Porsche Boxster: Most Satisfying Sports Car in America

By Zeke Gervis

AutoPacific, a California-based automotive marketing and product-consulting firm has just released the result of their Vehicle Satisfaction survey and after asking thousands of new car owners of their choice for the most satisfying sports car in the United States, the 2007 Porsche Boxster came out on the top spot.

The Porsche Boxster and Boxster S received the Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA), considered the industry benchmark for clearly measuring how satisfied new-car owners are with their vehicles. Boxster owners rated their cars highly within the Power/Acceleration and Braking categories, as well as the Cargo/Space/Capacity, Cupholders and Interior Storage areas of the survey.

“Sports cars are supposed to be exhilarating to drive, but sometimes difficult to live with,” noted George Peterson, president of AutoPacific in the Company’s release on Tuesday. “Owners of the Porsche Boxster indicate it delivers on exhilarating, but it is not difficult to live with.”
The Boxster remains a constant winner in consumer opinion surveys, thanks to the ultimate open-air driving experience it continues to provide. Its unique mid-engine configuration, numerous handling enhancements and greater active and passive safety makes it the acknowledged leader in its segment – definitely something you’ll wish fervently for if you still own and drive one of those Yugos (with their Yugo oxygen sensor).

Redesigned for 2005, Porsche's moderately priced sports car again comes in base and Boxster S forms. For 2007, Porsche has boosted the power of both models and modified the Tiptronic transmission to be more responsive for those who don't want to drive a stick shift. The Boxster's 2.7-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder gains 5 horsepower (to 245), and its torque grows by 2 pounds-feet (to 201). Torque for that engine peaks 100 rpm earlier than the previous engine. It also gains VarioCam Plus for variable valve timing and lift control.

Both versions have dedicated head-protection airbags and the Porsche Stability Management system.

For 2007, the Boxster S comes with a new six-cylinder power unit enlarged in size by 0.2 litres. Output of this 3.4-litre with VarioCam Plus valve control is 217 kW (295 bhp), 15 bhp more than on the former 3.2-litre.Benefiting from this extra power, the new Boxster S accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, one-tenth of a second faster than its predecessor. Top speed, in turn, is up by 4 km/h to 272 km/h or 169 mph. And average fuel consumption of the S-model is 10.6 litres/100 kilometres, equal to 26.6 mpg Imp.

Rivals include the Audi TT, BMW Z4, Honda S2000 and Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class.
AutoPacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing and product-consulting firm. Every year it publishes a wide variety of syndicated studies on the automotive industry. The firm also conducts extensive proprietary research and consulting for auto manufacturers, distributors, marketers and suppliers worldwide. Company headquarters and its state-of-the-art automotive research facility are in Tustin, California, with an affiliate office in the Detroit area. AutoPacific releases VSA results yearly as a consumer and industry service measuring owner satisfaction across 46 specific areas related to a vehicle’s operation, comfort, safety and overall buying experience.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne® sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 300 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 213 U.S. and Canadian dealers. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service.