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2008 Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder Review

8-10-2008

by Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com


In 1960, Porsche created the racing successor to the 550 Spyder, and named it the 718 RS 60 Spyder. Powered by a 1.5-litre engine that developed about 150 horsepower, the RS 60 proved its worthiness on the track, with a 1-2 finish at the Sebring 12-hour race as well as winning the Targa Florio that same year. The 718 beat more-powerful rivals, such as Ferrari, thanks to its low weight and amazing agility.

If you can find one, the RS 60 Spyder is a pure delight to drive and be seen in.

To celebrate the success of the original, Porsche decided to create a limited-edition Boxster S that bears the same name. Only 1,960 copies of the Boxster RS 60 Spyder are produced, and we had the opportunity to drive number 156.

Mechanical upgrades
The most significant change in the powertrain is the exhaust system, which gets dual tailpipes. The freer-flowing setup gives the RS 60 a more raucous sound than in the standard-issue Boxster S, a sound that turns heads and makes you constantly prod the throttle just to hear it.

The exhaust also yields more power, although by a negligible amount. The 3.4-litre flat-6 produces 303 horsepower in the RS 60, up from the 295 ponies you'll find in the Boxster S. Torque is unchanged.

0-100 km/h blasts take 5.8 seconds, and the quarter-mile flashes by in 14.0 seconds at 161 km/h. Keep pushing, and the car will top out at 272 km/h; good luck trying to find a place where you can reach that velocity safely and legally.

The Boxster's fuel consumption is always pretty good; we're averaging 11.9 L/100 km in this test car.

Stiff ride
Equipped with the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), the car becomes virtually idiot-proof, which is probably why I've been assigned to drive it. Just about any way I hit an apex, the car reacts and readjusts itself, hunkering down its hindquarters and clinging to the asphalt. It is very predictable and easy to tame.

The most significant change in the powertrain is the exhaust system, which gives the RS 60 a more raucous sound.


However, the car's ride is bone-jarring, more so than in a base 245-hp Boxster. It's even more intolerable when you activate the Sport mode. If your daily commute includes stretches of road where the pavement hasn't been maintained since the shock absorber was invented, you might find the car tiresome.

Inside, the overall appearance is more striking.

Not enough flair
The RS 60 Spyder looks as good as any other Boxster, but a little more visual distinction would be nice. It does benefit from front-end spoiler lips, silver-painted roll bars and a red-coloured top, but other visual cues can be ordered as options on the standard-issue Boxsters; notably, the red taillights, the 19-inch sport design wheels and the GT Silver paint job.

On the car's rump, the Boxster S nameplate is still there, but it would've been nice to badge it with its RS 60 Spyder name instead. You can also get the car with a black roof and a dark grey cowhide interior.

Inside, the overall appearance is more striking. The engraved door sill plates tell you that you're climbing into a limited-edition cockpit. The center console is painted silver, the instrument pod loses its cover, the shifter gets a distinctive design and a numbered plaque is stuck on the glove box lid. Again, most of the stuff you'll find in the RS 60 is on the Boxster S' endless options list. Obvisouly, fit and finish is beyond reproach.

The car is also equipped with the Sport Chrono package, which is nice if you want to measure your progress when barrelling down the same stretch of open road. However, it encourages you to drive faster and faster, which might not be a good thing; it all depends on your level of self-control. To activate it, you must use the trip computer lever that's located on the bottom-left of the wheel.

Competition
The 2008 Boxster RS 60 Spyder starts out at a nauseating $81,800. Options on this test car include the bi-xenon headlamp package ($1,530), auto-dimming mirrors and rain-sensing wipers ($970), heated seats ($680), a cockpit wind deflector ($525), automatic climate control ($770) and the Sport Chrono package ($1,340), for a very grand total of $87,615. That's only a few thousand dollars away from a base 911 Carrera.

The RS 60 Spyder looks as good as any other Boxster, but a little more visual distinction would be nice.


As for competition, here's a list of high-end roadsters that might also interest Boxster S shoppers:
Audi TTS, 265 hp, (no pricing yet)
BMW M Roadster, 330 hp, $64,900
Lexus SC 430, 288 hp, $78,200
Lotus Elise SC, 218 hp, $61,900
Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG, 355 hp, $84,800

The TTS will be available later this year, and the four-passenger Lexus SC is more of a luxury tourer than a sports car. The BMW, Lotus and Mercedes are all quicker than the RS 60 Spyder.

The 2008 Boxster RS 60 Spyder starts out at a nauseating $81,800.

It should be noted, though, that if you option-up a standard Boxster S with all the goodies that's included in the RS 60, it will end up costing more. So, we should consider the RS 60 Spyder as, um, a good deal.

Conclusion
If you can find one, the RS 60 Spyder is a pure delight to drive and be seen in. The difference in performance between it and a regular Boxster S is negligible, and on the road, people probably won't even notice you're driving a limited-edition model.

But that's irrelevant. What's important is that you're driving a Porsche, and not them.