2012 Porsche Boxster Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the Porsche Boxster and Cayman from 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 as a used buy.

The Porsche Boxster and Cayman are pure mid-engined sports machines, meaning the engine is installed just behind the cabin, unlike the the engine in the Porsche 911 that’s fitted behind the back wheels.A mid-engine layout gives exceptionally good weight distribution and therefore the best in chassis balance and higher cornering speeds than the 911.Interestingly, the Boxster and Cayman share quite a few of their front-end components with the Porsche 911. At the rear they are quite different machine visually, though there’s still a family resemblance.Porsche Boxster is sold only as a convertible, Cayman is a fixed hardtop coupe and didn’t go on sale till 2006, nine years after its open-top brother.Boxster’s roof is one of the simplest in the business, note the clever way the roof acts as its own cover when it’s powered open. It can be left open even if the weather is threatening as it can easily be powered closed at a red traffic light. You can usually avoid the embarrassment of having to wait for roof closure to be complete after the lights turn green.Both models are brilliant machines that cry out to be pushed hard and fast. Their naturally-aspirated engines are wonderfully responsive, the gearbox is a delight to use, road grip is very high and the feel through the steering wheel and the seat of the pants is magnificent.It takes a lot of provocation to get the tail out of line, and if it does start to slide the cars remains controllable - up to a point, that is. As with all full-on sports cars with mid-mounted engines, if the tail gets out too far you'll need quick reflexes to correct it.An advanced driving course is recommended if you really want to get the best from your Porsche. These days electronics aids can save you from over-reaching; they can be detuned should you wish to make your own decisions, particularly for track days.Unlike the 911, these Porsches are strictly two-seaters. The seats are supportive and comfortable and shoulder room is plentiful, with the two occupants well insulated from buffeting with the roof down.A real bonus of the mid-engined layout is that Boxster and Cayman are surprisingly practical for sportscars, with luggage compartments front and rear, this can almost be used as a daily driver by a one or two-person household.The Boxster arrived in Australia in January 1997. It received minor upgrades in October 1999, August 2001 and August 2002, then a major upgrading in February 2005. The latter, tagged the 987 series, replaced the previous 986 models.This was upgraded again in November 2006, November 2007 and March 2009. An all-new Boxster came out in June 2012, followed by a new Cayman 12 months later.The Boxster was initially criticised for being down on power, mainly due to its smallish 2.5-litre, flat-six engine. That problem was solved in 1999 when a bigger 2.7-litre unit was installed.Even better news was the shoehorning of an optional 3.2-litre engine into the models called the Boxster S and Cayman S. This was increased to 3387 cc in 2006 and to 3436 cc in 2009, with the standard Boxster going up to 2.9 litres in 2009.These superb Porsche engines, even the smallest ones, really come alive above 4000 rpm, their tone initially hardening, then rising to a wonderfully metallic howl as it goes through 5000 rpm. Get the top down whenever you can and hold on to the lower gears just for the sheer pleasure of listening to it.There were major changes to the Boxster engine in 2009. Though the flat-six engines still capacities of 2.9 or 3.4 litres, they featured a direct injection fuel system.This was complemented by numerous other changes. Power was increased, and even more importantly peak torque remained constant over large parts of the rev band. Unlike the older powerplants, that needed 4000 revs to come on song, the newer units really begin to buzz from not much over 3000 rpm.Powerful ventilated brake discs are installed. If you think going from a standstill to 100km/h in under six seconds in the bigger engined models feels sensational, just wait until you experience 100 to zero in less than three seconds. That really makes your eyes bulge and gives a most satisfying feeling of security.Boxster initially used either a five-speed or six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. From the 2009 upgrade a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox was installed.Porsche is long established in Australia. The dealer network isn’t huge, but it’s well organised and we seldom hear complaints about parts or service availability. Prices aren’t cheap, but neither are they outrageous for what you get.Insurance ratings are generally moderate for what is, after all, a prestige sports car aimed at those who like to drive hard and fast.A Porsche Boxster that’s always been serviced and repaired by an official dealer is relatively common and we feel it's the one to aim for. You probably be asked to pay more because of its history. And may we suggest you keep up the servicing to make your car a sound investmentWHAT TO LOOK FORHard driving is what the Boxster and Cayman are built for - butt too much can decrease their lives. Look for severe tyre wear, heavy brake dust buildup and repairs to the body. Rust is very unusual and almost certainly means the car