2017 Boxter: Perfect for Those Who Don’t Need to Race
Porsche 911’s baby brother is ‘fast, fun and affordable,’ says L.A. Times.
When anyone talks about the Porsche Boxter, they’re immediately going to draw comparisons to the 911. For many Porsche enthusiasts, the 911 is the benchmark that other similarly-priced sports cars are compared against. When Charles Fleming, from the Los Angeles Times, took the new 718 Boxter for a spin for his review, he couldn’t help but comment on how fun the car is to drive, even though it doesn’t stack up to the beefier 911.
“Like earlier versions of this entry-level sports car, the new iteration is fast, fun to drive and, for a Porsche, affordable,” says Fleming.
That’s the key to the review for Fleming. The 718 Boxter is great. It’s fast, comfortable, and above all, fun to drive. The only caveat is that you can’t compare this to other fancier, more expensive sports cars like the 911.
Fleming continues, “Admittedly, it’s no 911. Even the more powerful, more expensive 718 Boxster S, whose 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder engine makes 350 horsepower and 309 pound feet of torque, and goes from zero to 60 in 4.4 seconds, pales beside the six-cylinder 911s.”
Comparisons to the 911 aside, Fleming admits that the Boxter is a great car. He points out how they’ve scaled back from the six-cylinder engine that was in previous models, in favor of the new turbo-charged 2.0L flat four-cylinder with 300 horsepower and 280 pound feet of torque. All in all, it’s a pretty fast car for those who are looking for a fun sports car, without worrying about how it would perform on a racetrack.
One of the only true criticisms the reviewer has of the vehicle is the lack of bells and whistles. Considering this is a more “affordable” Porsche, some of the luxury elements aren’t carried over from other more expensive models.
“I did miss some of the amenities that make the German brand’s other automobiles so alluring. This is still a down-market Porsche. So the seats must be adjusted manually. Also, there is no hydraulic mechanism to raise and lower the front end, which sits 10mm lower than the 2016 Boxster. That means most drivers will be trying hard not to scrape their chins on steep driveways,” said Fleming.
In conclusion, Fleming states that the car is far from a bargain, but still a suitable entry-level vehicle for Porsche fans, and those looking to have a fun car to drive around town.
