2019 Porsche 718 Boxster Deals, Prices, Incentives & Leases, Overview
The driving experience is the name of the game for small sports cars, and the 2019 Porsche 718 Boxster is as good as it gets. It may not have the all-out speed of its older sibling, the Porsche 911, but the 718 Boxster feels just as potent. Clever turbos cut down on lag, which means responses are lightning quick. The steering is the same - the rack is electronically assisted, but it relays plenty of feedback from the road. This is an impressive balance, and one that other premium badges haven鈥檛 mastered (looking at you, Audi). Porsche鈥檚 PDK gearbox defines the genre of dual-clutch automatics, and, especially with launch control, it's excellent. All the same, we appreciate that the 718 Boxster still comes with a six-speed manual transmission, another rarity these days. All the performance details are as finely honed as you鈥檇 expect from Porsche. Brakes are powerful and responsive.
The suspension is composed but aggressive. If these aren鈥檛 enough, Porsche鈥檚 options list holds enough upgrades to satisfy all but the wildest of speed demons. The 718 may be the entry point to Porsche鈥檚 lineup, but for most mortals, it鈥檚 all the performance you could ever dream of. The 718 Boxster makes no bones about its mission in life, which generally doesn鈥檛 include carrying passengers or cargo. Seating is limited to two, although the supportive and leather-trimmed seats do make the journey comfortable. Baggage is another matter. The 718 Boxster鈥檚 mid-engine layout means that cargo space is split between a small trunk and a hood-access 鈥渇runk.鈥?The power-folding soft top encroaches on the space even further. The end result is a grand total of 9.6 cubic feet of cargo, with 5.2 of that located in the frunk. That鈥檚 enough for a (light) grocery run, but will probably be a squeeze on a weekend away. No one is buying the 718 Boxster for its utility, but a Chevrolet Corvette manages 15 cubic feet behind the seats. Still, the Boxster isn鈥檛 the worst in its class - a BMW Z4 has only eight cubic feet for cargo.
Although it鈥檚 a blast on the back roads and the track, performance isn鈥檛 the 718 Boxster鈥檚 only trick. The cabin is outfitted with modern tech, and even base models come with luxury touches like leather accents. The upper trims can wear leather, wood, carbon fiber, and a dizzying array of paint and upholstery choices. The exterior has grown more refined since the last generation, too. A more aggressive rear end sets off Porsche鈥檚 classic hood shape, giving the 718 Boxster a little more identity than it had in the past. GTS trims take the muscular lines and make them menacing. 60,000, the 718 Boxster isn't cheap to start. But a careless trip through Porsche鈥檚 configurator will tip the Boxster toward the six-figure mark. That base price is more than most competitors. 50,000, and even a Chevy Corvette can be had for less than the 718 Boxster. 50,000 mark as well - is just around the corner and has Porsche squarely in its sights. The good news is that a base 718 Boxster feels special enough to warrant Porsche鈥檚 premium. The less good news is that adding any options will drive the price up in a hurry. Our only major qualm is the lack of standard automatic emergency braking, but, all the same, bring a calm stomach and a deep wallet. Final thoughts. Sports cars are as much about personality as statistics, and the 2019 Porsche 718 Boxster is difficult to dislike. It鈥檚 sublime to drive and classy both inside and out. Being a two-seater spots convertible, it comes with compromises. Cargo space is scarce, and the options list intimidates by breadth and cost. The 718 Boxster鈥檚 competition is nothing to sneeze at, starting with Porsche鈥檚 (slightly cheaper) coupe version, the 718 Cayman. But drop the top down on a sunny day, hit the gas pedal, and try not to love the 718 Boxster. Sports cars are about the pleasure of the drive, about how they make you feel, and in the Boxster, Porsche has another winner.
In a European press release, Porsche says the 718 T鈥檚 weight (applied to both the Cayman and Boxster) with a manual transmission is 2,976 pounds, which is curiously heavier than a North American-spec 718 by 32 pounds. Porsche says that a new gasoline particulate filter (no word on whether it will be installed on North American models) offset the meager weight savings, meaning that US-spec cars with mandatory PCM units could be even heavier. We鈥檝e asked Porsche what the 718 T will weigh in our market and will update this post as soon as possible. For those who are wondering, with PDK the 718 T tips the scales at 3,042 pounds (again, European market numbers). So if the 718 T doesn鈥檛 offer meaningful weight savings, then why should anyone care? The things that make the 718 T are not going to actually enhance performance in any meaningful way. Stuttgart. With the 718 T, Porsche has transferred the puristic design of the 1968 911 T to its range of two-seater sports cars. The new model in the Boxster and Cayman ranges combines the 220 kW (300 PS) turbo four-cylinder flat engine with a particularly emotional Porsche driving experience.
Traditionally, 鈥淭鈥?stands for 鈥淭ouring鈥?in Porsche models, and is synonymous with driving pleasure in its purest form. The 718 T will be most at home on winding country roads, offering the joy of dynamic driving as its ultimate goal. The two-seater accommodates this philosophy through a pared down range of features. These include black door pulls in the door panels and sports seats with electric two-way adjustment, black Sport-Tex centre sections and the 鈥?18鈥?logo embroidered on the headrests. The Porsche Communication Management (PCM) module has also been replaced by a large storage compartment, though buyers who do not wish to forego the entertainment system may order it at no extra charge. Put together, these measures balance out the additional weight created by the installation of the gasoline particulate filter (GPF). In the interior, the character of the 718 T is highlighted through a number of emphatically sporty touches: luxurious padding and leather covering means the convenient, 360-millimetre GT sports steering wheel with Mode switch offers a particularly secure grip.