has been badly repaired after a crash.These cars are well engineered and solidly built and unless poorly repaired after a crash should last well. If you suspect collision repairs it’s wise to have it professionally inspected.Check the interior for signs of mistreatment. Look under the floor mats for signs of dampness caused by a Boxster being caught out in the rain. The engine should start easily, idle smoothly virtually from the moment it kicks over and have throttle response that’s all-but instantaneous.Heavy operation of the clutch is likely to mean it’s due for an overhaul. Not a complex job, but there are no cheap repairs on a Porsche. The gearbox should be light and easy to use, with no noises at any time, even during the fastest of gearchanges.Be sure the brakes pull the car up cleanly without one wheel locking ahead of the others. If ABS is installed feel for a pulse through the brake pedal under hard braking.CAR BUYING TIPMost sports cars are only driven gently - sad but true - however it’s a fact of life they probably make a better used-car buy. 

The third generation Porsche Boxster, tagged the 981, takes the same styling route as its predecessors, which is no bad thing.Porsche owners over the years have shown strong resentment to any major changes in direction, so features like the air intakes in front of the rear wheels and the shape of the bonnet and headlights follow a familiar theme. You can choose between a standard Boxster at a modest starting price for this class of just $107,500, or the high-performance Boxster S with a recommended retail price of $133,800. The new-generation Porsche Boxster provides a pure-bred machine for what is a very modest price for the class in which it operates. It’s little wonder that dealers are reporting very satisfactory sales in the first few months of this German machine.The standard variant uses a new-design 2.7-litre flat-six powerplant with direct fuel injection in place of the manifold injection 2.9-litre of the previous model.Despite its smaller capacity the new unit has 15 per cent more power (now 195 kW), yet uses 13 to 15 per cent less petrol. That’s impressive. Choosing the Porsche Boxster S puts a revised version of the well-established 3.4-litre flat-six just behind your back.With 232 kW of power and 360 Nm of torque it has higher outputs, but uses less fuel than in the old model. Transmission options are six-speed manual and seven-speed double-clutch PDK automatic.At the tail there’s more change in the design, with a strong style line that runs the full width, with the taillights following the horizontal shape of the metal.New Boxster is bigger than before and would have weighed substantially more, but more aluminium has been used than ever before with the bonnet, rear deck and door skins all benefitting from the lightweight material.Combined with other weight saving measures the mass of the Boxster has trimmed by 25 to 35 kg depending on model. It all helps in improving straight-line performance, providing nimbleness and in reducing emissions and fuel use.On a slightly more mundane note, there is reasonable stowage space within the Boxster and the fact that it has two boots (one in front the other in the rear) makes it a more than practical long term touring car.If you’re going to be spending hours each week the PDK makes sense, but if you want to be part of the action it simply doesn’t provide the same sensation of driving as does the ‘proper’ manual gearbox.On the road the latest Porsche Boxster is close to perfect in its balance and nimble handling. The use of a mid-rear engine, rather than the full-rear unit as in the 911, gives it virtually neutral weight distribution.The Boxster hangs on to the road at speeds well in excess of those achievable by anything other than an ultra-expensive supercar. And the fact that it’s lighter than the typical supercar makes it more nimble in its feel.The electrically assisted power steering, which is used to trim fuel use and exhaust emissions, provides better feedback than any similar units we have tested in other cars and really does feel as though your hands are in direct touch with the road.Depending on the model and options chosen there are various adjustments for the suspension, steering, engine and transmission settings. So Boxster can be tuned to provide a comfortable ride, a firm one or a full on racetrack hardness.Some sharp potholes and bumps did send a shudder through our test Boxster S on some occasions when we selected the firm Sport setting. Try for yourself during your own pre-purchase test drive to see if the car’s characteristics suit your needs.The way the Porsche engines sound during gearchanges and on throttle liftoff is simply superb. Even in speed-regulated Australia you can get a lot of pleasure from dropping the roof (it only takes nine seconds and is fully automatic) and just listening to your progress as the powertrain does its sporting best.The engine has switchable stop-start in the interests of emission reduction. The engine starts almost imperceptibly and we were more than happy to leave it switched on in anything other than very slow traffic crawls.We have just stepped out of a Boxster S automatic after a most enjoyable week of smile-inducing driving. While we are well aware that the auto is both faster and more economical than the manual our preference is still for the extra driving involvement that’s provided by the manual.

