RE: Driven: Porsche Boxster S

RE: Driven: Porsche Boxster S

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Discussion

mat205125

17,790 posts

212 months

Monday 12th March 2012
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RichB said:
Degner said:
Um... Boxster is an amalgamation of boxer and speedster. Not aware that Porsche has ever used the word 'Roadster'.
See, once someone puts something on Wikipedia it becomes the truth hehe

<Wiki says:> The Boxster's name is a portmanteau of the word "boxer", referring to the vehicle's horizontally opposed or "boxer" engine, and the word "roadster", referring to the vehicle's two-seat capacity and convertible top.
Exactly! A speedster doesn't have a convertible roof, where as a roadster does.



anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 12th March 2012
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jazzyjeff said:
"the infernal electronic handbrake. It's completely counter-intuitive in a three-pedal machine, it will only engage with the foot-brake pressed."

Great - now to dazzle drivers behind with your brake lights whilst sat in a queue you no longer need to be a moron, you just have to drive a Porsche rolleyes
Once the handbrake is on you CAN lift off the foot pedal you know!

Lytham Stag

198 posts

219 months

Monday 12th March 2012
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ess said:
Interesting Porsche going along the electric steering route.
BMW dropped this in favour of hydraulic for the M version of the previous Z4 model (E85); with associated positive reviews (obviously losing the run-flats also).
Not sure if the new Z4 (E89) is electric, although we've yet to see an M version.
Yes - new Z4 (E89) has also gone down the electric steering route.

DJRC

23,563 posts

235 months

Monday 12th March 2012
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stefan1 said:
I saw the car in the flesh today at the Geneva Motor Show. Agree with Chris completely on looks - it is stunning. I liked the old car; this one can snap knicker elastic at 20 yards.

Great to read about how it drives - I have one coming hopefully in May so cannot wait.

Cheers
Are you and Monkey taking the piss? Its turn into a fat bloater! The damn thing was screaming dull at me when I was poking it this weekend.

Big Six

37 posts

146 months

Monday 12th March 2012
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Electronic handbrake...............

That's what rules it out for me. A VW touch just like the steering I suppose. It's just wrong in a car that is supposed to be fun. It does not add anything to the experience apart from frustration & extra complication + weight with the extra controls that are needed.

I said it before & I will say it again. The best Porsche's have already been built. There is no point in buying a new one.

RichB

51,435 posts

283 months

Monday 12th March 2012
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W108 said:
jazzyjeff said:
"the infernal electronic handbrake. It's completely counter-intuitive in a three-pedal machine, it will only engage with the foot-brake pressed."

Great - now to dazzle drivers behind with your brake lights whilst sat in a queue you no longer need to be a moron, you just have to drive a Porsche rolleyes
...or drive an Auto confused
While also sitting with your foot on the brake in queues dazzling drivers behind hehe

j123

881 posts

191 months

Monday 12th March 2012
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
But Chris said.."Its Pirelli P-Zeros have so much grip, the centre of mass is so well positioned and traction is so good it just carves its way through switchbacks with sparkling finesse." j

cheddar

4,637 posts

173 months

Monday 12th March 2012
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Love it.

Finally.

Wonder if the 2.7 comes equipped with narrower tyres on 17's or 18's?

Base model, 265bhp, 1300 odd kilos, no options, cloth instead of slippy leather, 37k pricetag, might just be the pick.

It'd be mine.


ganser

103 posts

198 months

Monday 12th March 2012
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The Boxster looks nice, more muscular than before. The Z4 35is is the one i'd go for though

nickfrog

20,874 posts

216 months

Monday 12th March 2012
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ganser said:
The Boxster looks nice, more muscular than before. The Z4 35is is the one i'd go for though
Only if you don't drive them both back to back...;)

cheddar

4,637 posts

173 months

Monday 12th March 2012
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Agree with your maths, disagree about prettier, always looked push me pull you in my eyes.

Subjective stuff but to me this is the first good looking Boxster and 37k for one is brilliant value.

I know the naysayers will tell me I'll never sell if I don't spec it with Chrono/Nav/50" Panny plasma but I'll see their options list and raise them my year old new model Boxster for 29k in the classifieds.



cheddar

4,637 posts

173 months

Monday 12th March 2012
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yep, rims are pants.

