Porsche Boxster/Boxster S 2007
01/01/2007
Over 85,000 Boxsters have been sold in the U.S. since their debut in 1997, and the sporty roadster was the Robb Report Car of the Year in 1998. Despite this, it failed to win over some hardcore Porsche purists who criticized it as being underpowered with soft styling. Porsche addressed those issues with the 250-hp Boxster S in 2000, then again in 2005 with a thorough interior and exterior makeover plus more power for both base and S models. The big news for 2007 is that the base Boxster gets a more powerful 2.7-liter, 245-hp engine and the S a reworked 3.4-liter version with 295 hp on tap. Both engines inherit the VarioCam Plus variable valve timing technology from the 911 for a wider power curve. These changes match the two Boxster drivetrains to their Cayman counterparts. The new Boxsters also feature a larger rear trunk and a top which can be raised or lowered at speeds up to 40 mph.PRICE: $45,600 (Boxster); $55,500 (Boxster S)
ENGINE: 2.7-liter 6-cylinder (Boxster); 3.4-liter 6-cylinder (Boxster
S)
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual (both) / 5-speed manual (Boxster) / Tiptronic S
(both)
POWER: 245 hp at 6,500 rpm (Boxster); 295 hp at 6,250 rpm (Boxster S)
TORQUE: 201 ft lbs at 4,600 - 6,000 rpm (Boxster); 252 ft lbs at 4,000 -
6,000 rpm (Boxster S)
CURB WEIGHT: 3,009 pounds (Boxster); 3,075 pounds (Boxster S)
0-60 MPH: 5.8 seconds (Boxster); 5.1 seconds (Boxster S)
TOP SPEED: 169 mph (160 mph on Boxster 5-speed)
PROS: A taut, fast convertible with great sound effects
CONS: Still seen by some as a poor man’s Porsche