There's something special about a car that flatters ordinary drivers, then shakes its tail at them - rather than shake them into the scenery - when they near the limit.Such a car is the Porsche Boxster S; a genuinely sporty two-seater with the bonus of a soft-top for the summer cruising, sans any hint of the dreaded scuttle shake. The Boxsters are the "affordable" Porsches but they don't disappoint for anyone who has grown up salivating over the iconic sports car and can finally afford to put down a deposit.VALUEMoney talks - fire up the AC/DC song in the 10-speaker Bose sound system and then fire the Boxster at the nearest twisties, or down the nearest boulevard. Both are good, if different reasons. Few cars with the Boxster's open air pose value have a chassis capable handling a tortuous, off-camber corners.For that reason alone, the Boxster S is worth the $133,800 starting price - and I'd willingly tick the $7K option for the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox.  Ego is one thing, facts are another and very, very few people can shift as quickly as this semi-automatic transmission, or blip the throttle on downshifts to elicit a head-turning pop.TECHNOLOGYThe new Boxster is bigger, wider and lighter than its predecessor. A mild rework of the 3.4-litre flat six produces incremental gains in power ... but the chassis is now more capable of handling more right foot, more often.  The interior is more 911-esque than before ... and that's a good thing. The PDK semi-auto gearbox is best-in-class and the brakes are eye-bogglingly effective.DESIGNThe larger footprint makes the Boxster a better-looking car. The fabric roof is well insulated, but this is a sports car, not a wannabe luxury roadster, so there's always some engine and tyre noise. If you're looking for luxury and insulation, buy a Merc SLK or a BMW Z4. The Boxster's top drops in a stripper-esque nine seconds - and the act can be performed at speeds up to 50km/h - which is when the exhaust note from the centrally mounted twin pipes can really be appreciated.There isn't much to complain about inside, either - once drivers familiarise themselves with where the switches to stiffen up the suspension and engage the engine's Sports Plus mode,  it's all a grin-inducingly intuitive process. The paddle-shifters are mounted into the steering wheel, not behind it, which makes mid-corner shifts just as thoughtless.SAFETYPorsche performance is allied with physics-defying brakes - they are frighteningly effective for a passenger not anticipating being suspended in their seat belt. Both front and rear are four-piston set-ups, with 330mm front discs and 299mm rear rings.They look awesome inside the lightweight 20-inch rims (a $3390 option above the standard 19s) and, together with ABS/EBD/ESC software and a chassis that's tighter than a corporate accountant's purse strings, represent all the safety you need.The Porsche Active Stability Management takes things to another level - for another $3390. Six airbags will cushion the impact - but not your grief - if things go wrong.DRIVINGLight weight and an engine with more go than a Red Bull-infused raver are a recipe for licence-losing entertainment. Do yourself a favour and book a track day - it's far and away the smartest way to find out how well this Porsche handles. If you must do it on public roads, pick one with a 100km/h limit and lots of 35km/h or lower advisory signs.The Boxster S sits flatter than any other two-seater in this price range and hangs on like a freestyling rock climber no matter the speed. The leather-accented interior and chrome highlights inside are irrelevant once the Boxster S is out of town - it's all about the steering wheel that feels like it's caressing the road and the pair of pedals that provide fore and aft momentum. Laugh like the Joker - that flat six will drown it out anyway.VERDICTThe Boxster S may well have displaced Cayman as the best value-for-money Porsche on the market. If price isn't an issue, it is ultimately not quite as agile or fast as its more expensive siblings but exploring the nuances of those lofty limits isn't possible on Australian roads anyway. That makes the Boxster a Porsche-badged bargain.Porsche Boxster SPrice: $133,300 (auto adds $5300)Warrenty: Three years/100,000kmResale: 69 per cent (three years, Glass's Guide)Service Interval: 12 months/15,000kmSafety: Six airbags, ABS, ESC, TCCrash Rating: N/AEngine: 3.4-litre flat six-cylinder, 232kW/360NmTransmission: Six-speed manual, seven-speed dual-clutch auto; rear-wheel driveThirst: 8.8L/100km, 206g/km CO2 (manual); 8.0L/100km, 188g/km CO2 (auto)Body: 4.37m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.28m (H)Weight: 1395kg (manual), 1425kg (auto)Spare: Tyre inflation kit

