![]() ![]() It's teamed either with a slick, meaty six-speed manual transmission with hefty shift feel, or with Porsche's Doppelkupplungsgetriebe-we say "PDK," or translated, dual-clutch transmission. The stock 2.9-liter horizontally-opposed six-cylinder spins out 255 horsepower. The powertrain is pure Porsche, down to the boxer cylinder arrangement. It can't escape all situations but it's amazing how the Boxster enables average drivers to road-carver class, in just a few miles. Few cars have the immediate feel you get at the Boxster's rudder, and it's a rare moment when the tautly tuned suspension truly beats you up. ![]() On twisty roads or boulevard cruises, it feels natural and intuitive, from the steering to the brakes. No matter which model you prefer, the Boxster comes standard with brilliant acceleration and road manners. The Boxster's big tachometer sits front and center-and that sends the clearest message of all the gauges of this roadster. ![]() Lots of small buttons dot the dash, and a chintzy cupholder pops out of a flimsy plastic trim panel-but then, the dash can be slathered in leather trim or highlighted with aluminum. Ergonomics are a bit messy, but the basic shapes are familiar and friendly enough, down to the ignition on the left side of the steering wheel. Sitting at the controls, the Boxster's more functional side takes over. They're functional holes that cool the brakes and smooth airflow, but they're also a distraction from the Boxster's smoothly sculpted nose and its elliptical headlamps. The only cues that don't come off as well as they could, or should, are the big air intakes on the nose. It's a little subdued, like a timeless piece of fashion, and hasn't been updated much since it was new in the mid-2000s-but the Spyder version makes up for that with bodacious "Porsche" script down its sides, if you want. The Boxster's classic, clean lines and flowing fenders seem to erupt right from the design studio-or from a historic collection. It's a bit of oversimplification, but the Boxster is so convincing in its style because it's so close to the original Porsche Spyders, seen through modern eyes. Cornering grip is abundant, natural-feeling steering lures drivers to every next corner, and the tightly suspended Boxster won't usually rattle their teeth, even with 19-inch wheels and tires. Every Boxster will drop a 0-60 mph run in less than 5.5 seconds, whether you choose the hefty six-speed manual or the definitive seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Six cylinders hammer away behind your head long enough and you might get restive-if you're lame. Twist the key to life, and the Boxster wakes up with Porsche's trademark sonorous growl. You'll want the interior wrapped in leather, we think, as the base cabin's plastics are a little bit of a jolt once you step inside. The more the Boxster ages, the more it gains in grace. They're sculpted to bring up the past without using a dredger, and they're faired in with modern, elliptical headlamps and rhomboid taillamps that cap the shape's tidy, race-inspired surfaces. ![]() It starts from the fenders, just like the ones you've seen in historic images of Porsches past. All the numbers prove out its spectacular performance, but it's not until you get a hand on its wheel and a foot on its pedals that those those figures turn into a huge, never-fade grin. The 2011 Porsche Boxster is a rare sportscar-emotional and rational. ![]()
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