| Year Make Model | 2013 Porsche Boxster S 2dr Convertible (3.4L 6cyl 6M) |
| Vehicle Type | RWD 2dr 2-passenger Convertible |
| Base MSRP | $61,850 |
| Options on test vehicle | Premium Package With Adaptive Sport Seats Plus ($5,265 -- includes wind deflector mesh mounted on supplemental safety roll bar, two-zone automatic climate control with separate temperature controls for driver and front passenger side and automatic air circulation including air quality sensor and residual heat function, three-level electric heated seats, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors,18-way adaptive sport seats with driver memory, bi-xenon headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light system); Infotainment Package With Bose Surround-Sound System ($3,860 -- includes Porsche communication management with navigation module. high-resolution 7-inch touchscreen color display, AM/FM HD radio with RDS double tuner, single-disc CD/DVD player including audio playback of audio/video DVDs and MP3 music, hard-disc navigation systems with map data for the United States and Canada, navigation display of city and terrain model [where data is available], Bose surround-sound system with 10 speakers, active subwoofer and center speaker integrated into the vehicle body, 445-watt, eight-channel amplifier, Bose technologies Centerpoint 2 and SurroundStage, AudioPilot noise compensation, SiriusXM Satellite radio with 3-month trial subscription); 20-Inch Carrera S Wheels ($1,560 -- includes 20-by-8-inch front and 20-by-9.5-inch rear dual five-spoke design alloy wheels with 235/35ZR20 front and 265/35ZR20 rear performance tires); Sport Chrono Package in Conjunction With Porsche Communication Management ($1,850 -- includes dynamic transmission mounts with analog and digital stopwatch, Sport Plus button on center console, sportier tuning of throttle response and systems such as PSM and PASM, sports performance shift indicator on the TFT display in the instrument cluster, additional performance display); Porsche Active Suspension Management PASM ($1,790 -- includes electronically variable active damping system with two manually selectable modes: Normal or Sport, ride height lowered by 10mm from standard suspension); Porsche Torque Vectoring PTV ($1,320 -- includes variable drive torque distribution by intelligent braking of the rear wheels with mechanically locking rear differential with asymmetrical locking); Park Assist Front and Rear ($860 -- includes parking aid with ultrasonic sensors integrated in the bumpers with audible notification); Platinum-Painted Wheels ($845 -- includes wheels painted fully in Platinum [satinmat] color including colored Porsche crest); Seat Ventilation ($730 -- includes three-stage electric ventilation for front seats); Six-Disc CD/DVD Auto Changer ($670); Multifunction Steering Wheel ($615 -- includes three-spoke multifunction steering wheel in smooth leather with manual controls for audio, communication functions and onboard computer); Light Design Package ($340 -- includes additional LED dimmable ambient lighting on the overhead console, door handles, door storage compartments and front footwells); Power Steering Plus ($270 -- includes speed-sensitive power-assisted steering system); Heated Steering Wheel ($270 -- includes steering wheel rim heating activated by a control button on the steering wheel); Leather Interior in Black ($2,025). |
| As-tested MSRP | $84,120 |
| Assembly location | Stuttgart, Germany |
| North American parts content (%) | 4 |
| Configuration | Longitudinal, midengine, rear-wheel drive |
| Engine type | Naturally aspirated, direct-injected flat-6, gasoline with auto-stop/start |
| Displacement (cc/cu-in) | 3,436/209.6 |
| Block/head material | Aluminum/aluminum |
| Valvetrain | DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, variable intake + exhaust-valve timing and lift (intake side) |
| Compression ratio (x:1) | 12.5 |
| Redline, indicated (rpm) | 7,600 |
| Fuel cutoff/rev limiter (rpm) | 7,800 |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm) | 315 @ 6,700 |
| Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) | 266 @ 4,500 |
| Fuel type | Premium unleaded (required) |
| Transmission type | Six-speed manual |
| Transmission ratios (x:1) | I=3.31, II=1.95, III=1.41, IV=1.13, V=.95, VI=.81 |
| Final-drive ratio (x:1) | 3.89 |
| Differential(s) | Mechanical limited slip + Porsche Torque Vectoring via individual brake actuation |
| Suspension, front | Independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, stabilizer bar |
