Porsche Boxster

Wikicars, a place to share your automotive knowledge

Porsche Boxster
Porsche AG
aka	Porsche 987
Production	1996 - Present
Class	Sportscar
Body Style	2-door Convertible Roadster
Length	172.1 in
Width	70.9 in
Height	50.9 in
Wheelbase	95.1 in
Weight	Base Manual: 2943 lb Base PDK: 3009 lb S Manual: 2978 lb S PDK: 3042 lb Spyder: 2811 lb
Transmission	6-speed Manual, RWD 7-speed PDK, RWD
Engine	2.9 liter flat-6 3.4 liter flat-6
Power	255 hp (188 kW) @ 6400 rpm 214 lb-ft. of torque @ N/A rpm 310 hp (228 kW) @ 6400 rpm 266 lb-ft. of torque @ N/A rpm 320hp (235kW) @ 7200 rpm 273 lb-ft. of torque @ N/A rpm
Similar	BMW Z4 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Honda S2000 Audi TT Nissan 350Z
Designer	Designer (lead designer if it was a team effort)

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

• The 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show will play host to the unveiling of the Porsche Boxster Spyder, a chopped-top roadster version of the Boxster (and homage to the iconic 550 Spyder). The Spyder is the lightest Porsche in its current lineup with a weight of just 2811 lb (1275 kg, and only 11 lb more than the 986 Boxster). To make it the "...purest form of the Porsche sports car...", they also gave it an all-new sport suspension that lowers it by 20 mm providing a lower center of gravity and a standard limited slip differential. The Spyder is motivated by the familiar 3.4-liter boxing 6 found in the regular car but massaged to give 10 more hp than the S for a total of 320 and harnessed by Porsche's PDK transmission. The result is a naught-to-60 mph (100 km/h) sprint of 4.8 seconds, all while returning 30.4 mpg (9.3L/100km) in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). It is set to go on sale in February of 2010 carrying a pricetag of €53,100 (US$61,200) / €63,404 in Germany, after a 19% VAT.[1]

• 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. [2]

• 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.[3][4]

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).[5][6]

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

Add more fields as necessary.

Gas Mileage

As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Add more fields as necessary.

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

Boxster Spyder

			in Guards Red
in Carrara White	in Basalt Black Metallic	in Aqua Blue Metallic	in Arctic Silver Metallic
in Cream White	instrument pods	center tunnel

Colors