Riding the 981 Boxster

Lately, my husband, who often commutes in an air-cooled 911, took the Boxster to work after a while. When he came home, his first words were:

Man, the Boxster really is such a great car.

I couldn’t help but think, “I’ve heard that line over a thousand times already,” (Kansai people tend to exaggerate stories, so it’s probably more like 30 times). He went on to say,

I even worry unnecessarily whether the upcoming GT3 Touring will surpass the driving feel of this Boxster. That’s how great this car is.

He was full of praise.

After that, as usual, he muttered to himself things like “NA engine sound is just unbeatable,” “the ride is so supple,” and “when the car and my inputs sync perfectly, it’s the best feeling — it brings tears to my eyes….”

In the Shadow of the 911…

The Porsche Boxster’s name cleverly combines the horizontally opposed engine, the “Boxer”, and the open-top model, the “Speedster”.

Despite being such a fantastic car, the public image remains strongly “Porsche means 911.” Indeed, the 911 is an amazing car, so sometimes it feels like the Boxster is overshadowed by it. Also,

when you tell friends “I drive a Porsche,” they ask, “Which one? A 911?” and when you answer, “No, a Boxster.” an awkward silence follows.

My husband has experienced this too. But today, I want to affirm that the Boxster is just as wonderful as the 911.

Winding Road Driving

When my husband and I drive the Boxster on Sanda Burgring or other enjoyable winding roads, he often says:

The Boxster is a car made for winding roads. It turns as if rotating around its center, and the tighter the corner, the stronger this feeling becomes. It’s not a fluttery lightness but more like drawing continuous circles with a compass along the curve. It offers a different kind of joy than the RR 911.

Indeed, the way the Boxster corners is completely different from the 911. Both have their merits, but personally, I prefer the Boxster over the 911 when driving the Royu Driveway.

The Charm of a Convertible

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of driving the Royu Driveway or winding roads with the Boxster’s soft top fully down.

In spring, you cruise under cherry blossom trees; in summer, through fresh greenery; in autumn, beneath vivid red leaves (winter is a bit chilly). Feeling the wind and becoming one with it is a thrill only an open car can offer.

It’s totally different from a regular car’s sunroof, and I even think, “Once you experience this, you’ll never want to give up convertibles.”

My husband used to think, “Convertibles make no sense! They’re less rigid than coupes and look like show-offs.(like they’re full of themselves) I’d never buy one.”

But after a friend offered him a cheap R171 SLK350, his perspective did a complete 180. Now he says,

Every household needs a convertible. Life’s richness is totally different with one.

When I asked what’s so great about convertibles, he explained,

Well, no matter the situation, opening the roof instantly transports you out of the everyday. Even if you’re in traffic or stop-and-go, the cabin feels no different from an eco or family car. But with a convertible, opening the roof turns that space into something extraordinary. It changes your mood completely. Looking up at the sky makes even traffic and city streets enjoyable. And on winding roads or scenic spots, you can feel everything — sound, light, air, scent, temperature. It’s just like riding a motorcycle. That’s the appeal.

That said, Porsche does have the 911 Cabriolet, which also has a retractable roof. Checking Porsche Japan’s site, the 911 Carrera Cabriolet starts at 1,510,000 yen (tax included), which is quite pricey. Meanwhile, my husband’s Boxster GTS, even with options, costs just under 10 million yen. Quite a bargain. (Though, realistically, the Boxster is still very expensive…)

Trunk Capacity

The Boxster uses a mid-engine layout with the engine placed in the middle of the chassis, so it has trunks both front and rear. The front trunk is quite deep, easily fitting an M-sized suitcase.

The rear trunk can comfortably hold car wash supplies and a tire repair kit.

So with the Boxster, it’s easy to pack two S-sized suitcases and go on a one-night, two-day tour as a couple. The 911 has rear seats where you can store luggage, but its trunk is smaller, so the Boxster wins on cargo space.

ボクスターのトランクにはこんなに荷物が積める！スーツケースで試してみた。

NA Engine

This might not be a direct 911 vs. Boxster comparison, but when my husband bought the Boxster, he said,

“No matter what, even if I have to slip in at the last minute, I’m buying the last NA six-cylinder model, the ‘981’ Boxster.”

Indeed, the 981 Boxster’s NA engine delivers smooth acceleration and a crisp, high-pitched engine note that’s truly exhilarating. My husband’s GTS has a louder, more powerful exhaust than the standard model. Riding shotgun, I always think how amazing it must be to drive this GTS with a manual, controlling the engine sound. (So I’m working hard on learning to drive stick too, haha)

Circuit Driving

Recently, my husband took the Boxster to a track day at Suzuka Circuit. Before going, he wondered, “How well can an open-body Boxster really perform?” But after returning, he excitedly said:

When I hit Suzuka’s 130R corner, the faster I went, the more stable the Boxster felt. The moment I turned the steering to enter the corner, the car sank firmly and gripped the road like it was glued on. I thought, ‘Wait, was the Boxster always this stable?’ It was a strange feeling.

Of course, if you want to seriously chase lap times, cars like the GT3 or GT4 are better suited. But after driving the Boxster on the track, my husband realized it still has untapped potential.

From an Owner of the 986 Boxster S

Just recently, my husband sent me a message saying, “This Boxster article really hits the mark. Read it.” along with a URL to a web article. I read it right away, and it echoed the same appreciation for the Boxster that my husband feels.

The article was an interview with the owner of a 2001 first-generation Boxster S (986 model, manual). From what I gathered, this owner runs a repair shop and is well-known as a specialist for early 911s like the 356 and Narrow-Body models.

His previous car was a 1974 Porsche 914 2.0, and the article explored why such a Porsche expert chose the 986 Boxster S as his car.

The article said:

Many 911 owners tend to dislike the Boxster without even trying it. (omitted) I have customers test drive it or ride shotgun to experience the Boxster’s charm. Everyone is amazed, saying, ‘I can’t believe this car is nearly 20 years old!’ (laughs)

The editor who wrote the article also said,

The Boxster experience can’t be measured by numbers alone. The mechanical noise and exhaust note from behind directly stimulate your senses. Experiencing this fun in the city is a big plus. On winding roads and highways, you can enjoy the car’s full appeal even more.

*Source: “Don’t Underestimate an 18-Year-Old Car: Why a Porsche Specialist Chose the 2001 Boxster S (986 Model)”

The Appeal of the Boxster

Inspired by these stories, my husband said again:

Unfortunately, when you drive a Boxster or Cayman, some people think you’re driving a “cheap Porsche.” Sure, they’re less expensive than the 911, but the base Boxster or Cayman starts at around 7 million yen. Most people add options, pushing the price up by another 1 to 3 million yen. So it’s common that the final quote ends up close to the price of a base 911. But the public mainly knows the sticker price, so they don’t realize this. Also, when you actually drive the Boxster, you often feel it “beats the 911” in some ways, and the price difference doesn’t feel that big. The Boxster and Cayman have a different character from the 911, but they’re still very much Porsche, with their own riding identity. So, rather than thinking about which is better or worse, you should choose based on which driving feel you prefer. It’s like potato chips — some prefer lightly salted, others consomme flavor (laughs). The ingredients are the same; it’s just a matter of taste. So Boxster and Cayman drivers shouldn’t feel inferior — just drive proudly.

I thought, wow — lately I’ve realized there are still many great Porsches out there. It’s such a shame to dismiss them without trying. I hope to keep experiencing various Porsches, including test drives, from now on.