M3 Sedan v. Porsche Boxster Spyder

[Katie31100]

Hey everyone! I have a bit of a dilemma. I currently own a 2010 white BMW m3 sedan and have the opportunity to trade for a 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder (white as well.) I am wondering what you guys would do if given this situation. I am pretty confused, so any advice is welcome!

[///Rage]

Do you prefer apples or sunglasses?

[fll335]

If you don't need back seats DO IT.

[kyleb350]

If you can get away with owning a 2 seater and don't mind the lack of options, I'd get it. They look nice and are fun to drive (only drove an S but the Spyder's got to be a blast).

[AngelinIsRich08]

M3 sedan is 3.74258x better than the boxter.

[ADV.1 Matt]

If you don't care about practicality do it! I saw one the other day in the flesh for the first time and the car is just gorgeous. Soooo aggressive and mean looking - certainly not a chick car!

[1MOREMOD]

doesnt the spider have a mostly useless canvas top like a bikini top on a jeep?

[SUB-ZERO]

The Spyder is really nice...especially with the CF seats. However, the M3 will blow the doors off it in almost every single category. The Spyder feels much more driver focused than an M3 and the steering felt more direct. However, the front-end felt light to me and it was a bit low on power.

It looks great but I think you will miss the growl of the M3.

-SZ

[captainaudio]

If you are driving a Boxster Spyder in Florida with the top down be on the constant lookout for rain clouds. Getting the top up is a rather slow and involved project. I almost got caught with the top down a few times with an E93 that can get the top up in under 30 seconds. In Florida rain storms of biblical proportions can appear very suddenly,

CA

[John Tanglewood]

I would have asked if you were limp-wristed.

But i just looked up pics because I havn't seen the new one, and DAMN! ....Looks great! Go for it!

[SIIK2NR]

I was in the market for the Boxster Spyder and you really need to do the top by yourself about 10 times..... then decide.

I had the dealer show me and I wasn't impressed. The top is a Pain in the Ass....period. No way around it. Biggest design flaw by far.

If you can deal with that....everything else about it worth the trade.

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by captainaudio

If you are driving a Boxster Spyder in Florida with the top down be on the constant lookout for rain clouds. Getting the top up is a rather slow and involved project. I almost got caught with the top down a few times with an E93 that can get the top up in under 30 seconds. In Florida rain storms of biblical proportions can appear very suddenly,

CA

[varsity]

Originally Posted by ///Rage

Do you prefer apples or sunglasses?

Come on now, they're both white.

[bholloway]

Originally Posted by SUB-ZERO

The Spyder is really nice...especially with the CF seats. However, the M3 will blow the doors off it in almost every single category. The Spyder feels much more driver focused than an M3 and the steering felt more direct. However, the front-end felt light to me and it was a bit low on power.

It looks great but I think you will miss the growl of the M3.

-SZ

When you say it "blows the doors off it in almost every single category you must not care about the fact that the Spyder is faster than the M3 around any track.

http://www.fastestlaps.com/compariso...er_spyder.html

Check it bitch.

[captainaudio]

[bholloway]

Originally Posted by shift@red

Have to agree. The Boxster spyder may not be AS fast in a straight, but its got more feel and precision in spades, is a MUCH better handling car (best handling car under 100K) and will be easier to drive and faster on the track as well.

Damn straight.

[Z K]

I drove one once. The Spyder is a blast to drive. It is worlds different than a regular Boxster. I personally like the Cayman R which has a bit more rigidity over the Spyder but not quite as light. Both are very driver focused cars and super direct with lots of feedback. You definitely got to know what you're doing if you're going fast around corners with the stability control off.

[SUB-ZERO]

Originally Posted by bholloway

When you say it "blows the doors off it in almost every single category you must not care about the fact that the Spyder is faster than the M3 around any track.

http://www.fastestlaps.com/compariso...er_spyder.html

Check it bitch.

