Box clever

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There are noises, and then there are noises. A Porsche flat-six being pushed towards its 7200rpm red line with the roof down is not one you’re likely to forget in a hurry; the resultant howl makes you wonder how you’ll ever drive a car with a normal engine again.

When the first Boxster came out, the styling caused a bit of a fuss because in this class, how it looks almost matters as much as how it drives. The Boxster certainly looks like nothing else on the road, and this second generation has taken the design on a little further.

A wider stance, more curves and improved detailing have advanced its looks, perhaps not enough for some, but enough for it to become obvious that Porsche is going to play the same trick with the Boxster as it has with the 911.

Here to stay
Not for Stuttgart the radical redesign – the Boxster is here to stay, so don’t expect major changes as Porsche favours the ‘evolution’ not ‘revolution’ approach – you couldn’t exactly accuse the company of rushing the 911.

This standard model gets the 2.7litre 245bhp unit which, given only six cylinders to play with, remains remarkably smooth all the way through its rev range. Pull enthusiastically off the lights and the metallic rasp rises to a unique yowl, urging you to leave it in gear for that little bit longer than usual. The sound is exclusively the reserve of Porsche – you can’t mistake it for anything else and it’s highly addictive.

Even changing your mind mid-corner leaves it unruffled

Barely squatting, the traction control stops the rears from spinning power away and will ram you from standstill to 62mph in 6.2secs. Chuck it into a corner and its mid-engine layout inspires a confidence that neither understeer nor oversteer are going to be a issue; it slingshots around bends completely flat and it’s a testament to Porsches damping and steering that even changing your mind mid-corner leaves it unruffled.

For the money, there is no better handling car out there and the chassis is talented enough that it doesn’t become fidgety at motorway speeds either, making it bearable for long-distance cruising. The short-throw gearbox affords easy access and progress through the ratios, and the clutch makes light work of heavy traffic.

If it’s a little more power you’re after, there’s always the Boxster S. Now fitted with the 3.4 litre flat-six from the Cayman, it pushes out just under 300bhp, which means 0-62 takes a brisk 5.4secs. The ‘S’ is the more focused driver’s car and can be optioned with Porsche’s active suspension, but drive it sensibly and you should see 30mpg – not bad for a car capable of nearly 160mph.

No more smug looks
It’s louder than the old Boxster, but the roof has an extra layer of insulation so inside, although it lacks the solidity of rival SLK’s metal roof, it’s quiet and reasonably well refined.

With the roof down and glass wind deflector in place, conversation at motorway speeds is easily possible without shouting at your passenger. Should it start to rain on your parade, you can now raise and lower the roof in 12 seconds at speeds of up to 30mph, so no more racing the red stoplight as other traffic looks on smugly.

Inside, fit and finish is as you’d expect from Porsche – first class, but there isn’t much in the way of standard kit– you get air conditioning now, but electric seats, full leather and metallic paint are all on the somewhat confusing options list; a basic Boxster is a pretty spartan place in which to sit.

It’s a cushy ride for your luggage though – with a combined space of 280 litres, the front and rear boot make this a highly practical two-seater. Tall drivers will find themselves a little cramped despite sitting lower than in the original Boxster, but (finally) a fully adjustable steering wheel will mean more or less everybody will be able to get comfortable in the pilots seat.

Should you become over-enthusiastic, the stability control does its best to keep you out of trouble – in the event you might need them, there are six airbags hidden around the cabin, two specifically for the occupant’s heads.

In terms of ownership, discounts on new Boxster’s are highly unlikely, but the Porsche badge on the front should ensure strong residuals.

In short, the looks aren’t for everyone, but there’s precious little to criticise about the Boxster. You have to work at it to get the best from the engine, and it may not have the eye-catching design of the Z4 or the lines of the SLK, but the combination of chassis and flat-six make the Porsche the choice of the driver over the poser.

ENGINE: 2.7 flat-six

PERFORMANCE: 0-61 6.2sec, 160mph

ECONOMY: 30.4mpg (combined)

PRICE: from £33,170

OUR PICK: The Boxster S

VERDICT: Easily the best and most focused driver’s car in its class

SHOOT LOCATION: Faversham

Words by Michael Palmer, pictures by Matthew Richardson