Porsche Boxster RS60 Spyder: Quick Test

Based on the similarly powered but less expensive Boxster S, the commemorative edition RS60 Spyder is essentially an anniversary gift from its maker, Porsche, to... Porsche!

It's a variant that takes us back almost half a century to the 1960s and to Porsche's earliest successes in sportscar racing. The new car borrows part of its name from a patriarch nicknamed "Giant Killer" - the legendary Porsche Type 718 RS60 Spyder that humbled many a larger, more powerful rival to win the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring.

In the 2008 Boxster RS60 Spyder, you hear the echoes of that revered '60s giant-slayer: It may not be the fastest sports car on the block, or the one with the most power or biggest tires, but it does leave you grinning with its responses, its sound and the quality of the entire experience. From the firm brake pedal to steering that "communicates" in trademark Porsche fashion, it's a car that invites you to take on the world.

Exterior changes are all fairly subtle - just barely enough to separate the RS60 Spyder from lesser Boxsters by giving it just a little bit more attitude. And while the basic Boxster shape is aging, the limited-production RS60 Spyder is still handsome enough to turn heads.

But it's the interior that reaches out and pulls you in: It's a sea of red, the signature interior color of this commemorative model. Your first thought is to shy away: An all-red interior? Sure sounds garish. In actuality, it is incredible: The red leather that covers the dash, doors, seats and just about everything else inside is not a retina-searing red, but a deep, slightly dark shade matching the exterior GT Silver that's a throwback to a classic 1960s color combination.

Better still, everything inside, from the door pulls to the shifter to the surprisingly thin-rimmed steering wheel, feels just right. Porsche has really nailed it with this interior, as you can't help but feel you're driving something special.

With two trunks, one front, one rear, there's plenty of stowage space in the mid-engine RS60 Spyder for a quick weekend getaway. And Porsche has provided an amazing "sound track" for just such weekend romp. I haven't heard the exhaust note of the original 1960 racecar so I can't comment on how similar it sounds, but I can tell you the Boxster RS60 Spyder makes an awesome sound when you select its "Sport" mode!

The RS60's 3.4-liter flat six engine is given eight horsepower over the normal Boxster S through a new exhaust system with bypass valves actuated by the Sport button. Press this button and the car responds by pressing your buttons right back, especially your "aural delight" button: Straight off the grid at Sebring. And the higher you rev it, the better it sounds.

Besides transforming the sound from great to OHMYGOD, the added horsepower from that sport exhaust brings the grand total to 303, raising the car's top speed to a full 170 mph.

The Porsche RS60 Spyder offers the classic good looks of the Boxster S with special bits that add personality. There's good reason for the rave reviews Porsches get from just about everyone who tests them: The cars are simply great to drive.

Watch the video
Read Part 1: Design
Read Part 2: Interior and User Experience
Read Part 3: Performance

Porsche Boxster RS60 Spyder

Performance
- Acceleration: Impressively quick, and a sound straight from the Mulsanne straight
- Handling: Impressive amounts of grip - mid-engine balance
- Braking: Impressive power from the steel brakes - proves that you don't need expensive ceramics

Design
- Exterior: Getting a bit dated - still very clean and correct - the right size for a Porsche
- Interior: Impressive build quality - gorgeous red leather feels ultra-special

Utility
- Comfort: Impressive ride comfort as long as you don't use the "sport" suspension setting - great seats
- Space: Impressive amount of storage with two trunks

Safety
- Dynamics: Moves that allow you to proactively avoid whatever comes at you
- Technology: All you need in an impressively rigid chassis, especially for a convertible

Value
- Price: Tough to argue against the "regular" Boxster S and its $9k "discount" compared to this car
- Mileage: Light weight (relatively speaking) and six cylinders deliver the best of both worlds

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: Impressively addictive - once you drive it, you won't look at it the same way - a true P-car
- Fun to spank: Impressive sound - impressive handling - impressive brakes - yeah, I'm impressed.

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Mid engine / Rear wheel drive
Engine: 3.4 liter, Horizontally opposed 6 cylinder
Power (SAE): 303 hp @ 6250 rpm
Torque: 251 lbs-ft @ 4400 rpm
Redline: 7300 rpm
Gearbox: 6 speed manual
Curb Weight: 2987 lbs.
0-60 mph: 5.1 sec.
1/4 mile: 13.4 sec.
Top Speed: 170 mph
Mileage: 18 city / 26 highway
Base Price: $64,900
Competitors: BMW Z4 M Roadster, Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG, Porsche Boxster S