The Boxster is no longer the little brother of the Porsche family. It's more substantial, more polished and has more ability than before.Porsche has been testing the limits of buyer fidelity recently with the most thorough overhaul of its signature sportscar, the 911, since it appeared five decades ago.DESIGNThe new 911 is larger, more comfortable and some raw edges have been smoothed away. But the 911 revisions haven't triggered an identity crisis; its distinguishing features are intact. With Porsche's junior sportscar, the Boxster, there's more room for doubt.This roadster won critical acclaim after being drafted into the team in the 1990s. It came on as a sub and salvaged the company's financial results. Still a teenager next to the 911, it has earned a permanent place in the squad and so for its first complete makeover, Porsche has done more to the Boxster than to the 911."This is no longer the little brother,'' technical expert Paul Watson said "It's really grown up. ''Hardly a dimension carries over, with the new 981 Boxster longer by more than 3cm overall and 6cm in the wheelbase.It has wider tracks, especially the front, shorter overhangs, and a lower roof while the windscreen is set further forward and raked more acutely. The result is a car that looks a lot different and is clearly influenced by the Carrera GT, Porsche's mid-engined supercar from the noughties.It's a crisper shape, which avoids the push-me-pull-you look of the previous car, in which the front and rear were too similar. As with other Porsches, the cabin gets the Carrera GT's angled centre console and it's just as good here, with a corresponding lift in the overall quality of the cabin.TECHNOLOGYLike last time, there's some engineering overlap with the 911. The two cars are the same underneath up to the A-pillars, although this Boxster gets more unique panels, such as the doors. Specific to the roadster is an increase in overall rigidity by 40 per cent and a redesigned roof.This opens in just 9 seconds, has larger rear glass and no longer has a metal cover when lowered. Instead, the fabric incorporates one solid magnesium panel so that when folded, the roof aligns with the bodywork.Roof up, cabin noise has been halved. Like the 911, the Boxster has become more civilised. Porsche also addressed the problems of weight and efficiency in the same way it did in the 911. So the body is no longer just steel but a mix of steel and almost 50 per cent aluminium.Its centre of gravity is lower and weight has been trimmed by 25-35kg so that it comes in at under 1.4 tonnes -- substantially less than the Audi TTS Roadster, BMW Z4 35is and Mercedes SLK 350.That gives it a head start on efficiency, which is reinforced in the engine bay with direct injection, energy recuperation, thermal management and idle-stop, among other features. The result is a 15 per cent improvement.Both engines gain a smidgin more power and develop their peak outputs higher in the rev range. The 3.4 is a version of the previous engine while the 2.7-litre downsizes the previous 2.9. It loses 10Nm of torque, but what's there is more accessible. The six-speed manual transmission carries over while the double-clutch automatic is still a seven-speed.DRIVINGPerformance improvements are modest but neither car is a slouch, with the slowest Boxster manual reaching 100km/h in 5.8s and the fastest S automatic with launch control achieving 4.8s and recording a sub-eight minute Nurburgring lap time, an improvement of 12 seconds.They sound fantastic and the 2.7 feels good until you sample the mid-range and top-end of the 3.4. Other changes include revised suspension geometry, bigger wheels and brakes, and access (at a price) to Porsche's entire suite of dynamic trickery, including