| Suspension, rear | Independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, trailing links, stabilizer bar |
| Steering type | Electrically assisted speed-proportional power steering |
| Steering ratio (x:1) | Variable between 16.5 and 12.37 |
| Tire make and model | Pirelli P Zero |
| Tire type | Performance front and rear |
| Tire size, front | 235/35ZR20 (88Y) |
| Tire size, rear | 265/35ZR20 (95Y) |
| Wheel size | 20-by-8 inches front -- 20-by-9.5 inches rear |
| Wheel material | Alloy |
| Brakes, front | 13-inch one-piece ventilated steel discs with two-piston sliding calipers |
| Brakes, rear | 11.8-inch one-piece ventilated steel discs with two-piston sliding calipers |
| Acceleration, 0-30 mph (sec.) | 2.0 |
| 0-45 mph (sec.) | 3.2 |
| 0-60 mph (sec.) | 4.9 |
| 0-75 mph (sec.) | 6.8 |
| 1/4-mile (sec. @ mph) | 13.0 @ 108.7 |
| 0-60 with 1 foot of rollout (sec.) | 4.7 |
| 0-30 mph, trac ON (sec.) | 2.1 |
| 0-45 mph, trac ON (sec.) | 3.4 |
| 0-60 mph, trac ON (sec.) | 5.1 |
| 0-75 mph, trac ON (sec.) | 7.0 |
| 1/4-mile, trac ON (sec. @ mph) | 13.2 @ 108.0 |
| 0-60, trac ON with 1 foot of rollout (sec.) | 4.8 |
| Braking, 30-0 mph (ft.) | 26 |
| 60-0 mph (ft.) | 103 |
| Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) | 72.8 |
| Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) ESC ON | 69.2 |
| Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) | 1.0 |
| Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) ESC ON | 0.98 |
| Sound level @ idle (dB) | 48.2 |
| @ Full throttle (dB) | 87.2 |
| @ 70 mph cruise (dB) | 67.3 |
| @ 70 mph top down (dB) | 74.1 |
| Engine speed @ 70 mph (rpm) | 2,600 |
| Acceleration comments | Best launch from 4,750 with clutch drop. Won't tolerate any clutch slip from this rpm. Perfect shifter -- direct, precise, able to tolerate speed. |
| Braking comments | Solid, consistent pedal. Stops straight with little lateral wander and almost no pitch. |
| Handling comments | Skid pad: Rewards small throttle and steering adjustments on limit with ESC off. Small lift = small rotation. Doesn't want to oversteer. ESC on: Retains excellent manners with lower limits. Still very capable, though. Slalom: Remarkably easy car to slalom. Communicates its intentions clearly as limits approach. ESC on: Intervention is minimal and helpful. Doesn't feel like it punishes. ESC off: Superb balance that's completely accessible. Even pushing hard, it remains fully composed. Comfortable oversteer at exit, which is rare in midengine cars. No issues with electric steering when it comes to driving hard. Feels a little synthetic (like 991 911) if I focus on it during normal driving, but if I drive hard it doesn't matter. |
| Test date | 7/17/2012 |
| Test location | California Speedway |
| Elevation (ft.) | 1,121 |
| Temperature (°F) | 68.38 |
| Relative humidity (%) | 56.56 |
| Barometric pressure (in. Hg) | 28.77 |
| Wind (mph, direction) | 1.5 mph crosswind |
| Odometer (mi.) | 343 |
| Fuel used for test | 91-octane gasoline |
| As-tested tire pressures, f/r (psi) | 33/33 |
| EPA fuel economy (mpg) | 20 city/28 highway/23 combined |
| Edmunds observed (mpg) | 18.5 |
| Fuel tank capacity (U.S. gal.) | 16.9 |
| Stereo description | 445-watt, 10-speaker AM/FM/XM/MP3 CD/DVD stereo |
| iPod/digital media compatibility | Standard iPod via USB jack |
| Satellite radio | Optional XM |
| Bluetooth phone connectivity | Standard |
| Navigation system | Optional 4.6-inch instrument cluster display screen (measured diagonally) |
| Parking aids | Optional parking sonar front and rear with top-view display |
| Curb weight, mfr. claim (lbs.) | 2,910 |
| Curb weight, as tested (lbs.) | 3,066 |
| Weight distribution, as tested, f/r (%) | 46/54 |
| Length (in.) | 172.2 |
| Width (in.) | 70.9 |
| Height (in.) | 50.4 |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 97.4 |
| Track, front (in.) | 60.1 |
| Track, rear (in.) | 60.6 |
| Turning circle (ft.) | 36.0 |
| Seating capacity | 2 |
| Trunk volume (cu-ft) | 5.3 front/4.6 rear |
| Payload, mfr. max claim (lbs.) | 739 |
| Convertible top material | Cloth, glass rear window |
| Operation type | Power-operated top and latches, includes global window operation |
| Operation time, lower/raise (sec.) | Less than 10 seconds to raise/lower |
| Operation lockout | May be driven up to 31 mph |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Corrosion | 10 years/Unlimited miles |
| Roadside assistance | 4 years/50,000 miles |
See which cars and trucks our editors recommend