REAL DRIVING PORSCHE Boxster

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REAL DRIVING

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LIFESTYLE MOTORMAGAZIN 02-2013 ISBN 978-3-942853-14-9

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ictation belongs to the past. „Please come and take dictation!“ is a phrase which probably nobody says aloud anymore on today’s executive floors.

Time simply goes on, and only few people still connote such schoolmasterly formulations with a secretary’s profession. By the way, the lady’s called assistant now.

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n the old days, these lady gatekeepers also kept secrets; today, they only make the boss an even better boss – plain and simple.

The term „Assistant’s Porsche“ hasn’t become popular yet, but “Secretary’s Porsche” has, though the Boxster has become even better.

Since the little 911 was introduced to the market in 1996, the name referring to the means of transportation of an “office lady” has persevered.

With prices starting at 76,500.- DM (about € 39,100.-), the term of „Executive Secretary’s Porsche “ would have been a better match.

Whatever, even malice has to be earned.

The Boxster can easily cope with ridicule. By now…

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he first 986s (Porsche type designation) with their headlights shaped like fried eggs weren’t necessarily stunning to look at, but their success was a blast. The developers from Stuttgart had recognized the signs of the time and interpreted the roadster boom Porsche-style. A middle engine and a very good driving performance helped the company group get out of the crisis. In addition, a strategy of identical parts saved costs. Looking in the rear mirror, a Boxster could no longer be distinguished from a 911, but without their new and young customers, the Swabians would have had to close up. With things being like that, it is easy to absorb a little criticism from enthusiasts.

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nfortunately, the water-cooled 2.5 liter, six-cylinder, 204-horsepower Boxer engine did not sound so hot. With the help of the early tiptronic transmission, the middle engine sports car intended to accelerate as willingly as a bus, and even worse: It also sounded just like one! „With This changed with the next the help of the Boxster generation, the 987.

The fried-egg headlights early triptonic transdisappeared, and permission, the middle enformance increased to gine sports car intended a horsepower of 240 hp to accelerate as willingly (Boxster S: 280 hp).

And the new Boxster, the as a bus, and even worse: It also sounded third generation, is now just like one!“ of course called, based on types 986 and 987 - well?

Exactly. 981. Maybe the new Boxster is called 981 because the lateral design elements originate from the Carrera GT which is called 918?

Whoever can follow this, also speaks Finnish.

By the way: Finland is the country where a large part of the Boxsters were manufactured. Anyone wanting to know exactly, may read the chassis number. The letter “U” stands for Uusikaupunki, the letter “S” for Stuttgart.

Now, is the new Boxster more beautiful, better and no longer a vehicle for secretaries?

Yes, yes, and no.

But first things first.

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New doesn’t necessarily mean better and prettier.

At the movies, for instance, sequels often prove to be a load of crap.

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ake „Wall Street“, for example. The first part was good, but the second turned out to be beneath all contempt. Well, with the Boxster, the first generation left room for improvement, the second was already better and the Boxster 3.0 is really so amazing to look at that you could easily ask yourself why you should spring for a 911 instead …

Because you can afford it, naturally – or maybe not. Since “Mr. Right”, the open 911, reaches six figures at least.

Apart from that, the smallest Porsche now has the prettiest flank ever.

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esigner Mitja Borkert totally agrees and is happy that the Boxster now has its own doors which before had been borrowed from its big brother.

The flank is based on the flank of the Carrera GT and should immediately assume its place in books on design or at the museum.

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he lateral view stops the impulse to take a seat in the car – it’s this harmonious and right and gorgeous.

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nstead, you might just want to sit down on a little stool next to it, in the sun if you please, grinning from ear to ear, admiring the lines.

Anticipating the joy of driving – that’s the motto.

As far as the tail goes, designer Borkert did everything right, too.

Now, there’s no little spoiler pointing heavenward, but a board. The wind-trailing edge leads down into the rear lights.

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his is stylish and a practical design detail of the car’s body. It looks good, and it works.

Advertising professionals might call ist a „Design Must!“

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he front is beefier, the lights more expressive and the overall view independent.

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erformance went up while fuel consumption went down. The new “little one” weighs approximately 50 kilos less, has 10 more horsepower and consumes 10% less.

„The

new “little one” weighs approximately 50 kilos less, has 10 more horsepower and consumes 10% less.“

Boxster: 2,7 Liter engine with 265 hp, going from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, Vmax: 262km/h, at a price of almost 50,000.- â‚Ź.

Boxster S: 3.4 liter with 315 horsepower, going from 0to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds, Vmax: 279km/h, available at almost 60,000.- â‚Ź.

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inguistically speaking, Porsche’s “Little One” has nothing to do with either boxing or football.

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he artificial word is a combination of Boxer (from the engine) and Roadster. The shape is reminiscent of the 550 Spyder, the 718 RS 60 and the 356 Roadster.

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hus, the Boxster is a sequel to enjoy. Every inch of driving is fun. With the top closed and open. The electric fabric hood opens and closes in less than 10 seconds, and it does so while going at a speed of up to 50 km/h.

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he seats are perfect, in true Porsche fashion. The dashboard quotes the 911, the middle engine sounds like a rocket and steering is as sharp and direct as a good remark by Harald Schmidt.

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he brakes are beyond all doubt, and the ESP is athletic enough to allow for sufficient drift and to still be effective on time in case of need. Who then may buy the Boxster? Lady secretaries and gentlemen secretaries. Seriously now: Anyone with good taste and a sense of sportsmanship.

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he Boxster isn’t simply a sequel, but an evolutionary success of design.

Back to the movies: There’s one motion picture which is not likely to have a sequel: Titanic.

Drowned means drowned.

Or does it? Is there more to come ?

Titanic sequels like: The experience in the shipyard when the ship was being built?

The ship architect’s family during mid-day tea?

The captain’s dog, its breeding and training?

The manufacture of the porcelain for the first class deck and its delivery from China on another ship which didn’t sink?

Polishing the first class deck’s porcelain on the delivery ship which didn’t sink?

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he manufacture of the china’s polishing rags at a Chinese weaving mill and its way from there to the supply vessel which didn’t sink?

The Titanic band’s favorite songs on CD and a thriller about the fight of the musicians against the early GEMA [German Performance Rights Organization]?

Questions upon questions...

The Porsche Boxster is available now, but I am looking forward to the sequel’s sequel of the sequel’s sequel.

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