the Z4. I've driven a 3.2 s Boxster too.
It felt pretty solid but I'd not want to throw it around.
Z4 feels a little more handleable.
Luv and Peace.
Back box delete + quad conversation in my Z4 sounds incredible.
That low end politeness of the Porsche is what makes it a nice daily driver.
You only need to push a little and it comes alive...
Is the opposite: on daily driver you need more power on low revs,That's why all the new turbo petrol cars have come closer to diesel power output, because it's more useful to have the power low down. Then for a fairer comparison the N52 engine would have been perfect with 260hp and would have had even more torque low down since they managed to get a constant torque from 2500 to 4000rpm.
@@ziofrenko Be that as it may… driving in town traffic between stop lights & signs, I doubt there’s very many people that are thinking of any of that.
There’s a difference between a daily driver & an enthusiast car.
My point was that Porsche bridges that difference better than any other super car I’ve owned or driven.
@@TomLongusa boxster is not a supercar, is a street sport car like the z4. Hundreds of people used daily like z4 because they are designed to be used every day.
@@ziofrenko fair enough, I was thinking & speaking more of a 911 than a boxster.
But the manual boxster does have an issue with its “tall” gearing that leaves it less computer friendly. When you’re at the top of 2nd gear you’re doing 85mph.
But Porsche does protect the 911’s pedigree at the booster’s expense.
The Z still
Looks fantastic and the P looks way more dated
Porsche. Real sportscar
Foregone conclusion really. Everyone knew the outcome
I like both car
Which one? Neither .. the E85 M Roadster is the one!
Great video mate. I massively approve of your purchase, nicely done!
Ask car and driver what car they choose every year?
Whoever buys the most advertising ...
Do you have any more stickers?
One big difference is that the Porche has an LSD on all models wich the Z4 does not. That for it self will settle it for me.
@5putput only the boxter S has it?
Z4m has LSD
@@Caymanec yes I know. Big difference from the others. I didn't know that only the Boxer S had it. Sorry for that.
That is incorrect. LSD is an option-and not a common one at that-on SOME Porsche models. The vast majority of Boxsters available DO NOT have LSD. It’s part of the PTV (Porsche Torque Vectoring) option. Good to have for the track, but otherwise, not necessary to really push these cars and have fun.
These cars are cheap enough, why not own both?
Not alot of people can afford to run both
Kind of kind of kind of
How would the boxster fair against the upgraded z4. The e 86. Im torn between a 2002 boxter or a 2010 or 2011 z4.
Actively looking for 08+ boxster S now.
Z4 was a lot of fun but I missed the MR2s scythe like approach to corners.
3.4s Boxster will be even better.
Big Props to the 06 2.5si Roadster though.
Lots of fun for 3 years.
Fast enough to leave anything for dead on the twistys. Especially SUVS up in the highlands. (up to 60+ every straight then 40 mph through the corners.. Makes it very hard to overtake but you're still held up.) - Curse those bastards.
Very comfortable in motorway traffic.
Very comfortable too once you swap out the shit tyres they come with.
Luv and Peace.
Please define that scythe like approach - new to boxster, kinda struggling to figure out that mid engine handling approach in corners.
@@milchomarkov8158 You can drive into a corner much faster than you could in a rear engined RWD car.
It will change direction and you can get on the power earlier because the weight transfer is much more yours to control.
If you accelerate at the apex or just before the weight will move to the back and provide loads of grip to bolt out of the corner maintaining much more momentum than Front engined cars.
The bugbear of mid engined cars is going into the corner fast, turning in then realising you are carrying too much speed. Your instinct is to lift or brake but that would be a disaster.
Instead you have to commit plant the throttle and handle the oversteer and exit quick again.
If you slow down after the apex the back of the car will have more momentum than the front of the car and it will skid and continue rotating forwards.
Typically inexperienced drivers counter steer at this point then once a bit slower the rear gains grip and the angle is towards the side of the road and you catapult off into a field or a tree or something.
That gets called a Tank Slapper.
While your learning mid engine go in a bit slower than you think is the limit.
You can still punch it on the way out and make time.
Over time you can test the boundaries but when you've already drilled in the mashing the pedal at the apex you're a lot less likely to crash.
It's all about weight transfer and grip. Worth looking at the theory a bit.
Luv and Peace.
Great comparison. I will search and see if you guys did a comparison on maintenance and DIY repairs.
Handling happens after the limit of grip is reached before that you are talking about grip and turn-in.
The Boxster probably does handle well but you never got near testing that in this test.
Don't conflate handling with road holding. Two completely separate measurements in a car.
