The best sports car in the world...

[MikeD]

Fifth Gear names the Porsche Boxster the best sports car in the world! Of course they only reviewed open top, two seat, roadsters (which included a TVR, the Vauxhall and Lotus Elise, and yes even the Caterham), so the 911 wasn't even considered. Maybe when they name the best Grand Tourer you guys will have a shot .

In case you weren't aware, Fifth Gear is on Speed Monday nights. Unfortunately the episodes they air appear to be about a year out-of-date . This competition was done with an '03 S and did not include the Z4 (as it was not out at the time) .

[martinreinhardt]

This is probably true, but it isn't mean and fast enough. The handling is definitely superior to any other cars. If only they would come out with a RS lighweight Coupe and 3.6 with 350hp in it so it can be called the "Giant Killer" like the 550 Spyder.

[Jad]

Unfortunately, said giant would be the 911, not Ferrari, Jaguar or others as in the past. I wouldn't expect Porsche to come out with anything that bests the 911 (for less money, Carrera GT is obviously a different animal and I don't think you want to pay $100K+ for the RS Boxster) on paper as their image of the 911 sustains the company. Hopefully I am wrong, but the Boxster will most likely suffer the same fate as the 928 and 944/968 did and die without really ever reaching their performance potential in mass production.

[Tim Comeau]

I think you're right, Jad.
There is the Boxster with the aftermarket 3400 cc engine though?
I'm not sure how much of a "Riesentoter" that is?
A Boxster with a 3600 cc engine would be a fantastic drive...........

[martinreinhardt]

For me the Porsche 964's are the best cars in the world now, if only I had enough $$$$$ to buy every single model of it

[Pete Millikin]

Jad - I hope you are wrong about the Boxster's eventual decline but it is a real possibility if its sales continue to slide and can't be revitalized with a remake or coupe introduction. Like you, I can't see Porsche ever giving it more performance than the flagship 997.

However, the positive thing I see is that with a 8+ year model run there are lots of used and progressively cheaper Boxsters around for enthusiasts to upgrade. After Ethan and others solve all the motor, electrical and other conversion problems I see a growing class of Boxster GTs with 3.6/3.8L engines. Yahoo! Imagine all of the 944 and 911 people racing together in one class for world domination.

[paul-silver]

I seem to remember reading an article in Excellence magazine a couple of years ago about a Boxster that had gotten a turbo upgrade -- prett famn fast car that was, but, alas, never to be made by Porsche.

[MikeD]

There's a guy in AZ. who's got a 986 puttin out ~380hp at about 2,000# (or less). Someday that (or one like it) will sit in my garage

[gulf911]

There's a guy in AZ. who's got a 986 puttin out ~380hp at about 2,000# (or less). Someday that (or one like it) will sit in my garage

Would that be with or without the oil starved rod bearing??....

Best grocery getter is more like it....

[Tim Comeau]

OHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[MikeD]

Would that be with or without the oil starved rod bearing??....

He uses Sears Tiger Claw's so the gforces during cornering and braking aren't that significant...

[Curt]

There's a guy in AZ. who's got a 986 puttin out ~380hp at about 2,000# (or less). Someday that (or one like it) will sit in my garage

Would that be with or without the oil starved rod bearing??....

Best grocery getter is more like it....

You know that is just low. Way below the belt. I feel it is time we take strong disciplinary action against this verbal hooligan. I would strongly suggest a lifetime three second penalty be applied to all future events in which this so called "member" participates. Kicking the waterpumpers while they are down? Sure it's fun, but it doesn't make it right.

[Jad]

Hmm, I seem to remember a pretty stock waterpumping 968 taking TTOD at the last AX. Maybe watercooled Porsches suck, but they must have damn good drivers to be so fast

Plus, we even have our original engines, not that many of you fast airheads can say that I think we could even take Steve, IF he put his original 914 engine back in stock form





PS - You like how Bill's victory was turned into a 'we'

[ajackson]

By original do you mean the one that came with the car when you bought it or the one that was replaced under warranty after it failed?

[Jad]

Hey, if Porsche wants to give me a free engine every 3-4 race seasons, I'll take it. Does anyone actually have stats as to % of engine failures of different years and models? Of course a lot of Boxster engines fail, they sold lots of them. According to JD Powers, Porsche is better than ever, but I don't have any useful stats on failures. Having 2 986's out of 100 fail is much better than having 1 993 in 10 fail, even though twice as many Boxsters failed.

Though my 944's always seem to stick with the factory original for a couple hundred thousand miles and I have moved on with them going strong! A 3.0 l turbo from the end of the 968 run would be sweet .....but too aircooled for me