VIDEOS++ SUPERTEST: Porsche 986 Boxster S

In this blog entry, I'm reviewing the Porsche 986 Boxster S 3.2. It's produced from 1999 to 2004 with facelift in 2003 (notably GLASS Rear window instead of Plastic previously).  This car's quite rare in Malaysia (the 2.5 and 2.7 yes, quite common but NOT the Boxster S).  Nevertheless, I found 2 in the Market.  A 2001 model for RM198,000 and a 2004 unregistered model for RM280,000.  With these 2 cars, I can pretty much predict the average resale value in Malaysia:


Year:.........2000......2001......2002.....2003.....2004
Price (RM):178k......198k.....220k.....242k.....270k.

As usual, I don't have a car for me to test and brag about.  All is NOT LOST.  I dished out 5 Videos Review + 1 Main review by Goauto Australia + 1 external link review by "Autozine.org" + Specifications and LASTLY a WHOOPING 6 Owner's review (courtesy of Carsurvey.org).  So sit back, enjoy and relax...

Video 1: Porsche Boxster S (986)--Chicago Car
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e24viPtLPgs



Video 2: Porsche 986 Boxster Love Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsKixO_ekeg



Video 3: Top Gear Review - BMW Z4 (E85), Honda S2000 &Porsche Boxster (986)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDznYbip70I


Video 4: Top Gear Stig Lap - BMW Z4 (E85), Honda S2000 & Porsche Boxster (986)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egoHEvvC3Lo



Video 5: 2 Full Golf Sets in Porsche Boxster Boot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5KT01b-YCA




Porsche Reviews:

Review 1 (links)
http://www.autozine.org/html/Porsche/Boxster.html

Review 2: GoAuto Australia:  FOR COMPLETE REVIEW, VISIT:
http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/8E41014569DD89D1CA2569F40003DE85

THE BELOW ARE HIGHLIGHTED REVIEW:

Porsche / Boxster / S convertible

Overview

THE success of Porsche's Boxster roadster is undoubted.

Its pricing has allowed a whole new group to gain access to this famed Stuttgart sports car marque.

But always, from its introduction with a 2.5-litre engine, and then even when that was replaced by a 2.7, the call was for more performance.

The S delivers with more power, a six-speed manual gearbox, revised suspension and bigger brakes.

In this case "S" stands for not only sports, but sensational too.

Model release dates: October 1999 - February 2005

 

The Car

THE Boxster's aerodynamic shapes were determined as much by what you can't see as what you can. In fact, the smooth under-floor area that is an integral part of the Boxster's design contributed 6 per cent to the aerodynamics. Careful underbody shaping also reduces front-end lift by 36 per cent. Half 911 (at the front) and half exclusively Boxster, the two-seat soft-top also incorporates a retracting rear spoiler that actives at 120km/h and slides out of the way below 80km/h.

The Car - Seat Plan

THE Boxster's engine is mounted ahead of rather than behind the rear axle as in the 911, which means the Boxster is a two-seater only.

The Car - Seats

THE Boxster S's seat faces are finished in leather. A new cloth inner lining of the roof adds a luxury touch and reduces wind noise at speed.

The Car - Dash

GREY-SILVER instrument dials and aluminium-coloured instrument surrounds distinguish the Boxster S from the Boxster. The sports three-spoke leather steering wheel has a Porsche logo in aluminium colour embossed in its centre.

The Car - Controls

THE Boxster has its indicator stalk on the left of the steering column. The steering wheel is adjustable for reach only and the electric windows have a one-touch wind-down function.

The Car - Wheels/tyres

IF the standard wheel and tyre combination isn't tough enough for you, there's always the optional 7.5Jx18 front and 9Jx18 rear alloy wheels. They mate to 225/40 ZR18 front and 265/35 ZR18 rear tyres.
 
 Did you know? 
The aerodynamic drag figure for the Boxster is 0.31

The Car - Luggage

TOTAL luggage capacity is 260 litres and is split between front and rear compartments. The front luggage compartment space was maximised by using two side-mounted radiators behind the doors. The Boxster lacks a glove compartment but has lidded door bins, a lidded and lockable centre bin and three extra storage areas behind the head rests.


Did you know?The Boxster's magnesium-framed Z-fold convertible top was awarded a design prize by the International Magnesium Agency in Ube, Japan

The Car - What's changed

THE front-end look of the S is changed in comparison to the 2.7 by new air vents in the front spoiler. There are also bigger wheels and brakes with red calipers emphasising the car's sporting focus.

The Car - Stand out features

A SMALL spoiler pops up automatically at the back of the car at speeds over 120km/h to help cut drag and reduce lift. It can be raised or lowered manually by an interior switch. Porsche claims this is the first car to use PVC TPO film, which stops windows fogging up and prevents evaporation from plastic surfaces.

Did you know?

The concept Boxster was first seen at the Detroit motor show in 1993

The Car - Climate control

CLIMATE-CONTROL air-conditioning is standard and operated via a panel integrated into the centre console area. The ventilation system incorporates a charcoal filter to prevent pollutants from entering the vehicle.

The Car - Sound system

THE basic sound system uses two speakers and an AM/FM radio/CD. A more powerful sound system with six speakers and a higher-power four-channel amplifier is optional.

Did you know?

Around 15 per cent of Boxster sales are to women

The Car - Security

THE Boxster has remote control central locking and an engine immobiliser. However, its canvas roof does mean that access is easy for any thief armed with a sharp knife.

Our opinion

We like
Dynamics, styling, depth of engineering, sheer everyday useability

Room for improvement No cruise control, no left footrest, style suffers with roof up

Did you know?

The Boxster was styled by a team headed by Harm Lagay, the director of Porsche's design studio

Other opinions

		"We haven't met too many people - in fact, any people - who aren't smitten by the Porsche Boxster"
		"The Boxster is just copybook Porsche with the wheel bulges bobbing slightly in front of you. If anybody can tell me how Porsche manages such precise handling and a soft ride, I'm keen to talk to them"

Mechanical

  

Mechanical - Plan views

THE Boxster S's horizontally opposed engine sits inside the rear axle line and powers the rear wheels. This is a slightly different arrangement to the Porsche 911, which actually hangs the engine out beyond the rear axle line.

Mechanical - Engine

THE mid-mounted, oversquare Boxster engine is not exactly a reversed version of the similarly configured 911 engine, although obviously there is some commonality - for example the 78mm stroke crankshaft. A difference is the use of an oil chamber, rather than a separate oil tank as used in the 911, for a less complex design. Both cylinder heads are identical and breathe through plastic intake manifolds. Normally hidden entirely from view, the mid-mounted engine is accessible from underneath, from above, or from the front through special "service openings". The engine is cooled via a split radiator system, located ahead of the rear wheels on either side of the car.

Mechanical - Suspension

THE Boxster's MacPherson strut suspension system is mounted, front and rear, on alloy subframes. Many of the suspension parts are also cast from light alloy. The rear suspension utilizes Porsche's passive-steer Weissach axle originally conceived for the 928, further developed so the rear wheels steer independently of each other to increase stability by promoting more understeer as cornering forces rise.


Did you know?
The Boxster went from concept to production reality in 42 months

Mechanical - Electronic system

BOXSTER S uses the Motronic ME 7.2 engine management system previously seen in the 911 Carrera 4. Compared to the Motronic M 5.2 featured on the original Boxster, the big difference is the electronic accelerator pedal or E-Gas. Porsche says E-Gas imroves cruise control accuracy and increases smoothness when taking off or changing gears in the optional Tiptronic S gearbox.


Did you know?The increase in engine displacement is achieved through the enlargement of the bore and stroke, and a new crankshaft

Mechanical - Transmission

STANDARD transmission in the Boxster S is a six-speed manual. The optional automatic is a five-speed, utilising Tiptronic manual override and incorporating an "intelligent" function. The system is able to detect gradients and will refrain from the "hunting" up and down through ratios to which many autos are prone. For example it will hold a lower gear on throttle lift-off, or change down appropriately with an application of the brakes. The automatic transmission has five programmes or shift maps, which are selected depending on driving style.

Did you know?

A hardtop and roof rack system are available at extra cost

Mechanical - Brakes

THE braking system uses alloy four-piston brake calipers in a single-piece design - a concept that comes straight from Formula One. Cooling air is provided by ducts and special spoilers on the lower control arms. Anti-lock is by Bosch's ABS 5.0 system. Disc diameter is 298mm at the front and 292mm at the rear.

Did you know?

Porsche claims the Boxster is the first production car to use race-developed four-piston "monobloc" brake calipers

Mechanical - Steering

THE rack and pinion steering system is hydraulically power assisted, a system designed to absorb road shock while providing a strong feeling of being in touch with the road. Power steering came relatively late to rear-engined Porsches, introduced with the 911 range in 1986.

Did you know?

The Porsche turns from kerb to kerb in 10.9 metres

Safety

THE Boxster comes with dual front airbags as well as side bags. It incorporates crumple zones at the front and rear, as well as side-impact beams in the doors. The body shell is made of two-sided hot galvanised steel which, according to Porsche, gives better deformation performance than lightweight materials. Stainless steel rollover bars are built-in behind the seats and high-strength steel reinforcements are built into the windscreen frame for improved rollover strength.

