There is a saying that within every adult there’s a kid lurking somewhere. Of course, this saying is open to interpretation from anyone (e.g. second childhood); I personally believe that this saying was specifically made for the people who drive Porsches. Why Porsche? Well compared to the rest of the sports car world out there, Porsches are the most refined, sophisticated, subtle and no doubt most drivable in everyday life. On the other hand, the brand name has also produced barely road-legal machines such as the legendary Porsche 959 and the 911 GT2.
Although the shape isn’t as sexy as the Italian designed Ferrari or Lamborghini, the classic Porsche teardrop profile has itself become a recognizable trademark when it comes to stamping authority on the German autobahn. Armed with modern-day robust flat-6 engines, Porsches herald the marque’s glorious past by merging it with the best of today’s technology.
When Mazda’s MX-5 Miata helped revive the roadster market in the early nineties, Porsche joined the fray by spinning off a line quite different from the usual 911 and yet deriving inspiration from its glorious past. At the same time, the company had to be careful since past also-rans such as the front-engined, V8-powered 928 and the 924 were still fresh in their thoughts. The result of intense market and technological research paid off when the company unveiled the Porsche Boxster in 1997.
The Boxster, whether Porsche would like to admit it or not, borrows heavily from the influence of its corporate history especially the iconic 550 Spyder, the same car that cinema great James Dean drove to the afterlife, and the 356/1 racers of the 1950s. Ultimately, the mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout serves as a symbol of the 550 racing cars that took the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race by storm in 1953. Beyond the layout, the Boxster’s curvaceous front and rear ends point back to the bulging wheel arches of the Spyder. The low-slung driving position, high side windows and the center exhaust pipe all point back to the modern car’s illustrious ancestor.
However, the Boxster isn’t just another retro vehicle. In fact, more than anything, the Boxster shows why Porsche is the top dog when it comes to engineering and refinement. The original Boxster released in 1997 only had a 201-hp 2.5-liter engine. The engine featured a unique dry sump lubrication which meant that the engine can take more intense cornering as it’s less susceptible to oil deprivation. Moreover, the engine can be mounted lower since it doesn’t require a separate oil pan that tends to take up space.
Nonetheless, enthusiasts found the engine severely lacking, especially when Honda came out with the 240-hp Honda S2000. To answer these critics, Porsche increased the displacement to 2.7 liters. Power and torque jumped to 220 hp at 6400 rpm and 26.5 kg-m at 4750 rpm, aided by a new exhaust system for better breathing and the VarioCam variable-valve timing system.
Accessibility to the engine bay is fairly limited, as the engine itself is almost completely sealed already. This means that the typical owner can only top fluids but do little else except take the car to the nearest Porsche service center (Bummer for those who want to tweak their cars personally). On the other hand, the mid-engine layout means that the Boxster has two trunks available: one in the front and the other at the rear. These easily swallow up any kind of luggage including golf clubs, making this Porsche a great companion during long-haul trips.
Starting the Boxster is an event in itself: the key slots in on the left side of the steering wheel near the light switch instead of the conventional right side. Once the ignition kicks in, the engine breathes to life with a muscular, baritone voice. The hum from the mid-mounted flat-6 acts like a permanent subwoofer under the seat making the two occupants quiver and shake in fear of the mighty engine. At idle, the engine sound is balanced and smooth—just as a Porsche should be.
Standard in the Philippines is the Tiptronic automatic with manual override. Once engaged in Drive, the Porsche leaves the line with considerable ease. It readily accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds and is capable of blasting to 150 km/h in half a kilometer. Moreover, the more adventurous will love the sequential shift feature that turns the gentle GT Boxster into a full-blooded race car with quick response and a muscular feel. It’s so strong that occupants will be forced into their seats when the accelerator is fully depressed. The dual stage exhaust system also produces a creamy whine during engine downshifts reminiscent of a turbocharged Subaru Impreza.
The combination of the Boxster’s compact exterior (it’s exactly as long as the previous-generation Corolla) and its highly sophisticated McPherson-strut front and rear suspension, makes the car feel very accurate and precise through any kind of corner, whether fast sweeper or slow bend. The mid-corner stability is very consistent even under intense lateral acceleration. Road feedback is also pleasingly communicated through the steering wheel, making this car a perfect tool when finding the exact driving limit. Steering effort is properly balanced between light and heavy, and isn’t the least bit vague.
The Boxster’s notoriously low ground clearance can lead to the misconception that the car will scrape the humps every time it goes over them, but this was not the case. In fact, the Boxster does the humps far better than many lowered Honda Civic SiRs. With the quick steering ratio and 5.45 m turning radius, the Boxster is surely at home on twisty and bumpy city roads.
Body structure is also first rate whether the roof is up or down. That roof takes only the touch of a button and 12 seconds to disappear, leaving only the mouthwatering curves of the car’s body. The Boxster feels as snug as any coupe even during hard acceleration and cornering maneuvers. What’s more, the body roll is also non-existent giving the impression that this car is glued to the pavement.
Porsche deserves a lot of credit in designing an interior that’s a mix of elegance and sportiness with some interesting details. The plastic, leather and carbon fiber trim all fit coherently together to make the cabin a comfortable and sophisticated command center that’s as intimidating as it is beautiful. Some details that are particularly unique with this car include the three-piece instrumentation cluster with digital speedometer, the German language climate control system (when was the last time your read manuell instead of manual?) and the 6-disc in-dash changer system with individual slots for each CD. (Of course, the real music comes from right behind the driver’s compartment in the form of a 2.7-liter flat-6 engine).
The ergonomics are not necessarily perfect in this Boxster since the controls for the radio and air conditioning are set too high for easy reach during cruising. On the other hand, all the basic controls such as the steering wheel, gearbox and even the handbrake, all fall within easy reach. One big difference between the Boxster and the usual sedan is that the steering wheel is almost completely vertical. Although this may seem awkward, it becomes natural after a few minutes behind the wheel.
The folding roof is also designed to chop off the least headroom space when raised. The entire process is fun to watch as it only takes 12 seconds for this Porsche to fold away its fabric top (that’s precisely how long the Toyota MR2 Spyder takes to reach 120 km/h). Unfortunately, in the process, Porsche wasn’t able to fit a proper rear windscreen: it’s scratch-resistant plastic instead of glass. This may not be good in the long-run since plastic windows have the tendency to discolor and turn yellowish after a few years.
Overall, the Porsche Boxster is one unique car that easily stands above the crowd in any occasion. It’s a merger of modern technology with 1950s styling and detail. It’s a proclamation of what made Porsches so well-known, while at the same time a marker to where the brand is headed. People don’t necessarily need to learn the history of Porsche to appreciate this car, and others don’t even have to drive the car to be in awe of it.
Nonetheless, for those looking for an exciting two-seater car capable of everyday use and still giving the flair and the handling prowess worthy of track racing, the Boxster is definitely one of the best choices out there. For the more extreme crowd, Porsche is also offering another variant of the Boxster: the Boxster S. The major change here is that the engine has been replaced by a 3.2-liter flat-6 engine capable of 25 bhp at 6250 rpm and 31.1 kg-m at 4500 rpm. For other folks who can admit to being a kid at heart, the 2.7-liter Boxster is an excellent combination of sports car and GT cruising all rolled into one convincing little package that’s definitely the epitome of Porsche.
motioncars.com would like to thank
Miguelito Jose of PGA Cars Incorporated, EDSA
Tel. 727-0381 to 85
Fax. 727-0390
for accommodating us for our test drive.
By Ulysses Ang |Photos By Ulysses Ang
Originally Published in February 2002 Issue
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