As summer officially begins, we celebrate by taking the top down on Porsche’s mid-engine marvel.
The start of summer can be marked in many ways: the first 80-degree day, the inaugural dip in the pool, or perhaps your first sun-soaked round of golf with a seasonal beer like Oberon ale. For me, summer 2024 began on a Thursday at 9:07 p.m. EST, when I stepped out of my house, lowered the top on the Porsche 718 Boxster, and set off on a joyride in the warm evening air.
Eleven minutes past sunset, the Boxster Style Edition, dressed in metallic blue paint with gloss white wheels, was irresistible. It epitomizes the sports car with its perfect handling and sleek, proportional styling. The 718 is a masterclass in taste and balance, offering the most tactile and linear steering feel, precise brakes, and more than enough power—300 hp—to zip around town as dusk settled.
While the driver engagement and stylish appearance are certainly highlights, the 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine and its resonant exhaust create an auditory experience that clears the mind. Much like the Porsche, which maintains its balance and composure through nearly every maneuver, my thoughts were completely clear as I drove.
I headed for Woodward Avenue, the heart of summer cruising, car culture, and occasional street racing. The strip was relatively calm, though a Ram TRX and a Ferrari added some excitement as they roared past me—a peculiar duo heading toward downtown Birmingham.
Heading back north, I took advantage of every stoplight to floor it, easing off around 50 or 55 mph, the speed limit in the northern suburbs. It was simple: red light turns green, mash the gas, the revs soar, then ease off—followed by the satisfying snaps, crackles, and pops from the exhaust. Porsche tunes the 718’s sound perfectly. Though I missed the six-speed manual, the seven-speed PDK is an excellent match for the boxer four-cylinder, enough for me to consider the $3,210 option.
The Style Edition includes 20-inch white wheels, “Porsche” graphics in white lettering, and Boxster embossed on the fabric convertible top. It has a slightly retro feel, reminiscent of the 1980s and 90s when Porsche had a funkier, less technical vibe. This Boxster is priced at $94,460, approaching 911 territory yet still nearly $10,000 shy. At this moment, I prefer the dynamics of the 718’s mid-mounted engine, though I’d lean towards something closer to the model’s $70,000 MSRP.
After an hour or so, as darkness settled and the air cooled, my summer drive began to feel like a return to spring. The 718 is so smooth and precise that I passed my house twice. It’s hard to stop driving a sports car in a season that feels so brief. Finally, as the Springsteen concert I was listening to slowed down, I decided that past 10 o’clock on a school night was a good time to head home. Summer is just beginning.