active suspension, torque vectoring and a limited slip diff.The Boxster follows the 911 in switching to electric steering and an electric park brake, while the rear spoiler becomes a proper wing instead of the previous air dam. Prices rise a little but the pay-off is a more confident car. It feels tight and rigid on the road, with little suggestion that the open-top design has involved dynamic compromise. It steers well, has the same excellent balance and minimal unwanted body movement.At the same time, it hasn't lost one of its most endearing qualities: its forgiving nature. So it's more substantial, more polished and has more ability than before. Yet it doesn't feel like a different carOnly this time it can beat its rivals on more than just dynamics. It's the one I'd pick. The Porsche revamp of its sportscars still has a long way to go. It will include for the Boxster a four-cylinder turbocharged engine that will lower the price of entry and give Porsche some welcome volume in its core business. Meanwhile, it expects this Boxster to repeat the success of the original, meaning 350 sales a year here.VERDICTCarmakers often complain that brand loyalty ain't what it used to be. But Porsche is the tectonic plate of carmakers when it comes to big shifts. Slow but sure. Maybe other brands only have themselves to blame.RANGEBoxster $107,500 (manual), $112,800 (automatic)Boxster S: $133,800 (manual), $139,100 (automatic)2012 Porsche BoxsterPrice: From $107,500Crash rating: not availableEngines: 195kW/280Nm 2.7-litre; 232kW/360Nm 3.4-litreBody: 2-door, 2 seats.Transmission: 6-speed manual, 7-speed PDK; rear-wheel-drive

Is the Porsche Boxster’s shape headed down the same path as the 911 in longevity?It looks that way, Porsche purists are extremely vocal if they feel the styling of new 911s doesn’t follow traditional paths, resulting in striking similarities between the recently launched 911 and the 1963 original. We love this continuation of tradition that’s so welcome in these ever-changing times.VALUEWith a recommended retail price list that begins at just $107,500 (plus on roads), the new-generation Porsche Boxster provides a pure bred machine for a modest outlay.TECHNOLOGYAs before, you can buy a standard Boxster or a high-performance Boxster S. The standard car now runs a new-design 2.7-litre flat-six powerplant with direct fuel injection in place of the manifold injection 2.9-litre of the previous model. Despite its smaller capacity the new unit has 15 per cent more power (now 195 kW), yet uses 13 to 15 per cent less petrol.Opting of the Porsche Boxster S puts a revised version of the existing 3.4-litre flat-six just behind your seats. With 232 kW of power and 2360 Nm of torque it too uses less fuel than in its superseded incarnation.Transmission options are six-speed manual and seven-speed double-clutch PDK. We sampled both; while the automatic is faster and more economical our preference is for the extra driving pleasure provided by the manual. Your call...The two powerplants have switchable stop-start in the interests of emission reduction. The engine starts almost imperceptibly so we hope most drivers don’t feel the need to disable the system.DESIGNThe third generation Porsche Boxster, tagged the 981, is taking the same styling route as the just superseded one. Look at the air intakes in front of the rear wheels and the shape of the bonnet and headlights to see what we mean. At the tail there’s more change in the design, with a strong style line that runs the full width, with the taillights even following the near-horizontal shape of the metal.Talking of metal, more aluminium has been used than ever before with the bonnet, rear deck and door skins all benefitting from the lightweight material. The new Boxster is bigger than before and would have weighed substantially more, but the aluminium, combined with other weight saving measures has trimmed the weight by around 25 to 35 kg depending on model.DRIVINGOn the road the latest Boxster is even better than previous models in its balance and nimble handling. The use of a mid-rear engine, rather than the full-rear unit as in the 911, gives it close to perfect weight distribution.Using a test route behind Brisbane that involved more than