Porsche Boxster
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| Porsche Boxster | |
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| Porsche AG | |
| aka | Porsche 987 |
| Production | 1996 - Present |
| Class | Sportscar |
| Body Style | 2-door Convertible Roadster |
| Length | 171.6 in. |
| Width | 70.9 in. |
| Height | 50.9 in. |
| Wheelbase | 95.1 in. |
| Weight | 2,877 - 3,075 lbs. |
| Transmission | 5-speed Manual 5-speed Automatic 6-speed Manual |
| Engine | 2.7 liter flat-6 3.4 liter flat-6 |
| Power | 245 hp @ 6500 RPM 201 lb-ft @ 4600-6000 RPM 295 hp @ 6250 RPM 251 lb-ft @ 4400-6000 RPM |
| Similar | BMW Z4 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Honda S2000 Audi TT Nissan 350Z |
| Designer | |
The Porsche Boxster Speedster is a convertible sports car released in late 1996. The Boxster has a mid-mounted engine, two doors, two seats, and a folding cloth roof. Throughout its production it has been Porsche's smallest and least expensive sports car model.
The Boxster's name plays on the words, 'boxer' (after its horizontally-opposed engine configuration, called the boxer engine which was patented by Karl Benz in 1896) and 'roadster'. Boxster production began at the former Porsche 928 facility at Stuttgart after the 928 was discontinued due to poor sales. Boxsters are also manufactured in Uusikaupunki, Finland by Valmet under contract to Porsche.
See WikiCars' comprehensive Porsche Boxster Review.
Recent Changes
- For 2010, Porsche unveils the first significant mid-cycle facelift and drivetrain update for the Boxster and the Cayman. Besides revised styling, the new cars will benefit from new 2.9 and 3.4 litre engines that pumps out more power while being more efficient as well as Porsche's PDK double-clutch gearbox that also helps cut down fuel consumption while changing gears in fraction seconds quick. The new cars will come online in Europe on February 2009 with prices set at €38,600 for the Boxster and €41,700 for the Cayman. The Boxster S starts at €46,700 while the Cayman S €51,500. [1]
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- For 2009, Porsche rolls out another special edition variant of the Boxster, in tandem with the release of the Cayman S Sport, called the Boxster Porsche Design Edition 2. It is available only in a Carrara White and gray racing stripe color scheme and fitted with 19" SportDesign wheels. Only 500 examples of the second installment of Porsche's Design Edition line will be produced.[2][3]
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Engine tweaks are the only changes for the 2007 Boxster and Boxster S.
- 2.7 liter engine produces 5 hp and 2 lb-ft more than 2006 model
- VarioCam Plus variable camshaft timing and intake velocity
- lighter crankshaft
- larger voids in hollow piston pins for reduced weight
- improved coolant flow
- Boxster S receives 3.4 liter engine from Cayman S, improvement of 15 hp and 15 lb-ft over 2006 model
- On November 27, 2007, Porsche unveiled a 1,960 unit limited edition of the Boxster dubbed, Boxster RS 60 Spyder. The vehicle is in homage of the Porsche Type 718 RS which won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1960. The biggest change for this Boxster, besides the shiny new silver livery and Carrera Red interior, is a modified sports exhaust which increases engine output to 303 bhp. Other unique touches include revised front spoiler, 19 inch Porsche SportDesign alloy wheels and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system. Each unit will feature a numbered silver plaque on the glovebox. The mid-engined Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder will start at 53,000 Euros ($79,500).[4][5]
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Styles and Major Options
The Boxster is available in Base and S guises. The S model is more upscale, in features, performance and price.
Base Standard Features
- 2.7 liter flat-6, 245 hp, 201 lb-ft
- 5-speed close ratio manual transmission
- Power Windows, Door Locks and Heated Mirrors
- AM/FM Single-CD Stereo with 4 speakers
- On-Board Computer
- Full Leather Upholstery
- 6-way adjustable, 2-way power front seats
- 17" allow wheels
S Standard Features
- 3.4 liter flat-6, 295 hp, 251 lb-ft
- 6-speed close ratio manual transmission
- AM/FM Single-CD Stereo with 7 speakers
- 18" alloy wheels
Pricing
Today's actual prices for the Porsche Boxster can be found at CarsDirect.
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Boxster Trims |
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Base |
S |
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MSRP |
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$45,600 |
$55,500 |
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Invoice |
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$xx,xxx |
$xx,xxx |
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Gas Mileage
As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:
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Model/Drivetrain |
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Base |
Base |
Base |
S |
S |
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MPG |
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23/32 |
22/31 |
21/28 |
20/28 |
20/27 |
Reliability
Safety
Standard Safety Features
- Driver and Front Passenger Frontal, Head and Side Airbags
- Stability Control
- Anti-Lock Brakes
- Three Point Seatbelts with Pretensioners and Force-Limiters
- Reinforced Windshield Frame
- Rollover Hoops behind Passengers heads
The NHTSA has not conducted crash tests of the 2007 Boxster.
