Driving the Boxster

After experiencing a dead battery at the end of last year, I felt like taking the Boxster out for a drive again. So, early in the new year, I decided on a short touring trip.

For a day trip from Kansai, somewhere with no snow worries this season and where driving an open car feels great, Awaji Island naturally came to mind.

Honestly, as someone who loves driving, the roads on Awaji Island feel a bit tame, but this time I decided to take it slow and enjoy the scenery, so Awaji Island it was.

I drove my 964 to the parking lot where the Boxster was parked, then got into my beloved Boxster after a long time. The unique scent of the Boxster filled the cabin. I started the engine, shifted into first gear, and set off.

Once past the busy city traffic, I opened the roof and headed toward the highway entrance.

Switching to Sport Plus mode, I floored the accelerator merging onto the highway, and a thrilling roar poured down from above. Whispering to myself, ‘This is it, after all,’ I savored the sublime acceleration.

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires are almost worn out, with the tread wear indicators showing. However, the surprising thing about these tires is that the ride quality hardly deteriorates.

With other tires I’ve used, the ride comfort clearly dropped as they wore down, but these maintain comfort remarkably well.

Heading to Awaji Island

Cruising comfortably, I headed west on the Hanshin Expressway.

Testing the Boxster’s sharp handling, I took the curve at Tarumi JCT and proceeded onto the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway.

After a break at Awaji SA, I deliberately drove in 4th and 5th gears on the highway. Before I knew it, I arrived at Kita-Awaji IC.

From here, I headed south along the Awaji Sunset Line. The Awaji Sunset Line sounds charming, but it’s actually a busy road with slow traffic and no passing zones, making it quite dull to drive. However, the passenger can enjoy beautiful coastal views, and there are several stylish cafes and restaurants along the way, making it perfect for a driving date.

With the top down, soaking in the light and breeze along the coastline is simply wonderful. The temperature on Awaji Island was close to 10°C, noticeably warmer than Honshu. This unseasonably warm weather made for a perfect driving day.

Along the way, I stopped at a parking lot just north of Taga no Hama Beach for some photos. This spot is one of the rare places in Japan where you can take car photos with the sea as a backdrop without guardrails.

After a short break, I continued south along the Sunset Line, then took Prefectural Route 470 and Prefectural Route 66 inland. The inland roads on Awaji Island are complex and include many narrow, hard-to-drive roads, so caution is necessary. The route I chose was relatively easy to drive, and especially Prefectural Route 66 was quite enjoyable.

Next, I headed to the Uzushio Line. The Uzushio Line used to be a toll road, so the driving experience is rewarding, but traffic is heavy nowadays. You almost always end up behind a very slow kei truck, so patience is key.

Naruto Skyline

After that, I explored the southern tip of Awaji Island a bit to really let the Boxster stretch its legs. Mostly in 2nd gear, I enjoyed the winding roads, then got on the highway from Awaji Island South IC to cross over to Shikoku. The destination was the Naruto Skyline, a place I’ve visited many times.

The Naruto Skyline is quite well-known around here, and even my English conversation teacher who loves cars knew about it, which surprised me.

Also, the race simulator software rFactor features a Naruto Skyline course you can drive virtually. I occasionally practice on it at home.

With stunning views, just the right elevation changes, and corners ranging from tight to medium speed, plus moderate traffic, driving the Boxster in Sport Plus mode while blipping the throttle up the hills is simply exhilarating.

I’ll say it again: for me, the 981 Boxster is the ultimate Porsche.

Despite the surge in used car prices, getting such a thrilling car for around 10 million yen feels like a bargain. There are more expensive cars, but none offer such an unbeatable balance of fun and exhilaration.

With the tires worn down, I couldn’t drive with my usual confidence and felt a bit unsure of the grip, but I stopped for a break at Shikoku Miharashi Observatory.

After enjoying the breathtaking scenery, I headed home.

I took the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway back toward Kobe. Having recently done a lot of highway driving in the 991.1 GTS, riding the Boxster reminded me how light and nimble this Porsche really is.

Compared to the 991 Carrera 4 GTS or the 992, which grip the road firmly and tenaciously, the Boxster feels much lighter and more agile. That said, this is a comparison with the 911; on its own, the Boxster offers a far more solid and stable connection to the road than most cars, so no misunderstandings there.

Especially since fitting the 718’s transverse strut, the Boxster’s high-speed straight-line stability has improved significantly. I can confirm it feels completely secure even at circuit-level speeds.

As Kobe drew nearer and the Awaji SA Ferris wheel came into view, as always, I felt a twinge of sadness getting out of the Boxster. Still craving more driving, I headed home.

Route Map for This Trip