RE: Chris Harris video: Porsche Boxster S

RE: Chris Harris video: Porsche Boxster S

Author
Discussion

andyman_2006

728 posts

192 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
AndyBrew said:
Having bought a Boxster S last summer for the wife I've been converted to it's charms big style, the whole package is superb and I am frequently nicking the keys for a blast!!

We've ordered a new one for June delivery and are really looking forward to it as it appears to be an even better car than the one we have, although I'm not sure where this 40k price tag comes from, I think the S starts at 45k and ours has come in at 62.5k and that's without PDK or PCCB!

Role on June smile
Chris came up with the 40k comment in the main text before the video....hes maybe talking about the slower 2.7 model or something...

quote:

The interior is very similar to the 991's, and for something that looks good in a 95K coupe, it's stunning gear in a 40K cooking Boxster.


Kong

1,503 posts

173 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
900T-R said:
I still can't figure out what sort of kit one 'should' want on a 2-seater ragtop sports car in order to be considered 'sensible'- auto 'box (blech)? Sat nav? (get lost - or at least I thought that was the point of such a car, if I want to go from A-B with minimum fuss I'll buy a Polo Bluemotion)? Bigger wheels/tyres (if I wanted to ocmpromise the dynamics on UK roads for the sake of 'imagine' I'd get an A5 S-line and be done with it)? Colour/trim (simple tends to be best)? It's not a luxury barge FFS... I'll wager to bet that the boggo 46K version includes quite a few items I'd have deleted if given the choice; as with all but the very basic new cars nowadays...
I agree, particularly on a sports car. The only 'optional' option I would insist on would be the the premium sound system as I love to turn up the tunes when I'm hooning about.

Satnav would be nice but at 2,000+ I'd rather use a Tomtom.

POPE Paul

46 posts

204 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
Dave Hedgehog said:
oh come on that car SCREAMS camp!
Oh dear; Dave's Hedgehog hair must be getting in his eyes! Or is it; .......Off to Specsavers you go Dave!

WojaWabbit

1,114 posts

220 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
Does anyone on here know why the steering is electromechanical and not electrohydraulic?

For what its worth, I've got an MR2 Roadster, I'm looking to buy a 986/7 Boxster S soon (hopefully prices will drop a tad after this 981 has been out a few months) and I'd like to think sometime in the future I'll own a 981. So maybe Porsche have got their target market pretty well sussed.

j123

881 posts

194 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
WojaWabbit said:
Does anyone on here know why the steering is electromechanical and not electrohydraulic?

For what its worth, I've got an MR2 Roadster, I'm looking to buy a 986/7 Boxster S soon (hopefully prices will drop a tad after this 981 has been out a few months) and I'd like to think sometime in the future I'll own a 981. So maybe Porsche have got their target market pretty well sussed.
For those wondering about the conversion from Electric to Hydraulic steering please have a read here:
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/07/citroen-revea...
It is very possible to do and will improve steering feel, j

Furyblade_Lee

4,112 posts

226 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
I had an 03 Boxster S for a year, and it turned out to be the biggest automotive dissapointment in my motoring life! I really didn't "get" it, despite 260bhp it felt underpowered, fat, and the shoddy build quality was something to behold, things broke, went wrong and looked scruffy that really shouldnt considering the original owner paid nearly 45K for it and it was still in its prime.... It was definately more cruiser than bruiser, even with black paint, black leather and black 911 wheels. I'd like a go in a new version to see if they have " toughened" it up a bit.

Also telling, regarding some of the comments on here, " camp " being one of them, is that I attended a few PH shows and runs and hardly any males ever commented, admired or asked questions about it. Like it was invisible, and certainly not like any response my other cars got.

Women however, generally they f***ing loved it.

Kong

1,503 posts

173 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
Furyblade_Lee said:
I had an 03 Boxster S for a year, and it turned out to be the biggest automotive dissapointment in my motoring life! I really didn't "get" it, despite 260bhp it felt underpowered, fat, and the shoddy build quality was something to behold, things broke, went wrong and looked scruffy that really shouldnt considering the original owner paid nearly 45K for it and it was still in its prime.... It was definately more cruiser than bruiser, even with black paint, black leather and black 911 wheels. I'd like a go in a new version to see if they have " toughened" it up a bit.

Also telling, regarding some of the comments on here, " camp " being one of them, is that I attended a few PH shows and runs and hardly any males ever commented, admired or asked questions about it. Like it was invisible, and certainly not like any response my other cars got.

Women however, generally they f***ing loved it.
If a Boxster is a 'cruiser' then what does that make the Z4, SLK, S2000, 350Z convertible, TT roadster, crossfire? The Boxster is the sharpest car to drive in it's class with the best steering and balance. Going from a bike engined kit car the Porsche is obviously going to feel fat and slow, what did you expect?

In my opinion the to "get" a Boxster (or 911) you need to think of them as a real daily driver alternative, that's what makes them so good. Nobody else does the sporty/practicality balance as well as Porsche.

I agree about the looks of the 986/7, they're so bland and that's why I couldn't own one.

davey68

1,199 posts

239 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
S2000 isn't a cruiser! I do really like the boxster S though. Next car may well be a gen 2 'S'

Furyblade_Lee

4,112 posts

226 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
You are right, but I was not comparing the bike engined car! And NO WAY do I agree that the Boxster is a sharper tool than a 350Z or S2000. Not at 9/10ths anyhow, always felt to me it could have a couple of armchairs in the back. It is too remotte for me, I believed particularly EVO 5* write ups and bought one without spending time in one. As a driving "tool" compared to an Elise I have driven quite a lot, the Porsche was dissapointing. The Elise murders it in almost every respect, apart from comfort. They both have 2 seats and an engine in the back, good enough comparison for me! The Elise is a driving machine, which is the image the Porsche gives ( to me anyway ), but the Porsche was most definately a cruiser. A bit like a fat bird, after you have been seeing her slim sister for a few months. Comfy, but ultimately she 'aint as willing to be thrown about and test your mettle.

