Ever wonder why nobody makes diesel sports cars? New Boxster is answer

[12,000 RPM]

http://www.evo.co.uk/porsche/boxster/17792/porsche-718-boxster-review-why-everything-porsche-touches-doesn-t-always-turn

What's it like to drive?

Disappointing. Underwhelming. Soul destroying. All words and phrases I never thought I'd write about a Porsche sports car, but the 2-litre Boxster is a poor Porsche and the disappointment focuses on the moment the engine starts.

If you, or a friend, ever owned an air-cooled VW Beetle you'll immediately recognise the unsophisticated clatter when you hear a 2-litre Boxster for the first time. Unfortunately it's no better from inside, where the tone switches from that of a Beetle run on a student's budget to an Impreza turbo with a blown exhaust.

Normally, in these situations things improve when the engine's under load, but even Porsche hasn't managed to pull off the impossible here. On the move the engine sounds broken, like it's dropped a valve or two.

Then there's the throttle response, which is far slower than expected and when hooked up to the PDK 'box brings the very worst out of the double-clutch unit. On a motorway or A-road with drive selected it will kick down two ratios as a matter of course at the smallest twitch of your right foot sending the engine into a thrashy and embarrassing flare of revs. Want to add 5mph to your speed to clear the middle lane of do-gooders? That will be three gears dropped and 5500rpm, this from an engine that delivers its peak torque between 1950-4500rpm. At times I question if the engine's ECU has been calibrated with the one fitted to the gearbox, because on the majority of occasions it certainly doesn't feel like it.

Again, why they had to destroy the Boxster while a Cayenne/Panamera still comes with a range of naturally aspirated V8s I don't know. 987/981s are going to reach quasi air cooled status.

[2o6]

Stop taking Evo as gospel and get out there and drive cars

[MrH]

Stop taking Evo as gospel and get out there and drive cars

  Big plus 1.

[MX793]

Considering that early Porsches were in fact powered by air-cooled VW derived motors, the clatter and engine note should make very throwback Porsche.

The PDK programming is another matter, and IMO only serves to further reinforce the idea that these cars should be spec'ed with a proper, 3-pedal manual.

[12,000 RPM]

Stop taking Evo as gospel and get out there and drive cars

I do.... how many Ferraris have you guys driven? Come on now. This old "we can only talk cars we've driven" trope is long played out.

[2o6]

I'm not saying "you can only talk about cars you've driven" but it's stupid to form a strong opinion about a car you've never driven.



Even with basic economy cars (the vast plethora of things i've driven) and stuff like BMW's, I don't usually always agree with most reviewers.

[MrH]

Tons of reviews are talking about how great the new Boxster is. 

[FlatBlackCaddy]

But EVO is THE premier British car magazine.

They know a shitty car when they see one, they built them for decades.

[SJ_GTI]

Tons of reviews are talking about how great the new Boxster is. 

To me this is the issue. Plenty of people like the new engine.

I also think its weird they use the phrase "unsophisticated clatter." I mean...you might not like the noise of the clatter, but its there because its sophisticated (direct injection).

[MX793]

The noise source is sophisticated, the sound itself is not.

[SJ_GTI]

The noise source is sophisticated, the sound itself is not.

Isn't the source of the noise what makes it sophisticated or not? 

[MexicoCityM3]

Tons of reviews are talking about how great the new Boxster is. 

Not really. The 4 pot engine has been criticized a lot on several reviews. Also, most of the reviews are of the 718 S which has variable turbo vanes and more power. This one is of the base 718.

Reviews of the new turbo Carreras have been positive. Not so much of the 718. I guess losing two cylinders was too much.

The M2 is looking very good as a 718 Cayman competitor now. It now definitely has the better drivetrain.

[MX793]

Isn't the source of the noise what makes it sophisticated or not? 

No.  Different uses of the word "sophisticated".  Sophisticated can mean complex, but also smooth/refined.  In terms of sound quality, the latter is being used.

[68_427]

I'm waiting for companies to start releasing aftermarket exhausts.  If I could afford one of these I could afford to change the sound a bit

[Payman]

The pre-718 Boxsters will be the next NSX and S2000. If I buy a newish Boxster S with the H6 and take care of it, it shouldn't lose too much value over the next 10 years or so, and might be in demand for good money down the road.

[MexicoCityM3]

The pre-718 Boxsters will be the next NSX and S2000. If I buy a newish Boxster S with the H6 and take care of it, it shouldn't lose too much value over the next 10 years or so, and might be in demand for good money down the road.

Best would be a GTS.

[AutobahnSHO]

I never liked the look of the boxsters.

[giant_mtb]

Isn't the source of the noise what makes it sophisticated or not? 

It's like shoving a FLAC file over Bluetooth to a 2" shower speaker.

Nah, I just wanted to make a silly audio anaology.

[12,000 RPM]

It's like shoving a FLAC file over Bluetooth to a 2" shower speaker.

Nah, I just wanted to make a silly audio anaology.

What if the speaker is Bose, the music is Chumbawumba, and it's a public pool shower?

[CaminoRacer]

What if the speaker is Bose, the music is Chumbawumba, and it's a public pool shower?

You got yourself one hell of party.

[giant_mtb]

You got yourself one hell of party.