Used 2021 Porsche 718 Boxster

The 2021 Porsche 718 Boxster is a thoroughly entertaining 2-seat convertible. The base model comes with a turbo flat-4 engine that produces 300 horsepower, which makes for a thrilling drive whenever the roads become twisty and less traveled.

That’s because the car’s fore/aft balance is superb, thanks to that engine being mounted just behind the seat. Even with an open top, the Boxster’s chassis is rock solid, helping this Porsche be athletic and precise.

If you want a Boxster with a flat-6 engine, opt for the 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 (with 394 horsepower) or the sleek 718 Spyder, which was new last year and packs a 414-horsepower punch. Both of these models, which have a standard 6-speed manual transmission, hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and have a top track speed of 182 mph.

Porsche 718 Boxster competitors include the BMW Z4 and the new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible.

To appreciate the finer qualities and nuances of a Porsche chassis would require a road trip taking in mountain passes and uptown avenues, right down to coast-hugging curves. The 718 Boxster flows through them all, providing plenty of sensation at the steering wheel and pants seat, with a neutral attitude enabling swift changes of direction with few complaints from the front tires.

Where this car has an advantage over its tin-topped 718 Cayman sibling is that the roof can be lowered. And in seconds. Many driving enthusiasts look down on convertibles for not being sufficiently serious. They make an exception for Porsches. Even the “base” engine is a blast, zipping from a standstill to 60 mph in barely five seconds, while it just gets better and quicker from there.

Another aspect of Porsche driving is the consistency in how much driver effort is required. It always feels just right. The manual transmission moves sweetly from gear to gear, while the PDK alternative allows faster acceleration and often better fuel economy.

The GTS 4.0 and 718 Spyder versions both have a sport-tuned adaptive suspension as standard.

For 2021, the Porsche 718 Boxster gets standard Apple CarPlay, 2-zone automatic climate control, heated seats, and auto-dimming mirrors. Apart from that, it’s a quiet year for the Boxster, which continues to have a sophisticated interior with partial leather seating and aluminum accents. The seats are comfortable yet hold their occupants in place whenever cornering forces exert their pull. The 3-spoke steering wheel has the right size and weight, and the pedals are in the perfect spot.

In common with other Porsches, the tachometer is the dominant dial, its prominent presence a  reminder that the 718 Boxster is a driver’s car, with simple instrumentation that’s easy to take in while throttling hard out of a corner.

Storage space is better than you might expect for a compact mid-engine sports car. There’s a 5.3 cubic feet trunk up front, plus a 4.4-cubic-feet one in back. That’s easily enough for a weekend getaway.

There’s something wonderfully simple about the 718 Boxster – no oversized grille or boy-racer wings needed. Instead, Porsche went with a sculptural elegance.

The doors and hood/trunk lids are made from aluminum, the regular Boxster has a single central exhaust, and the other variants have dual tailpipes. It takes a keen eye and a little background knowledge to tell when a 718 Boxster is fitted with the optional ceramic-composite discs – the calipers are painted yellow.

The 2021 Porsche 718 Spyder, now available to order, has a revised roof and attractive body fairings that trail each headrest. What’s more, the Spyder rides about an inch lower than a standard Boxster, on 20-inch alloy wheels. It also has its own front-bumper design, plus a little vent on the hood’s leading edge.

SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE
In addition to a dash-mounted clock, Sport Chrono brings four driver modes, plus launch control with the PDK transmission. Optional in the base and S Boxsters, but standard on all other models.

PDK AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Although 718 Boxsters come standard with a perfectly fine 6-speed manual transmission, this 7-speed optional automated transmission is one of the best, shifting gears quicker than any human. And it doesn’t miss shifts.

The standard seats in the 2021 Porsche 718 Boxster are manually adjustable in the fore/aft and up/down directions. Only the seatback angle is power-adjustable, which means the Boxster has fewer electric motors and less weight, precisely what you want in a sports car.

Other features include a fast-operating fabric top (10 seconds), a sport exhaust system, 18-inch alloy wheels, 6-speed manual transmission, climate control, front/rear sensors, Apple CarPlay, a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, an 8-speaker/150-watt audio setup, satellite radio, two USB ports, 11GB of music storage, two SD card slots, CD/DVD player, and Bluetooth.

Some features standard in upmarket versions of the 718 Boxster can be ordered as options lower down the order, like the Sport Chrono package. Adaptive suspension also continues to be available, along with a torque-vectoring mechanical limited-slip differential and carbon-ceramic brakes. The 7-speed PDK automatic transmission is now available on the 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 and the 718 Spyder.

As before, there’s a wide choice of leathers, trim accents, and interior color schemes. Eighteen-way power-adjustable seats, adaptive cruise control, and a Burmester surround-sound system are available, but they seem more appropriate for a Mercedes-Benz.

Even Porsche has fallen in with the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine formula that has proliferated across the automotive world. But at least those cylinders are still in the hallmark horizontally opposed “boxer” configuration.

The regular 718 Boxster and 718 Boxster T have this engine, with 300 horsepower going to the rear wheels through the standard 6-speed manual transmission. In the Boxster S is a 2.5-liter version, developing 350 horsepower.

A naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-6 engine propels the 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 and the new Boxster 25 Years, while the same unit is boosted to 414 horsepower in the 718 Spyder.

To save a little fuel while idling, 718 Boxsters have an engine stop/start function that can be turned off if drivers find the restart action irritating.

2.0-liter turbocharged flat-4 (718 Boxster, 718 Boxster T)
300 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
280 lb-ft of torque @ 1,950-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/26 mpg (manual), 21/27 mpg (automatic)

2.5-liter turbocharged flat-4 (718 Boxster S)
350 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
309 lb-ft of torque @ 1,900-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/24 mpg (manual), 19/25 mpg (automatic)

4.0-liter flat-6 (718 Boxster GTS 4.0, Boxster 25 Years)
394 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm
309 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000-6,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/24 mpg

4.0-liter flat-6 (718 Spyder)
414 horsepower @ 7,600 rpm
309 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000-6,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg (manual)