Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2007 Ford Mustang VS 2007 Porsche Boxster Near Phoenix, AZ

Both the Mustang and the Boxster have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, available front seat side-impact airbags, head airbags, four wheel antilock brakes and traction control.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Mustang 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Porsche covers the Boxster. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Boxster ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 20 times as many Ford dealers as there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier to get service under the Mustang’s warranty.

The engines in the Mustang have a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Boxster have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

The Mustang GT has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Boxster doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Mustang second among midsize sporty cars in their 2006 Initial Quality Study. The Boxster was rated third in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ surveys of the owners of three-year-old cars provide the long-term dependability statistics which show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Porsche vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 12th in reliability, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Porsche is ranked 21st.

The Mustang’s standard 4.0 SOHC V6 produces 39 lbs.-ft. more torque (240 vs. 201) than the Boxster’s standard 2.7 DOHC 6 cyl. The Mustang GT’s standard 4.6 SOHC V8 produces 5 more horsepower (300 vs. 295) and 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 250) than the Boxster S’ standard 3.4 DOHC 6 cyl.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mustang GT is faster than the Porsche Boxster (manual transmissions tested):

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Mustang uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Boxster requires premium, which can cost 25 to 50 cents more per gallon.

For better traction, the Mustang has larger standard tires than the Boxster (215/65R16 vs. 205/55R17).

The Mustang has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Boxster, it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mustang’s wheelbase is 12 inches longer than on the Boxster (107.1 vs. 95.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Mustang is 3.9 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Boxster.

For better maneuverability the Mustang’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Boxster’s (33.4 vs. 36.4 feet).

The Mustang has standard seating for 4 passengers; the Boxster can only carry 2.

The Mustang Convertible has 43.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Boxster (91.3 vs. 48).

The Mustang’s front and rear power windows raise and lower automatically with one touch, especially convenient at tollbooths or drive-up windows. Only the front windows of the Boxster work automatically with one touch.

The Mustang’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Boxster’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Mustang will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. Kiplinger’s estimates that the Mustang will retain 61% to 66% of its original price after two years, while the Boxster only retains 59%.