"What is it?

It’s Porsche base Boxster, now equipped with the same specification of 2.7-litre engine as the regular Cayman. That means VarioCam Plus valve control (essentially variable valve timing), an extra five horses (now 241bhp) and 201lb ft of torque at 4600rpm.


What’s it like?

Sweet, without ever feeling genuinely rapid. Just as in the Cayman, the engine sounds pretty rough at low revs. Then as the VarioCam kicks in higher up the range you get a pleasing howl from behind your ears.
Things do start to happen more quickly – the Boxster will hit 160mph, after all – but the taller ratios in the five-speed gearbox mean that things never get frantic.

That could be a problem – we’d much prefer a six-speeder in the more focused Cayman, for example – but the lack of sixth seems less of an issue here. The Boxster has always sold on its all-round ability and it still offers a terrific blend of performance, relaxed cruising and, when the weather is better than Britain in January, top-down posing.
The interior is basically unchanged but that’s no bad thing. The ergonomics are excellent and build quality feels superb.


Should I buy one?

The Boxster has long been our benchmark for small roadsters. We see little here that should change this view: if anything, this mild tweakage reinforces the car’s status as class leader."

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER from AutoCar

i would be very happy with a car like this with few options here and there of course.
Should I ever become moderately successful later on in life, this would be the ideal everyday Porsche for me.
Since its relatively cheap, you wouldn't worry when you drive it around town as say you would in a 911 turbo of a CGT.
Don't care if it's considered girly or its been dubbed gay man's car of the year, it's still a Porsche, so no matter what you will feel special when you're behind the wheel.
Someday...

I wasn't aware of this...

I'm not very sure to be honest, but at some point in time, i think it was referred as the hairdresser's Porsche. However, now that the Cayman is here, i think it took over as the gay favorite.
If anyone has more info on this it would be nice to know...

Miata? Maybe.

New Beetle? Okay.

Boxster? Not that it would stop me from driving one, but I can't imagine it has that connotation.