Get that back box deleted, you won't regret it ;) Such a sick sounding engine! Also recommend getting some lowering springs, mines pretty low, but gives it way more presence and stiffens it up a little without being uncomfortable.
Got some h&r 35mm springs in my watch list 👀 definitely needs to be lowered, the arch gap is horrendous
@@be1441 Sick man!! It honestly transforms the stance of the car, mine actually looks low enough to scrub everywhere but it only tends to over speed bumps!
I love both of these cars. But the Porsche not being able to pop the hood or should I say easy access to engine is a big deal. If you are buying a mid 2000's Boxster or Z4 you need access to the engine. They WILL break. I love the Boxster but I do work on my own cars. That's the fun of it. The Boxster is scary in that department. With that being said. I am in love with the rawness of the Porsche. So honestly I am more confused after seeing this video. LOL! :)
Access to the engine is far more accessible than people think. To get to the belts, theres a removable panel behind the seats and to change coils/sparkplugs, you can acce6then through the wheel arches
@@be1441 I didn't know that everyone makes it seem impossible. Thanks for that info.
@@be1441 BTW Ben you're a bad influence! :) I have owned 2 BMW's, 3 VW's, 1 2009 Audi A4 that had catastrophic engine failure thank god I had the extending warranty. (Won't do that again). Don't you think Porsche is just a natural progression? I mean it is nature I am 50 years old it's time. :p Anyway, greetings from the USA Northern New England. Good video love both of those cars.
Well the z4 is reliable. Mine has needed two throttle bodies from eBay £30 a pop and thats from 66000 miles to 117000 lol. I've had no issues from the roof because I always make sure the roof drain holes are clear. I did consider a boxster but pathetic repair costs put me off. And the fact that the engine can blow up if a certain nut comes loose lol. Also people know the boxster as a poor man's Porsche, the z4 does not have that stigma attached to it. Each to their own but mine looks better than any stock older boxster. Im lowered on staggered 19in with a few other cosmetic mods. My z4 looks like how it should of came from BMW looks like a beast. Ben's is the revised boxster so I do quite like it. But if you talking about the older one with older headlight then don't even compare that one to the z4 lol. Looks pure shit. But opinions are like arseholes we all have them. So each to their own. Drive which you prefer and be happy.
The front end turn-in is gonna way better on the BMW than the Porsche.
You can take liberties in turn in on the Z4.
A mid engined car will not turn in anywhere near as quick without understeer. A mid engined car can be powered out of a corner quicker.
It gets grip much quicker on a corner.
Porsches are very long geared. BMWs are very neutrally geared. My BMW Z4 2.5si is great fun up to 60 and it does build power until redline.
I'm gonna swap my Z4 2.5si for a Porsche Boxster 3.4 s
I used to have an MR2 and I loved the scalpel like driving characteristics of that car.
I've loved my z4 2.5si but I'm looking forward to the Porsche S.
Luv and Peace.
stay away from the boxster. it's built with neon quality. the badge is the only reason this car is even talked about
Video helped a lot! ❤
Which one is cheaper to maintain and more reliable?
Z4
I have 987.2 Boxster in Basalt black with the 19 inch Sport Design alloys in Satin Platinum, PASM + DSC v1, PSE, PDK, Sport Chrono, Sport Seat Plus & Sat-nav/bluetooth, have to say I like the first and second generation Z4s, beautiful looking cars...
Shocking result, a Boxster 987s that’s worth three times the z4 is the winner...
You've bought a great car. I've got a 3.4 also in black. Side vents and front vents are also going to be blacked out. And mate, you'll get a lot of looks and smiles off women, which is slightly uncomfortable if they're with their boyfriend! Lol
Also, have you joined any of the 987 pages on Facebook?
Not yet but I'll take a look
Or buy both!
Maintenance costs overall ? I would expect the Porsche upkeep to be a fair bit more.
The boxster is mid engine? Well this may come as a shocker, but the z4 is also mid engine... The front mid engine layout has its advantages over the rear mid engine layout, and vice versa, just thought I'd let you know. And the light steering/clutch etc... Don't even get me started. The boxster has stiffer bushings, stiffer sway bars and harder shocks than the z, so it FEELS faster and aspires confidence. Just like slapping on a fart can makes you feel like you are driving a faster vehicle. In reality, if you take both cars to their limits, its going to be neck to neck if they have comparable power/tires, especially in the real world. So all that talk abut the boxster being a more sports car than the z is simply bening an engeneering and marketing deceit. The z is more comfortable, the boxster is rougher, thus more emotional. Different strokes for different folks. And yes, it would make sense to compare this boxster to an e89 35i, since they cost roughly the same. Or to an e85 with mods that place the cars in the same price league.
z4 is not mid engine, 2 cyl go past front suspension
@@ulisesavila2879 no shit? In a 4cyl engine? )
@@ИванИванов-м6ч1о forgot about that version
Nice to see on Joel's UA-cam channel that he's finally seen the light and bought a Boxster too...