And don't mention SLKs and the like, they are driving machines for wivews and girlfriends. :-)

Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Thursday 15th March 21:33

LayZ

1,640 posts

244 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
This thread has a lot of silly in it.

Great video and production as ever. Even better with no faux acting. I look forward to Wednesdays now as I know there'll be great new content on DRIVE.

TOENHEEL

4,501 posts

229 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
Furyblade_Lee said:
I had an 03 Boxster S for a year, and it turned out to be the biggest automotive dissapointment in my motoring life! I really didn't "get" it, despite 260bhp it felt underpowered, fat, and the shoddy build quality was something to behold, things broke, went wrong and looked scruffy that really shouldnt considering the original owner paid nearly 45K for it and it was still in its prime.... It was definately more cruiser than bruiser, even with black paint, black leather and black 911 wheels. I'd like a go in a new version to see if they have " toughened" it up a bit.

Also telling, regarding some of the comments on here, " camp " being one of them, is that I attended a few PH shows and runs and hardly any males ever commented, admired or asked questions about it. Like it was invisible, and certainly not like any response my other cars got.

Women however, generally they f***ing loved it.
I can sort of see where your coming from but I can guarentee if you drove a Spyder or even just a gen2 boxster s or early 987 you would see how much the game has moved on. I've had a 986 and early 987 and my Spyder is simply on another planet to both of them. I think I'm happier with the Spyder as it now has enough go and gets lots of attention on the road which when you've spent a lot of money is always nice. The stripped out weight has made a huge difference to the way the car feels. Sod the new car drive a Spyder.

nickfrog

21,409 posts

219 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
A pretty pointless exercise.

TOENHEEL

4,501 posts

229 months

Friday 16th March 2012
quotequote all
You can do that with any car, go and spec a fully loaded 318 diesel..Probably get it close to an M3.

Edited by TOENHEEL on Friday 16th March 07:50

Martin 480 Turbo

605 posts

189 months

Friday 16th March 2012
quotequote all
What a highly contradictory review Harris delivers here. Does the
new Boxster really fit the objective of becoming a males car?

Let's see:

1.The new electric steering spoils part of the driving experience.
2.There was an electric handbrake fitted with a hill holder, which
doesn't allow for 180 or 360 turns.
3.You can't set the PASM to fully off anymore.

Despite of all that the new Boxster is a more male car because of it:

1. Having more horsepower (on paper).
2. Looks better outside.
3. Has better grade plastics and nice leather on the dash.
(if you pay for the leather.)

Sorry. But what kind of manliness is the monkey envisioning here?:


The Pits

4,289 posts

242 months

Friday 16th March 2012
quotequote all
Pr1964 said:
I don't know
I think it's quite incredible to be able to nearly double the price of a car by adding extras.

Base car 43,660

Fully loaded 78,983.00

And if you buy it on finance probably adding another 15,000 over three years....

Its possible to pay almost a 100,000 for Boxster S Totally Bonkers!
Completely agree. Totally outrageous! The tragedy is because so many people put up with this scandalous fleecing, other car manufacturers feel obliged to copy it.

The Pits

4,289 posts

242 months

Friday 16th March 2012
quotequote all
SWoll said:
FFS how many people can spout this same unoriginal, badly thought out and inaccurate st on one thread.





Apart from the side vents that toyota copied from the original boxster design you'd hardly mistake them would you...even less so in the flesh.
Jeez, I didn't realise how similar they were until you posted this!

Lucas Ayde

3,600 posts

170 months

Friday 16th March 2012
quotequote all
Martin 480 Turbo said:
*
What a highly contradictory review Harris delivers here. Does the
new Boxster really fit the objective of becoming a males car?

Let's see:

1.The new electric steering spoils part of the driving experience.
2.There was an electric handbrake fitted with a hill holder, which
doesn't allow for 180 or 360 turns.
3.You can't set the PASM to fully off anymore.

Despite of all that the new Boxster is a more male car because of it:

1. Having more horsepower (on paper).
2. Looks better outside.
3. Has better grade plastics and nice leather on the dash.
(if you pay for the leather.)

Sorry. But what kind of manliness is the monkey envisioning here?:
Perhaps he came to that conclusion after, you know, actually driving it.

He's obviously giving too much weight to the driving experience and not enough to the opinions of people on internet forums who haven't driven it yet and indeed may never do so, but are experts at discussing spec sheets.

The Pits

4,289 posts

242 months

Friday 16th March 2012
quotequote all
Chris do you find the previous Boxster hard to heel and toe or just the new one? A recent boxster I drove was perfectly set up for heel and toe. If the new one is worse that's a big step back for those of us who prefer manuals. Could it be because Porsche are expecting to sell few manuals that they have not given it as much attention?

BigMacDaddy

964 posts

183 months

Friday 16th March 2012
quotequote all
I've never really been a fan of the Boxster - certainly capable but just lacking a certain "something".

I'd have the new one in a heartbeat.........




Cracking video btw clap

Donkey62

227 posts

167 months

Friday 16th March 2012
quotequote all
First Porsche i actually like the look of its finally got some balance in its proportions with less overhangs all round.