Test Drive: 2013 Porsche Boxster

2013 Porsche Boxster. Click image to enlarge

Review and photos by Mike Schlee

Photo Gallery:
2013 Porsche Boxster

Porsche has pedigree. There are no ifs, ands or buts. There is no room for debate. Even if you are not a fan of the marque, or just don’t get expensive sports cars in general, there is no denying that Porsche has had one of the most storied and successful sports car legacies, well, of all time. Still not convinced? Well, neither was I. I grew up an anti-fan of Porsches and thought they were overrated. My only unfounded reasoning was that everyone else liked them so I, by default, could not like them. I’d never driven them or rode in them, but to me they couldn’t possibly live up to the hype; there are so many better sports cars out there. Right? Right?

Wrong! I was so very, very wrong. Ever since my first ride in a 911 over a decade ago, I realized the errors of my ‘hater’ ways. Anyone who has driven a proper Porsche sports car (Cayennes and Panameras need not apply) and still does not appreciate them, well, I can’t help you. Porsche has built a legacy on producing vehicles that are as at home on the racetrack as they are on a country road taking a sunny Sunday afternoon cruise. They blend prestige, sport and luxury in a way many other manufactures could wish for. And for 2013, there is an all-new one; the Porsche Boxster.

I’ll admit we at Autos.ca are a bit late to the 2013 Boxster party; many have already reviewed this roadster over the past few months. However, we have a twist for our coverage of the Boxster: a full-blown winter test. But before we get to that, here is a quick refresher on the all-new 2013 Boxster.

2013 Porsche Boxster. Click image to enlarge

The 981 Boxster, as it is code-named, is the third generation of this compact mid-engine roadster from Porsche. It continues to feature a retractable soft top, seating for two and the renowned front and rear trunks. There is a choice between two engines and two transmissions. Regular Boxsters feature a 2.7L horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine producing 265 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. Boxster S models get an upgrade to a 3.4L flat-six engine that generates 315 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. Either engine can be paired up to a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission that Porsche refers to as Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK).

My test vehicle was a regular 2013 Boxster with a starting price of $56,500. However, it was loaded up with $17,790 worth of options including the $3,660 PDK transmission, $1,790 19-inch Boxster S wheels, $2,050 Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and the $2,710 Sport Chrono Package with Porsche Stability Management (PSM). Those who think this is an expensive list of options probably shouldn’t try configuring their own Boxster online; a regular non-S Boxster can have $71,700 worth of options added to its $56,500 base price.

Amongst the smorgasbord of options are no less than five wheel choices. My tester had the elegantly designed 19-inch Boxster S wheels that look both sporty and expensive at the same time. Painted in Aqua Blue Metallic, the 2013 Boxster looks a bit like a mini Porsche Carrera GT. I love nearly every exterior detail on the Boxster from the rear spoiler that is integrated into the tail lights to those lovely stacked projector headlights.

2013 Porsche Boxster. Click image to enlarge

Under that gorgeous skin resides the 2.7L engine providing more than enough grunt for the 1,340 kg roadster. Porsche claims the PDK Boxster will achieve 0–100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, which I would say is quite conservative. The PDK transmission is actually faster than a manually equipped Boxster and faster still when the Chrono package is installed, as it was on my test vehicle. Not only is it powerful, but the engine sounds great. It is easily the best sounding engine under 3.0L of displacement on the market today.

The PDK is also a terrific bit of engineering. Many write it off for not being a true manual, but that is a bit unfair. Sure, I would prefer a regular manual, but the PDK fires off ludicrously fast shifts in Sport Plus, but then becomes as seamless as a regular automatic transmission in normal mode. A nice touch are the real metal paddle shifters attached to the button-less steering wheel.

Now, mentioning fuel consumption in a sports car may seem pointless, but it is important to note the Boxster’s consumption as it is a pleasant surprise for a purpose-built roadster. Officially rated at 10.1 L/100 km city and 6.7 L/100 km highway, I was able to average 10.5 L/100 km during a twelve-day stint with the Boxster. This was done during winter, on snow tires and with a heavy foot. It may have been even better, but during a two day loan to Senior Editor Jonathan Yarkony the average efficiency rose a half litre. [What can I say? I have a magic foot! –Ed.]

