Porsche Boxster: A Little Sibling Rivalry

When Porsche rolled out the first Boxster (model 986) in 1996, it was widely seen as the "Baby Porsche" - a cheaper alternative to the more authentic 911. Its flat-6 engine with 201 hp wasn't the most powerful, and it wasn't the fastest car in its segment. To be honest, with its "scrambled eggs" headlamps, it wasn't even all that attractive. But, the idea stuck. People bought it. And, with its engine mounted mid-ship, the car was hailed for its balanced handling and athleticism.

A few years later, I came across a comparison seeking to find the best pure sports car based on the definition of "an open car designed for pleasurable driving". Basically, the comparison sought a fun, 2-door, convertible. Their top pick? The 911 of course. But the runner-up in a close competition for the crown? Well, that was the Boxster.

And that's what is so exciting for Porsche. Everyone expects the 911 to be a standard-bearer for performance cars. And, everyone is comfortable with the idea that the Boxster is tops in its segment. But what the comparison and subsequent road tests have shown is that Boxster is not simply trying to be the best in its class. It has its sights set on the 911.


986 Porsche Boxster

Of course, the 911 has never been one to rest on its laurels. Its looks may have stayed relatively unchanged for 50 years, but Porsche engineers have been pushing the envelope throughout its storied history.

Flash forward to 2013, and we see the Porsche engineers practically restraining themselves, trying to keep the Boxster from showing up its big brother. The range-topping Boxster S even uses the 911's 3.4L flat-6 for motivation - albeit slightly detuned. The result is 315 hp and 266 lb-ft torque, that combined with car's light weight help the car run virtually neck-and-neck with the base 911 by the numbers. There have even been those that have identified the Boxster as a better handler and more attractive.

The Boxster also gets the electronic nannies -- a littany of acronyms -- including Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV), Porsche Active Stability Management (PASM), and the PDK 7-speed transmission. All these features help the Boxster perform like a Porsche. Of course, they also add up and give this "baby" the price tag of a Porsche. When Motor Trend tested the Boxster S (First Test: Porsche Boxster S), their car rang the register at $87,125, more than $25,000 over the starting price.

So what  does Porsche really have on its hands, then? Is this a case of an embarrassment of riches? Or a branding nightmare that cannibalizes one of the premier nameplates in the automotive world?


2013 Porsche Boxster S

I first looked at this case in my last post (Supercars: USA vs. The World ), but to elaborate on the point, I think that the performance and success of the Boxster enables Porsche to push their brand to new levels. By establishing that the car can command a market value just shy, and even into 911 territory, Porsche is freed up to push the price of the 911 ever closer to the stratosphere occupied by the Italians.

Critics will argue that an $85,000 911 is more appealing to consumers than a $75,000 Boxster. However, in that instance you are comparing a rear-engine coupe to a mid-engine convertible: two totally different driving experiences. So, my counter is that they will not be cross-shopped.

So, it looks like Porsche has a winner: Two cars that are able to push each other by being the best at what they do. While I probably could have lumped the Cayman in based on its performance capabilities, I'm not convinced yet that its place in the market has been cemented like the Boxster.

Supercars: USA vs. the World

2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

I just finished reading a comparison of the 2013 Corvette ZR1 and the 2013 SRT Viper GTS (Motor Trend, Comparison:2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 vs. 2013 SRT Viper GTS). It's a great piece, and as usual, it got me thinking. By the numbers, these two Americans have joined -- and in many aspects, exceeded -- the ranks of the world's elite supercars. Each car packs over 600 hp and 600 ft-lb torque. The ZR1 paired that power with the best brakes MT had ever tested (60-0 in 91 ft). The ZR1 also broke the record for fastest lap time around Laguna Seca Raceway, eclipsing the Ferrari 458, Audi R8, and Lamborghini Aventador, to name just a few!

So, why don't we consider them supercars? Their price tags are both deep into six figures ($140,000 for the Viper) and they can compete in every way with the best of Germany, England, and Italy.

In many ways, I think that the Vette suffers from some of the overexposure that has occasionally plagued the Porsche 911. Sure, the fire-breathing Turbo models have long been among the world's top dogs. But, with more common 911 and 911 S models to be found on every road in America, the perception can be that the 911 is a car for mere mortals. However, with the emergence of the performance-oriented GT3, and the increasing separation between the 911 and Boxster/Cayman, the 911 seems to be back on its lofty perch.

The Corvette also has its more affordable versions. The base coupe starts out at a hair under $50,000. But even that "lesser-Corvette" has over 400 hp and can go from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds. By comparison, the base Carrera seems almost slow! However, like Porsche, Chevy has added some heavy-hitters at the top of the Corvette lineup with the 427, Z06 and ZR1 all featuring over 500 hp with 0-60 times below 4 seconds. In fact, the top-line ZR1 virtually equals the 0-60 time of the $250,000 Ferrari 458 Italia.

2013 SRT Viper GTS

So what hurts the Viper? Even before its three-year hiatus, the Viper was always a limited-production car, and was never powered by anything short of the gargantuan V-10 engine. Unfortunately, I think that the Viper is hurt by its humble roots. The fact that Chrysler/Dodge have had a troubled past has not helped.

Chrysler executives clearly considered that when the Viper was officially unveiled solely under the SRT (Street and Racing Technology) name badge which adorns top-performance models such as the Dodge Challenger SRT-8 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8. However, the Viper is the only model that eschews any parent.

The world is starting to take notice of these two American behemoths. With impressive numbers like theirs, it would be hard not to! Once upon a time, it was believed that American car manufacturers were not familiar with the concept of a twisty road. But, Motor Trend's results on the tight Laguna Seca, prove that Chevy and SRT have addressed any shortcomings in that area.

They're not without their flaws, of course. The Viper could probably be called one of the least-driveable cars in the world...next to an F1 car. Even with its "softer" personality (it now features ABS and traction control), this snake still bites! Meanwhile, the Corvette's interior doesn't inspire much more praise than a garden-variety Malibu. For $100,000 you'd think that you could at least get a decent set of bucket seats!

In this clip from Top Gear U.K., host Jeremy Clarkson gives his own take on the ZR1 versus another German supercar, the V-10 powered Audi R8 and sums up pretty nicely the difference in mentality between the two manufacturers.


What do you think? Should the Corvette and Viper be added to the list of the world's best? Or, have they always been there?