Porsche Boxster 2007 Review

No, the main reason is the loud, growl of the engine, right in your ears. And for those who like a good tune, it sure is sweet.

The Boxster is mid-engined, which means the motor sits directly behind the driver. This has two positives: the noise of the roaring engine, as already established, and it frees up the front of the car for more storage.

One thing you'll notice is the surprised look on people's faces as you lift up the bonnet to extract your grocery bags, instead of showing off that pretty Porsche engine.

And no need to worry when it comes to the big shopping: there's still extra space in the usual boot in the back.

The Boxster got its name from its "boxer" engine and body style, a roadster. The 2.7-litre engine is named after the action of the pistons in its six horizontally opposed cylinders, said to resemble the movements of a boxer.

And although it may be Porsche's base model, it's still an impressive and exciting drive.

At $108,800, the Boxster is the cheapest Porsche available, although the model we tested had options that brought the total to $123,820.

Metallic paint, 18-inch alloy wheels, sports seats, a park-assist system, a wind deflector and a high-end Bose sound system were rather expensive additions on our drive.

Sitting very low, the Boxster is dynamic on the straights and agile around corners. The 2007 model has slightly more power, now delivering 180kW at 6500rpm and 273Nm between 4600 and 6000rpm.

It comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission, which is a bit disappointing for a car in this class. A six-speeder, plus a suspension kit, is another expensive option.

Despite the lack of that extra gear, there are no complaints about the five-speed. Once you get the Boxster rolling, it offers plenty of flexibility and extracts sharp performance from the smooth, potent engine.

Highway cruising (with the top down, of course), listening to the engine's music, is the best way to drive the Boxster — although city cruising will attract much more attention.

Hit 4000rpm and you really feel some urge, although it's sometimes hard to keep a track on the speed limit.

The speedometer is calibrated in 50km/h blocks, with only tiny dashes to signify the in-between speeds. So it's hard to tell if you're doing 60 or 80km/h — and you really should be able to tell the difference.

Especially in a Boxster. Let the thing rev, and it's easy to get distracted.

And because that probably won't be much of a defence when the boys in blue pull you over, Porsche has thought of a solution: a digital display.

Demonstrating its athletic abilities, the Boxster sprints to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds. Even acceleration from as low as 2000rpm in fifth gear is quick and sharp — a slight breath in, and the power is drawn out.

She's quick off the mark, if the right person is behind the wheel, of course.

The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering provides smooth turning and exceptional handling.

Even though it's the base model, you'd expect a little more equipment from a car costing $100,000-plus.

The seats are still manually operated; there are no electric buttons like on other expensive cars. The basic Boxster also lacks steering-wheel controls.

That extra storage space also comes at the expense of a spare tyre. Instead, you get a repair kit. As long as you steer clear of nails or other objects on the road, you won't have a problem.

On the upside, the new model is the first roadster to feature head airbags. It also has Porsche Stability Management, plus thorax and front airbags.

An electrically operated soft top that retracts in just 12 seconds makes going topless quick and easy. Around town, you don't even have to slow down much — you can travel at 50km/h while removing the roof.

With its scooping lines, oval headlights and those fish-like side gills, the Boxster has an aggressive, yet classy, stance. The front bonnet scoops up like flared nostrils, and the firm lines follow the car around to the rear.

The only dilemma with the Boxster's low stance is getting in and out. Needless to say, older passengers did it with a moan, while younger ones tried to stylishly slip in. Unfortunately, there wasn't much success on that front.

Although driving this Porsche brought an abundance of joy, it seemed a bit unfair. Just one week, with a Boxster, just before Christmas. So much fun in such little time.

I guess Santa didn't get my letter; but, fingers crossed, there's a birthday just around the corner ...