WHICH Porsche Provides The REAL PORSCHE Experience - The Boxster Or 911?

You know, Porsche is a funny brand. Not because of its ridiculously named transmission that's been shortened to PDK, or the fact the options on a vehicle can account for 50% -- I am exaggerating -- of the vehicle's total, out-the-door price.

Porsche is a funny company because it is so steeply entrenched in its tradition but no one can really place a finger on it.

Take, for example, the Boxster which many claim "is not a real Porsche." But if you know a bit about the marque's history, one could argue it is MORE of a Porsche than the 911. Think back to the 550 Spyder.

Then again though, the 911 is a vehicle that's been around for over 30 years. Sure it's become heavier, its footprint has become larger, it's now watercooled and its interior is no longer as Spartan as it once was; however, when you fire up its six-cylinder motor you know it's got that uniquely Porsche sound and feeling. It's a vehicle that's been carefully refined all this time.

So, I turn to you -- the AutoSpies faithful -- to weigh in: WHICH Porsche delivers the REAL Porsche experience? The Boxster or 911?

TybeeZ4 - 9/3/2012 11:24:31 PM

+1 Boost

Both are. Both the Boxster and Cayman have history on their side and they share basic structure from the A pillar forward as well as many "bits & pieces" with the 911. While the Boxster shares history dating back to No. 1, the Cayman shares it's history with such cars as the 904. And while the 911 continues to win in many venues throughout the world, mid-engined Porsches have historically been the supreme champions when they raced. And the truth is if the factory elected to support the Cayman in racing by giving it sufficient hp, it too would prove dominant. At several different events, i've heard the head of Porsche racing say "the 911 is our racing platform, period" in response to repeated inquiries about the Cayman. Full disclosure... I just recently had to part ways with my '07 Cayman S. It was a wonderful car.

Lexus - 9/4/2012 1:25:19 AM

+2 Boost

I have a lot of respect for the Porsche and the performance it cars offer but it's Grossly Overprice like most German cars.

TauronB2G - 9/4/2012 8:01:39 AM

+3 Boost

The Real Porsche is whichever one you can afford.
T

irishmike - 9/4/2012 10:35:07 AM

+1 Boost

IMO, Boxster/Cayman are better sports cars. Whether or not they are proper Porsches makes no difference to me.

TehShibbs - 9/4/2012 1:40:48 PM

+1 Boost

I would personally rather have a Cayman.

USNA1999 - 9/4/2012 4:52:16 PM

+1 Boost

I have never owned a PORSCHE but my friends that do, swear up and down that their is NO SUBSTITUTE for the 911. If you want a PORSCHE, buy a 911. Everything else is just an imitation. This is coming from actual PORSCHE owners and not wannabes like many on this board.
Personally, I like the CAYMAN and the CAYENNE.

tsiegel - 9/4/2012 9:22:26 PM

+1 Boost

Any car that Porsche builds is a "real Porsche". That includes 356,911, 550, 912, 928, 924, 944, 968, Boxster, Cayman, Cayenne, Panamera, Carrea GT ect. They are simply different tools for different jobs. Gee which is a real wrench? Torque, lug, Crecent. Get the idea?

freeagent - 9/4/2012 9:23:58 PM

+1 Boost

Cayman, and I drive a C2. Too bad Porsche insists on limiting the cayman by capping the power under the base 911, but this will remain until Porsche is faced with serious competition in the 70-100k range. The f-type, for example should have a 6MT option, at least in the FHC version.

MorePower - 9/4/2012 9:54:03 PM

+1 Boost

Neither! Porsche = rear engine car with the "trademark characteristics". Being a good handling car does not suffice. Porsche has been spending the last twenty years trying to engineer those "characteristics" out of the car so their wealthy customers don't kill themselves on damp, curvy, tree lined roads.

The Boxster and Cayman are great handling cars, but say that is enough to make it a Porsche is a lie.

tsiegel - 9/4/2012 9:59:37 PM

+1 Boost

Uh, Porsche has been working on rear engine cars for the last eighty plus years ( if you count the Volkswagen), and the 911 for almost fifty. They got the kinks worked about a long long time ago.

MorePower - 9/5/2012 12:39:16 AM

+1 Boost

What made a Porsche a Porsche was the thrill of getting it right and the horror if you got it wrong. Without this delicate balance of high risk with high reward, it is not a Porsche.

mini22 - 9/5/2012 1:52:06 AM

+1 Boost

I think it has evolved. The 911 has always been the dominant car. However that has changed. The new Boxster S closely approaches the base 911 in straightline performance, betters it in handling, as similar qulity to it's interior and is 50 grand cheaper. I would think the Boxsters and new Cayman S offer more of the Porsche experience now than the 911. The electric steering works better on the Boxster as well. The 911 has gotten so much larger. The new Boxster is practically the current size of the old 911 997& 996 and is larger than the old aircooled 911-993 etc.

skytop - 9/5/2012 9:52:47 AM

+1 Boost

Any Porsche enthusiast or Porschafile knows the Boxster is the real deal.

Anyone who says otherwise is just an effete snob and is automatically discredited.

skytop - 9/5/2012 9:41:51 PM

+1 Boost

Any cognoscenti or car engineer will quickly tell you that a mid engine car (as the Boxster) is inherently a superior design and offers superior balance than a rear engine car which placed the engine behind the axle (as the 911).

The fact is simple and the laws of physics bear this out: Mid engine cheaper Boxster is superior to the too expensive 911. If Porsche would put the same engine in both, no one would even look at the 911.

amdmaxx - 9/7/2012 8:41:21 AM

+1 Boost

Neither. Cayman S is!