2013 Porsche Boxster S Review: A Top Down Driver Fable for the Everyman

Rarely has anything been romanticized as much as driving down the highway in a two-seater convertible sports car, top town, wind blowing through the cab, tunes blasting on the radio. It's an image straight from the movies, a fable of glamour and automotive bliss, but it's also real. The fable of the top-down convertible sports car with fantastic acceleration, blistering speed, lively handling and dashing good looks is readily available to the driver of the 2013 Porsche Boxster S.

The 2013 Porsche Boxster S is the perfect roadster for the summer driver who wants exciting performance driving but also wants a comfortable, low-stress car. The heavily redesigned 2013 Porsche Boxster S may be the perfect sports car for the casual driver. The redesigned car rides on a new chassis and is longer than the previous model year. Consequently, the wheels have been pushed out towards the corners giving it a lower, sleeker, sportier profile. While previous models of the Porsche Boxster have looked almost pedestrian at times, the 2013 Boxster presents a refreshingly aggressive though understandably Teutonic physiognomy. The wide air intakes mean that the car literally devours the road.

Movie-star good looks aside, the heart and soul of the 2013 Porsche Boxster S are its engine and steering. The 2013 Boxster S keeps the beloved flat-six aluminum engine, but with some adjustments to the exhaust and intake to boost the horsepower. The horizontally opposed 3.4 liter six cylinder in the Boxster S produces 315 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. All the power gives the car a top speed of 173 mph and 0-60 mph acceleration of 4.8 seconds. Moreover, the 2013 Porsche Boxster S is relatively svelte at just around 2970 pounds.

The light-weight and peppy mid-engine rear-wheel-drive mean that the 2013 Porsche Boxster S digs into corners and begs the driver to apply the accelerator peddle and power out of turns. The defining characteristic of the car is that it is unbelievably fun to the drive. Behind the wheel, you just want to unleash the Boxster S with no regard for speed limits or caution, and the car rewards you with a satisfying roar.

The Porsche Boxster S carries its power with elan. The six-speed manual transmission provides a feeling of deep connection with the workings and engineering of the car, allowing you to push it into higher RPMs and the glorious growl of the engine and purr of the exhaust. Push the car a little harder and extend the rear spoiler and it'll claw a little deeper into the road and give you some more boost.

The new electric power-steering which replaced the old hydraulic steering allows pinpoint control and clearly communicates the movements of the car to the driver. While some have eschewed the electric power steering for being less tactile, the new system delivers spot-on control to new drivers of the Porsche marque.

Exceptional handling, power and acceleration deliver a joyful driving experience, especially with the Boxster's convertible soft-top down. The roof retracts in just a few seconds and can be operated at speeds of up to 31 mph, removing the need to stop if rain threatens. A removable screen between the seats cuts down on wind buffeting for those with sculpted hair. Take the screen out, and the 2013 Porsche Boxster S feels liberating.

A sumptuously appointed interior makes the car exceedingly comfortable in addition to speedy. The racing seats wrap driver and passenger close and make them feel like they are part of the car. Our model had a red leather and brushed steel interior that made the car feel sufficiently luxurious without totally dampening the Boxster S' fun and occasionally goofy spirit. Beginning at $60,900 MSRP, the 2013 Porsche Boxster S makes top-down performance driving accessible to many who would otherwise only dream of the sports car experience, and it does it well.

Driving the 2013 Porsche Boxster S makes you feel like a movie-star and every day feel like track day. The Boxster S isn't just a pretty face, it's also a stunningly powerful athlete, and it may be the best value-for-money roadster available. It's certainly the most fun you can have in a car under $100,000.

Fun and performance are the point of the car, after all. The Porsche Boxster S isn't meant to win races (although it will crush most other cars on the road). It's not meant to communicate ideals of high class and refinement. It's meant to be fun, and as a fun, sporty roadster, it's a triumph. Crank the tunes, put down the roof, gun the engine, and you're guaranteed to draw envious looks. And you should. When you drive the Boxster S, you are living life on the road better than anyone else. The 2013 Porsche Boxster S makes Hollywood fables accessible to normal people.