Photos
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Colors
| Exterior Colors |
| Metallic Colors | Special Colors | Standard Colors |
| Carmon Red | Dark Teal | Black |
| Atlas Grey | Lapis Blue | Carrera White |
| Midnight Blue | GT Silver | Guards Red |
| Arctic Silver | Slate Grey | Speed Yellow |
| Basalt Black | Dark Olive |
| Forest Green |
| Cobalt Blue |
| Meteor Grey |
| Interior Colors |
| Standard Colors | Special Leather | Natural Leather | Two-Tone |
| Black | Terracotta | Grey | Black/Stone Grey |
| Stone Grey | Cocoa | Brown |
| Sea Blue |
| Palm Tree Green |
| Sand Beige |
Main Competitors
Hybrid Models
Porsche has no plans to release a hybrid model of the Boxster.
Unique Attributes
Like all Posches, the ignition key is mounted on the outboard side of the steering wheel. This tradition recalls the LeMans time-saving feature that gave Porsche's a slight advantage over the competition.
Resale Values
As a rule of thumb, the Porsche Boxster typically depreciates at 10% of it's value year on year
Criticisms
Current Generation: (2005–present)
The second generation of the Boxster is the 987 which made its debut at the 2004 Paris Motor Show alongside the 997 911. The car became available for model year 2005.
The appearance of the car remains very similar to the previous generation. The most obvious styling change is the headlights which moved towards a more classic round style, much like the current generation 911. There has also been a significant update to the intake vents on the sides of the car, which are now larger. Overall, the styling of the car has been updated to match that of its hard top stable mate, the Cayman. The base engine is a 2.7 L 176 kW (240 PS) flat-6, with the Boxster S getting a 3.2 L 206 kW (280 PS) engine.
Previous Generations
First Generation/Origins: (1996-2004)
The styling of the Boxster is owed to former "Style Porsche" department head Harm Lagaay. His Boxster design study and the production Boxster stimulated a commercial turnaround for Porsche after several difficult years of falling sales. The first generation of the Boxster was the 986 whose visual appearance was heavily inspired by the Porsche Spyder and Speedster. The Boxster features two models; the standard model with a 200 bhp (149 kW), 2.5 L flat six cylinder engine (enlarged to 2.7 L and 225 bhp (168 kW) in later model years), and the model "S" with an enlarged 3.2 L engine producing 258 bhp (192 kW).
A unique styling feature on both the 986 and 987 is the automatically extending rear spoiler that extends at 75mph and retracts at 56mph, pushing down on the back end to increase steering control and stability. With styling reminiscent of the larger 911 (to the point where buyers of the 911 complained that their car looked too similar to the Boxster), the car has been popular both with car industry journalists and with buyers. It was Porsche's biggest volume seller from its introduction in model year 1997 until the company introduced the Cayenne SUV in model year 2003.
Worldwide
Design quirks and oddities
The ignition is located to the outboard side of the steering wheel, a Porsche tradition.
Awards
In 1998, after a year of marketplace acceptance in the United States, the original Boxster was the recipient of many awards, including those listed:
Car & Driver / One of the 10 Best Cars of 1997
Automobile / Automobile of the Year
Motor / 1997 Performance Car of the Year
Autocar / Best Roadster in the World
Motorweek / 1997 Drivers Choice for Best Sports Car
Philadelphia Inquirer / Best Sports Car of the Decade
Newsweek / One of the Best New Products of 1997
Business Week / One of the Best New Products of 1997
American Marketing Association / Best New Product of 1997
Automobile Journalists of Canada / 1997 Car of the Year
Automobile Journalists of Canada / Best Design of 1997
The Boxster has been on Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best list seven times, from 1998 through 2003 and in 2006.
The Boxster S (986s) was rated as one of the top ten Porsches of all time by Excellence magazine.
See also
External links
- Official Porsche website
- Boxster models at official Porsche website
- Porsche Boxster FAQ
- Porsche Tuning Parts
- Porsche releases new special edition Boxster and Cayman S
- Porsche releases Cayman S ‘Sport’ and Boxster S ‘Porsche Design Edition 2'
- LA Show: 2009 Porsche Boxster and Cayman Facelift
- Facelifted Porsche Boxster/Cayman Unleashed
- Facelifted Porsche Cayman and Boxster debut in L.A.
- 2009 Porsche Boxster Gets New Transmission, Engine Upgrades
- Pics aplenty: 2010 Porsche Boxster and Cayman
References
- "Into the Sunshine: 2005 Porsche Boxster Revealed", an article in the "News" section on page four of the 10 May 2004 issue of AutoWeek
