"505 - morphine not found" (morphine500)
05/25/2016 at 16:30 • Filed to: Porsche
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"505 - morphine not found" (morphine500)
05/25/2016 at 16:30 • Filed to: Porsche | 2
| 8 |
Ever since Porsche launched the Boxster, people were awaiting the time it would surpass the lady of the house, the 911. Or at least the road testers were. It almost happened a few times, but not quite. Then last Wednesday I drove a few Porsches, so now it’s my turn to chime in on this.
Photo cred goes to the on-location photographer Porsche provided - wish i knew his name
Us car journalists are said to be a lucky bunch. I would feel much luckier, if I would be more than just moonlighting as a freelance auto writer, but then there are days that make it worthwhile. Like when I get an invitation from the local Porsche importer to try the new, turbo engines in the Boxster S and Carrera S. As well as the Macan GTS, the facelifted Turbo S and the Cayenne Diesel S. I don’t get why they included the large SUV, it feels every bit the huge cruise ship it is, when you swap straight from the sports cars into it, so the less said about that, the better. The others though - all different, all excellent.
Photo cred goes to the on-location photographer Porsche provided - wish i knew his name
Most of you have already ridden Saturn V rockets (you have, haven’t you?), so there’s no need for me to try and describe how the launch-control provided 2.9sec to 62 mph acceleration of the Turbo S translates to your balls fizzing like on a roller coaster, and your field-of-vision literally narrowing, because of the G-force. And I was driving, wonder how the passenger felt... Also, the Macan GTS is ace, the only ‘problem’ is that it’s a V6 with two turbos, so it’s much too smooth and quiet for the sports car-shaming speeds it is capable of on twisty roads. We might talk about these on another day, now though let’s look at how the new turbo boxer-four Boxster 718 S compares to the new turbo boxer-six Carrera S.
Photo cred goes to the on-location photographer Porsche provided - wish i knew his name
I have to tell you this was the first meaningful drive I ever had in a proper Porsche, so it is hard not to just babble about these being the best things since, like, ever. But driving a Boxster S, a 911 Targa 4S and a 911 Cabrio S (all PDK) back to back put me in the picture. And here’s the thing: the 911 felt every bit as special as I expected it to be, while in comparison the Boxster “only” felt very good. What I mean is that because I have driven powerful cars before, mid engine cars too, the dynamics, the driving sensation of the Boxster was something I was prepared for. It is a very sharp tool, a precise instrument to dissect twisty roads with, but if I’m honest, it reacted in ways any good sports car does. And this is the part the loss of those two cylinders really insults the Boxster in my opinion, because it doesn’t even sound that special now.
I don’t know how much low-end gruff the old engine in the Boxster had, but the new single-turbo boxer four has a bit of lag, and only comes alive over 2500 RPM. The fact the PDK doesn’t let it spin under 3000 in sport plus mode, speaks volumes. It is loud, with a harsh, metallic and very aggressive voice, which is lovely for a sports car, but as I said, maybe not special enough for a Porsche. One of the best roadsters ever, no two ways about that, but it never eclipses the 911, and for good reason.
Boxter 718 S interior - photo by me
There’s been a lot said about the current 991 generation, some of that negative because the steering’s supposed to have lost a lot of communication. I don’t know how communicative old 911s were, but for any PAS system this seemed pretty good to me: I instantly felt the weight transfer off the front axle, when I was accelerating out of a bend. And while we are at chassis dynamics: although I didn’t switch off any of the nannies, the car made the rear engine placement felt. This makes it such a special driving experience, I just cannot hope to explain - you either love it, or you go for the much more theatrical Ferrari.
But the biggest talking point of course is the new turbo engine. And this one I loved. You hear the two small turbos work, and you don’t hear much else, just the exhaust making throaty noises, and the whole car is less loud than the Boxster. But it’s all about the way she moves, and this motor has it all. No lag to speak of, works basically from idle, then gives loads of torque through the midrange, and when you go balls deep, it will scream all the way up to the 7400 redline, with lightning quick gearchanges from the PDK meaning the power surge is unrelenting. It’s so fast, I had no idea how the Turbo S could top this - for you and me, the 991.2 generation Porsche 911 Carrera S is as fast as we’ll ever need.
Photo cred goes to the on-location photographer Porsche provided - wish i knew his name
So in all: Porsche still turns everything it touches golden. I personally like the 6 cylinder better, and the 911 dynamics more, but that’s just me. I would wager they’ll have no problem shifting each and every 4cyl Boxster they can make. You can split hairs, and say an air-cooled 911 had more character (all old cars are said to have more character btw., maybe nostalgia is at play?), and was a more involving driving experience, but in fairness, this 911 is just as characterful and involving as a 2016 car can be. And what I know for sure, that I still don’t care which generation it’ll be, but I do need to get a 911 for myself before I go.
Shame they are now so firmly in collector category. Some of them even as new.
WiscoProud
> 505 - morphine not found
05/25/2016 at 16:52 |
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I recently got to drive a 911 for the first time the other week (996, unfortunately with tiptronic) and I simply loved it. It was the most “connected” car I’ve ever driven, and even being hampered by the auto, it was a lot of fun. The thing that sells the 911 for me over the Boxster or Cayman is the extra power, and the ability to put a kid in the back. A pure 2 seater is a lot of fun, but the reality is I will be able to drive a vehicle a lot more if I can take my wife and daughter with me at the same time. The fact its so connected and fast is just icing on the cake.
I would love to have had the opportunity to try out the various cars back to back. Matt Farah has a video where he drives a 997 4s back to back with a Cayman 987 and he echoed much of what you said. He gave the handling “feel” to the Cayman, but still preferred the 997 if my memory is correct.
Speed
> 505 - morphine not found
05/25/2016 at 18:00 |
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Very cool read. Thanks for posting it up! I’ve had the pleasure of taking a 996TT and 997 Carrera S through short, but spirited drives. The Turbo was first and my only comment upon returning was, “I get it now.” They had a direct feel and solidity I’ve never felt in anything else. They were simply precise.
I’ve always been a Porsche 911 fan growing up, but those cars have me needing to be a Porsche 911 owner. I really want a 996TT or something air cooled, but would happily daily a 996 C2.
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505 - morphine not found
> Speed
05/25/2016 at 18:26 |
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A 996 C2 is maybe the easiest way into 911 ownership these days, because everything else already went through the roof. I’ve been told 993 Turbo prices went up threefold in two years, for example...
And yes. “I get it now” is all there is to be said about them.
Mid Engine
> 505 - morphine not found
05/25/2016 at 19:04 |
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Love my 987 and it has all the power I’ll ever need.
Elumerere
> 505 - morphine not found
05/25/2016 at 19:47 |
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I bought a 99 C2 a month ago. It’s unlike anything else I’ve driven. And it feels so very mechanical, direct and honest. Hooked for life.
Chasaboo
> 505 - morphine not found
05/25/2016 at 20:41 |
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I’d never buy a Beetle. Never.
Brian Silvestro
> 505 - morphine not found
05/26/2016 at 09:56 |
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I don’t know how much low-end gruff the old engine in the Boxster had
None!
But that’s one of the reasons it’s so fun!
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505 - morphine not found
> Brian Silvestro
05/26/2016 at 10:07 |
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well then, at least that didn’t change