308/328 vs. Boxster performance

I hope this doesn't offend.......

I really, really like Ferraris, I really do. I love the way they look, sound, and frankly, the attention they garner. But, I'm a fan of driving, that's what I like to do, and I like doing it quickly! I'm also a man of limited resources, and will very likely never have the means to justifiably afford a newer Fcar, not without totally sacrificing my future anyway.

So my question is this: Given that I have a need for a high performance sports car, one that can be tracked (DEs mostly) as well as driven on the street (in the twisties that are the Rocky Mountains of Colorado), would a 308 or 328 keep pace with a Boxster S? Or would I end up with a fine piece of garage art (albeit a very beautiful piece!) that lacks the performance of any of the newer sportscars?

Thoughtful replies are much appreciated!!

 

When I bought my '88.5 328 GTS last September I weighed it against all the other cars I could buy for the same 60 grand or less I had budgeted. I really wanted a Ferrari, but thought it would be stupid to just buy one without looking at comparably priced toys.

Boxster, Cayman, 911, Corvette, M3, M Coupe, etc. All were nice cars. But I found that there is nothing else like a Ferrari.

There are a lot of cars that are faster than the 328. There are a lot of cars that can outhandle a 328. There are a lot of cars that are more modern than a 328. But none of those cars put an idiot grin on my face like the 328. Plus all the others are ugly pigs compared to the Pininfarina beauty that is the 328.

 

+1. This kind of summarizes the whole thing up doesn't it? After all if it isn't some kind of emotional experience then just get out the calculators, do the math and simply buy the fastest or best handling (depending on your desires) regardless of brand.

When first got mine my mechanic picked the car up at my residence one day and I found myself giggling uncontrolably as he was driving away. There's no explanation..it just makes you feel that way or it doesn't.

 

308, no way......328 should be close. Honestly though, if you have a NEED for a HIGH PERFORMANCE sports car, none of the 3 fit my definition.....no knock on the cars, its just the golden age we are living in (but will end sometime).

 

"By the numbers" I would say the BoxS will be faster. That said, the 328 will be more visceral/engaging. Some might think this is a coup out, but the fact is, the classics all have a certain, pseudo -vintage feel that marks them apart from modern cars...which makes sense, as they are, after all, classics.

 

If you are looking for a car in the 60k price range thats the "best" performer honestly you cant rule out the Exige or Exige S. But as stated above these cars arent bought with your head they are bought with your heart.

 

Interesting, I'm also in Colorado and went through similar considerations and I ended up buying a 2000 BOXSTER S (as BULLFIGHTER on fchat will tell you).

I guess the main difference for me was the fear of constant maintenance, or better said, high maintenance. With my Boxster, I just turn the key and go (well, waiting for it to warm up). It handles great and has decent power.

I would agree that any of the choices are not necessarily a "high powered" sports car. Even the Boxster S with 250 HP isn't all that fast compared to the modern cars.

However, I test drove a 308 QV w/Tubi (Paragon - 240 HP?), 308 GT4 Series 1(private owner - 250 HP?) and 328 (dealer in Castlerock-250 HP?). The 308 or 308GT4 were AWESOME visceral feeling driving machines. If I was a mechanic or had more disposable income, I would have bought the 308GT4 or 308 QV.

As far as the performance, I'm not overly impressed with the Boxster's straightline speed, both 308's "felt" as fast. As far as the corners/twisties, my Boxster has 18s (7.5 and 9), if you fit either the 308 or the 328 with larger wheels, they'd probably run as fast.

Interestingly as well, I liked the feel of the 308s (as you can see above) versus the 328. Part may be the 328 I was actually test-driving, but the 308 QV and the 308 GT4 just seemed to fit me better (I'm short) and had that sporty feeling. The 328 didnt feel as good, a bit bigger and harder steering and amazingly not as much power from the feel of it.

There's a 308 GT4 in Ft. Collins that is pseudo for-sale, and a 308 that just sold that was NICE at FOD. I think that there is a dealer in Arvada with a black/tan 328 for sale as well. I'd suggest go drive the cars.

I think one of the FChat guys is from Aspen and has a Boxster S and a Ferrari (360?). PhilNotHill I think. Maybe he can provide more insight.

Feel free to PM or email me with further questions.

James in Denver

 

As a Boxster S owner I did not consider an older Fcar (had the 355 at the time).

Have rented a 328 GTS.

