718 Boxster: Half the Price of a 911, Twice the Fun?

What came first? The chicken or the egg? Well, it depends on who you ask. Scientists will say one thing, philosophers another, and your weird uncle will have some conspiracy theory that involves the Illuminati and 5G towers. But none of this matters, because the real question is: what came first, the Boxster or the Cayman? And the answer, dear reader, is the Boxster.

Back in 1996, when the world was still getting over the disappointment of Windows 95 crashing mid-install, Porsche was having a bit of a crisis. The 911, the car we all dream of owning but can’t afford because we spent all our money on avocados and useless degrees, wasn’t selling too well. Enter the Boxster: a mid-engined roadster with a 2.5L flat-six and a face that bore a striking resemblance to the 996-generation 911—complete with the now-infamous "fried egg" headlights. Its name? A combination of "boxer" (the engine layout) and "roadster" (because it’s a roadster). Not the most creative name, but let’s cut the Germans some slack. They were under pressure.

The Boxster was so successful that Porsche thought, "Let’s make another one, but with a roof!" And thus, the Cayman was born. Now, normally, I hate convertible versions of great coupes. A convertible 911? No, thank you. Unless it’s a Targa, in which case, yes, absolutely. But the Boxster is different. It was always meant to be a convertible. They didn’t just saw the roof off as an afterthought to satisfy middle-aged men rediscovering their youth. The Boxster was designed from day one to be open-top, and that makes all the difference.

It has the perfect recipe for a sports car: mid-engined, lightweight, low centre of gravity, and enough power to be fun without making you a menace to society. A recipe that, frankly, terrifies 911 owners. You see, the Boxster (and its sibling, the Cayman) has always been the car Porsche could have made into something truly spectacular. Ask any Porsche enthusiast what their ultimate dream car is, and they’ll whisper under their breath, "A Boxster with a GT3 engine and a manual gearbox." And Porsche has teased us with this idea for years. The Spyder RS and GT4 RS came very close, but not quite the full dream, unless you wanted a cheaper alternative to the GT3 for the track. The 4.0L engine that came before them? A de-turbocharged 991.2 Carrera engine. It was good, but not great. And Porsche fanatics could tell.

But enough history. Let’s talk about the 718 Boxster and my own experience with it. Once upon a time, I thought the Boxster and Cayman were just for people who couldn’t afford a 911. Buying one felt like admitting defeat in life’s great race. But as I’ve gotten older (and clearly wiser), my views have changed. The 911 is still amazing, of course. A 991.2 GT3 Touring remains at the top of my wish list. But the latest 992 generation? It’s gotten a bit... much. It’s enormous, it’s complicated, and while it’s still brilliant, it’s no longer the pure driver’s car it once was. Sure, the 992.2 GTS is blisteringly fast, and can sprint to 60 MPH faster than you can remember what you had for lunch, but is that really the point? The 911 used to be a precision tool for making bad days better – it used to be nimble and enjoyable to throw around. Now, it feels like an over-engineered status symbol.

And that’s where the 718 Boxster comes in. I’ve driven one—a base model, no less, with the much-maligned 2.0L four-cylinder turbocharged engine that people love to hate. "It sounds like a Subaru," they cry, before going back to watching YouTube videos of cars they’ll never drive. But here’s the thing: if you actually drive one, you’ll change your mind. The handling is sublime. It’s not so fast that you’re constantly terrified, but it has enough grip and balance to make you feel like a hero. The seats? Perfect. The driving position? Spot on. It’s even practical – it’s got two boot spaces. And, dare I say it, the sound isn’t bad at all. Obviously, it doesn’t scream like a GT4 RS, but for a car that costs 2.5 times less, I don’t really mind.

The basic brakes, in usual Porsche fashion, are fantastic, and the roof drops in seconds without having to come to a stop. And here’s the best part: you can pick one up for £25,000. That’s Ford Focus ST money! If you’re looking for a fun daily driver, this is it. Drive one, and if you don’t find yourself grinning like an idiot, I’m sorry, but you might not be a petrolhead at all.

The Boxster is one of those rare cars that punches well above its weight. It may not have the prestige of a 911, but it offers a driving experience that is just as rewarding, if not more so in some cases. It’s fun, engaging, and—shockingly for a Porsche—good value for money. If you want something that makes every journey feel like an event, look no further. And if anyone tries to tell you it’s just a "poor man’s 911," remind them that the best things in life aren’t always the most expensive. Then drop the roof and drive off into the sunset like the hero you are.