It's official...the Boxster is underpowered
 

Spec on the new Honda Accord, which comes with a six-speed.

Model Tested: Honda Accord
Curb Weight: 3371 lbs.
Engine: 3.0-liter SOHC V6
Horsepower: 244hp @ 6,244 rpm
Torque: 211 ft-lbs. @ 5,000 rpm
Drive Type: FWD
0 to 60: 5.9 secs.
1/4 Mile: 14.5 secs. @ 98 mph
Price as Tested: $27,200

Model Tested: Porsche Boxster (987)
Curb Weight: 2,855 lbs.
Engine: 2.7 Flat-six
Horsepower: 240hp @ 6,400 rpm
Torque: 199 ft-lbs. @ 4,700 rpm
Drive Type: RWD
0 to 60: 5.9 secs.
1/4 Mile: 14.5 secs. @ 98 mph
Price as Tested: $45,000

In this review, the author recounts pacing an M3 convertible in his Accord. Could very easily have been a Boxster. Don't let this happen to you !

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/content/114590966941637828/index.php

Better upgrade to a Boxster S and kick the Honda's ass!

The physics of that bother me: Similar HP/torque and similar acceleration, but the Honda is 500 lbs. heavier! How can this be?
3.4 liters to the rescue (see other thread), and from the looks of it, not a moment too soon!

And besides, ya can't get the Honda in yellow... ;)

And for the money.........

Makes me happy I went with the 'S'. Although many sedans are close to that level of HP too. Glad to see Porsche will be doing the increases for the 2007 model year.

Maybe the "callin 911" cover story in MotorTrend (presumably read by lots of prospective sports car buyers) where teh 911 get trounced was a wake up call for Porsche headquarters.

p.s.
Unless we are talking an additional 50 HP to any Porsche I don't think its a big deal. An extra 20-30 ponies is nice but isn't going to re-invent the car.
But Porsche have to feed the power hungry masses, even though 90% will never see a track, DE or autocross with their shiny just waxed sports car.
Pretty soon 350 HP will nothing, considering how few Porsches have been built with this kind of displacement it seems like the times are a changing.

A question and a comment for SD987 --

Question: Are you tracking your car? If not, why (and where) would you need more horsepower to outgun a Honda Accord in a straight line? Not on my street, I hope :) . I can't find a place anywhere near my home where I can possibly use all 280hp in my 987S. Beyond that, the only reason for more horses is to engage in a "mine is bigger than yours"/bragging rights kind of thing and, IMHO, that's a dumb reason to buy a car.

Comment: Read the 987S review on the web site you mentioned and see if you'd rather have the Accord. I can't imagine that the base 987 wouldn't run rings around an Accord on the slalom.

you know come to think of it in addition to never having seen a Merc at a track/autocross I have never seen an Accord either (my first car, hatchback).

p.s.

$30K for an Accord? Damn I remeber when Beamers were expensive at $35K

I'll take a second hand Boxster or 993 over a BRAND SPANKIN NEW fully loaded Accord any day. (yep I'm a single guy).

Guys that straight line acceleration. You don't buy a Boxster or an Accord for that matter for straight line acceleration. If you want to do 1/4 mile times, buy a Supra, Talon or Rx7. Those are straight line cars, though they can all do corners well if you want. If your into newer cars that you don't modify, buy a Corvette Viper or Mustang GT they are all fast in a straight line and can't corner to save their lives. The new Corvette still uses leaf springs if you can imagine that. LEAF SPRINGS!!!! :rolleyes:

The Boxster is a track and cornering car. If you put the new Accord against the Boxster at a track, it could not keep up. Even with 400hp a front engine FWD car just can not keep up period. The Accord would be left sliding off the road looking like a poor excuse for a car. Front wheel drive is the work of Satan and no real car is FWD.

The Accord is not as fast as a boxster in any way shape or form. It will not break as fast, it will not turn in as fast, it will not go as fast around a track, corner or anywhere else where real driving counts. It will however go in a straight line as fast, whoptie do. If thats what your looking for, buy a train cause they do that pretty well too. Hell with 409hp and 415ft/lbs I will bet the new Escalade will do 14.5 in the 1/4. Is it fast? Hahhah yeah, right.

'The new Corvette still uses leaf springs if you can imagine that. LEAF SPRINGS!!!! "

The car handles like it is on rails. It could have jello back there for all I care.

Well, more accurately it uses a single, non-composite leaf spring in the rear, which simplifies the suspension system and, I believe, actually isn't all that heavy!

don't forget the balsa wood wrapped in carbon fiber underbody.

The ZO6 spanked the 911 so bad at Laguna Seca I'm surprised Porsche didn't have a day of mourning.

Dudes and Dudettes,

Accord? I don't care if it had a Mr. Fusion and disappeared to the 1950's at 88 mph...an Accord is for soccer moms, librarians and hippies.

1.21 jiggiwatts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! is there an option number for this on the Boxster

Being German, I am confident in what I am about to state:

The guys in Stuttgart hardly noticed. They have SUCH an attitude, they didn't even mind that the Penske/Porsche Lemans Prototypes lost to the Corvette C6R at Sebring this year.

Ah, I love German arrogance.

Anyone for a nice beer? I'll have mine warm and sudsy!

Point is: there are a lot of great powerplants being produced for the masses now. We are in a sort of Golden Age of power. Imagine the day when Porsche owners defend their cars with the excuse that we don't care about straight line acceleration!! I love it. After all, only a cad would go fast on the street.... or in a straight line........ :ah:
bwahahahaha

I'm sure Porsche will be coming out with some big HP and torque improvments. :D

Meanwhile I'm havin a blast, even whilst being blown away by Z06's, M3's and EVO's. :p

Query: If James Dean were alive today; what would he drive? :confused:

James Dean would be driving a spatula.

yeah, one of them Italian models :D

I have it on good authority WHO WILL REMAIN NAMELESS that Stuggart have a ZO6 which they had disassembled to 'reverse engineer' it, what ever the hell that means. And that's NOT the first time they have done so.

Gettin pumeled by the Corvettes is not new but its becoming a trend. Sports car cred comes from the track. That Laguna Seca time differential in Motor Trend was enough to make any Porsche die hard wince. Getting beat on power is fine, but to get outclassed on handling too? what's next braking??!!

"Query: If James Dean were alive today; what would he drive? "

A hummer with exta air bags!