About: Autolove

Overview:

Life is good and I enjoyed driving the 2002 Porsche Carrera 4S Coupe this week. So if Porsche is pronounced Poor-Sha then I suspect Coupe is pronounced Coop-ay. For the record the 911 was introduced in Europe in 1963. That was a good year for other things too, but it wasn’t until 1965 the 911 came to America.

How do I love thee, let me count the ways. Well, it’s a sports car, it’s fast, it corners like the Materhorn ride at Disneyland, it is timelessly beautiful – need I go on? A loaf of bread, a jug of wine and off to some romantic spot in my Por-Sha. I wonder if Dr. Porsche pronounced it that way?

In any case it’s what the Doctor ordered for relief of the humdrum of ordinary. So I took this puppy up north, not quite to Alaska, and got the feel for how it would behave on those back roads that wind marvelously through the countryside in this wonderful land of OZ.

My friend Mark says this is a performance car you can drive every day of the week. True enough, but if you must drive the freeways in this country to get to work, forget shifting 2,000 times to go 25 miles, buy it with the automatic. Or consider a Lexus, Cad STS or a Jaguar XJ8 and relax to some dreamy music on the CD without the noise you get going through the gears. It will take just as long to get to the office, but you won’t mind it so much. No road rage allowed, none needed when you kick back and relax. Pull the Porsche out on weekends or better yet, during the week while others are not on the highways.

Handling & Performance:

Outstanding. Although, I was never totally confident in this all wheel drive since I spun out in one at Willow Springs race track with friend David Murray in the number two seat. I entered turn number three like David had on some lap’s before my turn at the wheel, but race drivers are professional and me, well, I like to go fast but don’t do it for a living. Before David could grab the wheel to help me out, we had already done a 360. No harm, no foul. Back to first gear and off we went into turn five. I think we spun through turn four.

Passing is no problem and you’ll go 0-60 in a scant 4.5 seconds without breathing hard, but your heart rate will climb. That’s a good thing because it replaces all forms of heart exercise.

Styling:

The 4S means all wheel drive but the rear fenders say it should be Turbocharged. The redesign for this year includes a slick looking front end, and it’s the wider rear panels and taillights that gives it the look of the $114,000 911 Turbo model. Beauty is only skin deep however and even though this is not the Turbo, you don’t really need it with 320 natural horsepower H6. The Air scoops look cool but they also greatly increase airflow to the cooling system.

Fit and Finish:

Typical Porsche, typical German – always precise.

Cost:

Way too much for my budget and not enough for the engineering you are buying. Way too much for transportation, but OK for the driving enjoyment for the sports car enthusiast.

Consumer Recommendation:

Be sensible, buy a Saturn for $9,000 and spend the other $77,000 on vacations around the world, for the two of you, each year for 11 years. You do the math. It’s insane to spend this much money for a car unless you are Donald Trump. But for you Don, get the Rolls and relax.

The Competition: * (see ranking below)

(1) Chevrolet Corvette $42-50,000, (2) Dodge Viper 72,000, (3) Acura NSX $89,000, (4t) Porsche 911  $67-179,000, (4t) Lotus Esprit $88,525, (5) Mercedes-Benz SL Class $85,990, (6) BMW Z8 $130,000, (7) Ferrari 360 $141-171,000, (8) Ferrari 550 Maranello $213,990, (9) Aston Martin V12 Vanquish $222,950, (10) Lamborghini Diablo $274,900.

* – Ranking is based on cost, cu ft, number of features, warranty and gas mileage.

Good News:

Great engineering, fast, fun to drive, and good resale value.

Bad News:

Expensive toy, hard to get in and out of, small cargo areas, albeit a set of golf clubs does fit in the rear compartment,

Standard Equipment:

3.6 liter H6 water cooled 320HP engine, diagnostic system, knock sensor, double inertial flywheel, 6-speed manual trans, hydraulic clutch, power steering, front and rear stabilizer bars, speed activated rear spoiler, 4-piston fixed allow caliper (vented and perforated disc) anti locking brakes, dual front and side airbags, stability management system, electronic gas pedal and automatic brake differential, power windows, heatable windshield washer nozzles, carbon filtered vent system, all leather full power heated front seats, central locking system, immobilizer anti-theft system, lockable storage compartment, climate control, power heated mirrors, power sliding roof with tilt, AM/FM cassette radio and Advanced Technic Package (includes special headlights, washers, Bose sound system and 6 changer CD player).

