The sound is intoxicating, and the sensation of the PDK gearbox snapping off full-throttle shifts will leave most drivers with an incurable smile.

The drivetrain is loud and deliberate-- with every change in throttle position met by some alteration in the engine's tone. Seems Porsche didn't worry about making the engine quiet so much as they did about making it sound responsive and gorgeous.

To maximize the machine's showmanship, a special 'Sport Plus' button is installed, too. Sport Plus puts the Boxster S’s systems on high alert-- calling up the lowest gear available, tightening the shocks and super-sensitizing the throttle. Press it for an instant adrenaline rush, or just when you're up to no good. It even pre-prints a speeding ticket ready for the closest traffic officer to sign. Just kidding.

Handling is razor sharp, highly responsive and very, very stable. Push the Boxster S towards its limits in a corner-- and they are high-- and the car squirms slightly without feeling intimidating or unpredictable. It's like driving a great big contact patch.

Best part? Despite all the performance available, highway mileage of around 8L / 100km is easy if drivers behave.

Sleek, slick and not so discreet
The latest Boxster makeover has it looking more detailed and cohesive, with head-turning power cranked up significantly to match the performance.

With the engine in the middle, Boxster even has a trunk in both front and rear.

Red brake calipers peeked out from behind the optional 19-inch wheels, there’s chrome trim around the headlamps, and the side air intakes are aluminum colored. LED lighting is on duty in front and rear, and some will notice a hint of the late Carrera GT supercar in the headlight projectors, too.

If you don’t like attention, avoid the Speed Yellow paint job. It's noticeable from a half-mile away, draws nosy neighbors over for visits and causes younger folks to sling words like ‘sick’ and ‘phat’ in your direction.

A well-sorted roadster interior
Many two-seat convertibles offer scarcely enough storage to accommodate the contents of the average back pocket, but the Boxster S has numerous compartments and relatively generous at-hand storage space. In fact, with the engine in the middle, Boxster even has a trunk in both front and rear.

Passengers unanimously loved the comfortable, soft and grippy seats, and the cabin proved snug, though not cramped. One mobility-challenged friend even insisted I tell readers that the Boxster is easy to enter and exit as small convertibles go.

Complaints include a less-than-spectacular stereo, and the big bucks Porsche charges for numerous items commonly standard in less expensive models.

$91,000
With over $20,000 worth of big-ticket options on board (including the $4,660 PDK gearbox, $2,130 adaptive lights and $2,720 adaptive suspension), the as-tested sticker climbed just north of $91,000.

That’s the cost of admission to a loaded-up entry-level Porsche-- and it leaves little wonder why Porsche ownership is a mere dream for most. Of course, for those with the means, Boxster S delivers a one-of-a-kind performance.

Stay in school, kids.




Photo Credit : Justin Pritchard