First Drive: 2007 Porsche Boxster S

<h5> 2007 Porsche Boxster S </h5> <div>ByScott Oldham</div> <div>Date posted: 08-21-2006</div> <div></div> <div> </div> This one falls under the heading of painfully obvious. No clairvoyance necessary. Even Fox sportscaster Joe Buck, who once said, 'Wood bats continue to be made of wood,' knew Porsche would plop the 3.4-liter six from the Cayman S into the Boxster S. The only question was, 'When?' The answer is now. Right now. As in the 2007 Porsche Boxster S, which is arriving at your local Porsche store just in time for football season. More motor good Here's the deal. Porsche has tossed the 3.2-liter engine that previously powered the Boxster S into the trash can. Sort of. This new 24-valve 3.4-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder is based on that engine, but it wears the same cylinder heads and uses the same VarioCam Plus variable valve timing and lift system as the 325-hp 3.6-liter flat-six in the Porsche 911 Carrera . Power ratings are 295 hp at 6250 rpm and 251 pound-feet of torque at 4400 rpm — the same numbers listed for the Cayman S, which shares its chassis with the drop-top Boxster. That's an increase of 15 hp and 15 pound-feet of torque over the 2006 Boxster S. Base price is also up, but just $800 to $55,500 — a Cayman S starts at $59,695. Also borrowed from the Cayman S is the roadster's standard six-speed manual gearbox. This gearbox uses shorter 1st- and 2nd-gear ratios than the six-speed previously fitted in the Boxster S. The yellow example we threw around the twisting turning roads south of Knoxville, Tennessee, was equipped with the manual, as God intended, but a five-speed automatic Porsche calls 'Tiptronic S' is optional. All Boxsters remain rear-wheel drive. The last Cayman S we tested zoomed from zero to 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds and covered the standing quarter-mile in 13.2 seconds at 105 mph. The previous 280-hp Boxster S , could not keep pace, but now the Boxster S should be clicking off very similar acceleration times. In fact, Porsche says the '07 Boxster S will hit 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, which makes it much quicker than the last 911 Carrera Cabriolet Tiptronic we sampled. Top speed, says Porsche, is up 2 mph to a nice, round 169 mph. FYI, power is also going up in the non-S Boxster, just not as radically. Its 2.7-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder is shared with the non-S Cayman, and Porsche says it's an all-new engine, not just a modification of the 2.7 that powered the 2006 Boxster. The VarioCam Plus intake valve timing and lift system is part of the package, as are the dual-chamber intake system and a higher 11.3:1 compression ratio. Horsepower is up to 245 at 6500 rpm and torque now peaks at 201 lb-ft at 4600, which is 5 hp and 2 lb-ft over last year's Boxster. Boxsters come standard with a five-speed manual transmission, but the Tiptronic S and the six-speed are optional. Engine for the ages When we road-tested the Cayman S, we said this about its 3.4-liter six, 'An engine for the ages, the flat-six storms toward its 7300-rpm redline as quickly as the rev counter can count, growling more like a living beast than a man-made machine.' Stuffed into the open-top Boxster, the double-overhead-cam engine is no less sweet. Peak torque sticks around until 6000 rpm, so the big six has plenty of midrange. Big-block junkies might complain about a light bottom end, but they've spent too much time under the hoods of their Novas. The transmission's shorter 1st and 2nd gears make it way easy to get the engine up to its happy zone and keep it there, even on the tightest mountain roads. On the highway, passing that slowpoke in the 2006 Boxster can be accomplished quickly and easily without even a single downshift. In 6th gear at 80 mph, the 3.4-liter is humming along at just below 4000 rpm, ready to strike. Unchanged underpinnings All the suspension hardware and geometry remains the same, which means the hardtopped Cayman S continues to use firmer rear springs, stiffer dampers and a slightly smaller rear sway bar than its topless sister. If you need to feel every ripple in the road, you can opt up to the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) which stiffens the suspension with the push of a button. Whatever, the midengine Boxster S is a wonderfully athletic machine with extraordinary chassis balance. When tossed around, it manages to feel glued to the road and light on its feet at the same time. Body roll and midcorner bumps are never an issue, while its variable-ratio steering seems to be hardwired into the driver's synapses. Push too hard and mild understeer keeps you from finding the ditch tailpipe first. In our slalom test, the last Cayman S we tested carved its way through the cones at an incredible 72.2 mph, which is one of the fastest slalom speeds we've ever recorded. Its 0.98g performance around the skid pad is equally impressive. The 2965-pound Boxster S shouldn't be far behind in either test. Meanwhile, it supplies a remarkably compliant ride despite its 19-inch low-profile Michelin Pilot Sport tires. Brakes are the same big ventilated discs and four-piston calipers that stopped the last Boxster S we tested from 60 mph in just 105 feet. They're arguably the best brakes in the world, with exceptional pedal feel and tremendous resistance to fade. We couldn't cook them, even in full attack mode on the Tail of the Dragon — an appropriately named 318-turn, 11-mile stretch of highway 129 that cuts through The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. More new Aside from the additional power, all 2007 Boxster models are also equipped with Porsche's Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which continuously monitors the air pressure in each tire. It's standard, while the 19-inch, forged-alloy, two-tone wheels that were developed for the new 911 Turbo are now on the option sheets of both Boxster models. Service access has also been improved, as the coolant and engine-oil filler caps are now located behind an easily accessible flap, so that better use can be made of the rear trunk. Entry-level? Our yellow Boxster S was no stripper. Expensive options it wore included heated seats, 19-inch wheels, PASM, the color-matched console and roll bar (referring to the car in the video), a Bose sound system and the Chrono Package, which adds a stopwatch to the top of the dash. We estimate its as-tested price to be up around $65,000, which is by no means in line with the Boxster's 'entry-level Porsche' label, but is certainly justified by the amount of car you get to drive home. Speaking of strippers, it would have taken the *****cat Dolls to improve our day spent flogging the roadster — the Tail of the Dragon lived up to the hype and the Boxster S has solidified its place among the best sports cars in the world. Of course the Dolls didn't show up, so we dined in the hotel ptomaine bar and hit the hay, alone. Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report. <br clear="all" />

