2008 Porsche Boxster Lockhart TX

November 18, 2009   By Brian Alexander, Content Editor



2008 Porsche Boxster
DriverSide Overview
Convertibles take a lot of flak from enthusiasts. Typically when a performance car company announces a dedicated drop-top model, car nerds hit the forums across the Internet with a vengeance, pontificating on the effects of decreased structural rigidity and compromised dynamics. But from behind the wheel of the 2008 Porsche Boxster , you could really care less what anyone has to say about it. After its successful debut in 1997, the Boxster lineup received a facelift back in 2005 and a supplemental power bump in 2007. Thanks to a centrally placed engine and low center of gravity – in part a tribute to the very first Porsche ever, the 356-001 – the Boxster’s handling dynamics are sublime, and its low weight design means that even the modestly powered 2.7-liter model accelerates with ease. The Boxster is an amazingly easy to live with convertible as well, as its mid-engine design leaves both front and rear compartments free for storage. Whether you judge it by its well-appointed interior or raw performance, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a convertible that beats the Boxster at its game.








What's to Like
The Boxster boasts solid, engaging dynamics and the Porsche experience is intensified with the top down, letting you enjoy that sweet flat-six howl.

What's Not to Like
Expensive, tempting options make buying a Boxster an exercise in restraint. Standard Boxster models commonly get the Miata treatment of wrongfully being labeled “chick cars.”

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
With its engine mounted amidships, the Boxster sports excellent handling dynamics, quickly changing direction without complaint at both high and low speeds. The steering is direct and well weighted, and once at the limit divers can easily steer the car with a stab of throttle here or a minor lift there. Porsche Stability Management gives drivers a lot of freedom and only cuts in at the last second; in fact we think it’s so good it’s one of the few systems we don’t deactivate upon climbing into the cockpit. With 245 horsepower, the standard model can leave you wanting more, which is where the 295 hp Boxster S comes in. With their superb balance of power and dynamics, the Boxster and Boxster S reward patient, smooth inputs and are relentlessly entertaining. Hands down, Porsche has built one of the best convertibles on the market.

Engine and Drivetrain
The standard Boxster houses a 2.7-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine that produces 245 hp and 201 lb-ft of torque. The Boxster S is powered by a 3.4-liter H-6 that yields 295 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque. The rear wheels are driven via either a five-speed manual in the standard model or a six-speed manual in the Boxster S. A five-speed tiptronic auto is available as an option on either car, though it does slow acceleratio...

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