Porsche Boxster - a view from Olympus
There are so many car brands in the world, mainly so that everyone can find something for themselves. Some companies produce cars at a reasonable price, others at an unreasonable one, but this also makes sense, because it creates the right atmosphere of exclusivity and almost guarantees that your work partner will not have the same model. And against the backdrop of these elite brands, the prices for the cheapest models of which exceed the distance in kilometers from the moon, we have a special example - the Porsche Boxster.
What is so unique about it? This is a model that, along with other cars of the automotive Olympus, looks down on us mortals, but viewing its price list does not have to take place in the presence of a medical team with a defibrillator ready for action. True, you sometimes hear about the Boxster that it is a "Porsche for the poor", but I think that's what people say who did not have the opportunity to personally get to know this car. Porsche representatives are aware of this unfair opinion, so at the presentation of the new model, which took place in Saint-Tropez and on the roads of the famous Monte Carlo Rally, the journalists heard it very clearly - the Boxster should never have “lowered the bar”. brand "Porsche" - and the end of the discussion.
Read the vision
The Boxster was also accused of not having a sofa in the back, unlike the 911, having inferior performance, losing some of its practicality, and being cataloged only as a roadster. Especially in our country, this did not bode well for sleep. Does this mean that in the end no one bought the car?
On the contrary, the creation of this model turned out to be a bull's-eye! All thanks to the fact that buyers correctly read the vision of the manufacturer. The little Porsche wasn't supposed to be as versatile as the Carrera from the start, which doesn't mean it didn't make any known compromises. The Boxster was designed to be even more fun for the driver than the 911, but at the same time, it was travel-friendly and not tiring in everyday use.
The next day I was to see for myself that they weren't making it up, but before the long-awaited key to the reserved silver Boxster S with 7-speed dual-clutch PKD transmission got my hands on it, I had to find out. at a press conference why the Boxster was the best choice. People with doctoral degrees were sent here from Germany, who worked diligently in Zuffenhausen on the individual components of the new Porsche creation and briefly told us about it.
The biggest surprise, however, was the presence of Walter Röhrl himself, who personally tested the car on the winding mountain roads of the Côte d'Azur known to him and which he praised in his speech as the perfect endorphin pump in the driver's blood.
But let's start from the very beginning. Porsche has had a more affordable roadster in its offer for a long time, and the history of this model goes back to the distant past - on the slides, a cursory story about the predecessors of today's hero took almost a quarter of an hour. So the new Boxster was faced with a difficult task - after the recently rejuvenated 911, it should finally appear in a new version and, of course, everyone should like it.
Who is this car for?
Who is "everything" for? First of all, current buyers - so the car could not look too "fashionable" and had to have classic lines. Visually, the new generation continues the mind of the designers of the 90s of the last century. In addition, Porsche is a rather rare guest on our roads, so the Boxster has not really had time to dress up yet and continues to intrigue. Bah - it's almost enchanting! In any case, if a classic silhouette has sold so well for years, why change it? The whole thing was even more pampered, and the only madness is the strange crease in the back of the body, which is the only one that can be annoying. And that's probably mostly because it wasn't there before. In addition, the wheel arches are shaped in such a way that even 20-inch wheels can fit in them - a tribute to the younger generation ...
Secondly, the accountant - about 50% of the parts from the 911 were used in the construction of the new Boxster, which reduced the cost of production. I don't think anyone who buys this roadster will complain about that, it's a pleasure to feel like you're driving halfway through the Carrera.
How could I forget, of course, environmentalists should like it too! The engine capacity of the base version has been reduced to 2,7 liters and its fuel consumption has dropped to 7,7 l/100 km. In turn, the S version, despite its large capacity, is content with 8 liters.
Sometimes there is a benefit to being green, because less fuel consumption means cheaper rides and fewer station visits, but this is not the end, because in the fight for fuel consumption, designers have worked hard to prevent new generations from gaining weight. Thanks to the extensive use of magnesium, aluminum and several steel alloys, the new Boxster weighs 1310 kg. This is an excellent result, because the car still grew. So the project manager looked quite pleased, especially since the Boxster still has an advantage of about 150 kilograms (if I can use that word) over the competition.
The car is faster than its predecessor - 265 horsepower from the 2,7L engine - that's 10 more than the previous generation. The S version with the 3,4L engine also increased by 5 hp. Against this green background, the 315-100 km/h times are impressive: 5,7 seconds and XNUMX seconds for the S version. With PDK gearbox! I didn't find any information on manual transmission performance, which should be confirmation that it's not worth measuring. Even Walter Röhrl himself can't change gears as fast as a new Porsche gearbox.
The suspension has also changed, and while we can still see the same McPherson struts up front and a multi-link system in the rear, the spring settings have been changed and the dampers can be controlled electrically. Optionally, the car can be equipped with Porsche Torque Vectoring and a mechanical differential lock. Finally, not a very suitable sporty touch - the Start & Stop system, which even the Porsche Start & Stop version is standardly “dressed” with? Well, lately this is a favorite accessory of all people who put up a monument in honor of the environment at home and pray to trees, so the German manufacturer apparently succumbed to them. With this system, the engine will automatically shut down and start in traffic, which does reduce fuel consumption, but probably consistently kills the starter. Fortunately, this system can be turned off.
