Road Test: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder

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Along came a Spyder

The last iteration of this generation of Boxster ends up being the best handling Porsche you can buy

By John LeBlanc You'll have a hard time convincing Porsche 911 diehards, but the German automaker's entry-level sports cars - the convertible Boxster and its hardtop Cayman variant - are the outright better handlers. Physics can't lie. Within their short overhangs, wide tracks, and mid-chassis engines, the two-seat Boxster/Cayman pair compresses the majority of their (lesser) masses into the middle of their respective chassis. Now compare that with the conflicted physics of the 2+2 Carrera's engine, that has always hung aft of the rear wheels like a tennis ball in a tube sock. While the $70,600 Boxster S leads its topless class - that includes Audi's forthcoming TT-RS Roadster, $77,900 BMW Z4 sDrive35is, $76,955 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, and $84,800 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG - the $75,000 Cayman S is arguably the better-handling model. With the right options checked off (dual-clutch gearbox, Sports Chrono package), it can rocket from 0-to-100 km/h faster than a $94,100 911 Carrera. But now, as per the Teutonic firm's methodical way, it's the $72,900 limited-edition 2011 Boxster Spyder's time to shine as the purest driving Porsche you can buy; an appropriate homage to the pre-911 Porsches from the late 1950s and early 1960s. At first glance, cynics may see the Spyder as another attempt at Porsche to charge more for less. For the $2,300 premium the German automaker charges over a regular Boxster S, you get fewer features, a more complicated and less protective convertible top, and nylon straps instead of door handles. But dig deeper into the new Spyder's specs, and you'll also find less weight, more power and a sharper suspension setup. Although I could do without its PORSCHE door rocker stripes, aesthetes will appreciate the Spyder's sleek bikini top (which when erect looks sleek, and down reveals a pair of Batmobile-like fairings) that replaces the Boxster power-folding roof, fixed spoiler and black twin-tailpipes. Inside the Spyder, technically, there's less of a departure from a cooking Boxster S. Its two-way adjustable sport bucket seats the most noticeable upgrade. My tester had nearly-$19,000 worth of options including red leather, xenon headlights, auto climate control, sport shifter and a body-colour roll bar. However, driving enthusiasts need only be concerned with the $1,310 Sport Chrono Package and $3,410 Sport Exhaust System. You don't need a slide rule to tell you less weight and more power equal more get-up-and-go. More than a stripes 'n spoilers package, Porsche has made a serious attempt to shed some pounds off its two-seater. The Spyder’s new top, thinly-spoked lightweight wheels, aluminum door skins and rear deck, smaller gas tank, and the availability to do without modern niceties such as air conditioning and a radio mean that at 1,275 kg, the Spyder is the lightest new Porsche you can purchase, weighing 80 kg less than a Boxster S. The weight reduction is enhanced with an additional 10 hp from the Cayman S's 320 hp and 273 lb.-ft. of torque 3.4-litre flat six-cylinder. With the standard six-speed manual gearbox that our tester had, Porsche says the Spyder will take only 5.1 seconds to go from zero to 100 km - faster by 0.2 seconds than Boxster S, and 0.1 than a Cayman S. Opt for the PDK twin-clutch transmission while using the optional Sport Chrono's launch control, and the Spyder's acceleration drops to 4.8 seconds - enough to scare 911 Carrera owners further. The only performance stat the Spyder doesn't excel at is top speed. Quoted at 267 km/h with its aero-unfriendly top, that's 10 km/h less than the hardtop Cayman S. But all speeds under that limit in the Spyder provide plenty of visceral thrills. The flat-six moves the car down the road with an instant urge and sharpness, especially for those drivers who explore its 7,200-rpm redline. Engage the Sports Exhaust System and the sound emanating from the back will confirm why I think the Spyder is one of the best sounding new cars you can buy. Ignoring the track-ready (and more than twice-as-expensive) 911 GT3 variants, the new 2011 Boxster Spyder is simply the best-handling Porsche you can buy. A 20 mm suspension drop, and exclusive 19-inch wheels lower its centre of gravity. Combining perfectly matched shock, spring, and anti-roll bar settings with the lightest body Porsche sells makes the car a joy to pilot. And there's none of the teeth-gnashing ride some of its rivals force upon their occupants. Compared to the Cayman or Boxster, the Spyder is much sharper in its responses, remaining neutral—nether oversteering nor understeering—when asked to change directions quickly. On public roads, corners can be taken at twice the posted speeds, without any of the second thoughts brought upon by a 911's rear-mounted mass. Those with the skills and the means, will want to experience the Spyder at a local track to search out its true limits. Equal to the engine's eagerness and visceral thrills is the Spyder's manual gearbox. Although the PDK may score better numbers in a straight line or city traffic, there's great satisfaction in the way each gear slots confidently into place. Too bad the same can't be said for its Rube Goldberg top. It took my passenger and I over 15 minutes to navigate, erect and store it when threatening skies appeared on a morning drive. Reality Check: For most buyers in a country where the weather changes every 10 minutes, the Spyder's top renders it as a weekend or track toy. Ignoring the high price in effort you pay for its new top, the Spyder is a viscerally stimulating pure sports car. It sets off all the right driving senses, and reminds you of what Porsche can do when its not busy making SUVs and luxury sedans. However, despite the new 2011 Boxster Spyder's many appeals, patience may be your best virtue. Knowing Porsche's ways, we expect a Cayman (let's call it an RS) with all of the Boxster Spyder's go-fast attributes (and no convoluted top) to arrive for the 2012 model year. Maybe with even with an additional 20 hp or so. Until then, though, if you want the most capable handling new cars you can buy, the 2011 Boxster Spyder gets our nod. At for now at least. 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder WHAT I LIKE: The best-handling Porsche you can buy; a visceral sports car that stimulates all the driving senses; limited production run means it'll be a rarity WHAT I DON’T: Overly-complicated, three-season-only convertible top; aesthetic options can bloat the price; still seen as a second-class Porsche in some purists' eyes Base price/As-tested: $72,900 / $88,080 Engine: 3.4L, 24-valve, DOHC H6 Power/Torque: 320 hp/273 lb.-ft. Transmission: Six-speed manual Fuel consumption (city/hwy/as-tested): 14.2 / 7.1 / 13.8 L/100 km Competition: Audi TT-RS Roadster, BMW Z4 sDrive35is, Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG

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