[Perfectlap]

in a straight line I surely would appreciate the 2.5 over the 3.2

But I drove a 1.8 Miata with 150 hp and it had plenty of pep. I believe the 2.5 Boxster and my Miata had similar power to weight ratios, although the Boxster was one or two classes above my Miata for Autocross/time trials.

And let me tell you in the hands of an experienced driver the Miata (and surely a Boxster, a much better engineered car than the first or 2nd gen. Miata) was very fast indeed. As a matter of fact during certain events the Miatas were posting better lap times than higher horsepower cars. Similarly, other lowly powered four bangers were often times (with very moded suspensions) were no more than 1.5 seconds off the higher powered cars. One eastern european driver (who I know is left foot braker) is lightning fast in....An old Honda CIVIC! Ok its had some work but its still NA and nowhere near 200 hp. On a very open 60 second course he was a mere 1 second slower than some older coverttes and 911's!

Now on the road course track with its much longer straights and way less severe directional changes, its another story for 1.8 Miatas and 2.5-2.7 Boxsters. But in Autocross you really get to see the responsiveness of a car's handling and the quickness of its power delivery, as during national SCCA competitions the time gaps between the top times are down to .01 and .001's of seconds. Talk about not making even one mistake!


None of the Boxsters 2.5, 2.7, 3.2 will win any drag races but that's only a bother to someone who doesn't intend to test the handling limits of their Boxster. All of these cars have enough power to go over the "don't go into this turn too hot or you will be in trouble" line. If its possible to cross that line and still post a competitve time then I have to wonder about the need for more power in a sportscar.

I guess its a matter of what sort of driving you intend to do with your Boxster.
And I agree a Turbo Boxster with its lag would compromise its other handling advantages. A SC Boxster would be ok I guess but they sound funny.