by Cheryl Eldridge
Wow! Two Porsches in one month really made me feel like a queen on wheels. I really enjoyed last week’s delivery of the Boxster S convertible coated in an Aqua Blue Metallic with an interior of agate/ pebble gray leather.
My son and I travelled many places alone due to its two seat capacity. We enjoyed quiet time and he even liked riding in it. I, on the other hand, liked driving it.
The Porsche family really does have class and like the slogan for McDonald’s, I’m loving it.” It also has very impressive gas numbers with 30 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg in the city.
The 2013 Porsche Boxster is a two-seat convertible offered in base and S trims. Base models come equipped with 18-inch wheels, a power-operated soft top, cruise control, six-way-adjustable seats (power backrest, manual fore/aft and height), a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, air-conditioning, partial leather upholstery, Bluetooth and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player. Stepping up to the Boxster S gets you a bigger engine, 19-inch wheels, bi-xenon headlights and red-painted brake calipers.
As usual, Porsche will allow you to spend a small country’s GDP on options. The Convenience package adds a wind deflector, heated seats and dual-zone automatic climate control. Upgrading to the Premium package includes those features plus adaptive headlights (bi-xenon for the base Boxster), 10-way-adjustable power sport seats (with four-way power lumbar) and auto-dimming mirrors. The Infotainment package gets a navigation system and a seven-speaker sound system with satellite radio and iPod/USB connectivity.
The items in packages can be added separately along with different 19- and 20-inch wheel designs, a mechanical limited-slip rear differential, electronic torque vectoring, an adaptive suspension, ceramic composite brakes, front and rear parking sensors, and a sport steering wheel with PDK shift paddles.
Interior options include sport seats that can be equipped with heated, ventilated and adaptive features; a heated steering wheel; voice controls; satellite radio, a six-CD changer; interior ambient lighting; and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound system. Then there are the numerous customization choices that will cover just about any interior surface in leather, aluminum, carbon fiber, wood trim or exterior paint.
Serious performance drivers can opt for the Sport Chrono package, which adds dynamic transmission mounts (said to minimize weight transfer during gear changes), a lap timer, driver-adjustable chassis settings and, with the PDK transmission, launch control.
The base Boxster is powered by a 2.7-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder (flat-6) that produces 265 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. The rear-wheel-drive sports car comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission. Optional is a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission known as PDK. Porsche says the base Boxster will go from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds regardless of transmission type. Fuel economy is 20 mpg city/30 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined with the manual and 22/32/26 with PDK.
The Boxster S comes with a 3.4-liter flat-6 that produces 315 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. In Edmunds testing, an S model with the manual transmission accelerated from zero to 60 mph in an impressively quick 4.9 seconds. Fuel economy is 20/28/23 combined with the manual and 21/30/24 with PDK.
Now, I am a mother who believes in safety, especially if you’re driving a sports car. However, I was impressed with the Boxster with its safety measures including antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, dual thorax and head side-impact airbags and rollover safety hoops above the headrests.
If you climb inside the cabin you’ll find the new Boxster’s greatest leap compared to the previous one. Addressing a key complaint among taller drivers, the seats are placed lower and there’s increased room for both occupants. The interior still features premium materials, and now the gauges, dash and center console borrow from the Panamera’s ergonomic elegance. It’s a classier look and feel all around.
Top-up motoring is now more pleasant, with new sound-deadening material suppressing more ambient noise, although the new Boxster retains its familiar blind spots and compromised top-up visibility. But with a power soft top that folds in 10 seconds, there are fewer excuses to ride around fully enclosed.
Although Porsche has stretched the 2013 Boxster, the additional room went into the cabin and, as before, the Boxster still lacks meaningful cargo space. Its two trunks – one front, one rear – are pretty small, though combined they total up for about 10 cubic feet of cargo space with the top raised or lowered. You’ll have more luck fitting larger items (such as a golf bag) in the SLK.
My price sticker which was a nice $88,585 included exclusive options and destination charge.
Until next week, drive safe, don’t text and drive and please buckle up, it’s the law!
