Engineered to perform

Porsche’s top-dog entry convertible delivers daily driveable thrill ride

Years ago I took a friend’s mother for a ride in a Porsche Boxster. A retired pharmacist and Porsche fanatic, she’s also mobility-challenged and slightly vision-impaired, but still able to drive. After our drive, she insisted that I tell readers something.

“This is the perfect sports car for someone like me” she said. “I didn’t think I could drive a sports car any more, but this is easy to get in and out of, and it’s not cramped, and it’s not hard to see out of, either.”

A few years later she bought her first Porsche: a second-hand Boxster, similar to the one we took that afternoon test drive in.

She eventually traded it in for an SUV when some grandkids arrived, but remains thrilled at having realized her lifelong dream of Porsche ownership for several years.

Though engineered for performance thrills, Boxster is an easy car to live with. Entry and exit are simple and uncomplicated. The cabin is small, but uses space well and feels relatively spacious by two-seater standards.

Outward visibility is aboveadequate. It’s easy to park. Easy to see out of. Easy enough to drive that you could grab the keys and take it to the corner store for a jug of milk with no second thought.

Thanks to the mid-mounted engine, Boxster has a trunk up front and another in the rear.

And since it’s light and aerodynamic, it’s also great on fuel when you aren’t driving the pants off it.

Today, a new Boxster, dubbed the 718 Boxster, has arrived. On offer are new tech and features, a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine with more power and torque, and the subject of today’s story: a new, high-performing GTS variant which represents the highest-performing Boxster in the line.

The GTS adds a value-bundled dose of performance enhancements to all core Boxster attributes mentioned above. The GTS gets a slight power bump, an array of visual upgrades, and a standard smattering of go-fast options you’d find at extra cost in lesser models. It’s all the good stuff, bundled into a compelling package for the enthusiast.

Power is bumped slightly to 365 horses from the 2.5-litre, flat-four turbo engine. That’s loads of sauce for a car this light. Two-mode (loud/quiet) sports exhaust is standard. Ditto Porsche’s advanced active suspension system, also complete with two modes (comfortable/ sporty) that toggle at a button press.

The Sport Chrono package is included, with a built-in racelap timer and Launch Control functionality. It’s a high-performance toolkit, complete with a highly-customizable driving experience that goes from mild to wild on a whim.

A small dial on the steering wheel allows twist-to-select access to one of four preset drive modes; the car changing its character instantly in response. A small button centred by this dial engages Sport Response mode — bypassing all other settings and putting all systems, instantly, into maximum performance mode. The turbocharger is prespooled, providing thrust galore at the slightest throttle press.

Pushed, Boxster GTS feels naturally athletic, unbothered by any sort of high speed manoeuvres, light, frisky and playful. It’s a natural performer that encourages enjoyment of the breadth of its performance capabilities.

The dual-clutch paddle-shift transmission shifts at blinkof-an-eye speeds with perfect rev-matching every time, and no interruption in the snarling, lumpy flat-four sound effects at full song. Steering, notably, is fast, heavy, and very quick: just like a go-kart.

Or, set the car into its “regular” mode, with quieter exhaust and softer shocks, and you’re clear for a fuel-efficient, easygoing road trip.

Here, the stereo is powerful and the roof can be folded down in a seconds with a mere button press, provided you’re going about 60 km/h or less.

Ride quality is notable: With the softened shocks you know you’re in something sporty, but it’s never harsh enough to degrade the drive into discomfort.

The latest take on the Boxster cabin displays gorgeous instruments, details galore and plenty of craftsmanship. A high-tech array of buttons and consoles works toward an atmosphere that’s one part luxury coupe and one part futuristic. Two gripes.

The exhaust note is neither as special or exotic as that of the former flat-six engine from previous Boxster models — the new flat-four turbo sounds more gruff and burbly, a little like a Subaru WRX and some owners of former Boxsters may find the new engine’s sound to be a downgrade.

Second, the price. For all but the biggest fanatics, my tester’s $115,000 sticker, including nearly $20,000 in options, may prove excessive — especially given the vast number of evenfaster competitor playthings on offer for similar money. For instance, a Corvette Z06 Convertible packs 300 more horsepower with similar pricing.

Boxster GTS is two cars in one, though: a high-performing track-day-ready drop-top with authentically thrilling performance, and a road-trip-ready convertible that’s friendly to use every day of the year.

The top-dog GTS starts in the high 90s, but a more modest Boxster can be had from the mid 60s.

It’s always nice to have options.