You know I got an envelope from PCNA yesterday with the new Boxster brochure in it, I wonder if they are trying to tell me something? /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/tounge_smile.gif

So, finally I can tell to allindividuals asking about theconvertible version of the Cayman S , thatit's available in form of the New Boxster S - same engine as the Cayman S . They should have changed the Boxster S name to Cayman S Convertible only for individuals looking for the rag top version of the Cayman . /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/crazy.gif

*****cat Dolls? So you can't have a ***** Cat on this board? Edited by - lrrpjoe on 08/22/2006 09:28:46 AM

The Cayman S cabriolet looks cool. /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/wink_smile.gif

'This one falls under the heading of painfully obvious. No clairvoyance necessary. Even Fox sportscaster Joe Buck, who once said, 'Wood bats continue to be made of wood,' knew Porsche would plop the 3.4-liter six from the Cayman S into the Boxster S . The only question was, 'When?'' Any guess on when Porsche will plop the discarded 3.2 into the base Boxster and Cayman ?

my take for the next 6 years: next Cayman S will be a "detuned" 3.8lt, becoming the next " 911 ". Base Carrera will start off from a peppy 3.8 and the S with a 4.0, 8 cyl, or giving way to a " Panamera coupe" altogether, new P design, new segment. Maybe more carbon maybe more alum, sub 4.5s. The next Carrera GT (GT1) will be a beast, a-la-veyron, but less than half the price. We might see another entry level "animal", 250hp, but costing $5-8K less than the base boxter, sharing many VW parts (the new ricer). A real entry level P (its all about making money right?). OK back to the swamp..

I can understand people wanting or dreaming that Caymans will get huge increases in HP but, IMHO, I don't see it coming if history serves (and what do they say about learning from history?). IMO, 997 will drop the base carrera. One version ... maybe a bit more than 355. There is no need for Porsche to sell X51 power as stock when the well heeled are very willing to buy X51 kits. 998 'may' be mid-engined. Who knows, but doubtful. The 'faithful' might have a fit. Is Porsche going to bite the hand that feeds them? Cayman, IMO gets minor increases to keep it below 997 and 'maybe' above Boxster. maybe Boxster gets the same. BMW competition may force its hand. Same platform ... there is no logical reason why not to use the same engine in both cars. Just an opinion

hmmmm....dont know whether to be happy or sad.

