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PORSCHE Boxster S Review

OUR TEST CAR: PORSCHE Boxster S (987) PDK 2013

 
PORSCHE Boxster S - Page - 2
It's easy to notice the performance and efficiency gains of the new Porsche Boxster, but what the numbers don't tell you is that the roadster is now also a better place to live in.

Our first curiosity was to see the new cloth roof at work and the top seemed happy to please us. We played with it on the move, as it works up to a speed of 31 mph (50 km/h). The nine seconds needed to fold it are impressive, but it's the effortless nature of the process that really conquers you.

The Porsche Boxster's roof provides good insulation for a soft top. However, it's still behind the stratosphere of the cloth top world, which includes the Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster and the Bentley Continental GTC.

Once you fold the structure, the wind protection is within the class average. This meant that we had to put the cover back on the Boxster in order to be able to assess the other elements related to this chapter.

From the first moment you let the seat hug you, the position feels superior to that of the second-generation Boxster. You're sitting a bit lower, there's more leg room (1 inch or 25 mm) and the seat's longitudinal adjustment travels further.

The seats themselves offer a decent level of comfort. Unfortunately, the Boxster doesn't want to make the 911 look bad, so it too comes with a higher backrest area that's a bit tight. The headrest comes to save the day though, being one of the softest our heads have ever touched on a sports car.

The Boxster may not want to embarrass the 911 in terms of comfort, but it actually does this thanks to its suspension. The PASM active setup in the Boxster made the ride less fidgety than the 911 we drove in the past.

Once you get to spend a bit of time with the Porsche Boxster, you'll be delighted by its practicality, which is rather high for its class. Let's take its traditional pair of luggage compartments, for example. Up front you can pack 5.3 cu. ft. (150 L) of your stuff, while an extra 4.6 cu. ft. (130 L) fits in the boot behind the engine. As for its cabin, the Boxster comes with a reasonable storage ability.

Body and Chassis

Despite the increase in length, the 2013 Porsche Boxster is lighter than its predecessor, tipping the scales about 77 lbs (35 kg) lower. In addition, the monocoque’s torsional rigidity manages to top that of the old model by 40 percent.

This was all possible through the structure’s extended use of superior metals: aluminum now accounts for around 50 percent of the monocoque, with the rest being split between high strength steel and magnesium.

Powertrain

Porsche hasn't operated major changes at the center of the roadster, with both the Boxster and the Boxster S showing up with a few engine revisions instead. Porsche's passion for high mpg figures can be seen here, as both powerplants are now 15 percent less thirsty.

The 2013 Porsche Boxster has lost 0.2 liters of displacement, with the six horizontally-opposed pistons now offering 2.7 liters. Despite the aforementioned efficiency bump, the output has increased too. There are 10 extra horses, which brings the peak value to 265, while the 206 lb-ft (280 Nm) maximum torque means that the unit lost 7 lb-ft (9.5 Nm).

As for the 2013 Porsche Boxster S' flat six, this offers the same 3.4-liter size, but comes with a 5 hp upgrade, offering 315 hp in total. Its torque figure remains unchanged, sitting at 266 lb-ft (360 Nm). The previous generation already features direct injection, but in the new Boxster S, this is aided by redesigned intake and exhaust systems.

Our test car was fitted with a seven-speed PDK transmission, while Porsche also offers a six-speed manual gearbox. Despite offering both units with efficiency-boosting features like start-stop and an alternator that charges the battery during the engine overrun phase, the new 911's seven speed manual isn't here. The company cites extra weight reasons for leaving out the new transmission.

As for the PDK gearbox on the Porsche Boxster S, this uses magnetorheological mounts, just like those that support the 991 Porsche 911's engine. These can be softer in order to reduce NVH or stiffen up when handling is the priority.

Road Connection

The front suspension of the Porsche Boxster has a new design, while at the back the multi-link layout has been revised. Go for the optional Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and you'll receive adaptive dampers that now rely on an even more complex sensor system for measuring the vehicle's movements - each of the wheels now features a new vertical sensor.

The 987 Boxster has followed the 991 911 into ditching the hydraulic powersteering for an electro-mechanical setup.

Stopping Power

Both the Porsche Boxster and the Porsche Boxster S rely on a braking system that comes with vented, cross-drilled rotors, four-piston calipers all-round, a new brake booster, as well as larger pads. The ventilation via the front and rear spoilers has also been optimized.

The Boxster S comes with larger front discs, which measure 12.99 inches and the rear rotors are identical to those of the Boxster, sitting at 11.77 inches.

And while the red calipers tell you that you’re looking at a Boxster S, it’s the yellow ones that top them all. These are used for Porsche’s optional Ceramic Composite Brake system. The hardware includes inch (350 mm) cross-drilled discs all-round. The front axle features six-piston grabbers, while the rear one uses four-piston calipers.

The Boxster may be the least expensive sports car Porsche has to offer, but you won't feel this when it comes to the current chapter. In the typical Porsche fashion, the roadster offers a dangerously long list of optional features.

When it comes to the outside of the car, Porsche's Exclusive program seems to be very concerned abut the way you roll, among others. There's an entire menu of colors for the wheel centers, ranging from the classic Silver to any color of your choice.

Before you climb aboard, you have to decide which of the four seat options you want. Around the seats, the cabin can be covered in leather and you're allowed to choose between multiple colors, including two-tone combinations.

