I hit 232 km/h in the 718 Boxster before arriving at the brake point; my colleague made 241 km/h in the Boxster S (the digital speedometer is still too small, Porsche). There were some bumps, politely shrugged off; the Boxster felt glued to the runway, and superb braking was effected without drama; straight and true. Man, that’s quick, although exciting enough that I didn’t even think of wind turbulence in the cabin. If it existed, it went unnoticed.
With acceleration times down and top speeds up, the 718 Boxster now uses the brake system previously found on the Boxster S (330-mm discs front, 299-mm discs rear). The 718 Boxster S uses the four-piston calipers of the 911 Carrera with thicker front brake discs (34-mm vs 28-mm). These are some of the best brakes on a sports car that I’ve experienced.
The difference between driving the 718 Boxster and 718 Boxster S is notable, especially if you find yourself on roads of the type we drove, or presumably if you plan to track your car. Not that the the 718 Boxster is deficient by any means, but in the “S” all of the vehicle dynamics are just that much more immediate. It’s just more satisfying.
But it’s a no-brainer, really. Both models represent an excellent opportunity to enjoy a genuine sports car experience, coupled with excellent build quality, sophisticated engineering and a brand history of winning. I can’t imagine any buyer being dissatisfied with this car.
You can order yours now.
Pricing: 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster
Base Price (Boxster): $63,900
Base Price (Boxster S): $78,000
Freight: $1,085