Gas Stats:

17 City and 24 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $85,645.
Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@atthewheel.com
Copyright © 2002 – An Automotive Love Affair

Overview:

This weeks test vehicle was the 2002 Porsche Boxster S that transports you to heaven if you love to drive. There is a God and that cloud does have a silver lining.

There is a little bit of the rebel in us all and so for me it is the “Boxster” Rebellion. If you have a need for speed and outstanding handling this is sure to make you break a few speed laws. Fortunately I get to drive most cars on the racetrack, but I must say it is near impossible to keep a car like this at or under the posted limits.

You know, when I first drove this car shortly after its introduction, I thought it would just be another 924 or 914. A series of attempts to market a less expensive version of this very nice sports car. But it wasn’t. It has its own personality as if it weren’t even a Porsche. Like you could put a Ferrari badge on it and fool some folks.

In his book “The Distance to the Moon”, James Morgan describes his travels across the United States in the very first Boxster. He said people treated him like he was a visitor from another planet. But mostly he got lots of thumbs up. Since its introduction it seems to have continue to attract the attention of car lovers everywhere. Another indication that it is a winner is how much it has been copied.

I like the car as much today as I did when I drove it in 1997. Well, one out of three attempts to produce a less expensive Porsche isn’t bad I suppose.

On the other hand, the price “has” jumped about $14,000 since my first review when the price for the 1998 was: MSRP = $39,980 plus $3,235 for the sport package. Porsche is in business to make money and it stands to reason that you get what the traffic will bear.

And you say, how did Boxster get that name? Well it derives from the “boxer” engine design and “roadster” from the open, two-seat design. It is, manufactured in Stuttgart, in the south of Germany. For you trivia buffs, “Automobile” is from the Greek autos, “self” and Latin mobilis, “movable”.

Handling & Performance:

You’ve heard of the Grim Reaper, well this is the Rim Gripper. Curves will never seem so welcomed as you drive this Boxster S and fall in love all over again. As we all know, relationships come and go, but this Boxster is there when you need it and it doesn’t talk back.

Styling:

This Boxster promises to be a fixture on the design scene for a long time to come. The mid-engine affords provision for two cargo areas, forward and aft. They are small but even golf clubs will fit in the rear compartment.

Fit and Finish:

Porsche. What can I say, it isn’t a Jaguar XK8, but it’s twenty to thirty grand less to buy.

Conveniences:

The convertible top is “Tops”. You gotta love how easy it is to put the top up and down in about 16 seconds.

Cost:

I guess it’s still an ok buy and I did expect it would go up after its introduction in 1997. But $14,000 plus in that time seems a bit excessive. I doubt Porsche was selling at a loss in the beginning? In any case, I gave it a “Buy” recommendation then because it was well priced. Unlike the Chrysler limited production Prowler that was selling about twice the window sticker I think you can buy this Boxster closer to the MSRP.

Consumer Recommendation:

If you are in the market for a “TWO SEATER” with room for golf clubs, tennis rackets and a small overnight bag for two this is the ticket. It’s an “E” ride and a class act. On the other hand it is the most expensive of competition listed in order of price (1)-(8).

Manufacturer Recommendations:

Thanks. We love what you’ve done.

The Competition: *

(8) Porsche Boxster S $57,825 , (4) Audi TT $31-40,000 , (5) BMW M Roadster $45,990 ,(6) BMW Z3 $31-38,000, (3) Honda S 2000 $32,400,  (2) Mazda MX5 Miata $21-26,000 , (7) Mercedes Benz SLK $39-55,000 , (1) Toyota MR2 Spyder $23,735 .

Good News:

Affordable special styling in a sports car with great performance.

Bad News:

Price is at the high end of the scale with lots of good competition.

Standard Equipment:

3.20 liter 250 horsepower 6-cylinder water cooled mid-engine, two seat convertible, 6-speed manual trans, power steering, speed activated rear spoiler, 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, dual front and side airbags, fog lights, power top, anti-theft system, leather, climate control & power heated mirrors.

Gas Stats:

18 City and 26 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $57,825.

* – Cars are ranked in order of price alone instead of according to my preference considering all captions.

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@atthewheel.com
Copyright © 2002 – An Automotive Love Affair