Base vs S - weight

[BoxsterSteve]

My S is really lightly optioned, and weighed in at 2904 lb with a 1/4 tank and no driver.
I can't speak to a base model being more or less nimble, but I have driven mine rather aggressively on some very twisty two lane roads, piling into curves at twice the posted limit and I can safely say it's the most tossable car I've driven. It has way more grip than I have cojones.
The S model has a higher redline and the larger displacement comes from a larger bore.
I've driven a manual base a few times, and yes, you can lose your license in either car, but it will happen quicker in an S model. Driving dynamics are almost identical, just cornering and braking limits are a bit higher in the S model.