What this transmission can do, in conjunction with the Sport Chrono Pack Plus (as equipped on test car), is literally launch the 1,380 kg convertible to 100 km/h in 5 seconds flat. The real beauty is that this $4,660 option merges the best of both worlds where anyone, and I do mean anyone, can drive this car like a champ. In automatic mode, the gearbox slithers through the cogs and, should you want to be in real control, an easy tug of the shift lever to the left will enable the manual mode.
Refined chaos
The Sport mode engages the clutches at light speed and gears selections are mere micro-seconds long.
Hanging on to the wheel, pushing off the dead pedal and grinning are the only things to do while the S blasts into corners and quite nearly permanently damages your eardrums. This mouthful can be summed by saying: it's unapologetically loud and lewd. Aiming for apexes and flying over crests has never been more satisfying in a convertible. The Boxster, which shares its underpinnings with the superior (in my opinion) Cayman, is an impressive road car.
Porsche's active suspension management (PASM) includes active management of suspension firmness and ride height changes of up to 10mm from the standard suspension. Although the softest setting will not make the drive comfortable, it will be far from jarring and downright painful (as in full sport mode). There is also the fact that this is a proper mid-engine sports car (unlike the Pontiac Fiero for example) which enables near perfect weight distribution for optimal handling on all road surfaces. Steering is as precise as any would need it and the brakes, once the short initial pedal travel is conquered, are massively obedient to driver input.
Porsche and winter
Porsche is touting their products as ideal four-season cars. They recently even had special lease offers on all remaining 2009 Boxster and Cayman models that included Porsche approved winter tires. Now, I may be willing to show off in a topless Boxster in the middle of fall but I'm not so sure I'd take my super-cabrio out in the winter, even if I could. Besides, with the possibility of taking a Carrera 4 or Panamera 4S or a Cayenne out for a run in the snow, why take a Boxster?
With a base price of just over $72,000, the Boxster faces stiff competition from the BMW Z4, Infiniti G37 cabrio, Lexus IS C 350, Audi A5 and TT. However, once optioned out north of $90,000, it pretty much leaves everyone else in the dust... or snow...
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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| The real change has come in the form of Porsche's new PDK 7-speed automated manual transmission. |
Refined chaos
The Sport mode engages the clutches at light speed and gears selections are mere micro-seconds long.
Hanging on to the wheel, pushing off the dead pedal and grinning are the only things to do while the S blasts into corners and quite nearly permanently damages your eardrums. This mouthful can be summed by saying: it's unapologetically loud and lewd. Aiming for apexes and flying over crests has never been more satisfying in a convertible. The Boxster, which shares its underpinnings with the superior (in my opinion) Cayman, is an impressive road car.
Porsche's active suspension management (PASM) includes active management of suspension firmness and ride height changes of up to 10mm from the standard suspension. Although the softest setting will not make the drive comfortable, it will be far from jarring and downright painful (as in full sport mode). There is also the fact that this is a proper mid-engine sports car (unlike the Pontiac Fiero for example) which enables near perfect weight distribution for optimal handling on all road surfaces. Steering is as precise as any would need it and the brakes, once the short initial pedal travel is conquered, are massively obedient to driver input.
Porsche and winter
Porsche is touting their products as ideal four-season cars. They recently even had special lease offers on all remaining 2009 Boxster and Cayman models that included Porsche approved winter tires. Now, I may be willing to show off in a topless Boxster in the middle of fall but I'm not so sure I'd take my super-cabrio out in the winter, even if I could. Besides, with the possibility of taking a Carrera 4 or Panamera 4S or a Cayenne out for a run in the snow, why take a Boxster?
With a base price of just over $72,000, the Boxster faces stiff competition from the BMW Z4, Infiniti G37 cabrio, Lexus IS C 350, Audi A5 and TT. However, once optioned out north of $90,000, it pretty much leaves everyone else in the dust... or snow...
 |
| With a base price of just over $72,000, the Boxster faces stiff competition. |
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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