That spoiler is a try hard as well but those flanks make up for it.

crimbo

1,308 posts

227 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
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I think it looks great, cant wait to see it in the flesh

ESOG

1,705 posts

157 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
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Okay. I have to put my two cents in here. First off it must be known that I have been a hater of the Boxster since its inception. To me it was a painstakingly bland design from the get-go, especially in silver which it seems was the only color that was produced in America with the rare exception of an even uglier green.

However, this Boxster has caught my attention in all the right places. It is styled beautifully; elegant and sporty in one IMO. The interior has come along way and is now worthy enough to gawk at. I LOVE the rear lights. And I like the fact that this test model is a manual. It is nice to finally see a Porker with a stick FFS!

Now the news (my opinion) that leaves me at odds; Before this Boxster I could have said without any reasonable doubt no body in their right mind (exception Porsche fan boys) would ever choose a Boxster over an Evora, and I think (again, Porsche fanatics aside) that most would agree with me. HOWEVER, after seeing this new version of the Boxster, I get the feeling Lotus is about to lose even more sales to the folks on the hunt for a sporty and capable every day driving machine. Unless of course the Evora is transformed and introduced as a drop-top some time soon. But even then I think the Boxster is going to trump the sale of Evora's. It's sad really.

On a side note; The performance figures are greatly improved. Lastly, the wheels sort of look similar to the wheels on the Evora, just a little bit don't you think?

EDITED TO ADD: I love the Cayman since it first came out and am very excited to see the new one. I would LOVE a Cayman R in white.

And to address all the negative comments about the wheels and the size of them offered on the Boxster, I couldn't agree more! They look a bit ridiculous in size. 18" seems a better fit indeed.

Edited by ESOG on Tuesday 13th March 07:33

ESOG

1,705 posts

157 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
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Contigo said:
Indeed, most people who put the car into neutral on a descent thinking it will save fuel know nothing about how a modern car works and actually backing off the accelerator with the car in gear will save more fuel.

Could you please explain further. I guess I am of the ignorant many who drive a 5 speed and put it in neutral to coast when going down very large and long hills thinking it is saving me on gas.

You see, on my way back home everyday there is such a hill that is the last bit of road leading to my exit from off the highway and comes to an end at a stop light that I always get at red (red light that is). So being that I am on the highway I am doing such highway speeds axp. 65mph and once I pass the crest of the hill I put my car in neutral and coast roughly 1/4 of a mile, maybe a bit more, (its a rather steep descent). My car has an electronic fuel consumption feature that shows your MPG during acceleration and it significantly changes to something like 45mpg maybe more when coasting.

jezzaaa

1,867 posts

258 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
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I really love the new look...really smart, especially in that silver/red leather combination on the porsche website.

Small gripe is the interior layout ... as said in previous posts, the switch panel below the gearbox leaves lots of possibilities for blank switches which I don't like seeing on a car like this. I'm also not a fan of the wheel choices...the Gen 2 Carrera S wheels were much nicer. And the standard steering wheel is yuk ... but you can't get the sport design wheel with controls on it! Come on Porsche....!!

Carl_Docklands

12,103 posts

261 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
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So, review aside, it looks like the biggest problem with the new car is the optional 20inch wheels, which someone else specced.

Phew!


IATM

3,779 posts

146 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
quotequote all
ESOG said:
Contigo said:
Indeed, most people who put the car into neutral on a descent thinking it will save fuel know nothing about how a modern car works and actually backing off the accelerator with the car in gear will save more fuel.

Could you please explain further. I guess I am of the ignorant many who drive a 5 speed and put it in neutral to coast when going down very large and long hills thinking it is saving me on gas.

You see, on my way back home everyday there is such a hill that is the last bit of road leading to my exit from off the highway and comes to an end at a stop light that I always get at red (red light that is). So being that I am on the highway I am doing such highway speeds axp. 65mph and once I pass the crest of the hill I put my car in neutral and coast roughly 1/4 of a mile, maybe a bit more, (its a rather steep descent). My car has an electronic fuel consumption feature that shows your MPG during acceleration and it significantly changes to something like 45mpg maybe more when coasting.
basically when a car is coasting it used no fuel at all or minimal compared to having the car in idle.

coasting being going down the hil, left in correct gear BETWEEN POSSIBLY 1-2K RPM and not touching the go pedal at all.

SonnyM

3,472 posts

192 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
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Word has it the Boxster Turbo has been given the green light with 350-380hp.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
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SonnyM said:
Word has it the Boxster Turbo has been given the green light with 350-380hp.
Source?