Used Car Comparison: 981 Porsche Boxster S vs Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray

"Adrian" (adriangc) 08/06/2017 at 19:06 • Filed to: corvette stingray, Porsche boxster S, C7 Corvette

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Editor note: This is my first comparison review and I was lucky enough to have a team with me, hence the ‘we.’ Also, I realize the Boxster picture in the comparison graphs is a rough 911 and not a Boxster. Enjoy!

2014 feels like yesterday. Housing was more affordable, people were dumping ice water on themselves in the name of charity, and Joffrey was getting poisoned at his own wedding. The two featured cars of our very first comparison test were also quite new in 2014. Porsche was two years into their 918 Boxster and General Motors just released their C7 Corvette to much critical acclaim. Yet the years have a way of moving quickly. In 2017, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay feel practically standard as are back-up cameras and turbocharged engines.

Only one of our cars, the Corvette, came standard with a back-up camera in 2014 and neither came turbocharged. That’s right - these two track toys are naturally aspirated just as God has intended. The two happen to hovering right around the same price point in the used market at $50,000. Chevrolet has also been investing much marketing dollars into targeting folks outside the old school ‘Vette fans, like investment bankers, wealthy gen X’ers and Millennials. Kind of like Porsche’s audience.

Chevrolet doesn’t hold back with the C7 Corvette. Our particular example is equipped with the 3LT package, throwing in nice luxury offerings like heated and ventilated seats, Napa leather, 10 speaker Bose sound, and the Z51 package, which adds a special limited slip differential, dry sump oil lubrication, cooling ducts, and larger brakes. Equipped with a 6.2L V8 engine producing 455 hp and 460 ft-lb, our Corvette hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and 100 mph in just under 9 seconds.

Porsche doesn’t have a loyal following for nothing, though. The Boxster has been an enthusiast favorite since its release in 1997 and is credited with saving Porsche from extinction. Our tested Porsche comes rather bare bones, with heated seats, premium sound, the PDK dual clutch automatic transmission, and the “S” version which replaces the base 2.7L engine with a 3.4L boxer 6 producing 315hp and 266ft-lb. It may not have the acceleration of the Corvette, but it still has teeth. 0-60 happens in 4.6 seconds and 100mph in less than 11 seconds.

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Pray for Cars got ahold of a 2014 C7 Corvette and a 2014 Porsche Boxster S. We took them through the back roads of Marin and Half Moon Bay to see which is most worthy of your fifty grand. Let the Porsche Boxster S vs C7 Corvette begin!

981 Porsche Boxster S vs C7 Corvette Stingray

Curb Appeal

The true car enthusiast may blink twice at starting a car comparison test with curb appeal. Let’s be “real” for a second. No one spends $50,000 on a car to avoid the limelight. In fact, many purchase cars in this category for the name, the look, and the bragging rights. We’re guilty of it and you probably are too.

Porsche has done a fantastic job modernizing their Boxster while still making it resemble the very first model. Curvy lines wrap the car, and the black air intakes on each side are a great contrast to the pearl white color. The LED lights placed under the headlights look modern and the active aero spoiler adds an enhanced sporty vibe to the car. The downside of incremental change, though, is the risk of not enough “new.” Porsche’s Boxster may look a little too much like its 1999 ancestor.

The Corvette has perfectly placed hood intakes and brake coolers that are both functional and offer contrasting color to the blazing silver paint. The staggered 19/20in rims gift the car with an even more aggressive stance. To the untrained eye, the Corvette may appear as if it was designed in Maranello, Italy next to the 458 Italia. Chevy wasn’t kidding with their goal to expand the Corvette buyer. The 110 year old GM branch took a risk with the completely new look and it pays off marvelously.

Our nod collectively goes to the ‘Vette.

Performance

On paper, there’s a clear winner here. The Corvette blows away the Porsche. It has a 1.0g+ versus the Porsche’s 0.95g skidpad grip, it’s over half a second faster to 0-60mph, and has a 70-0 braking distance of 140 feet versus the Boxster’s 149 feet. Driving the two back to back reveals a different story.

We took both of the cars out through the backroads near Half Moon bay, knowing how badly the Corvette destroys the Porsche’s numbers. Opening the Corvette up on the straight aways gives one of the world’s best adrenaline rushes, and the sound from the quad exhaust pipes easily bests our now second favorite !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Upshifts are quick but often complete with a minor judder.

Despite the extra performance features from the Z51 package, tossing the ‘Vette through corners reveals body roll and the very real feeling of an extra 500lbs. Most of us were too hesitant to take the car up anywhere near its true performance levels around narrower or twisty backroads. Off the track, the Corvette is a straight line animal meant for touring.

As expected, switching into the Boxster S after the wild acceleration of the Corvette left us feeling underwhelmed with the comparatively timid acceleration. The exhaust note sounds less like one coming from Thor’s hammer and more like one coming from a pubescent teenager.

As soon as we hit the same twisty back roads in the Boxster S, the clouds parted, a bright light shone and we remembered why God made Porsches. One of our testers described the Boxster as a “surgeon’s scalpel.” Confidence exudes from the Porsche and you as you carve through windy roads. It makes you feel like a pro. Shifts are incredibly quick and come with no unintended side effects. The Porsche Boxster S is made for those who want to have fun on the backroads when the track is closed. It effortlessly pushes through corners.

