1997 Porsche Boxster Review

Specifications

1997-2001 Porsche Boxster - A Question of Balance

Driving doesnt get much more entertaining than from behind the wheel of Porsches surefooted Boxster. Within a few days Ill be flying to beautiful Quebec, Canada to test the all-new 2003 model. Staring at my computer screen I got to thinking about all the great times Ive had in the sassy little sports car. Really, a lot of cars have distinct personalities, some favorable and some, well, discordant. The Boxster not only has a personality, but its filled with emotions.

Fortunately, unlike previous experiences with classic roadsters of the past that could better be described as emotional wrecks, the Boxster is wonderfully stable. Its reliably there when you need it, ready to give its all.

And its got a lot to give. While the current horizontally-opposed 2.7-L 6-cylinder delivers 220 naturally aspirated horsepower the original 2.5-L 1997 car was still wonderfully quick at 201. Of course, there were much faster cars available in 1997 for a great deal less money. Realizing this Porsche upped the power in 2000 to a respectable 217-hp. Of course, so did its similarly priced competitors. That said the Porsche was, and still is worth every penny.

Really, it comes down to a question of balance. Sure, a healthy bank balance would help but thats obviously not what Im getting at. The Boxster has Fred Astaires poise and Bing Crosbys voice. Or maybe its dance steps are more like Vera Ellens and song closer to Rosemary Clooneys. In actuality I suppose it emulates both. Full, deep bass notes when low in the rev range, then building to an exuberant alto melody when nearing its rev limiter. As for dancing, its a nice combination of Freds swift strength and Veras nimble grace. But I wont go as far as to say the Boxster looks as good as the phenomenal blonde dynamo.

Still, its got curves. Inspired by the late great 550 Spider that was made famous to non-car aficionados for its role in James Deans death (who couldnt dance or sing I might add), the Boxster wraps its bodywork tightly over all four wheels. Its simple, tasteful lines still look fresh by todays standards, probably because it was already a classic when born.

Ive taken a Boxster up winding highways to ski resorts and out on road trips throughout the coastal mountains. Ive had them on the race track and relaxed behind the wheel during rush hour traffic. Where-ever and whenever needed the little Porsche has always been willing and waiting to put a smile on my face.

It seems like you wear it rather than sit in it, fixed within its supportive sport drivers seat. The 5-speed transmission slips into each gear with little effort - only slightly more than wrist movement is necessary. An optional 5-speed Tiptronic automatic can reduce driver input but who would want to do that. I suppose enough people want it to warrant its production. Ive driven it. It only seems to lose a bit of straight-line performance while the manual mode feature holds gears quite well through corners.

The 5-speeds pedals are all perfectly positioned for heal-toe action while the throttle responds to the lightest tap. Its ABS equipped brakes are equally up to the task of bringing all the fun to a sudden halt. Back up to speed and the steering is wonderfully direct yet still easy enough for anyone with moderate driving skills to master.

Its engine is water-cooled, a first for the companys horizontally opposed engine configuration. This allowed for 4-valve cylinder heads, resulting in freer breathing and in turn, higher revs. Its also slightly quieter than its air-cooled progenitors. The wide flat configuration allows it to sit lower than tall inline or V shaped engines, improving the Boxsters center of gravity and therefore, handling. Its placement, in front of the rear axle, also benefits front to rear weight distribution.

Still, as lovely as it is I wouldnt want to have to work on it. Unlike the user-friendly mid-engine 914 that preceded it, this mid-engine is nearly impossible to get at without a hoist. Fortunately all of the regular maintenance bits are within easy reach. Access to the engine compartment is more important when making a decision to buy used than new. A new car owner can leave it up to the manufacturer to pay expensive repair costs, but as soon as that warranty runs out its time to fork over the money, putting unwanted stress on the love affair of man and machine. Fortunately the Boxster has shown extremely good reliability. But still its a good call to expect higher repair costs for a car that requires the removal of suspension parts to get at the engine. Inevitably it will break as all cars eventually do.

On the positive the Boxster is actually quite practical. Its front trunk is deep and capable of quite a bit of stowage, while a cargo area just aft of the engine bay can take a bag or two as well. A tiny covered shelf behind the seats is adequate for paperwork, car magazines or what-have-you. The owners manual fits neatly into a tiny bin under the steering column. Its an efficient packaging job.

The power top is relatively easy to operate. Snap open the latch and hold the console-mounted button down until the top is fully hidden underneath its steel tonneau. Its easy to zip around town and hold a steady conversation al fresco. The top itself is water-tight and relatively quiet when upright.

When reviewing its average used prices the first thing noticeable is the Boxsters extremely high resale value. Granted, the base price when new doesnt reflect the options that may or may not be on the specific used car for sale, but pre-owned prices are still quite high. Also, for the most part theres a $7,000 spread from the lowest priced examples to the highest, probably accounting for mileage, options and overall shape. In this particular example the top prices usually came from the West Coast while the lowest from the Mid-West or East, usually due to the differences in weather and corresponding wear and tear to the vehicle. No Boxster S models are included in this pricing average.

Actually Ive purposely not mentioned the 250-hp Boxster S in this review as I wanted to focus on its less expensive yet almost as rewarding sibling. After all, not everyone needs to go faster, stop shorter, handle tighter and pay more for open air enjoyment. The regular Boxster goes fast enough for most and does it with such excellent manners. Truly, its a question of balance.