Cool video from Car and Driver:

 

So close. Keep in mind that this is a Carrera Coupe vs a Boxster S. If it was a heavier Carrera Cab, it would have probably lost on both the track and the dragstrip. Kudos for Porsche for giving the new Boxster S Carrera Cab performance in a much cheaper and even better looking car.

 

The new Boxster is quite impressive and a great looking car but far from cheap. I saw the Base Carrera destroying the Boxster S in the dry dragstrip race.
On the track, the Boxster had all the chassis performance options vs a bare bones Base. Even though technology gave an advantage to the Boxster S, it finally lost. The alpha dog still holds its title.

To the OP, Thanks for the video!

 

I'm looking forward to the new Cayman!

 

Neat and fun to watch. Not sure how relevant though. I mean, do people really choose between coupe and cab based on lap times? Cayman vs 911, or Boxster vs 911 Cab seems a more likely comparison to me. Do real buyers actually think the way this tester seems to view things? I mean, don't get me wrong, performance is definitely a selling point. And never more so than with Porsche, historically the most performance proven marque of all. But surely the markets for these two cars, one a convertible the other a coupe, has only the tiniest overlap- even before taking into account that the convertible is pure sports car while the 991 is a true Sport/GT. (Or maybe GT/Sport?)

Actually the most fascinating thing to me is the way this reveals the subtle precision with which Porsche has been able to position each car across its increasingly awesome range of models. The depth and breadth and sophistication of the engineering of Porsche is simply amazing.

 

The Boxster and Caymans are great machines. Gotta love the mid-engine setups.

 

Amazing that a base 911 turns in better than the Boxster S.

 

Kudos to C&D for one of the best comparo vids I've ever seen.

I thought for sure the Boxter S with PASM/PTV would beat a stripped 911 on the track but you can't argue with the numbers.

As much as the new Boxster S has caught my eye, for another $5K or so the base 911 is no brainer.

Thanks for posting.

 

That is a great bit of auto journalism. I think people do cross shop these models. There is no substitute for either!!

 

So, did Porsche leave room for the Cayman S to fit between the Boxster and 911? It's going to be a tight squeeze to justify the pricing scheme.

 

I don't think many buyers would consider buying a 991 with no options. There's an approximate $20K differance between the base sticker of a 981S and a 991. As a matter of fact I have rarely seen a 991 on a dealer's lot for under $100K.
Please don't construe my remarks as being derogratory of the 991 because that's not my intent. I'm just addressing the $5K comment.

 

Boxster had PASM and PTV,......I believe the 991 base had neither. Put both on the Carrera and then retest. I think there would be a bit more difference, and those options are not that much.

 

Great comparo vid - that said the 981 is a hell of a lot better looking car IMO!!

 

QED!

 

That was an awesome video!