Did you read the rest of the article you referenced? On the street, highway and drag strip, the M3 will own the Spyder. On a track is a different story, however, I don't think the OP will be tracking it too much. As a DD, not just is the M3 faster but it is also more useful and comfortable. So you check it Bitch.

SZ

[SIIK2NR]

Both of those videos are spot on about the top. I went to the P-dealership and asked him.... "Show me how to put the top back on" (it was off in the show room)....

I watched him uncomfortably fumble for more than 5 minutes which is eternity when comparing to 15-30 second covertable tops......

Honestly, it was a deal breaker for me... and I had to walk away from the car... looked back twice cause it's beautiful...but had to walk away.

This is a weekend car only.... forget it as a DD unless you keep the top on exclusively and depending on where you live. No back seats and little to no trunk space. My S2000 has more room and covertible functionality.

The other downer is that it is 126mph limited with the top up......SUCKS!...

When the Boxster Spyder was introduced....I don't think I've ever been more excited and then dissappointed in my life.

[DiavelM3]

Originally Posted by captainaudio

LOL! Rocket Science anyone?

[bholloway]

Originally Posted by SUB-ZERO

Did you read the rest of the article you referenced? On the street, highway and drag strip, the M3 will own the Spyder. On a track is a different story, however, I don't think the OP will be tracking it too much. As a DD, not just is the M3 faster but it is also more useful and comfortable. So you check it Bitch.

SZ

Wait... is it possible that I hear an M3 owner... bringing up drag times and top speeds... Isn't the M3 known for its handling and poise rather than drag racing on the street?

I love how you're so hyporcritical in defending your mediocre car. If there is any car that's faster than it in a straight line the absolute first thing an M3 driver says is something along the lines of " who cares that the new camaro/mustang/ etc is faster in a straight line because the M3 isn't about straight line speed. Its about the handling and how the M3 is great around the track because the track is where a car really shows how good it is.

But then when a car is faster around the track then an M3 you immediately bring up M3 straight line stats and sound something along the line of "well sure that car might be better balanced and have better handling, but my M3 is way faster in a straight line and that's all I care about. If I pulled up to a light and raced that car I would crush it.

The fact that the spyder is faster around every track than the M3 shows that it not only handles a lot better, but has the right amount of power to keep up on the straights. Obviously for a car like the M3, which according to you is soooo much faster in a straight line than the Spyder, should have some advantage on a track with some long straights, but it doesn't.

In the end you failed to prove your point that the M3 will "blow the doors off the spyder in almost every category". Its not nearly as fast around the track, and its only marginally faster on the road. But hey, roads aren't for racing whereas tracks are. Who cares if the M3 is faster on the road. That doesn't prove shit because I doubt you're ever going fast enough for the M3s slight speed advantage to make a difference. Who cares about drag times because obviosly you wouldn't take either the M3 or a Spyder to the drag strip. The spyder is faster where it counts and that's all there is to it.

A Bugatti Veyron has a higher top speed than most F1 cars, but does that make it better? I don't care which car you think is better and if you like your M3 that's fine. But when you make such an ignorant statement you deserved to be called out on it.

[captainaudio]

Originally Posted by SIIK2NR

Both of those videos are spot on about the top. I went to the P-dealership and asked him.... "Show me how to put the top back on" (it was off in the show room)....

I watched him uncomfortably fumble for more than 5 minutes which is eternity when comparing to 15-30 second covertable tops......

Honestly, it was a deal breaker for me... and I had to walk away from the car... looked back twice cause it's beautiful...but had to walk away.

This is a weekend car only.... forget it as a DD unless you keep the top on exclusively and depending on where you live. No back seats and little to no trunk space. My S2000 has more room and covertible functionality.

The other downer is that it is 126mph limited with the top up......SUCKS!...

When the Boxster Spyder was introduced....I don't think I've ever been more excited and then dissappointed in my life.

I agree with most of your points. I don't think anyone is using a Boxster Spyder as a daily driver but it actually has a reasonable amount to storage space between the front and rear trunks,

CA