{"id":37281,"date":"2019-02-01T06:00:21","date_gmt":"2019-01-31T21:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=37281"},"modified":"2019-04-10T15:51:58","modified_gmt":"2019-04-10T06:51:58","slug":"boxster-is-awesome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/boxster-is-awesome\/","title":{"rendered":"When You Say You Drive a Porsche, People Ask \u201cA 911?\u201d\u2014Then You Say \u201cA Boxster,\u201d and Things Get Awkward"},"content":{"rendered":"

Living with a 981 Boxster<\/h3>\n

My husband had recently been commuting in his air-cooled 911, but the other day he took the Boxster to work for the first time in a while. When he got home, the first thing he said was:<\/p>\n

Man, the Boxster really is a great car.<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t help replying, \u201cI\u2019ve heard you say that at least a thousand times.<\/strong>\u201d (Kansai folks have a habit of exaggerating, so in reality it was probably more like 30.)<\/span> But my husband went on:<\/p>\n

The GT3 Touring that\u2019s coming soon\u2014will it really be better to drive than this Boxster? The Boxster\u2019s so good, I can\u2019t help worrying about it.<\/p>\n

He was full of praise.<\/p>\n

As usual, he then started muttering to himself about how \u201cthere\u2019s nothing like the sound of a naturally aspirated engine<\/strong>,\u201d how \u201cthe ride is so supple<\/strong>,\u201d and how \u201cwhen your inputs and the car are perfectly in sync, it\u2019s the best feeling in the world\u2014I could cry\u2026<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

Living in the 911\u2019s shadow\u2026<\/h3>\n

The Porsche Boxster\u2019s name combines \u201cBoxer,\u201d<\/strong> referring to its horizontally opposed engine, with \u201cSpeedster,\u201d<\/strong> a name associated with open-top models.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a terrific car, yet the public image of Porsche remains firmly tied to the 911. The 911 is a fantastic car, of course, but sometimes it feels as though the Boxster gets overlooked in its shadow. I\u2019ve also heard stories like this:<\/p>\n

You tell a friend, \u201cI drive a Porsche<\/strong>,\u201d and they ask, \u201cWhat do you drive\u2014a 911?<\/strong>\u201d You reply, \u201cNo, a Boxster.<\/strong>\u201d Then there\u2019s an awkward pause.<\/p>\n

My husband has had that experience, too. But I want to say it here and now: the Boxster is every bit as wonderful a car as the 911.<\/p>\n

Taking the Boxster on winding roads<\/h3>\n

When my husband and I take the Boxster out on Sanda Bullring<\/a> or other enjoyable winding roads, he often says:<\/p>\n

The Boxster really comes into its own on winding roads.<\/strong> It turns as if pivoting around the center of the car, and the tighter the corner, the more pronounced that feeling becomes. Rather than feeling light and fluttery, it follows each bend as if drawing one circle after another with a compass. It offers a kind of driving pleasure you don\u2019t get from the rear-engined 911.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s how he puts it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He\u2019s right: the way the Boxster turns through a corner is completely different from the way a 911 does. Both have their strengths, but personally, I prefer the Boxster to the 911 on the Royu Driveway<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The appeal of an open-top Porsche<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s nothing quite like the feeling of driving along the Royu Driveway or a winding road with the Boxster\u2019s soft top fully lowered<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n

In spring, you can cruise beneath cherry blossoms; in summer, through fresh green foliage; and in autumn, under brilliant red leaves. (Winter can get a little chilly.)<\/span> Feeling the breeze and becoming one with it as you drive is a pleasure only an open-top car can offer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It\u2019s nothing like a sunroof in a regular car. I\u2019ve even found myself thinking, \u201cOnce you\u2019ve experienced this, you\u2019ll never want to give up an open-top car.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

In fact, my husband used to say, \u201cI don\u2019t get the point of convertibles!<\/strong> They\u2019re less rigid than coupes, and people will think you\u2019re showing off<\/strong> (acting like a big shot)<\/span>\u2014I\u2019d never buy one.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

Then he had a chance to buy an acquaintance\u2019s R171 SLK 350 at a good price. After driving it, his opinion changed completely. Before long, he was saying:<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery household needs an open-top car. Having one makes life so much richer.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

One day I asked, \u201cOkay, okay\u2014calm down. What\u2019s so great about open-top cars, anyway?\u201d He replied:<\/p>\n

Well, for starters, you can lower the roof and instantly make any situation feel special.<\/strong> Even if you\u2019re driving a fast, beautiful sports car, sitting in traffic or crawling through stop-and-go driving doesn\u2019t feel all that different from being in an economy car or a family car.
\nBut in an open-top car, even then, lowering the roof transforms the whole experience. It feels completely different. Look up at the sky, and even traffic or driving through town can be fun.
\nAnd on a winding road or somewhere with beautiful scenery, you can take in everything\u2014the sounds, the light, the feel of the air, the smells, even the temperature.<\/strong> It\u2019s just like riding a motorcycle. That\u2019s what makes it so special.<\/p>\n

He was certainly passionate about it.<\/p>\n

Of course, the 911 is also available as a convertible: the 911 Carrera Cabriolet. When I checked Porsche Japan\u2019s website, its price started at \u00a51,510,000 (tax included)<\/span>\u2014a substantial figure. By comparison, my husband\u2019s Boxster GTS cost just under \u00a510 million, even with options.<\/strong> That\u2019s quite a bargain. (Although, to be fair, a Boxster is still a very expensive car by most standards\u2026)<\/span><\/p>\n

Boxster luggage capacity<\/h3>\n

The Boxster uses a mid-engine layout, with the engine mounted in the middle of the car<\/strong>, so it has two trunks\u2014one at the front and one at the rear. The front trunk is particularly deep, with plenty of room for a medium-sized suitcase.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The rear trunk also has enough room for car-washing supplies, a tire repair kit, and other essentials.<\/p>\n

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    \"\"<\/p>\n

    That means a Boxster can easily carry two small suitcases for a couple\u2019s two-day, one-night driving trip. The 911 has rear seats where you can stow luggage, but its trunk is on the small side, so the Boxster wins when it comes to luggage capacity.<\/p>\n

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