The Boxster:
has little or no maintenance issues and a great warranty.
is a convertible.
lots of trunk space by comparison.
more comfortable.
traction control...handy in snow and slick pavements.
6 speed is easier to use...more forgiving.
Better ergonomics...switches fall readily to hand.
Easier to clean and wash.
better sound system with CD player.
xenon headlights that really light up the night.
Safer...airbags.
Will perform much better on winding roads.
No problems with road clearance. Lots of probs with 328.
But it's not a Ferrari

The 328:
Sounds better.
gets more attention.
More mystique.
You can change your own oil.
It's a Ferrari.

Hope this helps.

 

Brew,
I have not driven a Boxster, but I am quite sure it will leave any 308 or 328 in the dust on a curvy road. I have a Subie STi to go along with my 328 and 430. I had occasion to drive the STi at 2nd Creek when a friend of mine with a QV was there. Our abilities are comparable. After one session he said he didn't mind when I lapped him once, but twice was too much! The following week at PPIR, another STi owner was blowing by my 328 like it wasn't there. So which car was more fun? I would call it a draw, but I really enjoy the 3X8's at speed. They have great grace, balance and involvement compared to the much more athletic newer cars. My 328 is by far the slowest of the 3 performance cars I have but it offers a driving experience none of the new cars can match. For that reason, if I had to get rid of two, I would keep the 328.

Dave

 

Cool post

 

One other thing I like about the 3x8 series is that it's performance limits aren't so high. Meaning if you like to DRIVE vs. just go fast, it's a lot more entertaining since you can use more of the performance of the car on a more regular basis.

But buying a Ferrari shouldn't be something that you need to be convinced to do. If there is any question in your mind then you should arrange to drive one and if you are still conflicted after that you should buy something else.

After the first time I drove my Ferrari I knew I HAD to have it. Nothing else would do.

 

I recently drove the 997 Carrera S and Boxster S back to back. I drove the 328 to the test drive and back. To be honest, unless you're driving on the Nürburgring I honsetly don't think you'll notice a diference. The 328 is slower off the mark, but the Boxster is a much less involving vehicle to drive. Mid range changing up and down the gears feels very similar. The Boxster is modern car with all you need for everyday driving, the 328 is a classic sports car that needs a bit more TLC. At the end of the day both will probably get you to you destination at about the same time.

 

I would go with the Exige/S for the track. Hands down, that's the hardcore car right now. Plus it's an exotic.

Frankly, even the Boxster S is kind of flabby with all the power accessories, sound-deadening, power top, cushy power seats, GPS/nav, etc. If it's a daily driver and occasional track car, I could see that.

The 308/328 are closer to being a pure sports car, but (1) you can't hold them up against cars 20-25 years newer and (2) you won't like the bills for all the parts (suspension, clutch, brakes, spoilers...) you'll wear out on the track.

It's actually astounding you're asking about a 25-year old car versus a 2007... are there any other 1980 cars on your shopping list?

I think the moral is that a Ferrari 308/328 trumps a 2007 Boxster S for style, prestige and visceral driving experience. But car technology now is staggering compared to what it was. I love my 328. But it's really a matter of your skills and some 16" wheels versus 2007 ABS, traction control, drive-by-wire, brake-by-wire, 19" wheels, variable valve timing and the list goes on.

Great post. There were actually a lot of cars more modern than a 328 even back in 1985 when it was introduced, but - other than the 911 - they're all dead, gone and forgotten.

 

If you have limited resources, maybe you shouldn't try to track a 20+ year old car of any make, just a thought.

 

the Boxster s will probably depreciate much more than a 308 or 328.

If I were buying an old affordable ferrari, I would get a Dino GTS with the big engine. It will cost more money but will appreciate in value so in the long run will be a better investment. IMHO

 

i'm not big on tracking, but on the road in normal sunday running around with the guys type driving, i can keep pace with a boxster-no problem. when your driving by yourself it doesn't matter. the 328 is gonna give you all the performance you need in the twisties. i'd definitely recommend driving all the cars you are considering and make up your mind then. the 328 experience is hard to define. if your budget goes up to 60k you can also consider a 348 or maybe even a 355. as far as maintenance goes, i've had mine for almost a year and have had no maintenance issues except what i wanted to do to upgrade. Starts and runs great all the time. in any temp. seems to be as reliable as any other car so far.

 

Why not? I already try to track a 33 year old car. I hear what you're saying, but I dont track but once or twice a year.

To clear it up a little, my budget is not $60k, more like $35-40K. I realize 308s are at the upper limit, which is why I don't want to be disappointed with the performance aspect of the car.

Phil said-
"The Boxster:
But it's not a Ferrari

The 328:
It's a Ferrari."

And that's my dilema (sic).

I have to buy with my head as well as my heart, otherwise I'd be looking at S4s to satisfy the practicality of my head, or mortagage my life and buy an F430 to satisfy my heart. It's gotta be somewhere in the middle. I'm kinda hoping the F3X8 can be somewhere in the middle.

