Miata Mailing List: May 1999, Message #250

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I finally got to spend a lot of time in a '99 Boxster at Moroso Raceway near 
West Palm Beach Florida this weekend...that's two sessions driving and four 
two hours as an instructor...hey, my student wanted me to drive his 
car...who's to argue?

First a bit about Moroso.   It's a basically a speed track with two long 
straights, two 180 degrees not too tight turns (double apexing worked fine) a 
few kinks and some esses.   Flat out straight speed in my car was 120 on the 
front straight and indicating 110 on the back.  The double 180 turns take a 
lot of a Miata's momentum away but the kinks are basically drivethroughs that 
you take as fast as you can while keeping the car well balanced.  Each has 
close proximity concrete if you screw up.  A fun track.  Now to the boxster.	

The car was a stock '99, not an "S" model, but the owner had opted for the 
18" rims with P Zeros.   My first observation was that the gas pedal is too 
far from the brake for good heel 'n toe.   I offered to "bend" the gas pedal 
closer but the owner preferred to get a set of aftermarket pedal pushers :)   
 But, the syncho is VERY good and was most forgiving of my attempts to get 
the throttle reved properly.   The first thing I appreciated was the 
fantastic balance this stock car has.  It was as balanced through the corners 
as any car I've ever been in.   The P-zeros NEVER gave more than a light 
chirp although I pushed them very hard at times trying to determine some 
limits...this car was outperforming my Miata with G-Force track tires in 
corners.   However, the car handles an awful lot like a Miata and I was able 
to use the same lines...or any others...very nicely.   The BIG difference was 
in brakes.   I was able to move the braking point to just prior to turn in on 
all corners and by trailbraking just a hair, get the front of the car exactly 
where I wanted it.   The other BIG difference was in the power available to 
sustain corner speeds and to accelerate through the apex and past track out 
points!   I mean this was seriously exciting!   But then, if there was to be 
a let down, with the pedal to the floor, the car just did not have the top 
end pull that my Miata has.   I was of course able to match Miata top speeds 
but not as soon as I would have liked and was not able to go appreciably 
faster than my Miata on the straights.   That was a disappointment.   

There is a supercharger available for that car for a couple of owners say 
gives another 30 HP or so.   One guy had it on his but he was in Blue Group 
and I did not get to run with him to see the difference.  He also didn't 
offer the use of his car :)

So....  Is a Boxster nice?  Very.  Is it as "fun" as a Miata?  I would think 
so.   The stock suspension and brakes are much better in my book and if 
upgraded, would be something to worship!   Styling?  Folks were coming by to 
look and drool over the car all day.  ...and that brings us to price...is it 
worth it?   Well, there's a LOT of trunk room the Miata does not have and the 
interior is quite roomy...   I really can't say I would not enjoy owning one 
but it's just not THAT big a performance improvement over the Miata to make 
it worth the bucks in my book.   My wife would like the additional room, 
however.   I figure that 40 grand plus would be better spent on a 95 or 96 
Carrera or as many have said, on a new Miata and lots and lots of enjoyable 
trips!

bob