Here’s the scenario.
You have a long weekend away planned, with lots of miles to cover. You're off to do a track day, and you have a choice of taking either a Porsche Turbo S or 718 Boxster.
Do you choose a shatteringly quick, all-wheel drive everyday supercar with a PDK automatic gearbox, or a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive convertible with three pedals and a stick between the seats?
I’ve recently covered some serious miles in both while following Le Mans-winning driver Nick Tandy as he tackled two 24 hour endurance races in the space of a month.
First, I took the Turbo S to the Nürburgring and back. It is staggeringly capable. The acceleration is addictive (0-62mph in 2.9sec), it has a deliciously deep exhaust note, and it couldn’t have been more at home slamming along on the Autobahn.
Read the Porsche 911 Turbo S review
Not to mention, and whisper it, at the risk of sounding boring, it’s surprisingly practical. I dragged our videographer James Holloway on the trip and the boot swallowed all our luggage and his equipment, with no sweat. Just don’t make any adults sit in the back for too long.
Yet, for all its brutal pace and ability, there’s something slightly detached about the driving experience. That’s not to say it isn’t utterly magnificent in most respects, but it’s almost too easy, in part due to its grippy all-wheel drive system.
Enter the 718 Boxster.
A jaunt to Le Mans and back was enough to convince me that, regardless of how many cylinders the latest iteration has, it’s the one I’d grab the keys for again in a heartbeat. It's £100,000 cheaper, too.
Join the debate
Add your comment
The 718 Boxster is a "wildcard"......
So - should I do what Porsche (really) wants me to do (given my 50+ years of age), and select the 911 Turbo, or should I listen to my inner self, and choose.........the answer is the same. The 911 Turbo it is. No matter what, it is simply the most capable, most practical, all year super sportscar money can buy period! There is NO equal match out there. Like one tester said; The only competition it has is coming from itself (in a newer version), and I fully agree.
for what little it's worth...
Envy detected
Obviously never watched a single video of TS, to say it is for fat cats with "issues". Why, because it is expensive? Cheaper than the rest of similar cars! And still the best.
I am in my 30s, I am not fat, I do love cats though, especially Russian Blue, anyway, I have a manual 997T, 570hp, and I have a 981 BoxsterS with PDK.
Turbo is too fast for the road and honestly even though I am fan of manual transmission now I believe Turbo should have PDK. It is a great long distance bullet and it is great in the mountains though you feel it has so much more to give you just scratch the surface. But I love this car, it is so relaxing to just cruise in it, and it's practical, I transported 3 girls in it ( my gf and her visiting friends) no problem.
Boxster is the more exciting car, undoubtedly, much less power and no turbos means one can use the engine in a much wider range of its abilities before it gets too fast. PDK is great but manual would be more exciting in that car, imho.
I test drove 718 on the hairpins, would never exchange my NA for a turbo-4, don't care if it is faster, 981 is fast enough and much more dramatic.
So, my choice between the 718 and TurboS - I take TurboS, it's a fantastic car in every respect. I wish I had the money...