Nice cars , it looks like the Boxster is easier to get into , or am I wrong ? (Disable) Thanks !
Why on earth do you Brits confuse people by using imperial for fuel economy and then in the same stat, show fuel tank size in metric? LOL... Come on, come over to the civilized world and use ALL metric units.
Because different countries do things differently. Don’t presume you are the one in the right. Things are just different. There’s lots we could laugh at that you yanks do, so pipe down.
i'm planning to own one of these in the near future and my opinion is that the Z4's line is timeless compared to the Porsche's
16:11 where did your passenger go?
Ejecto seato cuz
Surely you need to mention prices??
Irrelevant since that video as used car prices have shot right up. That Boxster I bought at the time for 8k was recently up for sale for 11k
I have two bimmers with the M54 engine. E46 & E53. Engine is my least worry with the cars. Just mind the cooling system.
Great video Ben, gave your video a wee like ;)
With only 2 seconds going into this I can tell you it’s the Porsche
Doesn’t have cruise control, on a sports car ???
rofl dont give me the crap your 3.5si was slower etc .Porsche bla bla .Handeling wise maybe. power wise muhahaha.
My 35is had more power yes and was quicker yes, but wayyyy heavier was my point
I have a 2010 Z4 and would prefer it to the boxster. My Z4 has 302 hp and is the 35I Twin turbo.
Great engine. I had the 35is and is still one of the best cars I’ve owned
Perfect video, Been looking at both of these
Need to compare the Boxter to the E86 M to be fair.
I have a 987s work all over Europe , I can get 3 guitars, clothes bag, keyboard bag , lap top… let’s see you do that in BMW .. The Box is a joy
In bmw you can put me in the trunk, 1.85cm x 85kg, And there was still plenty of space.
Covered storage just makes everything look so much nicer. Nothing worse than seeing crap in those door bins.
You look like the unfortunate siblings of Jensen Button and Max Verstappen
👍
Where is that road please anybody know
The z4 has better styling.
Good video. Terrible jacket
Can we teach this guy to rev match?!
(Speaking telepathically in the voice of the z4)
What, storage behind the seats of the Z4? Please tell me where because I have the same car and I have absolutely NO storage behind my seats. Oh, and how about that GREAT glove box....lol.
Some z4s have a storage pocket behind each seats. However some cars have speakers instead
@@be1441 OK, mine has speakers. But once again, how do you like that "Wall" glove compartment?
great video
Always take the Porsche. They are more reliable and generally are better than BMW
Yeah, that is like comparing a Ferrari to an AMG. Simply not the same league
@@yannickandraschko1812 exactly. I mean amg's are built like a Swiss watch and Ferrari's are basically fast expensive Alfa Romeo's with the same build quality as a fiat. Who would compare those? 😃
No IMS bearing problems with BMWs. I've run an M54 to 150,000+ miles without any expensive problems.
I almost bought a Porsche Boxster the thought of a cheap bearing failing an lunching my engine put me off.
I'm now in an N52 IS engine Z4 and it's been sweet as a nut for 2 years with about 70,000 on it.
Mario no so Z4 much more reliable than Porche I’ve owned both and had a ims bearing go in the Cayman.Not fun.
@@anthonygillesse7242 Yeah, that would suck. The bearing issue lasted like 4-5 years but resolved back in 2005. In more current times, Consumer Reports has Porsche at the top 3 for the past several years in overall and reliability. BMW not so good and tons of recalls overall based again on Consumer Reports. This was one of the factors why I didn't go with one.
Since you had the 987 3.2s, a much better comparison would have been the z4 265si. Because even though they have the same age, the z4 you tested is basically the same since 2003, while the 987 is an improved version of the 3.2 252hp 986 boxter S.
We mentioned that, but didnt have access to an si haha
@@be1441 Matched my Alpina Roadster S Z4 against a Boxster S on track - the Alpina just had the edge on acceleration and speed - but not by much..