Porsche doesn't allow its Exclusive specialist to fiddle with the design of the cabin, so, again, color becomes of uttermost importance. For eye-candy's sake, you can choose between six finishes for the seatbelts alone! And if you want to have carbon and Alcantara like the big boys do in their supercars, Porsche is happy to oblige.

You can notice the Porsche Boxster's level of premium features simply by looking at the speakers. This is one of those cars where the optional Bose audio system is only OK if you can't afford the Burmester hardware.

To accommodate the latter, the engineers managed to find room for 12 speakers, which can deliver 821 Watts of beats. Make no mistake though, the clear sound is definitely the top asset to enjoy here.

When it comes to the overly abbreviated optional technical features, we want to explain what the Sport Chrono pack brings you. As far as the eye is concerned, you get a timepiece on the dash, a Sport Plus button. You also receive a Performance display for the instrument cluster and console screen, as well as a steering wheel display showing the driving modes for the PDK gearbox models.

As for the unseen parts, these include dynamic transmission mounts, as well as a Launch Control feature and even sharper gearshifts for the PDK. Using the aforementioned chronograph to measure the effect of the gearbox tweaks will reveal that the latter bring a 0.2s reduction for the 0 to 62 mph sprint.

The Porsche Boxster borrows the wide majority of the optionals available on the 911, from features such as the Adaptive Cruise Control, to tech goodies such as ceramic brakes. There a few features that you won't find here though. Fortunately, these are elements that don't change the vehicle dramatically, such as a power kit for the engine.

Once you get behind the wheel of the Porsche Boxster, be it in standard or S guise, you will be in for a safe driving experience. This may be a sportscar that can swiftly push its speedometer needle up, but the spirit of the car means that there are no added emotions on top of those generated by dynamics itself.

This means that the Porsche Boxster doesn’t use multi-sensorial gimmicks, such as a charming exhaust note, in order to convince you to accelerate. What you see is what you get and you’ll be aware of your speed at all times.

Just as important, the 2013 Boxster’s increased wheelbase and tracks bring a clear bonus in terms of cornering and braking stability, a much needed asset for this chapter.

This Porsche roadster hasn’t been crash tested by any official organization, but the engineers did put a lot of effort into developing its safety features.

The Boxster receives Porsche’s comprehensive list of driver assistance systems, features that make a whole lot of a difference on the road. You may not feel the dynamic engine mounts at work, but you’ll certainly become aware of the magic-like effect of the Porsche Torque Vectoring. It’s also easy notice the positive effects of the Porsche Active Suspension Management on the handling, as body roll is just a joke in this car.

Since this is an open-top vehicle, rollover protection is always the first question on anybody’s lips when it comes to passive safety. The windshield frame is made of ultra high-strength steel, while the roll bars behind the seats use a composite construction, mixing aluminum and steel. The entire body shell of the vehicle is more rigid compared to that of its predecessor.

As far as the airbags are concerned, Porsche’s Boxster doesn’t come with anything special. The vehicle offers dual-stage frontal airbags, as well as side airbags for the thorax and head.

Porsche has always built memorable roadsters. This has been a core part of the company ever since its inception. The 2013 Boxster not only takes this weight on its fenders, but it also adds some of its own. The new Boxster does more than just live up to the name, it raises the bar.

It is now harder than ever before to want a 911 Cabriolet and not a Boxster. That's because the latter that follows more of the classic principles which define a good open-top sports car. Whereas the 911 has to pay tribute to tradition, the Boxster simply feels more human, it's easier to connect with.

To put it another way, the Porsche 911 doesn't seem to be able to justify the hefty price premium over the Boxster. While the Boxster S comes with a MSRP of $63,050, you'll have to pay at least $96,200 for a 911 Carrera Cabriolet.

Speaking of prices, in Europe the Boxster S starts at EUR60,191, with this including 19 percent VAT.

The best part of Porsche's Boxster is the way in which it delivers its performance. Numbers are numbers, but the Boxster's linearity and agility mean you can enjoy the journey without having to actually reach the top.

It is this feature of the car that allows us to also recommend the normal Boxster, which has a MSRP of $51,350 or EUR49,243 (including 19% VAT). You can have fun with the car even without the S model's extra muscle.

If we had to define the Porsche Boxster car in one word, we'd use "sleek". The grunt is there, the handling is sharp and the Boxster is always eager to learn new tricks from you.

The wheelbase expansion brought by the generation change is a priceless asset. It brings two qualities of which you can never have too much, boosting interior space and vehicle stability.

The Porsche Boxster is also a practical sports car. It knows how to cope with the city and also makes a good cruising partner. The Boxster works fine as a daily driver.

When it comes to the worst side of the Boxster, we'll name its lack of drama. The precision of the Boxster can't fully make up for the fact that it doesn't have a sense of humor. The car only knows how to make you feel good when you're asking it to perform on a dynamic level.

We also couldn't help but be bothered by the fact that Porsche still doesn't make full use of the Boxster's potential. We didn't feel the need for more while driving it, but the idea itself is bothering.

In the end, the Porsche Boxster is an accomplished car, one that can serve as an excellent lesson for all those willing to find out what a roadster is.
THE END
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autoevolution May 2013
83
History
9
Exterior
8
Interior
8
In the city
7
Open road
9
Comfort
7
Tech facts
8
Gadgets
8
Safety
9
Conclusion
8
83user rating 52 votes
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