2014 Porsche Boxster preview
The word bargain isn’t one you would usually associate with the word Porsche but traditionally that’s exactly what the Boxster, now in its third generation, has been seen as.
Yes, the car is a little bit more expensive than similarly sized two-seater convertibles but the driving experience it delivers is much more like would you would get from an exotic sports car. Looking at it in these terms and the Boxster is an absolute steel.
For many the Boxster certainly has the glamour of more exotic machinery. The lines at the front are crisp rather than aggressive and behind the headlights the wings sit higher than the bonnet to create cool curvy bulges at the side.
Things get even more aggressive when you look further back as well where the curvature of the doors helps channel air into the side intakes. Behind the beautifully bulbous rear hunches you’ll find that the reversing lights cut across the rest of the rear light cluster which effectively extends the line of the rear spoiler – a real nice touch.
There’s a fair amount of glamour when you climb inside the Boxster as well. You get leather on your seats as standard and the rest of the materials are really plush in the way they look and feel. The metallic trim inserts help add a dash of contrast to the colour scheme and every panel and every switch has a solid feel.
The interior is good but not perfect. For example the center console has way too many buttons so it can be tricky to find the one you need. Standard kit is pretty stingy as well, you don’t even get a Bluetooth phone connection or parking sensors included in the price. However, the low slung driving position is absolutely spot on and unlike many sports cars you even get a decent view out of the back.
We know that a car like this is never going to be the last word in practicality there’s plenty of space for adults and with luggage compartment both at the front and the rear, there’s more space for bags then in many rival models.
The best thing about the Boxster is definitely the way it drives – which is just sensational. You’ve got the choice of two six cylinder engines and even the weaker one, which is a 2.7 litre with 261 bhp, is blisteringly quick. If it’s thrills you’re after then we suggest you go for the 311 bhp 3.4 litre engine which really does take things up a notch. It pulls really strongly from low revs which helps keeps life easy at town speeds. However, once you get the revs up to about 2000 rpm it turns into an absolute monster. It also has Porsche’s renowned seven speed twin-clutch gearbox which means you can leave it in full auto mode or you can switch gears using the steering wheel mounted paddles. However you do it the changes are extremely smooth and really fast. Although we think the manual gearbox suits the characteristics of the car that little bit better.
However impressed you are by the Boxster’s pace, you’ll be blown away by its handling. It’s not just the fact that you have massive grip at all four corners of the car or that the body stays pretty much dead flat when you fling it around a bend, it’s also that the car’s mid engine rear drive layout gives it amazing balance and fast predictable responses of the throttle, steering and brakes means it responds instantly to every command you put in. The Boxster is precise it’s engaging and will leave pretty much all its rivals for dust. The Boxster will also probably be more comfortable to live with that its rivals as the ride is incredibly smooth.
In conclusion, the Boxster has always been a sensational bit of kit but this latest one is by far and away the best yet. It’s more thrilling to drive than ever, more comfortable than ever and it has easily enough quality and prestige to justify the price. For the money it’s absolutely peerless.