As I mentioned earlier, this review was performed during the winter. My test vehicle still had the upgraded Boxster S rims installed, which meant I was running 235/40R19 winter tires up front and 265/40R19 winter in the rear. This may not sound like the best setup, but even after 18 cm of fresh snow, the Boxster behaved flawlessly in the white stuff and refused to get stuck on lightly travelled, unplowed roads. Even when snow was over the lip of the front bumper, the Boxster just continued to plow on through it. I was worried the 265-width rear tires would prove to be too big, but they were not an issue. With PSM disabled, the Boxster becomes a willing, controllable sliding machine that had me feeling like a 20-km/h version of Colin McRae rallying through an empty industrial park.

2013 Porsche Boxster. Click image to enlarge

But before the first serious dumping of snow befouled our roads, I did get to test the Boxster out on dry pavement. The rear tires, despite being snow tires, still gripped hard in the dry. Aggressive acceleration starts did not spin the wheels, but rather had the car biting into the pavement and launching with great haste. Lateral grip levels were obviously reduced thanks to the winter rubber, but combined with low torque of the base engine, it became much easier to explore the limits of the vehicle. I really appreciate just how neutral the Boxster handles and how intuitive all the mechanical controls, like steering, throttle input and brake modulation are for the driver. I can only imagine the fun a Boxster S with a sticky set of summer rubber would be on an open racetrack.

The Boxster, however, is not a one trick pony. Thanks to the PASM, turn the sport modes all off and the Boxster becomes a rather serene highway cruiser. The front seats are not only very supportive for spirited driving, but also very comfortable for long drives. The front and rear trunks make the car semi practical swallowing 150 L and 130 L of cargo respectively. The frunk (front trunk), which is the same size as the Mazda MX-5’s rear trunk, will easily accommodate medium luggage, large Christmas gifts or groceries. The soft top does not intrude into the rear trunk when lowered, but does allow a lot of ambient sound into the cabin. Blind spots are also horrible with this retractable roof up, which it was the whole time I had the Boxster. It makes lane changes and reversing into parking spaces more challenging than normal. The optional reverse sensors should be checked off by prospective buyers.

2013 Porsche Boxster. Click image to enlarge

Another option I would spring for is the automatic climate control. Not having it in this vehicle was annoying as the two miniscule toggle switches, located slightly above and on either side of the gear shifter, were cumbersome to use. I was constantly adjusting temperature and fan speed; that is when it worked. For some reason, one morning the heater did not blow anything short of ice cold air during my 30-minute, 37-km commute from Oakville to Toronto. It wasn’t the coldest day, nor the wettest day, but for whatever reason the heater refused to warm up. It worked every other day without fail. After a few days, when it snowed and the roads became mucky, I discovered the washer fluid for the windshield would not work. It worked fine for the headlights, but not the windshield. We are unsure what the culprit is and have heard three different stories.

2013 Porsche Boxster. Click image to enlarge

Even with these minor nuisances, the Boxster is a terrific vehicle. It is one of the best impulse reasons I can think of for wanting to become moderately wealthy. It is such a joy to drive, even during rush hour on city streets. Add in the fact that it is practical for a sports car, is relatively efficient and drop-dead gorgeous, and it is hard to find a reason not to love the Boxster. As a bonus, it can be driven all year round, unless you live in an area that regularly receives 20+ cm snowfalls.

Pricing: 2013 Porsche Boxster
Base price: $56,500
Options: $820 (Aqua Blue Metallic), $4,410 (Infotainment Package), $3,660 (PDK), $1,790 (19-inch Boxster S Wheel), $2,050 (PASM), $1,790 (Bi-Xenon Headlights), $2,710 (Sport Chrono Package), $560 (SportDesign Steering Wheel)
A/C tax: $100
Freight: $1,085
Price as tested: $75,475

Competitors
2013 Audi TTS
2013 BMW Z4
2013 Lotus Evora
2013 Mercedes-Benz SLK

Crash test results
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

No related posts.