My dad used to have a 986s then the 987s boxster. Loved the noise, power and handling but the older 986 was my favourite as it was a bit more raw and exhaust sounded even better. It felt more frightening yet somehow still safe when driven hard. It's been replaced by an Slk 55 AMG which sounds like thunder, and throws you back in your seat. Great fun but it's so fast you can only enjoy that mega sound briefly unless on a track and doesn't handle quite as well with that massive engine up front. The first boxster was slow enough to let you enjoy the noise for that much longer. But maybe it has a memory because it's the first time I experienced a porsche and thus surprised me that bit more. Lucky enough to drive all 3. Never a z4 but BMWs 6s are nice and like you say but nicer as a daily drive. More civilised though watch BMWs in the wet as traction can be an issue.
I'd quite like something that accelerates like a 1.5 litre mx5 but sounds like a boxster when doing so!
Spot on, I have a 2004 3.2S. I upgraded the IMS bearing for the EPS version which has a 5 year warranty. It just drives like a car built by a company with multiple le Mans wins should. I wouldn't bother with a Z4, even an old S2000 if you can find one would be better.
Good video - you both present well together 👌👍
Should be comparing the Boxter S with the Z4 M...
Z4 M is way more powerful so wouldnt be fair either. Would have been closer matched against an SI but we dont have access to one unfortunately
The Z4 M is psychotic and why have a better edge on the 3.4 Boxster, the comparison ideally should be the 3.0 Si and Ben's 3.2 have the upper hand.
Fair? Is a comparison of the top Boxter trim to the not top trim Z4 fair?
Better to compare with the new(ish) Z4 M40i - Just got mine - it's awesome!
Anthony a new m40i would kill the porsche 😂
Matt3667 It does. It’s 0-62MPH in 4.5. Faster in the U.S. too apparently. Great mix of technology, comfort and roadster.... although not the best time of year to buy one! First world problems!
Great video Ben! I have always been curious about that generation of Porsche Boxster
Good comparison, as rightly acknowledged the Z4 30Si would be more ideal in the bhp department, but the Boxster may have a displacement advantage. I noticed from my ownership of both z4 3.0 and the updated Z4 coupe 3.0 Si, the latter is very light as the engine is magnesium, if am right, bonnet and boot are aluminium so the power to weight seems good. Nice content.
Is it lighter than 1270kg (3.0i) ??
I have the 3.0si and it’s a wicked thing, and closer in performance- drove the boxter too before I bought the beemer.
The Porsche was much easier to drive on the limit and some might say to easy, but imo the bm is more thrilling for that exact reason.
why only 2k subs...?
🤷🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️
The Porsche, hands down. It's a better car in every way, unless you absolutely must have an FR
Nothing beats the physics of a mid-engine car. When it spins with the driver as the axis, it is so much fun.
@Chris A Welp yes i agree, but in the netherlands the 987 boxster is expensive as fuck compared to the z4.
Great cars, I have test driven them both but ended up with a TTRS
Great choice I fancy one
Ben Rayne yes, I love it but I‘m still dreaming about owning a Porsche.
Lovely couple.
😂😂😂
In Germany the z4 is a “Frauen Auto” that means it’s a car for girls. 😂 but z4 is a nice car
I was debating a Z4M vs a Boxster. I ended up going with the Boxster, but the Z4M was really intriguing and seemed much better than the Z4
I've had 4 Porsche's and a few years ago felt the need for a convertible because I sold my 911 convertible in 2009. I looked at the Boxster S and it is a great car, but chose the Z4///M (E85) instead ... its GREAT! One of the best choices I ever made!
@@A_Treat Nice! I'm loving my 987 Boxster, but when it comes down to it, whatever car you enjoy is the right one!
Boxster will never be special. Just another Porsche. But E85 Z4 is the special one. The stepchild of the BMW family. Still looks mad beautiful, modern and stunning after more than a decade. Keep your boxsters and S2ks. I will roll with the E85 all day anyday.
Boxster will never be special? how old are you? you seem to know nothing about porsche. It saved them and got the porsche badge a big boom, also there is not just "another" porsche. No one can archive what they did. Even till today looking at nürburgring gt2rs or their newest taycan.
Keyword “Porsche”
Subtitle... "the sportscar or the BMW?"
What is a zed 4 ?
Guessing your American and say 'zee 4'?
Well yes I am American and if I'm not mistaken your alphabet just has the letter Z not Zedd so I don't quite understand what being American has to do with anything so I guess a zebra is spelled zeddzebra or how about zeddero 😂😁😃
@@scottallan3327 haha wasn't insulting you or anything mate 😁 love the different pronunciations between us brits and Americans
Oh I'm not mad nor was I insulted as a matter of fact I own a Boxster 2005 and absolutely loved your video. It was very cool
@@scottallan3327 haha that's good, just checking 😅