READER'S BLOG: Roo's grand adventure

It's interesting to consider that the Porsche Boxster is now 19 years old (introduced to the world in 1997) and the new 718 is basically the same car in principle.

How has Porsche managed such a long life with so much evolution, rather than a new, distinct change? Merc's SLK has needed a change or two during the same time period.

The arrival of the new Boxster seemed like the perfect excuse to pay a visit to Porsche's Australian HQ in the Abbotsford – also a retail outlet.

Visiting the brand's head office in Australia is an experience to get me salivating. And Porsche backs the artistry on display with great coffee, finger food and helpful staff to look after customers.

The Boxster 718 is a tougher looking Boxster. The rear end styling has evolved and looks better. Fit and finish is 991-standard.

Sadly, I tried for 30 minutes to get a picture of the engine, but it is just not possible to drop it out on the showroom floor. I’ll just have to take their word for it that it is a four-cylinder turbo.

During my pilgrimage to PCA I noticed a blue 991.2 Carrera S on the showroom floor. I think that this will attract the Turbo and Turbo S buyer also... the car that is, not the colour necessarily. I was particularly taken with it (the car AND the colour).

Blue makes a stunning looking car. When you're surrounded by Porsches in red, silver, grey, black and white, flat and pearl (so common in white) then the “I want the blue one” instruction is easy.

Owning a 991.2, you can justly say: “I own a Porsche Turbo”, and 99 per cent of the population won't know the difference from the 'true' Porsche Turbos of the past.

Hence, I think that the Turbo ($366k), with a 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds is not that far ahead of the 991.2 S ($258K), taking 3.9 secs in a performance package that's as much as most owners could use or would need. And $108k buys a lot of aftermarket tuning, especially when the turbo installed makes tweaking it that much easier. Don't forget the seven speed manual, either.

At $444k the Turbo S (3.1 seconds for 0-100km/h) costs $186k extra for 0.8 seconds faster, and AWD. That sort of money will get an Aston Vantage 4.7 V8 with low kilometres as well. Or, you could buy a Boxster S with a few options for sunny days.

Thanks to James at Porsche Cars Australia for his assistance.

My love affair with Zuffenhausen
I remember visiting Alan Hamilton’s Porsche outlet in Melbourne when they were in Chapel street, in Prahran.

Not the match factory (Bryant and May in Richmond), nor when they were next to the river.

Yes, when they were on the corner of Oxford Street and Chapel Street, which is one block south from Toorak Road. The building was painted green.

I don't remember the time but it was prior to 1978, as I clearly remember later looking over 911s in the Chapel street showroom next to the river.

Despite having owned Porsches since 1988, I haven't dealt with the Porsche Centre in Melbourne before; there was a closer dealership, Chris Taylor in Geelong, from years ago.

These days I have my own mechanic and have consulted with a known Porsche service man, Ian Lowe. His property near Geelong is stunning. Looking after Porsches pays okay, I suspect. He is a real character – his life is worth a story in itself. Ian only services air cooled 911s and water-cooled 928s and 944s, not the 'watered-down' Porsches, as he would say.

In 1998 the original 986 Boxster 2.5-litre manual came to Australia costing $109,000. A new 718 Boxster goes for $113,000. From five-speed and 150kW flat six the Boxster has migrated to six-speed and 220kW (with fewer cylinders) and a heap of extras as standard. The 718 is a bargain... not compared to an MX5 perhaps, but compared to any other two seater sports car. It performs well above its “weight for cost ranking.”

Some of the flaws owners have encountered over time have included porous crankcases, IMS bearings and gearbox issues. In the early days, owners also had to cope with being told they weren't driving a “real” Porsche. Back then they had a similar like/hate relationship with trad Porsche owners that both the Cayenne and Panamera owners have been working through.

The S 3.2 in 2000 also had gearbox problems. It was released with a 2.7-litre base version instead of the 2.5; both releases were probably a response to IMS issues and the cracking ‘D’ at the base/skirt of the pistons. The two issues were terminal for the engine if they occurred.

The 987 arrived in 2005 with a reworked interior and a cleaner-styled headlight arrangement. Updated in 2007, the 987 introduced the S variant with the larger, 3.4-litre engine, and in 2009 the base 2.7-litre powerplant grew to 2.9 litres.

Porsche always kept the Boxster below 911 engine displacement and power, each staggered upgrade progressively increasing the power. Towards the end of the 987 period the Boxster had established itself as the best two seater sports car available this side of a Ferrari.

The 981 arrived in 2012; the base was downsized to 2.7-litre displacement, but power had increased from (987 2.9L) 188kW to 195kW and the 3.4 rose from 228kW to 239kW. Porsche increased the 981's wheelbase by 60mm and widened the track slightly. The Boxster was 'bigger', with little or no weight increase, dependent upon model specifications.

Style-wise, the side scoop behind the door trailing edge now had sculptured lead-in creases across the doors like a 1967 Mustang Fastback. It gave the Boxster a more purposeful look... meaner. That had been an issue since 1997, when critics insisted the Boxster was not a man's car. The rear was squared off with a permanent spoiler and the interior bought up to 991 Carrera standards.

Now, in 2016, the 718 comes with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, developing 220kW (up from 195kW) and the S a 2.5-litre engine producing 257 kW (up from 239kW).

The Boxster has matured, but is the four-pot a backward step? How will Porsche fans take to it? One thing is for certain, you can't argue with the new car's performance.

Guest reader: Roo