Great replies everyone, thanks a ton for your insights! I will try to get an opporunity to drive a 3X8 before I pull the trigger on anything else, just to see if "I gotta have it!"

 

I guarantee a new Boxster will depreciate a LOT more than a 15 (?) year old Ferrari. lol By the same token, you can get a used boxster, especially one with a few miles, for a total steal, with 90% of the goodness still in it. And they are generally maintained very well.

I am not going to disagree with the "nothing beats a Ferrari" club, especially on a Ferrari Board, but if you want to read an article that can give you a hint of what someone not predisposed to name their kid Enzo thinks, the following reviews are both enlightening and hilarious:

New Boxter S: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=2396

Boxster: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1304

Quote: "I will be testing a lot of extreme metal on your behalf, dear reader, but I have a hard time convincing myself that I will ever get over the new Porsche Boxster. Car of the Year? And then some."

Older (pre 295-HP bump) S review: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=729

Quote: "That said, the Boxster S recently bested the Ferrari Enzo through Road and Track's test course, becoming the world's fastest slalom-meister. No unmodified, street-legal, US passenger car corners more quickly than the new Boxster S."

If you like entertaining reading, the guys at TTAC are fargin hilarious! They use the most amazing descriptive language, lots of which borders on off-color.

A 328 is going to feel old. I got over car nostalgia a while back, although some live for it. Give me gorgeous new metal that carves hard. A Boxster isn't a Z06, but I might sell you my 365 HP RUF Boxster for about the price of a new normal S. It looks and drives like a Boxster should.

 

Just 911s, but removable top is a must, and the lines are ruined (IMO) on a 911 in the Cabriolet, and just a little less so in the Targa. Plus, I really like the balance of mid-engined machines.

 

^Drool!^

 

Because tracking cars is usually expensive and Ferrari maintenance is also expensive and when someone says they have limited resources it usually is not a good idea to take a 20+ year old italian car on a track. This is of course generally speaking. Just take a look at the technical section and look at what people are paying on parts and doing all the work them self on general maintenance not to mention the things you will wear out on a track. I am just guessing that it is more stress on the car, I do not track mine and don't have first hand knowledge, just sounds expensive.

 

'Nostalgia' to me doesn't mean that I always want the oldest car, but that some of the things I value aren't available in newer cars. In fact, I don't use a rotary phone or a cassette-based answering machine and I actually have a flat-panel TV in the living room. So, the 328 is in my garage because I like it better than the Boxster/911.

I had a Porsche 993, almost bought a 996 cab, but the newer car - with all of its plastics, simulated exhaust noise, etc. - just didn't push my buttons. Not real or tactile enough. In fact, I'd say a six-speed F355 would suit me better than something like a 1989 911 Turbo - the newer car delivers the experience, the older car feels - well, older.

Now, for the OP, if a car's going to be a daily driver plus an occasional track car, it's fair to say a 308/328 isn't ideal for that. Long service downtimes, low ground clearance, horrendous parts prices, noise level, luggage space, safety -- and on and on.

 

In that case I would get a used Boxster for ~$20k and use the savings for some modifications like nice wheels and tires and maybe a big brake kit and an aftermarket exhaust.

Or save a little longer...

 

Agree 100%. I think a stock boxster can look a little plain jane as well, actually, but nothing nearly as...awkward...as the lines of a 911 cab; especially ones before the fold-away top. I think the popular description is that the 911 cab looks like it is holding in a fart. lol Some people love 'em, obviously, but the look isn't for me.

A stock Boxster will never cause people to oooh and aaahhh over its look, but it will make NO apologies on the track or the curvy road.

Just saw your budget. If you do want to track it regularly, I would get a nice clean 986 Boxster model (up to you whether you have to have the extra power of the S), and spend the cash on a track wheels/tires, a harness, maybe a GT3 seat (or two), and also maybe a track trailer for toting tires and tools. You don't need bigger brakes or an exhaust mod (unless you just gotta have loud exhaust). The stock exhaust makes the Boxster the perfect sleeper cruise missile. No one will hear you...but you. When you open it up though, the intake howl is as good as any exahuast, IMO. It is breathing right beside your ear and sounds amazing.

The extra power of the S is nice, but a talented driver can make a non-S go as fast or faster than most S drivers. And the non-S is supposed to be lighter, I believe. I have driven one once or twice, and it did feel...more tossable.

 

Agreed. You don't want to get into a Ferrari in the mid $30K's with no cash reserves.

Yes, Porsche has never gotten the convertible 911 concept quite right. In fact the old Speedster may have been the last time they nailed it.