You have to wonder a year from today what will we be saying??? Russ

RE: Engines for 2008 997/987 models <ul> [*]997 C gets the3.8 355 HP 0-60 4.6 secs. Top Speed 182 mph [*]997 CS gets the 3.8 with the X51 Powerkit 381 hp [*]987 CS getsthe 3.6 325 HP 0-60 4.6 secs. Top Speed 182 mph [/list] Source: Porsche dealer employee Degree of confidence 50% Power Kit includes modified cylinder heads, exhaust manifolds, ECU, additional radiator (only for manual transmission), carbon fiber air-cleaner housing, aluminium-intake system and sports exhaust system with pair of dual-tube tailpipes in individual design in chrome-plated stainless steel. Edited by - mpollard on 08/22/2006 7:21:54 PM

How reliable is this information? I wouldn't mind waiting 12 months if it were true. Edited by - BostonDMD on 08/22/2006 7:01:44 PM

So, 2008 gets a 3.6 with LSD ? De-snork, intake/ exhaust mod and buh-bye!

i heard of the same thing. i sure hope it's true. then perhaps there may be a 3.6L CSRS?

In the meanwhile, I'm going to continue lovin' my Cayman S ... Can't drive a rumour or a spec sheet. ==RedEye

mp: I take it, since you didn'tmention it, that your source did not address the Cayman for '08. But from the info you have, might we speculate that the '08 Cayman will have the 3.4L/295HP engine? Please alert me/us if you get any firm info on this issue (since you usually seem to be ahead of most of us with news of this sort). In my financial situation, I am really hesitant to spend $60K for an '07Cayman, and will wait until early next year in hopes that some investments will pay off. So maybe by then there will be firm news on the '08 and I could wait just a few <u>more</u> months and order a car equal to the current Cayman S at a bit lower price. Although I have been planning to trade my current car in by April 2007, I still like my car and wouldn't mind keeping it until the Fall. On the other hand, if the '08 Cayman will still have the 2.7L/245HP engine, then I'll opt for an '07.

Taller 1st and 2nd gear ratio...

It just makes me more excited to put the Cayman on the Dragon /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/drive.gif

This is 'somewhat' what the renntech ppl are discussing but only in the sense that the 997 gets a mid-year facelift (a short MY2007 with MY2008 starting with new announcement in April) and minor HP bump. It just does not make economic sense for Porsche to give away the X51 kit when there are many buyers more than willing to pay for it. There is no reference as to boxS or CS getting anymore HP for 08. It doesn't make sense for the middle or low end sports car to have the same acceleration and top speed as the base carrera. I dont see them ever doing that. Dreaming ... Someone buys a 997S in say May, 2007 only to find out for $30K less a Sept 2007 Cayman is just as fast as what you just bought??? How well is that going to go over?

Your hate me for saying this, but what we need...........and are going to get in a Bloody Good recession! The 968 Clubsport was the result of the last one, when Porsche suddenly found they needed to build car for DRIVERS! I hear from a source at Jag that Porsche are trying to buy VAG so they can raid Audi for production alloy body knowage. I bet Alloy Boxster and 911s are not far away as are 7 speed DSG gearboxes...........and only TRUE drivers will be able to buy them! (no leaseing companys) Mike

Everyone, I was at the grass roots meeting, and I can say with some certainty that there has been nothing even remotely mentioned regarding these changes--and I am pretty hooked in here. What we do know is: 1) Porsche is very busy with the revamp of the Cayenne , and then it is all Panamera after that. 2) Porsche will never place the Cayman in the same range as the 911 --although I personally think it is already there. Take a look at the past: Boxster : 1998-2002 217 hp 2003-225 hp 2005-240 hp Boxster S 2000-2002 250hp, 2003-2004 258 hp, 2005-2006 280 hp, 2007 295 hp 911 --even less change-- 1999-2001 300 hp, 2002-2004 320 hp, 2005 325 hp Their horse power changes are incremental. I hope you are all right, but I would not hold my breath on this one.

I almost choked with laughter at this. First off, 50% means he doesn't have the foggiest idea. Secondly, dealer employees are the most unreliable sources of information on the planet.

Hey gang, I droive a 2005 boxter s yesterday,a year and a half old boxster s with only6,000 miles. What an underpowered engine, it was horrible drive when comparing it to my CS....horrible turns, horrible pickup, and because of the cover, you can hear flapping.... the engine sound is bland inside of the cabin due to the external noise. I was comparing it to my cayman s . A world of difference. I know it is a 2005 Boxster , but I had the chance to drive it to have a base for comparison. I'll go try to test drive the 07 boxster if they have it a a dealership today. Now I know what everyone means when comparing the CS to a 2006 <= boxster . Go CS !