Did you know?

The production Boxster is longer, wider and higher than the original concept car

END OF GOAUTO AUSTRALIA'S HIGHLIGHTED REVIEW.

Let's PROCEED TO SPECIFICATIONS:

SOURCE:
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/1414/Porsche-986-Boxster-S.html

NOTE: For 2003 Porsche have revised both Boxster models. VarioCam technology used on the engines have increased output for both models with 7 bhp, from 253 to 260 bhp for the 'S' model. The roof now drops at a steeper angle to the rear lid, offering a contour line very similar to the aluminium hardtop available as an option. This new shape is provided by an additional, fourth roof bracket above the new rear window now made of glass. Further subtile modifications have been made to exterior; the front 'lip' running beneath the air intakes is more sharply contoured on the new Boxster, merging on both sides into a feature designers refer to as the 'sickle line'.

General specifications
Country of origin     Germany
Numbers built     N/A
Produced from     2002 - 2004

Engine
Configuration     B 6
Location     Mid, longitudinally mounted
Construction     aluminium block and head
Displacement     3.179 liter / 194 cu in
Bore / Stroke     93.0 mm (3.7 in) / 78.0 mm (3.1 in)
Compression     11.0:1
Valvetrain     4 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed     Bosch Motronic ME 7.8 Fuel Injection
Aspiration     Naturally Aspirated

Drivetrain
Chassis/body     unitary steel
Front suspension     McPherson struts, aluminium longitudinal and track control arms, spring struts, conical base springs
Rear suspension     McPherson struts, aluminium longitudinal and track control arms plus tie-rod, spring struts, coil springs
Brakes     ventilated discs, all-round, ABS
Gearbox     6 speed Manual
Drive     Rear wheel drive

Dimensions
Weight     1320 kilo / 2910.1 lbs
Length / Width / Height     4320 mm (170.1 in) / 1780 mm (70.1 in) / 1290 mm (50.8 in)
Wheelbase / Track (fr/r)     2415 mm (95.1 in) / 1455 mm (57.3 in) / 1514 mm (59.6 in)

Performance figures
Power     260 bhp / 194 KW @ 6200 rpm
Torque     310 Nm / 229 ft lbs @ 4700 rpm
BHP/Liter     82 bhp / liter
Power to weight     0.2 bhp / kg
Top Speed     264 km/h / 164 mph
0-62 mph     5.6 s

Resources
Suggested reading     Porsche, Excellence was expected, by Karl Ludvigsen


Without further ado, let's proceed to Owner's Review (source: www.carsurvey.org/)
Owner 1: 2000 Porsche Boxster S review from UK and Ireland
"A poor mans 911? - NO WAY"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

No faults so far with the car.
General comments?

The car has fantastic handling and performance. I expected to be a little disappointed with the cars performance having previously had a 964 911. The boxster does not have the out and out savage power delivery of the old car, but its not far off and the handling is awesome.

I am just over 6 feet tall and fit in to the car no problem. The cabin is a world apart from the old 911's with modern dashboard and instrument layout. The heating and ventilation is a vast improvement.

In terms of practicallity the two boots provide adequate storage for two peoples weekend luggage, in cabin storage though is limited to the door pockets.

Average score: 7.4/10

OWNER 2: 2001 Porsche Boxster S review from North America
"Quick, nimble, beautiful, comfortable, prestigious, soulful. A sportscar for the ages"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Nothing has gone wrong with this car yet.
General comments?

Absolutely gorgeous car, a dream come true. The seats grab you in a bear hug, and the engine sounds as beautiful as any out there.

A very quick car, although a bit underpowered. In the drivers seat you don't notice the 'lack' of power, I am saying that after comparing it to the 911.

I picked the boxster over the 911 because I found that it handles somewhat better, presumably due to the midengine design, and it's lower cost. This allowed me to purchase pretty much every option available, including a custom interior from Porsche.

The car stays planted, dancing through tight turns with almost no roll. While accelerating and braking the car does not pitch at all, something whiched really amazed me coming off my Camaro.

All the controls are crisp. The clutch is extraordinarily smooth, and the shifts, although very tight, are extremely easy to execute.

Although the deep blue of my boxster is not quite as flashy as red or yellow, the loud engine and beautiful styling still attract attention, both good (pedestrians and fellow drivers) and bad (traffic cops).

Perhaps the Boxster's best feature is it's soul. Nothing surpasses the thrill I get of waking up early Sunday morning with my girlfriend, firing up the engine, dropping the top and finding a deserted road. When I open the throttle, I am free, leaving any and all problems behind, along with a long patch of Pirelli rubber.

It is worth every last penny. For kicks, I test drove an Aston Martin DB7 cabrio, and that car, while gorgeous and sexy, couldn't touch my boxster. It seemed very soft. I understand that a GT such as the ASton is a different breed than a sporty roadster, but even a car three times the price didn't provide as much thrill as the Porsche Boxster.

Drive several different cars, and pick the one you like. Don't get the Boxster and come bitching about value. Get the car because you love it, because it stirrs something deep inside you. The Boxster should be purchased from your heart, not your head.

Average score: 8.2/10

OWNER 3:
2002 Porsche Boxster S review from Netherlands
"Heaven on earth"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Absolutely nothing.
General comments?

What an abosolute dream car! Two years ago when I first stepped into my tuned Audi S3 I thought this was heaven on earth.

But now I know there is more. The Boxster S is the absolute best car I have ever driven in. (includes 911/ BMW M5 etc/ Audi RS4 etc). It starts with the incredible need shape. If utopia would have a shape... it would look like a Boxster.

Turn the key and the roaring engine makes you shiver time and time again.

In other words...heaven!

Average score: 8.0/10

Owner 4:
2002 Porsche Boxster S review from North America
"This car is made to drive!"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Nothing.
General comments?

The 2002 Porsche Boxster S, as I would assume all Porsche Boxster models, wants to have fun. Upon purchasing this car I realized just how much enjoyable a drive to work could be. Its like being a teenager again. I don't think there could be a mass produced car that is more fun to drive for the price.

Acceleration is great, handling is amazing, trannsmission is smooth and tight. The mid-engine completely out performance other rear or front wheel drive cars when it comes to handling. It may not be the fastest car out there, but put the top down, head into the mountains and you will experience what a roadster was meant to be.

Porsche is about performance and driving... this car lives up to its name.
Overall score: 7.0/10

OWNER 5:
2002 Porsche Boxster S review from UK and Ireland
"A bargain"
What things have gone wrong with the car?

Creaks from soft-top: seems to be common fault on 2003 model year (mountings come "dry" from factory) solved by dealer lubrication. Radio sometimes re-sets its self for no apparent reason.
General comments?

A rare thing in the motoring world: something which lives up to the hype. The Boxster comes with a big reputation and a fair price tag so it's a pleasure to be able to report it is actually a bargain.

Firstly, it is a huge amount of fun to drive, far more so than many similar competitors. Handling and road feel are excellent and performance from the 3.2 litre engine more than adequate (although the chassis could probably take more power without alteration), the engine is very flexible and will pull from 10mph in 3rd without complaining, it is also very smooth and refined without being too quiet.

Oddly enough, it's not the sporting side of the Boxster which impresses the most because you'd expect it to be good at that. What surprises is what a very accomplished long distance, everyday car it is. The car is very refined on the motorway (03 models now have a glass screen) and the soft-top cuts out more noise than you'd expect. It is a very undemanding long distance car.

Bad points: Some of the fixtures and fittings are a bit cheap and nasty for the price, some of the (expensive) options really should be standard, the 2 year warranty is mean, the cabin is a bit short of leg room and its prone to stone chips.

Costs wise 28mpg can be achieved, 26-27mpg in regular driving although fuel consumption can increase considerably when driving hard.

Recommended.
Overall rating: 7.4/10


OWNER 6:
2003 Porsche Boxster S review from North America
"A keeper"
What things have gone wrong with the car?

There have been no service issues with the car.
General comments?

The interior is reasonable, nothing out of sorts for a modern vehicle. Porsche will make you put line items in for little doodads you might not expect. E.g. variable wind-shield wiper speed. The fit and finish overall is excellent. What plastic bits there are have a nice texture to them. However this isn't a luxury vehicle.

The ride can only be experienced. Well, I'll take a shot: Do you remember ever driving a go-kart? How when you turned the wheel the kart just went that way? That's how this car drives. Everything feels "linear" in the sense that you get no suprises and things feel "right". This is by nature a more "hard" riding car. But on the highway it feels pliant enough to not shake your fillings out on a long trip. I had an SUV from Mazda that I refused to drive long distances in... but this car is either so fun that I don't notice, or has better overall feel on the highway.

The power of the 2003 Boxster S is great. The car seems to change character on you at about 4.5 to 5K RPM. It goes from subtle to freaky fast very quickly at that point.

The brakes are astoundingly good "feeling". You can brake hard and still get a lot of information... It is hard to describe, but I can only say they seem "linear". Not grabby or pulsy.

Sure there are faster/quicker cars on the market... but the total package here is beautiful, fast, and furious if you want it to be.

I would have no problems recommending this vehicle to a family member!

OVERALL RATING: 8.8/10

END OF REVIEW...

That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry.