Skip advert
Advertisement

Porsche Boxster S

Is the brilliant new Boxster S ready to edge out the 911 as the Porsche to own?

Find your Porsche Boxster
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

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.

Advertisement - Article continues below

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.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_narrow","fid":"68837","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]]

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.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Boxster

2016 Porsche

Boxster

3,632 milesAutomaticPetrol3.4L

Cash £58,995
View Boxster

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?

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Porsche Boxster

Porsche Boxster

RRP £58,468Used from £58,995
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £27,005Avg. savings £9,812 off RRP*Used from £11,300
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £1,906 off RRP*
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £3,055 off RRP*Used from £15,500
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Illegal number plates are out of control, as parliament asks motorists for help
Number plates

Illegal number plates are out of control, as parliament asks motorists for help

Cross-party committee is asking motorists to help solve the issue of illegal number plates
News
8 Oct 2025
Manufacturers aren’t selling enough electric cars, and that’s excellent news for buyers
Opinion - EV sales

Manufacturers aren’t selling enough electric cars, and that’s excellent news for buyers

Editor Paul Barker explains why serious EV discounts are now starting to appear on the market
Opinion
9 Oct 2025
Kia battery passport application could spark a used EV revolution
Kia EV3 - front action

Kia battery passport application could spark a used EV revolution

The technology, developed by Scottish firm Dukosi, can provide car battery health data down to the single-cell level
News
9 Oct 2025