The Porsche Boxster as we all know it’s on its final legs.
Orders for the present 718 Boxster (and its Cayman coupe cousin) will shut in the course of 2024, and its substitute will likely be electrical. Porsche has dedicated to protecting petrol energy alive in some kind for the 911; it doesn’t look like bothering for the 718 twins.
It’s usually made enjoyable of for being a mid-life disaster automobile, or a poser’s Porsche, however the Boxster was the automobile that saved the model from unprofitability within the Nineties, as larger carmakers circled looking for a takeover.
Again then, plenty of elements had been shared between the Boxster and 911 to save cash, and to present the brand new roadster some much-needed credibility with patrons.
It’s a special story now. Not solely do the pair look completely different, with very completely different mannequin cycles, a piece of the Boxster vary in 2016 traded its sonorous six-cylinder engine for a turbocharged four-cylinder… full with a soundtrack that’d make anybody who’s owned a WRX STI really feel proper at dwelling.
Porsche isn’t letting the Boxster go quietly into the evening. On the high finish, it’s slotted a model of the 911 GT3 4.0-litre engine into the Spyder RS. On the backside finish, it’s created a collection of Type Version specials just like the automobile on check right here.
There’s little question it’s trying tackle the components, however the 2.0-litre engine doesn’t essentially make for the fashionable ship off the Boxster deserves.
How does the Porsche 718 fare vs its opponents?
View an in depth breakdown of the Porsche 718 towards equally sized automobiles.
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How a lot does the Porsche 718 Boxster value?
- 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster guide: $135,100
- 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster auto: $135,965
- 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster Type Version guide: $139,300
- 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster Type Version auto: $140,925
- 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster S guide: $161,100
- 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster S auto: $165,680
- 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 guide: $197,500
- 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 auto: $202,890
- 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder RS auto: $335,300
All costs exclude on-road prices.
To see how the 718 Boxster stacks up towards its sports activities automobile rivals, use our comparison tool.
What’s the Porsche 718 Boxster like on the within?
Porsche has come a great distance with its inside expertise since this 718 technology debuted.
Hopping into the 718 after a 911, not to mention the brand new Cayenne, is like stepping again in time. However typically the outdated methods are good, and there’s so much to love right here.
The driving place is superb, with sufficient house even for lanky drivers to get comfy, and even so late in its life the 718 doesn’t really feel notably drained inside.
All the things you poke or prod feels prime quality, and the pop-out cupholders behind a bit of trim on the passenger facet of the dashboard are nonetheless a intelligent answer to the shortage of house in most sports activities automobiles. You’ll discover the shortage of USB ports relative to most new automobiles, although.
The pair of analogue dials and small display screen in entrance of the driving force will make anybody who’s pushed an older Porsche really feel proper at dwelling, and all the data you want is true there at a look.
It’s an identical story with the central touchscreen; it’s not almost as flashy because the unit within the new 911 or Cayenne, however it’s lifeless straightforward to make use of and solely actually needs for wi-fi Apple CarPlay. I favored the system when it featured within the Macan and the final 911, and I nonetheless prefer it right here.
With the roof up, there’s loads of headroom for tall drivers. Drop the highest utilizing the change on the transmission tunnel (operable as much as 48km/h) and also you get much more… with out an excessive amount of in the best way of wind noise at common commuting speeds.
There’s a wind deflector between the seats that may be eliminated, however there’s no actual motive to.
As for boot house? Together with room for tender baggage or coats behind the seats, you get two boots within the 718.
The house up entrance holds 150 litres, and is ideal for tender in a single day baggage. The house behind the engine holds an extra 122 litres, for a mixed 277 litres.
What’s below the bonnet?
Engine | 2.0L four-cylinder turbo |
---|---|
Energy | 220kW (6500rpm) |
Torque | 380Nm (1950-4500rpm) |
Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch auto |
Pushed Wheels | Rear-wheel drive |
Weight | 1365kg (kerb) |
Gasoline economic system (claimed) | 7.0L/100km |
Gasoline economic system (as examined) | 10.5L/100km |
Gasoline tank | 64L |
Octane score | 98 RON |
How does the Porsche 718 Boxster drive?
The two.0-litre engine doesn’t offer you a satisfying snarl whenever you flip the important thing, as a substitute bursting to life with gruff, boxer rumble. It’s not a very nice sound, particularly when you think about how good the 4.0-litre six within the GTS is.
Sadly, it doesn’t actually get any higher whenever you’re on the transfer. It’s very quiet with the energetic sports activities exhaust in its default mode, and flicking it into loud mode doesn’t free issues up almost as a lot as you’d hope.
