After Driving a Boxer, another car is like...

[TypeA]

Occasionally drive the wife's 2011 Subaru WRX, for a "rally car" design it leaves me a little cold. Body roll that leaves you guessing about the next corner, the tires leave the ground easier than you might think. You sit up high and youre surrounded by glass, I feel like I want to keep the tinted windows up just for some damn privacy. The audio just isnt there, and Im not talking about the radio, and theres a nice drone at speed (stock exhaust). It has a heavy clutch thats likely comparable to a Boxster S, my base clutch is smooth and light. While the car has an aggressive look, in the hot metallic blue it definitely turns heads, but ultimately it feels like Im driving an economy car that knows somebody who works at a aftermarket performance shop. The Box, on the other hand, feels like youre climbing into the cockpit of a jet fighter. The design of the fun seat hugs you, and the throttle rewards you if not with blinding speed but with a audible bliss directly behind your left ear. The view out the side mirrors overlooking the rear tire humps gives you the impression that theres some serious meat on the back axle and that the ground is not far from where your butt is currently planted. You are very sure of what the next corner will feel like and how the car will react, even if your skills taking that corner will likely be far less than ideal, its ok, you know the Box will forgive you. So you find yourself seeking out long, winding roads devoid of speed limits and traffic to experience the car in its purest form. It inspires you to drive, if nothing else just for the wind in your hair and the noise in your ears.

[BYprodriver]

When the Boxster S was introduced I had just started my job as a new car test driver. I drove most of the new cars available & the main thing I remember is, after driving a Porsche, be aware the next vehicles brakes will seem inadequate by comparison. Quit that job 2.5 years later due to a management change, so I had to dig my 1967 Firebird 400 with drum brakes out of storage & learn to drive it again in LA traffic. I missed driving the Porsche's so sold my Firebird & bought my Box S on E-bay. Fast Forward to the 1st of this month, Bought a 2015 Lexus GS F-Sport off E-bay for $20K off MSRP! It had been wrecked with 60 miles on ODO & repaired with salvage/rebuilt title. Drove up to Sacramento to check it over & drive back. It has a 12.3" wide screen "media center" with mouse mounted on console, electric power steering, huge 2-piece front brake rotors, 8-speed auto trans, 19" wheels, 4-wheel steering, HUD, I can't remember all the gadgets.
Handles very nice, especially turning radius, but you can't feel anything, particularly in "ECO" mode that slows throttle opening & gear shifts. The worst is that big screen, so distracting, finally learned how to turn it off. It reads text messages aloud. Wife loves it though.
Recently departed automotive journalist & race driver of note, Denise Mcluggage wrote a article in AutoWeek entitled "Drive what you're in". It was about all the different press cars she drove & being mindful of what you are driving at the moment.

[Porsche9]

I've been driving a new to me Mini Cooper S for a couple weeks and haven't driven the Boxster in that time. The Mini is a fun car to drive but after driving the Boxster today at first I was surprised at how different it felt. It feels like its made out of a solid piece of granite with all the controls at first feeling heavy. While neither the Boxster or the Mini are considered fast by today's standard the Boxster by comparison feels fast. I remember when the power that both offer would have once been considered over the top for their category. Now you need twice that to be considered powerful. Anyways, I love driving the Boxster and nothing compares.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

When the Boxster S was introduced I had just started my job as a new car test driver. I drove most of the new cars available & the main thing I remember is, after driving a Porsche, be aware the next vehicles brakes will seem inadequate by comparison. Quit that job 2.5 years later due to a management change, so I had to dig my 1967 Firebird 400 with drum brakes out of storage & learn to drive it again in LA traffic. I missed driving the Porsche's so sold my Firebird & bought my Box S on E-bay. Fast Forward to the 1st of this month, Bought a 2015 Lexus GS F-Sport off E-bay for $20K off MSRP! It had been wrecked with 60 miles on ODO & repaired with salvage/rebuilt title. Drove up to Sacramento to check it over & drive back. It has a 12.3" wide screen "media center" with mouse mounted on console, electric power steering, huge 2-piece front brake rotors, 8-speed auto trans, 19" wheels, 4-wheel steering, HUD, I can't remember all the gadgets.
Handles very nice, especially turning radius, but you can't feel anything, particularly in "ECO" mode that slows throttle opening & gear shifts. The worst is that big screen, so distracting, finally learned how to turn it off. It reads text messages aloud. Wife loves it though.
Recently departed automotive journalist & race driver of note, Denise Mcluggage wrote a article in AutoWeek entitled "Drive what you're in". It was about all the different press cars she drove & being mindful of what you are driving at the moment.

Just drove my Boxster for the 1st time since I bought the new car 4 weeks ago. This has been the longest gap since I rebuilt the engine 5 years ago. Takes about 4 blocks to reaffirm it is the ultimate driving machine!

[JayG]

P

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

Just drove my Boxster for the 1st time since I bought the new car 4 weeks ago. This has been the longest gap since I rebuilt the engine 5 years ago. Takes about 4 blocks to reaffirm it is the ultimate driving machine!

Uh, I think you may be on the wrong forum and you made a mistake

"There is NO Substitute"