By Lee Sibley
3 years ago
Wednesday Want: 718 Boxster S
A week in a 718 supplied by a Porsche dealer has had Max Newman considering the merits of the car's much-debated flat four motor, while browsing the 9WERKS classifieds…
Since launch in 1996, the Boxster has sat at the top of the sports car tree for those who really care about how a car moves down the road. The arrival of the 981 generation in 2012 added a muscularity and confidence lacking in the 987 and 986, and broadened the appeal of the car even further – even as far as turning the heads of buyers considering a drop-top 911.
But the arrival of the four cylinder 718 in 2016 killed it, right? Not so. The 718 moniker might be pushing it a bit, but Porsche has a long history with flat four motors, and the turbocharged 2.5-litre unit in this Boxster S produces a feisty 345bhp, bestowing it with a perfect amount of performance for a package which feels optimised for UK roads. The motor can feel a little coarse at very low revs but is a joy to thrash and has a character all of its own.
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It pops and crackles artificially at low revs but when you’re tramping on they feel more authentic, and it is exciting. This four pot is great fun, and imagine the alternative – perhaps the ubiquitous VAG unit found in the Golf R amongst others. That could do the same job but is so smooth and refined that it’s almost boring. This is a better option for this application.
No, it isn’t a sonorous as a flat six and yes, you could get a 981 GTS for the same money as the £50k asking price for this example. But this 2016 car has covered a mere twelve thousand miles, and is a generation younger. What that means to a potential owner is sharper PDK calibration, a ‘gear’ lever which works the right way (up is towards you), snappier action on the paddles, and no irritating auto box kick-down in manual mode. It also has the most wonderful steering wheel and plenty of usefully modern infotainment tech. All of which is significant for driver interaction and usability in a car you could daily drive with ease.
Recently sold at renowned marque specialists Paragon, this stunning examples comes in striking Lava Orange as first seen on the 991.1 GT3RS, and includes the fantastic optional Sports seats as well as Bose, LED lights, PDK, Sport Chrono, and Sports exhaust, on top of all the inherent Boxster sports car brilliance. Go on, try it: you may well be amazed.