It’s additionally not what you’d name a very good noise at any level, even whenever you’re flogging the automobile with the roof down. There’s extra to a sports activities automobile than the way it sounds, however it’s wonderful how eradicating the spine-tingling manner a Porsche flat six zings to redline makes the entire 718 Boxster expertise really feel a bit… flat.
It’s a disgrace, as a result of that is nonetheless an extremely gifted sports activities automobile. The 911 will all the time be the Porsche, however there’s one thing particular about the best way the mid-engined Boxster and Cayman drive.
After driving so many automobiles with numb steering, hopping into the Boxster and feeling the thin-rimmed steering wheel tug from left-to-right in your fingers with cambers within the street is a refreshing change.
There’s no rear-wheel steering right here, nor energetic engine mounts, or adaptive dampers, or variable-ratio steering, or any of the opposite (extremely efficient) issues which have rolled out to make the 911 deal with like a smaller, lighter automobile – as a result of they simply aren’t obligatory.
It’s extremely balanced, so you possibly can barrel right into a nook and make small changes with the throttle and steering to tidy up your line, and there’s not one of the mid-engine edginess you would possibly anticipate. It is a sports activities automobile that brings you alongside for the experience.
The engine presents loads of punch low down within the rev vary when you’ve cleared an preliminary trace of turbo lag, and does a strong job squeezing you again within the seat on the best way spherical to the redline. It doesn’t actually zip by way of the previous couple of thousand revs like naturally-aspirated Porsches; though, the trade-off is extra shove from low speeds.
Within the context of scorching hatches just like the AMG A45 S and Audi RS3 it’s not what you’d name notably quick, however the chassis and steering imply you’re in a position to give attention to delicately carrying velocity moderately than teleporting down straights, throwing an anchor out, tiptoeing by way of corners, after which repeating the method.
Porsche’s dual-clutch transmissions are unmatched, and help you totally unlock the engine’s potential.
It’s preternaturally quick in Sport Plus, shifting down one, two, three gears so shortly and easily it’s genuinely outstanding, and the best way it simply appears to know what gear you want and when is in contrast to the rest on the market.
The response to the metallic paddles is instantaneous, and supplied what you need to do isn’t going to ship valves exploding out the highest of the engine, the automobile will truly allow you to take management.
Trip high quality is surprisingly good for a small automobile using on huge wheels and liquorice skinny tyres. On suburban roads it does job protecting potholes and pimply sections out, and on bumpy again roads there’s sufficient compliance in it to shrug off awkward mid-corner bumps with out throwing you off line.
You can genuinely day by day drive the Boxster with out making too many sacrifices.
What do you get?
Commonplace tools on Type Version fashions consists of:
- Black or white ornamental stripe packages
- Black leather-based seat trim with Crayon stitching
- Illuminated stainless-steel kick plates
- Porsche crest in headrests
- Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime operating lights
- Porsche Dynamic Mild System
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Reversing digital camera with entrance and rear parking sensors
- Keyless entry and begin
- Apple CarPlay
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- DAB digital radio
- Cruise management
- Auto-dimming mirrors
- Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
- 14-way Sports activities seats with reminiscence
- Heated seats
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Mild Design Package deal
Is the Porsche 718 Boxster secure?
The Porsche 718 line-up hasn’t been crash examined by an NCAP physique, nor will or not it’s this late in its life.
It options six airbags as commonplace, together with blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise management, and parking sensors with a reversing digital camera.
How a lot does the Porsche 718 Boxster value to run?
Porsche presents a three-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee in Australia, regardless of most luxurious rivals having moved to 5 years of protection.
Scheduled servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000 kilometres. Porsche Australia says service pricing “varies from state to state on account of completely different labour charges at Official Porsche Centres”.
You may get a sign of service pricing by way of your local Porsche Centre.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Porsche 718 Boxster
The 718 Boxster is a nonetheless a candy automobile to drive.
It’s additionally sensible within the context of egocentric two-seat sports activities automobiles, has a snug sufficient inside that you possibly can drive it each day, and is fast sufficient to place a smile in your face.
However the Type Version isn’t the Boxster value shopping for earlier than it’s changed by an electrical various, and it’s all right down to its engine.
Regardless of the shocking ranges of practicality, an enormous a part of the Boxster’s enchantment lies in the best way it makes you are feeling – and it doesn’t make you are feeling ok, sufficient of the time with out the snarl of the 4.0-litre naturally aspirated engine supplied within the GTS, Spyder, and Spyder RS.
If you happen to’re attempting to snag one of many final mid-engine petrol Porsche sports activities automobiles earlier than they die out totally in favour of swift however silent electrical energy, you would possibly as nicely do it correctly and purchase the one that really sends the format off in model.
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BUY: Porsche 718
MORE: Everything Porsche 718