RE: Driven: Porsche Boxster S
Discussion
Can I ask is it really 2-3 times better than an MX-5 as it's priced? For day to day motoring not tracks.
I'm seriously looking at one of these (you struggle to spec one less than £50k) whereas you can get a top of the range MX-5 for around £18K if you shop about.
It's a genuine question - I've never driven a boxster so don't have that knowledge myself.
I'm seriously looking at one of these (you struggle to spec one less than £50k) whereas you can get a top of the range MX-5 for around £18K if you shop about.
It's a genuine question - I've never driven a boxster so don't have that knowledge myself.
ESOG said:
Boxster Vs Evora Stuff
Interesting. I was actually thinking more along the Boxster v Exige Roadster. The Evora is more of a GT, mini 911 type car, where as the boxster is a two seater drop top (like the Exige)Edited by ESOG on Tuesday 13th March 07:33
I also think that Lotus may struggle to steal Porsche customers away as personally I love the new boxster. Its the first I'd actually consider buying.
Pumpsmynads said:
It's a genuine question - I've never driven a Boxster so don't have that knowledge myself.
I'd never driven one until a couple of years ago when I was replacing my wife's Alfa Spider 3.0V6 (which she loved). I happened past Porsche Swindon and saw a nice looking Boxster ex-demonstrator which I enquired about. The chap got it out of the showroom and we went off for a drive. Within a few mins I felt totally at ease with it. I also fly gliders and one thing I like is balanced controls - in gliding terms I mean that the pressure on stick is nicely balanced with the elevator – left right, up down - same pressure causes the same result. Some gliders are horrible in that they need boot fulls of rudder but very little stick! The thing I noticed about the Boxster (2009 987 Gen II) is that the steering and brakes are perfectly balanced. A gentle push in the brakes produces gentle braking and a steadier push produces correspondingly more deceleration. Some cars you press and very little happens and you keep on pressing and all of a sudden you stop, hard, not the Boxster. The steering is also sweet, you seem to think through the bend and it turns, never do you seem to need slightly more or less on the steering wheel mid corner. Ours is the 2.9 (cooking) Boxster but to be honest the performance is very good. I'm quite used to quick cars but everything needs to be in context. The performance figures show it to be very similar to the older 3.2 Boxster S and it's quicker than the 3.0V6 Spider. OK it's not 911 turbo fast but it's not a 911 Turbo! As you can tell I love it and am very tempted to trade up to the new 981 Boxster. Only misgivings are; an electronic handbrake - yuck! The 'coast on over-run' must feel odd, while regarding the electrically assisted steering I'll reserve judgement on until I've driven it but the handbrake, that's just crap. I've got one on my Volvo V70 auto and I never use it. And... how do you do a hill start in a manual car with an electronic handbrake? 
garyhun said:
SonnyM said:
Word has it the Boxster Turbo has been given the green light with 350-380hp.
Source? could deliver up to 350HP but there was nothing about the Boxster having such a powerful version.
RichB said:
'd never driven one until a couple of years ago when I was replacing my wife's Alfa Spider 3.0V6 (which she loved). I happened past Porsche Swindon and saw a nice looking Boxster ex-demonstrator which I enquired about. The chap got it out of the showroom and we went off for a drive. Within a few mins I felt totally at ease with it. I also fly gliders and one thing I like is balanced controls - in gliding terms I mean that the pressure on stick is nicely balanced with the elevator – left right, up down - same pressure causes the same result. Some gliders are horrible in that they need boot fulls of rudder but very little stick! The thing I noticed about the Boxster (2009 987 Gen II) is that the steering and brakes are perfectly balanced. A gentle push in the brakes produces gentle braking and a steadier push produces correspondingly more deceleration. Some cars you press and very little happens and you keep on pressing and all of a sudden you stop, hard, not the Boxster. The steering is also sweet, you seem to think through the bend and it turns, never do you seem to need slightly more or less on the steering wheel mid corner. Ours is the 2.9 (cooking) Boxster but to be honest the performance is very good. I'm quite used to quick cars but everything needs to be in context. The performance figures show it to be very similar to the older 3.2 Boxster S and it's quicker than the 3.0V6 Spider. OK it's not 911 turbo fast but it's not a 911 Turbo! As you can tell I love it and am very tempted to trade up to the new 981 Boxster. Only misgivings are; an electronic handbrake - yuck! The 'coast on over-run' must feel odd, while regarding the electrically assisted steering I'll reserve judgement on until I've driven it but the handbrake, that's just crap. I've got one on my Volvo V70 auto and I never use it. And... how do you do a hill start in a manual car with an electronic handbrake?
Well written.anonymous said:
[redacted]
Where did you get the idea that the current 5 is a dreary peddle?Even in their darkest hour (2005 - 2008) MX5's were fun - if flawed - and from '09 they fully got their mojo back and since then they've been a brilliant steer.
The biggest difference in ownership between the 5 and boxster will be the joie de vivre. The Mazda is still a 'jump in, throw the roof back and redline it before the oils even round the engine block' type of car, it's very happy, loves a tharshing (because you're not going that fast) and they lack the complexity, seriousness and weighty occasion of a drive in the boxster.
Different cars, both accomplished, hard to compare.
SFO said:
RichB said:
And... how do you do a hill start in a manual car with an electronic handbrake?
easy, just start driving, the electronic handbrake releases automatically .. at least that's what happens on a 991.
I didn't know that - that sounds fine then. So you set it and forget it because it releases automatically as you set off. Nice...Interesting comments...
RE the coast function - if it works anything like in my KN hybrid, you'll never even notice it occurring !
drive is disconnected, and the engine is cut.
as soon as power is demanded again, then the engine starts - but not with the starter I believe
it helps fuel consumption massively.
Std motorway on the KN is 30-34 mpg
elec Handbrake is easy .
stop with footbrake.
press switch.
release footbrake
drive off when ready
I think the looks are an improvement; 20" wheels ? not for me.
The steering on the KN is electric - I don't find it at all bad; in this type of car, I really don't want the same feedback as my GT3 on back roads !
but it still has feel where it counts - you can feel grip shifting around and weight transfer.
Now, I have to delcare an interest in Porsche - having had a 986 S, a few 996 & 997s KN's and currently a GT3 clubsport and a 997 Cup Car.
If I could afford the $ for a soft top - my money would be going on the box - basic spec as possible
RE the coast function - if it works anything like in my KN hybrid, you'll never even notice it occurring !
drive is disconnected, and the engine is cut.
as soon as power is demanded again, then the engine starts - but not with the starter I believe
it helps fuel consumption massively.
Std motorway on the KN is 30-34 mpg
elec Handbrake is easy .
stop with footbrake.
press switch.
release footbrake
drive off when ready
I think the looks are an improvement; 20" wheels ? not for me.
The steering on the KN is electric - I don't find it at all bad; in this type of car, I really don't want the same feedback as my GT3 on back roads !
but it still has feel where it counts - you can feel grip shifting around and weight transfer.
Now, I have to delcare an interest in Porsche - having had a 986 S, a few 996 & 997s KN's and currently a GT3 clubsport and a 997 Cup Car.
If I could afford the $ for a soft top - my money would be going on the box - basic spec as possible
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Sorry - you're complaining about the overall diameter of the alloy+tyre?Pretty much everyone else is complaining about the diameter of the alloy part of the wheel which just seems too big at 20". I think it'd look better with a higher profile tyre and lesser diameter alloy, I don't think that the overall diameter of the entire wheel is too big at all.
but pleased to hear your comments...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff