One could surmise Porsche had become leery of the roadster layout. Perhaps unrelated, the fact is Porsche had failed to design a roadster-specific vehicle since the infamous 550 Spyder – the car that killed James Dean. Undeserved reputations aside, all that changed in 1996 with the release of the Porsche Boxster, a car representative of everything it is to be Porsche. With its drop top and neutral handling due to a flat-six engine mounted amidships, the Boxster offers a driving experience arguably more purely Porsche than the iconic 911.
A redesign in 2009 saw a long list of improvements, including an increase in displacement for the base engine and the addition of DFI in the S, changes that resulted in more power and increased fuel economy. There were also suspension and steering improvements, a cosmetic redesign, and transmission augmentation that shortened the throws of the six-speed manual and saw the addition of Porsche’s PDK system. With such monumental changes so close in the rearview, Porsche could’ve understandably coasted through 2010, but has decided instead to unveil an all-new trim – the Boxster Spyder.
Following the release of commemorative and limited production versions of the Boxster Spyder in 2007 and 2009, the full production Boxster Spyder is the lightest Porsche on the market at 2,811 pounds, a full 176 lighter than the already svelte Boxster S. Those weight savings are thanks to a chucked radio and air conditioning system, near bikini top, aluminum deck and doors, and lightweight seats and 19-inch wheels. Given these changes, all reversible through the options list, the Boxster Spyder can officially be called the rebirth of the 550. It gets a suspension lowered by 0.8 inches, with stiffer springs and shocks as well, and the 3.4-liter, direct-injected flat six pulled straight out of the Cayman S for 320 hp, a full 10 hp more than the Boxster S reached 950 rpm later, with a final redline of 7,500. While impressive, the focus is all on weight savings, as evidenced by the cloth loop door handles and the optional lithium-ion battery.
The base Boxster reprises the 255-hp, 2.9-liter flat six, increased in displacement last year from 2.7 liters, while the Boxster S gets the direct-injected 3.4-liter six, good for 310 hp. All three trims get the option of a six-speed manual transmission or the seven-speed, double-clutch PDK automated manual, which results in both increased fuel economy and acceleration. The Boxster and Boxster S put up EPA estimates of 19/27 and 19/26 mpg respectively, but nixing the clutch will bump both cars' figures to 20/29 – not bad for cars that’ll make it to 60 in less than 5 seconds.
Traction control is standard, and the Porsche Stability Management system added Brake Pre-Loading and Assist last year, priming the hydraulic braking system whenever the driver rapidly removes his foot from the accelerator, bringing the brake pads slightly closer to the rotors for decreased stopping time and distance. If you want even better performance from the four-piston aluminum monobloc fixed calipers, ceramic composite brakes are an option.
While the Spyder uses a manual top as part of its weight-savings regimen, the rest of the Boxster lineup gets a power-folding top that will show the sun in a scant 12 seconds. Alloy wheels increase in size progressively throughout the range, starting at 17 and ending 2 inches larger in the Spyder. Regardless of iteration, the Boxster offers an uncontaminated version of Porsche purity, something many have called into question thanks to the Cayenne and the Panamera. Go ahead, prove them wrong – make James Dean proud.
Hi, I have always loved Porsche cars and there is one that has fairly low mileage, its cute and sporty. 'what I am concerned about is the maintenance on this car. It is a 6 speed (which I love) but I am concerned about the maintenence and the cost of fixing this kind of car. could you give me you advice please. thank you sherri
Air Conditioning
Active charcoal air filtration · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · USB auxiliary audio input · CD changer: 6 · 6 disc CD/DVD in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Bose · AM/FM radio · Remote CD changer location: in trunk · XM satellite radio · Total Number of Speakers: 7 · 325 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 12.5 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.8 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: carbon · Dash trim: alloy · Door sill trim: stainless steel · Door trim: aluminum · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Parking brake trim: leather and alloy · Shift knob trim: aluminum and leather · Steering wheel trim: alloy
Convenience Features
Center console: second row · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: driver seat · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 3 total · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Manual adjustments: 4 · Power adjustments: 2
Drivetrain
Limited slip differential: rear · Locking differential: rear
Exterior Features
Mirror color: aluminum · Paint: special factory paint
Header
Option Delete: Generic
Headrests
Front headrests: integrated · Number of front headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 6.5 in.
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low oil pressure
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4 · Power adjustments: 2
Roof
Convertible rear window: glass · Convertible roof: hard top
Safety
Parking sensors: rear
Seatbelts
Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: sport bucket · Heated: mulitlevel · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: alcantara · Ventilated: front
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Speed Rating: Z · Type: performance
Tires and Rims
Run flat tires: puncture sealing compound with electric compressor · Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: speed sensitive
Air Conditioning
Active charcoal air filtration · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · USB auxiliary audio input · CD changer: 6 · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Bose · AM/FM radio · Remote CD changer location: in trunk · XM satellite radio · Total Number of Speakers: 7 · 325 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 12.5 · Front brakes: disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.8 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: wood · Dash trim: alloy · Door sill trim: stainless steel · Door trim: wood · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Parking brake trim: alloy · Shift knob trim: aluminum · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 3 total · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Manual adjustments: 4 · Power adjustments: 2
Drivetrain
Limited slip differential: rear · Locking differential: rear
Exterior Features
Mirror color: aluminum · Paint: special factory paint
Header
Option Delete: Generic
Headrests
Front headrests: integrated · Number of front headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 6.5 in.
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: cornering · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4 · Power adjustments: 2
Roof
Convertible rear window: glass · Convertible roof: hard top
Safety
Parking sensors: rear
Seatbelts
Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: sport · Heated: mulitlevel · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: leather · Ventilated: front
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Navigation system: DVD navigation system · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Profile: 40 · Speed Rating: Z · Type: performance · Width: 235
Tires and Rims
Run flat tires: puncture sealing compound with electric compressor · Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: alloy
Wheels
Width: 9.0
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent