Recently someone I know bought himself a Porsche. If you have been following my site for sometime, you’ll notice that I’ve been focusing more on cars from the Land of the Rising Sun. While I’m fond of cars from Europe and less so of the US, the reason is because European Cars cost a ton here where I live and US cars practically do not exist. That’s unless you count some Chevrolets, that are actually Korean. Or are they Japanese? That’s a sad state of affairs in the country. We shall not go into politics on this blog, I hope not anyway.
Okay, maybe it is because I’m getting grey. I used to admire Porsche a lot. That is when I compare it to a Ferrari. At the risk of of getting flamed from both sides, comparing a P to a F, that’s nuts but anyhow, “you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do” is my motto (some of the time). Like I said, I used to admire Porsche because they are “more” practical compared to Ferrari, where I live anyway. It not like we have autobahns or that. The highway speed limit is only 110 km/h. That also before global warming made this part of the planet so warm I start sweating immediately after a shower!
I mean you can not only reach but exceed that kind of speeds in a Kelisa, for goodness sake. That’s the same car that Clarkson of Top Gear fame, destroyed some years ago. Some bone shaker can reach 110km/h. If a 1 liter car can hit the national speed limit, then why on earth do you need a F430 (top speed over 300 km/h)? At least in a Porsche, you can drive at saner speeds and not ruin the engine over the long run.
That’s before all sorts of used Cayennes started to hit our shores here. In the past, you need to convince your other half why you need a flashy sports car. With the advent of the Cayenne, you don’t. After all it is a gas guzzling SUV that seat 5 to 6 comfortable and still hit 240 km/h when the Missus isn’t looking. If you have the gut to put the pedal to the metal.
And so from the time Porsche started to make SUV, owning a sports cars used to be something you do when you hit middle age and the associated mid life crisis aka “bald men in a convertible” syndrome. Now, Porsche have done something smart to get people’s toe wet first before getting a real Porsche, something low, with 2 door and the engine at the back. Now that’s a real Porsche.
Which brings us back to the question of the friend who got himself, of all things, a Boxster S. What in the world are these people thinking of in the first place? If you really wanted a sports car, get a Cayman. Boxsters are for ladies and sissies. No offence to ladies. There are quite a few great lady drivers out there. I mean ladies who drives at 80 km/h and don’t dare to corner faster that the posted speed limit. Heck, some little ole ladies can corner faster in a Kelisa that other dare in a Boxster.
Which begs the question “why a Boxster S”? Well, it is a real sports car. It can hit 230 km/h even the earliest 2.5 liter version. It has a mid engine boxer engine, hence the name Boxster, the configuration that all real Porsche has. It has the nice engine growl right behind your ears that will either push you to drive faster to hear more (or push to to get back into your Camry). And where I live, where there a very few yellow sports car, it sure turns head. It also signals to your friends that you have made it. Best of all, you can drive with the roof down slowly to show off to the neighbors. You can’t do that in a Caymen. Well you can but then people won’t be able to get a good look at who’s behind the wheel.
Actually, there isn’t any real alternatives to the Boxster. If you really look hard, you might think of a BMW Roadster. But then even if it is made in Germany like a Porsche, the BMW is a lesser car. Your neighbor is just going to tell his wife, Bob across the street has a cute tiny Bee Eem. If he said Bob across of street has a yellow new Porsche, his wife might get envious and might even ask you for a ride. So a BMW won’t cut the mustard. Neither do the Miata, S2000, 370z or a RX8. All are in a different class below the Boxster for those that know cars. However, if your friends are car aficionado, then they would think that your Boxster is actually an alternative to the 911, which is even faster, more expensive and less practical for you actually.
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