2008 Porsche Boxster S
Essentially, the Boxster S is the topless version of the hardtop Cayman S, a car that, within its short life, has gained a reputation among enthusiasts and Porsche owners as one of the sweetest cars from Stuttgart. This is in part due to its poise and handling prowess due to the engine’s placement in the middle of the chassis, unlike a 911 where the engine sits just aft of the rear wheels, making it prone to oversteer if you’re carrying too much zeal into the corners.
Enter the cockpit and the surroundings, the dials, gauges and switches seem to connote an authoritative calm. Turn the key (thankfully, still a key) and the bark from the exhaust sends the twittering blackbirds fleeing from the trees, especially when your Boxster is equipped with a sport exhaust system ($2,940) that increases - with the press of a button - the decibel output by an amount just enough to let you know this car is the genuine article.
In fact, the sound of that premium-combusted CO2 rumbling through the sculpted stainless exhaust tip is a gentle reminder there’s a 3.4-litre flat-six engine putting out 295 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque resting midship behind the two comfortable seats. That’s an amount that makes the Boxster and Cayman models equal in terms of power. It’s also enough to propel the car from zero to 100 kilometres an hour in 5.1 seconds.
There was much to be impressed with. The top, in particular, works with such simple execution, it can be lowered or raised while waiting for the streetlight to change. Release the lever, hold the electric switch and the top folds away neatly in about 15 seconds.
[ source: driving.ca ]
Tags: 911, 997, Boxster, Carerra, carrera gt, Cayenne, Gemballa, GT2, GT3, porsche, review, sports car, techart, turbo
