Porsche’s 2020 Boxster GTS 4.0 Is a Speedster for the Rest of Us
Porsche’s Spyder is one incredible and razor-focused car, but do you give up all that much when you get a Boxster GTS?
Porsche’s Spyder models are really sensational rides. They are the hard-core of all the Boxster models and stand at the top of the 718 food chain. But there was an enormous gap between the turbocharged 4-cylinder cars and the Spyder which retained a traditional flat-six engine. Carfection’s Henry Catchpole is behind the wheel of Porsche’s new Boxster GTS 4.0 to find out if it fills that gap.
Catchpole gives us some good news, saying, “Drive a GTS, and all thoughts of 4-cylinder turbocharged 718’s are forgotten. Instantly.” The GTS, being a more hardcore model, has the Spyder’s 4.0 engine, albeit de-tuned very slightly. Catchpole can’t tell the difference, apart from a slightly lower rev limiter. Actually, from interior appointments to engine feel to outside looks, there isn’t much to sacrifice when getting a GTS.
But Porsche isn’t one to let another car encroach on a flagship model. So where does the Spyder excel where the GTS doesn’t? It’s the chassis, says Catchpole. “In fact, the whole of the Spyder’s suspension is a good deal more sophisticated, and tweakable. Borrowed heavily from the 911 GT3, with ball joints and adjustable anti-roll bars as evidence. The Spyder’s tires are also more aggressive.” This is where the GTS finally reveals some sacrifice. It just isn’t as sharp, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a well-balanced car. “It really is only the chassis that sets it apart. The Spyder just has that extra bit of magic, that bit of edge, that bit of interaction.”
But of course, there are some benefits of the GTS over the Spyder. It’s flat-out easier to live with. It might not be as sharp on the limit, but it is a little softer. Catchpole also points out, “you can lower and raise the roof without having to stop.” Oh, and let’s not forget the price delta.
It’s actually not all that much, considering that both cars can get near the $100,000 range, with the Boxster just a tick under, at $90,000 according to MotorTrend. What you will find is far more Boxsters have been made, and are more readily available. So if you need an open-top Porsche now, you might as well get the GTS.
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