Quick Spin: 2012 Porsche Boxster Black Edition
If you're a fan of the outgoing 987 Boxster, and you like the colour black, check out my road test at MSN Autos Canada. Full review after the jump.
By John LeBlanc
What is it?
On sale since 2005, the current iteration of the Boxster roadster, Porsche's mid-engine entry-level sports car, is being replaced with an all-new version this spring. This new Black Edition is an end-of-life special edition of the Boxster S. In honour of its internal code name, only 987 examples are being sold worldwide.
What's new? Mechanically, Porsche engineers have fiddled with the standard Boxster S's 3.4-litre flat six-cylinder engine to add 10 more horsepower, now equaling the 320 found in the Boxster Spyder. The torque rating remains the same at 273 lb.-ft. Unlike the track day-oriented Spyder, the rest of the changes to the Black Edition are strictly cosmetic.
Similar in fashion to last year's 911 Black Edition models, the Boxster version brings together many existing options in one car. And — as you may have already guessed — inside and out, black is the dominant colour. Exterior and interior details are part of Porsche's Design package, also available on other Boxster models, with the addition of the Spyder's 19-inch alloys painted black. A Black Edition designation is embossed on the side of the fabric roof, and a special numbered plaque can be found on the glovebox.
Starting at $74,400, standard kit includes bi-xenon headlights, a wind deflector, navigation, and Bose surround stereo. Put the extra power aside and a comparably equipped S would cost $3,500 more. That said, my tester substituted a six-speed manual gearbox for a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic ($4,180). Other options included the Sport Chrono package, Porsche Active Stability Management, interior aluminum trim, leather heated sport seats, and a rear-axle differential lock, bringing the total price to $86,500.
What's it like to drive? Despite the increase, I dare anyone to notice the extra horses. Regardless, black colour scheme or not, any Boxster is a class-leading drive, and this special edition delivers no less.
The mid-chassis placement of the Boxster's engine defines its overwhelming characteristic — balanced. There are simply fewer forces tugging on your intended line when connecting apexes on a back road than in any front-engine rival. Every input from the driver receives a quicker reaction from the Porsche. The variable-ratio steering seems to anticipate the driver's intentions telepathically. However, like a 911 it shares its front end with, it sometimes can get too light at high speeds.
The Boxster Spyder I drove last summer came with a snickety-snick, six-speed manual. Unless you plan on spending plenty of days at the track, where the auto pays dividends in out-right lap times, or need to shave tenths-of-seconds from your 0-100 km/h time, sports car fans should stick with the stick. Besides, what roadster fan would want to miss out on the opportunity to fully realize the thrilling sound of a legendary Porsche flat-six at full wail?
Should you buy one? Obviously, if you're not a fan of the colour black, do not buy this particular Boxster. And if you're a driver who may want to take your car to the track, go get the $4k-less expensive, and more responsive Spyder. Rarity — and the convenience of a simple ordering process ("I'll take it in black!") — seem to be the lone reason for getting the Black Edition. It drives almost identically to the $66,900 Boxster S. If you're still interested, though, you'd better hurry to your nearest Porsche dealer. As of this writing, of the 35 examples brought into Canada, only two remain.
2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition Base price / as-tested: $74,400 / $86,500 Type of vehicle: RWD, roadster Engine: 3.4 L, 24-valve, DOHC H6 Power/Torque: 320 hp / 273 lb.-ft. Transmissions: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (std. Six-speed manual) Fuel consumption (city/hwy/as-tested): 10.6 / 6.7 / 10.8 L/100 km Competition: Audi TT S Roadster, BMW Z4 sDrive35i, Chevrolet Corvette, Mercedes-Benz SLK 350
QUICK SPIN SUMMARY
PROS Rare All the basic driving goodness of any Boxster Simple and easy ordering process
CONS Echoing Henry Ford, you can have any colour you want so long as it's black Negligible power upgrade Options add up quickly