A classic that's more sports car than retro roadster
BY MATT NAUMAN
Mercury News Auto Editor
The temptation is to box the recently hatched covey of European roadsters -- the BMW Z3, Mercedes-Benz SLK and Porsche Boxster -- into the same carton of eggs.
That's scrambled thinking.
Aside from being two-door, two-seat, open-topped cars that came out in the same time period (mid-1990s) and originated from the same country (Germany), the three are very different in intent and accomplishment.
Think of the Z3 as a Miata with Teutonic soul. It's small, personal, stylized transportation. Even with a six-cylinder engine, it's more toy than top gun. Very pleasing, indeed, but not a serious machine.
The Mercedes SLK comes across as a more formal attempt to define this market segment. With its electronic roof and automatic transmission, the SLK is more of a modern SL convertible than a real retro roadster. Picked as the car of the year last year by America's auto writers -- including me -- the SLK is fun compared to other Mercedes models, but perhaps not as much fun as it should be.
That brings us to the Boxster, the Porsche that came to market last and is still arriving in dribbles to the well-financed among us.
It, too, is not a perfect roadster. But it is all Porsche, which means a go-get-'em engine, a slick transmission and a tight suspension. It feels like a sports car, whereas the SLK is a tourer and the Z3 a sporty coupe.
Its Porsche-ness, plus a $40,000 price tag that's buckets of cash less than other Porsches, makes the Boxster a real winner.
We've driven the Boxster twice this year over two weekends. First, early on, we were completely swept off of our feet. More recently, in the same car that now had 15,000 on its odometer, we still loved the concept and much of the execution, though we did find some minor faults.
Boxster power comes from a water-cooled, 2.5-liter six-cylinder engine that makes 201 horsepower. With a five-speed transmission -- a Tiptronic, which marries manual with automatic shifting also is available -- the engine moves the Boxster from zero to 60 mph in just under seven seconds. This is a car that feels both quick and fast. The car has both a digital and analog speedometer, which lessens your excuses for getting caught driving 90 mph on I-5.
But it's the suspension that commands attention. This is a car designed for driving. It has nimble, precise steering and excellent handling. It's the kind of car that lets you know exactly what's below, turning Botts dots into mountains and translating crumbling pavement right into your back. On good highway, the Boxster seems to hum, not rattle.
The car's exterior is just lovely. A mix of beauty and aggressiveness in perfect proportion. To my mind's eye, it's not a classic like a Porsche Spyder, but it rivals the Jaguars as the best of what's on the road today.
Our test model was bright red with a gray interior. The leather seats are suitably supportive rather than thick and comfortable. I had real trouble finding a comfortable driving position, which is probably attributable to my size. For many American men, the Boxster will be a tight fit.
Complaints about our tester include mirror covers on the visors that wouldn't stay shut, rendering the whole visor useless since those mirror flaps hung down in my face. It looked like poor design to me where a simple latch could have made a difference.
The automatic top worked easily, although the handle that you must pull down before hitting a button failed to stay neatly in place. Inside the car there is precious little storage -- and no cup holders. Storage outside is fairly good, however, since the car's mid-engine design allows both front and rear cargo space.
Boxster pricing starts at $40,000 and goes quickly beyond that. A tight market continues, which means you'll pay much more than sticker for the car. A Finnish plant has just come online, however, which means Boxster supply ought to meet demand by mid-'98 or so.
Our test model had added leather seats, floor mats and sports package with bigger
wheels, a CD player and cruise control that took the as-driven price to $46,000. Porsche
presents buyers with a list of dozens of options, some very expensive like the $2,249
removable aluminum hardtop or the $632 chrome roll bar or the $2,955 special paint.
NUTS AND BOLTS
What we drove: 1997 Porsche Boxster, a two-door roadster with a 2.5-liter six-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission.
Base price: $39,980
Price as tested (includes options and delivery charge): $46,021
0-60 mph time: 6.7 seconds
Top speed: 149 mph
Curb weight: 2,822 pounds
Length: 171.0 inches
Turning circle (curb to curb): 35.8 feet
Standard features: Anti-lock brakes; roll bar; power top and windows; speed-activated rear spoiler; filtered ventilation system; dual air bags; immobilizer anti-theft system; partial leather seats; automatic climate control; AM/FM stereo with cassette; fog lights.
Options on test vehicle: Graphite gray leather seats; floor mats; sport package with 17-inch wheels, wind deflector, CD changer and cruise control.
EPA figures: 19 mpg (city); 26 mpg (highway)
Write Matt Nauman at the Mercury News, 750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95190. Or you can phone him at (408) 920-5701; fax him at (408) 920-5917; or e-mail him at mnauman@sjmercury.com
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