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DRIVEN: Porsche Boxster Refreshed And Refined
Even with doppelkupplungsgetriebe, mid-engine sports car reveals its raw, fun-loving drivability.
Bob Golfen  |  Posted April 14, 2010   Phoenix, AZ
Porsche Boxster received a minor facelift but retains the distinctive look of the original mid-engine convertible that launched in 1996. (Photo: Porsche)
Among the worldwide hierarchy of Porsche fanatics, Boxster remains on the low branch of the family tree.

The Porsche crowd looks down its collective nose at Boxster mainly because it’s not a 911, the vaunted crown prince of performance. The mid-engine Boxster is viewed is a budgetary compromise, lower priced with less performance and nowhere near the panache of Big Daddy.

Even the Cayman, basically a coupe derived from the convertible Boxster, is reserved a spot at the grownup table. Yet in their meanest moments, the Porsche-ophiles call Boxster a chick car and a poseur.

Boxster still outclasses its rivals among mid-priced Euro roadsters. (Photo: Porsche)
But let’s get real. Boxster and the more-powerful Boxster S are fantastic cars, outclassing their rivals and providing sports-car handling capabilities that go beyond the talents of most drivers.

I’ve sampled Boxsters several times since they were introduced in 1996, when they were heralded as the reincarnation of the 550 Spyder of the 1950s. And though it may lack the explosive power of a 911 Turbo, Boxster always manages to be a fun traveling companion for exploring back roads at high speeds. Which is as it should be.

Upgraded in 2005 and with power added in 2007, Boxster received a mild makeover for 2009 and more power drawn from its 2.9-liter flat-six engine. Boxster S now rips out a convincing 310 horsepower, but even the current Boxster is no slouch with 255 ponies on tap.

Most recently, I tested a regular non-S Boxster, which included plenty of time goofing on the curving desert roads that snake through these parts. Despite the refinements, Boxster retains its raw-edged appeal, its raspy engine sounds and its undeniable top-down bonhomie.

Boxster feels most in its element when dicing through the turns of a back road. (Photo: Porsche)
Yeah, the suspension is pretty harsh when rumbling over rough asphalt, and the interior is cramped for those of us in the upper height percentile or maybe carrying some extra heft. But all is forgiven once Boxster charges through a sharp turn and shows off the balance of its mid-engine design.

The engine is nestled somewhere in there behind the cockpit, plus there’s a trunk in the front and another one in the back. Hard to beat, really.

The Boxster I tested came with “doppelkupplungsgetriebe,” which is not a psychiatric disorder but the name of Porsche’s brilliant new double-clutch automatic transmission. In clichéd terms, the shifts are lightning fast, and it responds like a mind reader.

The response to the paddle shifts is certainly remarkable, although the wheel-mounted shift mechanism is just fair: I wish everyone would just agree to make it a pull on the right for upshifts and a pull on the left for downshifts. And I much prefer when the paddles are fixed to the steering column, not moving around aimlessly with the steering wheel.

While I can appreciate the fabulous technology that makes this automatic perform so well, and its link with the highest forms of auto racing, I infinitely prefer the visceral act of shifting gears. For real. With a clutch. Not as fast or efficient, maybe, but more attuned to what sports-car driving is all about.

The two-seat cockpit is tight but nicely crafted in leather and chrome. (Photo: Porsche)
Boxster’s facelift makes it look more purposeful and less fussy, especially the toned-down headlights and more expressive taillights. A casual viewer will most certainly recognize the Boxster, and might even miss the changes.

The interior is nicely crafted but quite cozy. There’s a bit of stowage behind the seats, and cupholders on spring-loaded arms pop out from the dash, but that’s about it. Otherwise, place anything you might be carrying into one of the trunks.

I love the look of Porsche gauges with their distinctive lettering. Beautifully simple and effective.

Boxster carries on as the leading player among Euro roadsters, including BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK and Audi TT. Each brings something different to the table, but I’ve learned to best appreciate Boxster’s offerings. Even if those snobby Porsche guys disagree.

The pricing is right in there, starting at $46,600 and adding comfort and convenience features, plus shipping, to top off at $53,980 on the test car. The doppelkupplungsgetriebe costs $3,420, so that’s another good reason not to get it.

Details

Vehicle type: Two-passenger, two-door roadster, rear-wheel drive.
Engine: 2.9-liter flat six, 255 horsepower at 6,400 rpm, 214 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm.
Transmission: Six-speed doppelkupplungsgetriebe.
Wheelbase: 95.1 inches.
Overall length: 172.1 inches.
Curb weight: 2,943 pounds.
EPA fuel mileage: 20 city, 29 highway.

Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEEDtv.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, who has driven and evaluated essentially every new vehicle sold in the United States. A lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle, he annually attends and writes about Arizona's famous January collector-car auctions, focusing on Scottsdale’s monumental Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event. SPEEDtv.com fans email veteran Automotive Editor Bob Golfen at

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or Speed Channel

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