However, there is another curiosity: automatic disengagement of the clutch if you take your foot off the gas while driving on the road. The easiest way to notice this is on the tachometer, which shows idle speed while the car is gaining momentum for kilometers. The manufacturer promises that thanks to this innovation, it was possible to save as much as 1 liter of fuel per 100 km. Honestly, it's hard to believe there are so many.
Am I fed up with dry data? You probably would like to know how this car rides? Well, had to wait until the next day and you will find out in the following paragraphs.
First ride
I once saw a big guy in a previous Boxster. He was all bent in the middle, which caused a wave of my sympathy - I'm 2 meters tall and I know what it means when my head rests on the roof. So when I sent in the confirmation that I would be attending the presentation, I began to wonder if I would fit into the new Boxster at all. After all, the car became a little lower than its predecessor, and this did not bode well. Meanwhile - it turned out that the longer wheelbase gave me a few centimeters in length, and this in turn allowed me to adjust the seat so that I had no problems with the space inside the car. Biggest problem solved and a big relief, and that was just the beginning...
The atmosphere of the place was already in effect - the mere thought of riding the roads of the Monte Carlo Rally in a 315-horsepower roadster gave goosebumps. In addition, warmth, characteristic architecture and local flora - all this creates such a unique atmosphere that even fruits doused with liquid chocolate taste like wet Gazeta Wyborcze. The only thing missing from this paradise is the Boxster - just get in it, open the roof in 9 seconds (works up to 50 km/h!), take a deep breath and... don't touch the audio system. Because why? The boxer behind him is already lounging so purebred and juicy that even the voice of Alicia Keys would not make me turn on the radio. What happens when the gas pedal hits the floor?
The fiery roar of the engine and its spontaneous reaction to the gas meant that we drove most of the way slowing down, then accelerating. The engine is flexible from the bottom up and spins up to 7500 rpm, and the PDK transmission in Sport Plus mode is uncompromising - it waits for the tachometer needle to reach this limit, and only then shifts the next gear. The shifting continues... no, nothing at all, and shifting to the next gear is accompanied by a sharp further push of the car forward and further acceleration. All to the accompaniment of the sounds of an engine running out of the exhaust, so that people passing along the sidewalks gave a thumbs up with a smile.
Of particular note is the manual control of the PDK gearbox. Convenient shift paddles under the steering wheel seem to act on the tachometer needle with zero delay. The reaction of the gearbox is so fast that it is associated with computer games, in which the click immediately gives a virtual effect. It's just that I'm driving a very real car with a very real gearbox that doesn't seem to be one iota slower than its computer simulation.
It's no surprise that most buyers opt for the PDK gearbox, although the manual version is also worth considering. I drove the S with a manual transmission for several tens of kilometers and, apart from the lower price of PLN 16 20, it has its advantages - after several kilometers of steering and dancing on the pedals, I felt more involved in the final effect than in the version with PDK which made me focus on turning the steering wheel. In addition, after turning off the PSM control, the car can be easily unbalanced and effectively deployed in the parking lot. Lighter doesn't mean easy, because the low-profile tires on the XNUMX-inch rims cling to the pavement.
The car's stability and driving precision are impressive. Traction is exemplary, and the roadster's perfect balance is seen in tight, fast corners, where only a sudden change in rear axle load produces a momentary, very momentary effect of instability, although the car does not leave its track even for a moment. In a fraction of a second, everything returns to normal, and the driver can only admire the fact that the traction control system again did not have to intervene. On that day, she did not intervene even once - despite the fact that she drove almost 400 kilometers and drove very dynamically.
The power steering was replaced with an electric power steering and the gear ratio became more direct. Effect? This car makes you want to drive. The all-new suspension, longer wheelbase and wheels only mean that the Boxster needs to take corners. And if they are not there, then on the way you can use slalom. The phenomenon of this car is that on weekends you can jump out onto the track, and on weekdays go to the supermarket and do some shopping. The luggage compartment is 150 liters in front, 130 in the back. I wonder if it will be possible to order a cooled trunk someday, why not?
Can it be a machine without flaws? I found two. With the roof down and good visibility from the rear, it's better to forget, which greatly increases the adrenaline level when you have to shoot quickly on a narrow street. And the second drawback is related to my height: I fit inside, but after folding the roof, the air flow passes through the heavily tilted windshield and hits my overly protruding head directly. This is amusing for a while, but how long can you tell yourself that the wind in your hair is an attribute of a real roadster?
Summation
The Boxster will always be in the 911's shadow, which is why some feel it should be despised. But why? It looks crazy, gives a feeling of freedom, cheers up, and thanks to the restraint of designers, it will still look good in 15 years. Nothing but take? Not really, because although the price of PLN 238 is almost 200 911 less than the amount you have to pay for, competitors like the BMW Z or Mercedes SLK cost less. But what the hell - at least for the sake of the emblem, it’s worth buying straight from Olympus.