its fair share of demanding hills and curves (excellent!) Porsche Australia demonstrated the extreme competence of its new baby. The Boxster simply hung on to the surfaces at speeds well in excess of those achievable by anything other than an ultra-expensive pure supercar.The electrically assisted power steering (used to trim fuel use and emissions) provides better feedback than any similar units we have tested in other cars and really does feel as though your hands are in direct touch with the road.Depending on the model and options chosen there are various adjustments for the suspension and steering setups (as well as for the engine and transmission). So Boxster can be tuned to provide a comfortable ride, a firm one or a full on racetrack hardness. Some sharp potholes and bumps did send a shudder through the car at times when on Sport setting, but we have felt a lot worse in other convertibles.Both engines have excellent response and noise levels that are sure to bring a smile to your face. The way the Porsche engines sound during gearchanges and on throttle liftoff is just superb. Even in speed regulated Australia you can get a lot of pleasure from dropping the roof (it only takes nine seconds and is fully automatic) and just listening to your progress.VERDICTInterestingly, the 2.7 doesn’t lag all that far behind the 3.4 in its feel due to acceleration with a nicely continuous feel. So if you’re on a tight budget and not interested in fanging everywhere you may find it more than meets your needs.If you’re halfway interested in buying a new Boxster may we suggest you contact your favourite Porsche dealer asap? The Boxster is selling its socks off in other countries and there’s a likelihood supply could be constrained for much of the remainder of 2012.

Really, truly, you’d be a happy vegemite with the new base model Porsche Boxster – with no options and the manual six-speed tranny. The price is $107,500. It’s the purest form of this new generation

I will never look at a Porsche Boxster the same way again. A two-day dash to France, headlined by a sprint over some classic Monte Carlo Rally roads, has won me over to the baby of the Porsche family.It's just had a road-up renewal and, even without the essential final prices, I'm convinced it's much more like a 911 than earlier members of the Boxster brigade. The styling is more aggressive, the cabin is bigger and much better, and the Boxster S - with optional sports exhaust - is a hoot to drive in any condition.Porsche also says the car is more economical and the folding roof only takes nine seconds to do its work. Since 1996 it's been easy for me to giggle at the baby of the Porsche family, dismissing it as a softie and a hairdresser's car.When my friend Wazza arrived in one I knew it had to belong to his girlfriend. He is a V8 Supercar driver, after all. But the third-generation Boxster, which is the first major spin-off from the latest and lovely 991-series Porsche 911, is a major success. It is finally all grown up and a great drive.VALUEIt's impossible to rate the return on the new Boxster, because no-one at Porsche Cars Australia is talking about the showroom stickers for the first local deliveries in July. But European customers are paying about three per cent more and that points to around $110,000 for the basic Boxster and $135,00 for the Boxster S.That should be a good deal with so much new stuff, from the hugely improved chassis and new cabin to comfier new seats and engines that burn less fuel. It will still be too much for Mazda MX-5 buyers in the $50,000 range, but a realistic step up from an Audi TT and a better choice than the latest BMW Z4 or a Benz SLK.TECHNOLOGYThe Boxster takes around 50 per cent of its parts from the 911 as it has in the past, but this time that means great things like the latest electric power steering, direct fuel injection for the downsized 2.7 and unchanged 3.4-litre engines, wider tracks, a longer wheelbase and even a cabin with a dash that's more upscale than before.There is also a seven-speed PDK double-clutch automatic, with six speeds still for the manual unlike the 911, a body that's both lighter and stronger, a roof that's claimed to make major cuts to cabin noise - although there is no tonneau