Official Boxster(981) Test Drives/Reviews/Tests
- Thread starter -=Hot|Ice=-
- Start date
Porsche claims that a Boxster S PDK can go around the Nordschleife in 7.58 min... and we know they are pretty reliable with these times.
Imagine it with PDK and the 400 PS 3.8l engine from the 911 Carrera S (991)! It would runs circles around any car. What about a GT3 version of 981!
tristatez28lt1
Tire Trailblazer
I hope this (Cayman) will be my next DD car. Maybe disapointing it does not have hydraulic steering, it looks like Toyota has the best one of the market out there (LFA and GT86). You see, as many other think this car is nearly as good as the 911 if not the same or maybe even slightly better. Give it a wide body kit, hydraulic steering, hand brake and the 4.0l H6, and this car will be EPIC.
That is the only reason why the 911 is superior. Give the same power to the Boxster, the 911 is worth little, from a performance point of view of course. Don't want to make our 911 owner feel bad.
-=Hot|Ice=-
High-Rev Hero
Porsche Boxster S laps the Nürburgring in 7:58
Read more: Porsche Boxster S laps the Nürburgring in 7:58
Read more: Porsche Boxster S laps the Nürburgring in 7:58
Human
You. The Road. Nothing else.
Porsche Boxster
We sample the all-new Porsche Boxster on UK roads for the first time
Rating: 5 STAR
Since its introduction in 1996, the Porsche Boxster has often been touted as the best all-round sports car available. However, the latest version aims to move the game on with a new chassis, fresh engines and completely redesigned bodywork. But does it?
Things get off to a good start. The new Boxster looks a lot more purposeful than its predecessors that you almost forget the car still has two useable boots – one front and another at the back. However, it’s the little touches, such as how the rear light clusters seamlessly flow into the spoiler, that really give it that previously lacking ‘wow’ factor.
It gets even better when you take the hood down. Unlike with the old car, you don’t have to manually unfasten the roof catch, as it’s now fully automated and the whole folding process takes just nine seconds. You can even operate the roof at speeds of up to 30mph, and with the top off, you get to fully appreciate the Boxster’s wonderful new cabin. Our car was fitted with optional full leather which costs more than £2,000. Yes, this seems steep, but it makes the car feel just as special inside as the 911 Cabriolet, which is about twice the price, so is a little easier to justify.
So the new Boxster is more stylish and more luxurious. But it’s also better to drive, too. Being longer, wider and lower than before means even better handling, while the perfectly balanced chassis delivers so much grip that unless you do something very wrong, it’s unlikely you’ll ever invoke the intervention of the extremely well judged traction control system. Some purists may baulk at the fact that, as with the 911, the new Boxster gets electric rather than hydraulic powersteering for the first time, but most buyers won’t notice, as it’s still satisfyingly meaty and mightily accurate.
Then there’s the engine. The entry-level Boxster is 200cc smaller than before, yet the new 261bhp 2.7-litre still pushes out 10bhp more than the old 2.9-litre. And while it’s not that punchy at lower revs, nor that tuneful, wind it past 4,500rpm and the little flat-six really comes on song, howling to the redline with sufficient thrust to convince you this baby of the range is still a proper Porsche.
The more you thrash the engine the better it gets, and the 2.7-litre Boxster actually makes a stronger case for itself than the more potent 3.4-litre S model as an enjoyable back-road blaster. And don’t be tempted by the PDK dual-clutch auto: the rev-hungry nature of the 2.7-litre engine demands the added involvement of the excellent six-speed manual.
What if you want to take it easy, though? Thankfully, as with all other modern Porsches, the Boxster acquits itself well as an everyday car. With the roof up it’s a surprisingly quiet cruising companion, the ride is surprisingly comfy for a sports car and you can pilot it around town just as easily as a Ford Fiesta.
Ultimately, it’s this perfect balance of fun, desirability and usability which leaves you in no doubt – the Porsche Boxster IS the best all-round sports car.
We sample the all-new Porsche Boxster on UK roads for the first time
Rating: 5 STAR
Since its introduction in 1996, the Porsche Boxster has often been touted as the best all-round sports car available. However, the latest version aims to move the game on with a new chassis, fresh engines and completely redesigned bodywork. But does it?
Things get off to a good start. The new Boxster looks a lot more purposeful than its predecessors that you almost forget the car still has two useable boots – one front and another at the back. However, it’s the little touches, such as how the rear light clusters seamlessly flow into the spoiler, that really give it that previously lacking ‘wow’ factor.
It gets even better when you take the hood down. Unlike with the old car, you don’t have to manually unfasten the roof catch, as it’s now fully automated and the whole folding process takes just nine seconds. You can even operate the roof at speeds of up to 30mph, and with the top off, you get to fully appreciate the Boxster’s wonderful new cabin. Our car was fitted with optional full leather which costs more than £2,000. Yes, this seems steep, but it makes the car feel just as special inside as the 911 Cabriolet, which is about twice the price, so is a little easier to justify.
So the new Boxster is more stylish and more luxurious. But it’s also better to drive, too. Being longer, wider and lower than before means even better handling, while the perfectly balanced chassis delivers so much grip that unless you do something very wrong, it’s unlikely you’ll ever invoke the intervention of the extremely well judged traction control system. Some purists may baulk at the fact that, as with the 911, the new Boxster gets electric rather than hydraulic powersteering for the first time, but most buyers won’t notice, as it’s still satisfyingly meaty and mightily accurate.
Then there’s the engine. The entry-level Boxster is 200cc smaller than before, yet the new 261bhp 2.7-litre still pushes out 10bhp more than the old 2.9-litre. And while it’s not that punchy at lower revs, nor that tuneful, wind it past 4,500rpm and the little flat-six really comes on song, howling to the redline with sufficient thrust to convince you this baby of the range is still a proper Porsche.
The more you thrash the engine the better it gets, and the 2.7-litre Boxster actually makes a stronger case for itself than the more potent 3.4-litre S model as an enjoyable back-road blaster. And don’t be tempted by the PDK dual-clutch auto: the rev-hungry nature of the 2.7-litre engine demands the added involvement of the excellent six-speed manual.
What if you want to take it easy, though? Thankfully, as with all other modern Porsches, the Boxster acquits itself well as an everyday car. With the roof up it’s a surprisingly quiet cruising companion, the ride is surprisingly comfy for a sports car and you can pilot it around town just as easily as a Ford Fiesta.
Ultimately, it’s this perfect balance of fun, desirability and usability which leaves you in no doubt – the Porsche Boxster IS the best all-round sports car.
Human
You. The Road. Nothing else.
Porsche Boxster S
Is the brilliant new Boxster S ready to edge out the 911 as the Porsche to own?
Rating: 5 STAR
Some people say the Boxster is a poor man’s Porsche, but the new S model puts that idea to rest – it’s as quick around Germany’s infamous Nurburgring circuit as the legendary 996 GT3.
It’s not hard to see why. The Boxster S has one of the finest chassis of any car, incredible brakes and a cracking 311bhp 3.4-litre flat six-cylinder engine – largely the same as the one found in the latest 911.
The engine may not have quite the same low-down pull as it does in the 911 (Porsche couldn’t allow the Boxster to upstage its bigger brother), but it’s still a great performer, and feels stronger than the 2.7-litre engine in the normal Boxster. This extra poke also makes the S a better choice for general driving – crushing performance is just a flex of the toe away.
When it comes to extras, most buyers will pick the paddleshift PDK dual-clutch gearbox, which is £1,992 extra, and automatically blips the throttle on downshifts.
At lower speeds, its changes aren’t quite as smooth as a normal torque converter automatic, but in manual mode, it moves gear faster than you can blink: the car does 0-62mph in five seconds – a tenth of a second faster than the manual car. Fit the optional Sport Chrono Package, which includes a lap timer on the dash and launch control, and you take a further two-tenths off that time.
Really, though, how often do you think you’ll need launch control? Not enough to warrant the £1,861 extra it costs, we’ll wager. Better instead to spend your money on the limited-slip differential with torque vectoring and Porsche Active Suspension Management adaptive dampers. Together, they ensure the car handles to its full potential.
Yet that’s the annoying thing with Porsches – there are too many items on the options list. A wind deflector really should be standard on any convertible, but Porsche wants £182 for it. Little wonder that after options the total cost of our test car was nearly £60,000. Now who was it who said that the Boxster is a poor man’s Porsche?
Is the brilliant new Boxster S ready to edge out the 911 as the Porsche to own?
Rating: 5 STAR
Some people say the Boxster is a poor man’s Porsche, but the new S model puts that idea to rest – it’s as quick around Germany’s infamous Nurburgring circuit as the legendary 996 GT3.
It’s not hard to see why. The Boxster S has one of the finest chassis of any car, incredible brakes and a cracking 311bhp 3.4-litre flat six-cylinder engine – largely the same as the one found in the latest 911.
The engine may not have quite the same low-down pull as it does in the 911 (Porsche couldn’t allow the Boxster to upstage its bigger brother), but it’s still a great performer, and feels stronger than the 2.7-litre engine in the normal Boxster. This extra poke also makes the S a better choice for general driving – crushing performance is just a flex of the toe away.
When it comes to extras, most buyers will pick the paddleshift PDK dual-clutch gearbox, which is £1,992 extra, and automatically blips the throttle on downshifts.
At lower speeds, its changes aren’t quite as smooth as a normal torque converter automatic, but in manual mode, it moves gear faster than you can blink: the car does 0-62mph in five seconds – a tenth of a second faster than the manual car. Fit the optional Sport Chrono Package, which includes a lap timer on the dash and launch control, and you take a further two-tenths off that time.
Really, though, how often do you think you’ll need launch control? Not enough to warrant the £1,861 extra it costs, we’ll wager. Better instead to spend your money on the limited-slip differential with torque vectoring and Porsche Active Suspension Management adaptive dampers. Together, they ensure the car handles to its full potential.
Yet that’s the annoying thing with Porsches – there are too many items on the options list. A wind deflector really should be standard on any convertible, but Porsche wants £182 for it. Little wonder that after options the total cost of our test car was nearly £60,000. Now who was it who said that the Boxster is a poor man’s Porsche?
Centurion
Apex Apex Predator
That's a common misnomer. A poor man dreaming of a 911 would more likely opt for a debadged Audi TT 2.0T S-Line.
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Porsche
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, is a German automobile manufacturer
specializing in high-performance sports cars, SUVs, and sedans,
headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Owned by
Volkswagen AG, it was founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche.
In its early days, Porsche was contracted by the German government
to create a vehicle for the masses, which later became the Volkswagen
Beetle. In the late 1940s, Ferdinand's son Ferry Porsche began
building his car, which would result in the Porsche 356.
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Official website: Porsche
