2008 Porsche Boxster RS 60 San Diego CA

November 3, 2009   By Mike Bumbeck, DriverSide Contributor



2008 Porsche Boxster
DriverSide Overview
The Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder celebrates a tradition of mid-engine roadsters that began with the 1951 Porsche 550 Spyder. The 550 was refined into the 718, a car that earned a reputation as a giant killer over higher horsepower Ferraris with a 1-2 punch win at Lemans in 1953. In 1960, a 718 RS 60 Spyder took the win at Sebring. This edition of the Boxster S is a modern tribute to that car. The 2008 RS 60 is seeped in a timeless past, but leaves behind the rattle and buzz of yore. Gone are the thinly cushioned bucket seats and castor bean oil fumes of the original 1960 RS 60. In its place is the cumulative racing knowledge of Porsche infused with the company's winning heritage.





What's to Like
Nimble mid-engine handling with an interior that conveys history without seeming retro. 60 mph arrives in 5.1 seconds. The 170 mph track speed is only slightly shy of that reached by the 1.5 million dollar RS Spyder race cars coming off the top end of the Sebring back stretch. 303 horsepower never sounded so good.
 
What's Not to Like
For those who might forget a sporting roadster is about the purity of driving comes a level of impracticality and price that accompanies a two-seat sports car. Those unwilling to live with a thoroughly modern sports car with a peripheral eye on the past are advised to look elsewhere.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
In normal driving mode, the RS 60 edition is compliant and well behaved enough to handle mixed conditions or daily driver traffic with aplomb. A touch of a few center console mounted buttons and everything changes. Throttle response and suspension damping instantly come back in line with the machine's racing bloodline. Heel and toe downshifting via the perfectly spaced pedals followed by on throttle acceleration brings a rewarding growl of power from the engine. The sport exhaust sings on perfectly on-line corner exits. The RS 60 is as fun to drive as a Stollen eating contest at Christmas time.
 
Engine and Drivetrain
Directly in front of the rear wheels and right behind the cabin is a 303 horsepower version of the Porsche 3.4 liter VarioCam plus equipped flat-six. Four camshafts and four valves per cylinder make fast and beautiful music right up to the 7,300 rpm redline. The six-speed manual snicks into gears with the kind of precision that liberates driver attention for more important corner exit and brake point decisions.
 
Interesting Vehicle Features and Options
Beyond the engineering at the RS 60 core are subtle touches that distinguish this Boxster from its brethren. Up front is a Porsche SportDesign aero package. Gone is the usually bulging instrument cluster cover for a clean nod to racing function and form. Stainless steel door entry guards tout the model designation. Thin spacers move the 19-inch SportDesign wheels out exactly far eno...

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