Porsche Boxster S: Test Drive Review

Date: 03 July 2012   |   Author:

Category: Sports P11D price: £45,384 Key rival: BMW Z4

Power is up by 10hp on the standard 2.7-litre model to 265hp, while the Boxster S driven here with its 3.4-litre engine has seen an increase of 5hp to 315hp. Despite the rise, there are efficiency savings, with the S model now returning 32.1mpg and an emissions figure of 206g/km - not bad for a sports car that can break five seconds for the 0-62mph dash. The automatic PDK gearbox, a not inexpensive £1922 option, is significantly cleaner and almost as much fun to drive as the manual, which has a short and sharp gearshift but suffers from a heavy clutch.

The driving experience is everything you'd expect from a Porsche, with a lovely exhaust note, direct steering and incredibly impressive body control. There's virtually no roll in corners and the car feels more rigid than a convertible - with the inevitable loss of rigidity that comes with chopping off the roof - ever should.

Refinement is also improved, with the canvas roof benefiting from increased layers of insulation. On the move you'd never know it was a convertible from the wind noise, and the roof drops in just nine seconds at speeds of up to 30mph.

Aside from a more refined cabin, practicality is at the same level as the previous Boxster, with luggage space split between the 150-litre area in the front and the 130 litres behind the mid-mounted six-cylinder engine.

Everything about the new Boxster is a step forward from the old car, thanks to the more distinctive styling, better insulated roof and lower emissions the key characteristics. It may cost more than its nearest rivals - the likes of the BMW Z4 or Mercedes SLK - but that price gap is there for a reason, while Porsche's cheapest model is as desirable as its siblings.

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