Ultimate Feel-good Factor

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Ultimate Feel-good Factor
Ultimate Feel-good Factor

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Porsche abolishes the two-class society. The new 3.4-liter unit from the Cayman gives the Boxster S a good boost, as our test shows.

By Marc Leimann

Fresh air fanatics in Zuffenhausen can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Now there is equality of arms between the coupé and convertible bearings. After Porsche had successfully taken care of the market launch of the Cayman for a long time, the Boxster, now in its eleventh year, had to wait some time for 15 hp more power. 280 hp and 320 Nm have so far done the job in the sportier convertible variant S. Now the 295 hp 3.4 liter boxer engine from the Cayman S is also available in the Boxster S for a leisurely or decidedly sporty ride.

Powerful forms

Powerful forms dominate the body, the deliberate differentiation from the 911 has been tastefully implemented. Plump air inlets, the double tailpipe and the sporty 18-inch tires provide a visual treat. After turning the ignition key at the latest, there is a little fireworks display in the facial muscles: it can be so easy to make men happy! The interior is typical of Porsche and cannot be criticized, a benchmark in this class. A relatively clear number of switches and levers is no riddle, the intuitive operation was the focus of the development engineers.

And it's easy to sit comfortably in the Boxster even for drivers who are 1.87 meters tall. Thanks to the height-adjustable steering wheel and perfectly fitting seats, a good sitting position is guaranteed. You only look forward to one or two refueling stops on long journeys. Even when closed, the interior still offers enough space up to the convertible roof. But who actually wants to drive closed? Quickly stow the keys, sunglasses and CD's and off you go. But wait, where are the shelves? The inside door panel does not offer any storage space, also in the foot area of the copilot seat there is no luggage net. It all focuses on the center tunnel and glove box plus a mini compartment behind the driver's seat, that could be better.

Sixth gear is missing

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Turn the ignition key and feel good - that is also the maxim for the Boxster. The 3.4 liter boxer marches off with a sonorous babble. But the cozy cruiser can quickly become a wild cat. This happens exactly at the moment when the gas pedal is no longer just stroked or a short downshift is forced using Tiptronic. Then the S on the Boxster could also stand for “No more fun”. Especially at 4000 rpm. do you turn off the radio, because which song still wants to compete with this sound? In this speed range, the Boxster S greedily hangs on the gas, only at 6250 rpm. is over.

The sporty pace makes not only the driver, but also the gas station attendant grin on the face. We could not meet the manufacturer's specification of eleven liters. Depending on the traffic situation and route choice, the test candidate was content with 11.5 to 13.5 liters. However, values of around ten liters were also achieved on leisurely country roads. A good value. It is somewhat surprising that Porsche uses a continuously variable 5-speed automatic transmission in the Boxster S with Tiptronic. Competitors such as BMW or Audi already offer their roadsters with a 6-speed automatic transmission and that with better fuel consumption and acceleration values.

Quiet hand asked

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A look under the (supposed) bonnet shows that Porsche drivers are not only lucky when it comes to the engine. In total, the Boxster has a trunk volume of 280 liters. That's enough for more than the usual weekend trip for two. A look into the luggage compartment also shows that a premium product does not always have advantages. The inlet for engine oil for the mid-engine is located in the fabric-covered rear trunk. One can only hope that the driver will bring a steady hand when refilling.

If the S on the Boxster S doesn't stand for sport, it could stand for safety. The body of the Boxster S is torsion-resistant like no other roadster in this league and thus enables the safest cornering. That a Porsche is not only good for accelerating, but also for braking, is nothing new. But the 37 meter braking distance from 100 km / h is always impressive. And should things get dicey, the ESP intervenes late, but in a well-dosed manner.

Cheaper than the closed version

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Not only the gas station attendant becomes a constant friend of the Boxster S driver, Boxster buyers also form an intimate relationship with the salesman in the dealership. That should last a long time, because 60,000 euros are called for 433 centimeters of concentrated automobile. In the basic equipment for the Boxster S exactly 54,710 euros, for the Tiptronic S version we drive a proud 57,352 euros. And the list of surcharges is long, very long. In addition, there are lavish maintenance costs.

However, the convertible is just under 5,000 euros cheaper than the comparable coupe, the Cayman S. An open two-seater cheaper than its closed counterpart? Only available from Porsche. Nevertheless, it is also worth taking a look at the price list for the Audi TT 3.2i or the Z4 3.0i. 10,000 euros are quickly saved. But one thing must be clear to those interested: the ice cream effect will not be the same.

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