Forgive Porsche for not noticing that the new Boxster looks like the old one. Well, at least in the eyes of those not very familiar with the brand. For the connoisseur it’s pretty clear that the new 2009 Boxster and Boxster S have new wing mirrors which are beefier than the old ones, that it has a redesigned fender line, new headlights are fitted and the front bumper is completely different. LED daytime running lights are available as an extra through a lights package.
The rear end has also gone under the magic scalpel for a treat where new rear lights were installed, a different bumper with a new number plate section is evident and the exhaust pipes have a new shape. These changes are really noticeable if you put the old and new car side by side.
Inside a feeling of more solidity is resonates. The Porsche Communication Management is now much more user-friendly as well and features a CD player with MP3 playability. There’s also a USB port in some models and 7 BOSE speakers to keep you entertained should the growling engine note get monotonous. Yeah right.
Dropping the canvass roof is a matter of pulling a lever and pushing a button. It operate even at speeds of up to 50km/h. Porsche representatives had, at the media conference, claimed the cars would not let any rain in if the tops were open as they drove about. We put that claim to the test and found it to be true, bar a few drops from the sides of the windows. The trick though, is to not stop because as soon as you do that the rain pours in.
But the main attractions are the new engines and the drive experience. Replacing the old 2.7-litre is a 2.9-litre boxer motor with maximum power of 188kW at 6400rpm and torque peak of 290Nm between 4400rpm and 6000rpm. It weighs in at 1335kg unladen. The more potent Boxster S comes with an uprated 3.4-litre engine that makes 228kW at 6400rpm as well plus torque of 360Nm between 4400rpm and 5500rpm.
In a different twist of roles a new Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) gearbox comes standard in the Boxster range while the 6-speed manual is a no-cost option. PDK is a 7-speed double-clutch transmission with changes that are so quick (actually 60% quicker than Porsche’s Tiptronic auto) you hardly ever feel them doing their magic. In Sport Plus mode though, you do feel the neck jerk as you change gears. Because these are proper sports cars the ‘box will hold a gear until the driver initiates the change.
Porsche has not entirely fixed the niggle of the steering-wheel mounted shifters which are simply not practically useful enough. They interfere with the gear changing often since you have to use your thumb rested on the steering wheel to change up and a finger to change down. However, it’s a much better effort than what we had in the Tiptronic version. PDK is also 10kg lighter than the Tiptronic.
The PDK ‘box has helped improve performance for both the Boxster and the S. When taking off the former covers the 0 – 100km/h dash in a claimed 5.8 seconds while the S does the same in 5.2 seconds. An optional Chrono Package with launch control ensures these times are achievable and in a consistent manner as well. I had a go on it myself and you wouldn’t believe how deceptively quick they are, especially the S which by the time it has covered the 100km/h mark you think it’s still going to take off.
You’d expect such performance to come at a heavy price at the pumps, but this isn’t necessarily so. During the launch drive in the winding green hills of KwaZulu Natal between Durban and Pietermaritzburg my driving partner and I didn’t exactly stand around waiting for the sun to set. Given this kind of enthusiastic reception the Boxsters were anticipated to run empty after 200km. We were staring at a three-quarter tank after 100km of pushing hard. Officially the average fuel consumption figures are 8.9 litres per 100km and 9.2 litres per 100km for the Boxster and Boxster S respectively.
Tyres measure 205/55 ZR 17 up front and 235/50 ZR 17 at the rear for the Boxster. The Boxster S is shod with 235/40 ZR 18 at the front and 265/40 ZR 18 around its 18-inch rims. The tyres are specially made for Porsche so no other car comes with these types of tyres. They are inflated with nitrogen in order to optimise performance and maximise grip. Porsche Active Suspension Management or PASM is sold as an option. It’s a very useful system for those who wish to change their cars’ performance character, from comfortable right up to stiff and sporty.
Porsche customers in KZN now have a new home to which they can send their vehicles for service. And those who wish to join the Porsche family are certainly most welcome at the new R65 million Porsche Centre in Umhlanga Ridge just down the road from the Gateway Mall. The area is being heavily developed and will soon resemble a shopping Mecca.
Porsche Boxster and Boxster S pricing:
Boxster PDK
R595 000
Boxster S PDK
R695 000
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