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| Road Test: Porsche Boxster (2005-) |
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| Roadsters |
by: Gavin Conway |
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Subtle steering adjusts for speed and road conditions
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| DRIVING RATING: |
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With a more rigid structure that allows the suspension to do its best work, combined with a wider track, the Boxster is even more accomplished on the road. The chassis balance is beautifully neutral, so that fast cornering feels secure and predictable - you never get the feeling that either the front or rear of the car will let go. And then there are the tremendous levels of grip left in reserve - the entry-level Boxster gains bigger wheels, up to 17 inches from 16. And in the interests of driver involvement, Porsche has raised the intervention level of its Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system. This means that the driver can slide the car around more, or set it up for a corner with the brakes, without the PSM laying a heavy hand on the car's dynamic behaviour.
The Boxster S is also available with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), which offers a very sporting suspension setting that lowers the car 10mm and stiffens things up for serious track day outings. 'Normal' mode allows you to survive regular road journeys with fillings intact.
For the first time, the Boxster is offered with variable-rate rack and pinion power steering. The variable function means that at a constant straight-line cruise, the steering is less immediately direct, eliminating the 'sneeze factor'. When you press on over a twisting road with big steering inputs, the system becomes more direct for a high degree of steering precision. It works brilliantly and is so subtle than most drivers will never be aware of it.
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Introduction After its introduction in 1996, the Boxster helped a struggling Porsche back ... |
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