The Porsche shines as the backroad animal despite the performance advantages from the Vette on the track. It wins the fun to drive factor.

Interior

Things get much closer for the two cars when it comes to the interior.

The Corvette interior has greatly improved since the C6 generation and the 3LT package further enhances the luxury appeal. Leather coats the dashboard and much of the tangible interior of the car. It feels supple, looks great and adds an inviting feel to the interior. The bucket seats are supportive and offer a suitable driving position to most heights. Interior plastics generally of high quality. Cost cutting by Chevy is still somewhat apparent - the paddle shifters are made of thin plastic.

The center console area feels sparse and the 8in touchscreen has too much travel and not enough precision when used. The resolution on the screen is low and the back-up camera is difficult to see in the sunlight. The touchscreen does drop into the console to reveal USB ports and extra storage space. Storage spaceis also plentiful in the cabin, and there are two cup holders in the center armrest area. ‘Murica.

With an original MSRP of $62k+, you’d expect more interior base features from the Porsche. Instead, you get a low resolution 8 inch touch screen, no cup holders, no back-up camera and a manual tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The instrument gauges look the same as they did 10 years earlier.

Interior materials are solid and luxurious feeling. The base leather feels rich and supple on the seats. The seats are quite supportive and bolster you nicely when you hit the curves. The interior design is excellent, with chrome-appointed center console buttons arranged in functional and stylish patterns. Paddle shifters are built into the steering wheel and allow upshifts and downshifts from the same button. Despite the lack of feature, the interior shows class worthy of the price.

It’s a tough call, but we’re giving the slight nod to the Boxster S.

Wrapping it Up

The ‘Vette and the Porsche are both very worthy of your midlife crisis and/or investment banking associate bonus. If you prefer to have a straight line grand tourer, the Corvette is hard to beat. It’s comfortable, sexy, and has an exhaust note from the heavens. You’re going to get noticed on the city streets and track.

If you’re looking for the canyon carving machine that exudes class and is fun to toss on the weekends, look no further than the Porsche Boxster S. Just check the option list first.

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interstate366, now In The Industry > Adrian 08/06/2017 at 19:34

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Good write-up. One more minor quibble, though...the Boxster came out in 1997, not 1999.

Adrian > interstate366, now In The Industry 08/06/2017 at 19:38

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Good catch. Thank you!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Adrian 08/06/2017 at 19:51

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The Corvette uses a 6.2L V8, but otherwise, nice write up!

Adrian > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 08/06/2017 at 19:53

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Thank you! And thank you for the catch. Just fixed.

Discerning > Adrian 08/06/2017 at 19:55

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Z51 package, which adds a limited slip differential, dry sump oil lubrication, cooling ducts, and larger brakes. Equipped with a 6.0L V8 engine.

1) All corvettes have an LSD. Z51 has a pretty trick electric lsd

2) 6.2l.......

Discerning > Adrian 08/06/2017 at 19:58

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Fun to drive should be a metric separate of outright performance.

The C7 blows the boxster away in outright performance and the scores should reflect this.

Some people struggle with a car with as much power as the c7 in rwd form and the boxster is very easy to drive fast, so I can see why you would think it’s more fun.

I give this review a 6 out of 10. Not bad for a first effort.

JR1 > Adrian 08/06/2017 at 19:59

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Two great cars. It is amazing how quick the Boxster lived and died. The lifespan of the 2014 model was all too short. Hope the same doesn’t happen to the Vette.

Adrian > Discerning 08/06/2017 at 20:06

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Thanks!

Adrian > JR1 08/06/2017 at 20:06

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I agree, though I’m super interested in checking out the 718.

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > Discerning 08/06/2017 at 20:51

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Agreed on all counts.

JR1 > Adrian 08/06/2017 at 21:10

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With the sound of the six gone the 718 just doesn’t have the same appeal for me

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Adrian 08/07/2017 at 00:05

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I was at a large PCA event when Porsche was trying to promote the new 718, with the saleswoman hopping in and reving the engine

My car boner deflated quickly.

The boxster is probably the better car, but as a couple of friends have gotten sick of Porsche BS. If it was my money, I’d pick the vette.  

Adrian > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 08/07/2017 at 00:15

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Haha, well played. I need to review one before the end of the year.

rillweid - Now with more TRD and less TDI > Adrian 08/09/2017 at 13:13

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I think this is actually a very smart comparo. I would probably have the C7.

Saracen > Discerning 08/11/2017 at 14:14

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I think the Boxster won from a pure handling perspective, nothing to do with the power.

Discerning > Saracen 08/12/2017 at 08:09

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I think objective handling performance comes down to figure 8 speed and time, lane change speed, cornering grip (G’s), and braking. Three categories where the C7 trounces the boxster. They need to better distinguish between their metrics. Too much mixture between objective and subjective and no clear means by which they determined the scores in each category.

“fun to drive factor” is super subjective and there is no clear reasoning behind the boxsters higher score in “performance.”

rearwheelhorse > Adrian 05/30/2020 at 07:48

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Did u die