You see, with the 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder, Porsche has inverted the polarity on "more for less." The" Porsche Boxster Spyder" has a high-performance mission: It's a race car that doesn't need a trailer.One-hundred seventy-six pounds later, you've got a Boxster Spyder; lighter, lower, sharper. The Boxster Spyder is a serious piece, and if you want a cushy Boxster, the S is your ride. The Boxster Spyder disquiets those who don't understand. Air conditioning, for instance, is stripped out of the standard Porsche Boxster Spyder, though Porsche will gladly charge you $1,760 for automatic climate control. A source of scorn is the lightweight top that the Porsche Boxster Spyder comes with.
Cornering is the Porsche Boxster Spyders's strongest suit. The brilliance in what Porsche has wrought with the Porsche Boxster Spyder isn't just its impressive abilities, but in the car's approachability. The Boxster Spyder is Porsche's best chassis.
On a narrow offshoot of a road somewhere near Carmel Valley Road in Monterey, CA, I’m absolutely hammering on the Porsche Boxster Spyder and simply couldn’t be having more fun.
“The Boxster? Really?” they say, my comments so incongruous with their preconceived notions of the soft-top poseur Porsche that they simply refuse to accept my tales of canyon carving grandeur.
Weighing 176-lbs less than the standard" Porsche Boxster" S and with 10 extra horsepower, it’s as though Porsche decided to start building Lotuses. Instead of using donor parts from Toyota, it’s pure Porsche and it shows. Also important in invigorating the driving experience is the Sports Chrono Package that includes a Sport button on the dash that delivers more sensitive throttle response. Those who opt for the PDK and Sports Chrono Plus package will get a Sport Plus button that not only offers improved throttle response, but also adds quicker shift times and new shift points.
After my thrilling joyride I informed a Porsche rep of my Lotus analogy, to which he responded that the Porsche, unlike a Lotus, is also comfortable. Comfortable it is not.
Sure, it’s not brutalizing, but the stiffer and lower (0.8-inch lower) suspension is seriously firm and you’ll feel everything from suspension joints to hairline fractures in the pavement.
With leather sides, grippy Alcantara seat inserts and bright red seat belts, the car’s race-inspired theme is obvious. Outside, the Spyder gets numerous unique design cues inspired not just by the classic 1953 550 Spyder, but also the Carrera GT.
My test model was fitted with an old fashioned 6-speed manual transmission (delivering a 4.9 second 0-60 mph time) and as much as I love and respect Porsche’s PDK, I wouldn’t have this car any other way.
Combining the balanced chassis, stiff suspension, precise steering and perfectly sensitive throttle with a real stick and pedal makes for a classic motoring experience that’ll deliver the most smiles. On the canyon roads with the Sport button pressed, the car reacts perfectly to each and every input while a new program for the Porsche Stability Management (PSM) allows just a little extra slip. The stiffer suspension, limited slip differential, reduced curb weight and lower center of gravity accentuate the Boxster’s already well-balanced dynamics. The solitary complaint we have about the Spyder’s driving experience is in the braking department.
The Boxster Spyder is a toy, pure and simple. It’s designed for drivers and meant to be driven.
The 2011 Porsche Boxster ranks 1 out of 8 Luxury Sports Cars. The automotive press has always considered the Porsche Boxster a great sports car, but after test driving the new 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder, reviewers are floored. The Porsche Boxster has always been a favorite -- it’s luxurious, powerful and the perfect companion on the race track. With the introduction of the 2011 Boxster Spyder, Porsche has revolutionized the Boxster lineup.
In comparison to the Porsche Boxster and Boxster S, the Spyder is a completely different animal. “The Boxster Spyder is a serious piece, and if you want a cushy Boxster, the S is your ride."
If you’re looking for a sports car that’s a tad more practical, test drive the Chevrolet Corvette. While many reviewers say the Boxster Spyder trumps the Elise, if you’re thinking about getting the base or S Boxster, you might want to consider this sports car. If owning a luxury sports car like the Porsche Boxster is an unobtainable dream, check out the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
