Porsche Boxster S
Is the brilliant new Boxster S ready to edge out the 911 as the Porsche to own?
Verdict
There will always be some Porsche fans who demand nothing less than a 911. However, those people really need to drive the latest Boxster. This S version is one of the best cars the company makes. It’s very nearly as fast as the much more expensive 911 Cabriolet, has a better-balanced chassis and is more fun to drive.
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?
Key specs
* Porsche Boxster S PDK
* Price: From £45,384
* Engine: 3.4-litre 6cyl
* Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch auto, rear-wheel drive
* Power/torque: 311bhp/360Nm
* 0-62mph: 5.0 seconds
* Top speed: 172mph
* Economy: 35.3mpg
* CO2: 188g/km
* Equipment: Part-leather interior, xenons, air-con, 19-inch alloys
* On sale: Now
For an alternative review of the latest Porsche Boxster Convertible visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express - available as a weekly magazine and on your iPad. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift!
Sponsored Links
Latest galleries
Sponsored Links
Find new cars
Find your new car with our New Cars search.
Find used cars
Find your new car with our Used Cars search.
Disqus - noscript
porsche are going where lots of other car makers are going, pitching models too similar & too close to each other, too expensive for a boxster, buy an 'entry' 911. Yes, the ''options'' list is truly ridiculous with porsche.
is not gonna help any way when the car topples over. A fixed roof will. Better to wait for the Cayman. I wouldn't be surprised if that's a better car still.
The writer has got his g-string in a twist. Someone at Auto Express central office needs to educate this bloke in the automotive industry because the last time I looked, the Boxter WAS a Porsche! In fact, and this may shock Mr Watson, the Boxter has ALWAYS been made by Porsche!