cover - bigger standard wheels, an electric parking brake, more equipment choices and more.The engine tweaks give a power and torque bonus for the 2.7 while taking economy as low as 8.2 litres/100km, while the 3.4 Boxster S now has 232 kiloWatts, a 0-100km time as swift as 4.8 seconds, a top speed of 279km/h and economy of 8.8 litres/100km. The cars also come, predictably, with a stop-start system to save fuel at the lights.DESIGNThe new Boxster picks up a range of family links, from the latest 911 to the classic Carrera GT and even the upcoming 918 supercar. The one thing it does not have, thankfully, is the soft and gentle look of pervious models. The new car is edgy, chunkier and with a side profile that says speed - not comfort.Inside, the overall effect is more solid and upscale, from the shape of the seats to the dashboard layout, feel of the switches and even the position of the centre console. For the first time, I can sit in the passenger seat and really stretch my legs.The folding roof is fully automatic for the first time, it works very quickly, and even if Porsche says it works up to 55km/h I know it will actually do a quick umbrella job in a shower at closer to 70. Porsche says the drag co-efficient is down a little to 0.30 in the base car, with better aerodynamic grip and cooling.SAFETYBigger brakes and better tyres start the work, and the basic structure is also more rigid with predictable rollover protection, with front and side airbags.Porsche has always put avoiding a crash first and that means things like a torque-vectoring differential as part of the stability control system, and the electro-mechanical steering, work with the driver at all times. We're unlikely to see an ANCAP rating for the Boxster, but it's safe to assume a five-star overall package for the car.DRIVINGThe Boxster has always been a good drive, but this new car is great. You can fling it down the toughest road you can find, and we found a few in France, and it never comes up short.  The Boxster S is plain wonderful, especially with the optional PDK gearbox and a sports exhaust that serves up the sort of soundtrack that previously only came with cars like tweaked Subaru STi turbos.You can glide around town enjoying the extra comfort and quietness in the cabin, then really run riot and take full advantage of the extra stability in the chassis, the extra punch from the 3.4, more power from the brakes and a steering system that - like the new 911 - gives better control without worrying feedback.It's a car with depths you can just keep tapping, without worrying or getting flustered. And there is the efficiency payback of the improved economy. The basic 2.7 feels is a little hollow in the engine room, at least by comparison, but the basic package works just as well and people who really don't want - or need - the serious edge in the new S will find the plain Boxster is just fine.The new car is so solid I almost forget that it's a full-on convertible until the first sprinkles of rain. Then it's quick and easy to go for security, and a reminder that it's a no-compromise droptop. The real surprise, and it's something I discovered in the original Porsche Cayman, is that the new Boxster is a car you would genuinely choose to buy ahead of a 911.It's a sweeter, more accessible package and not just a cut-price alternative if you cannot stretch to $229,000 for a starting-price Carrera. The Boxster S is a true four-star car, and even the base car gets three and-a-half from me. That makes it a true breakthrough and a car that has forced me to re-think my position. I like it a lot and I didn't giggle once.VERDICTFinally, a Boxster that's more than just the cheaper choice for people who really crave a 911.PORSCHE BOXSTERPrice: From $110,000 (Estimate)Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmResale: 66 per centService Interval: 15,000km or 12 monthsSafety Equipment: front-side airbags, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC.Crash rating: not availableEngines: 195kW/280Nm 2.7-litre; 232kW/360Nm 3.4-litre BODY 2-door, 2 seats.Dimensions: 4374mm(L); 1801mm(W); 1282mm(H); 2475mm(WB) WEIGHT from 1310 kgTransmission: 6-speed manual, 7-speed PDK; rear-wheel-driveEconomy: from 8.2 L/100km;192g/km CO2