The Boxster’s up for hearing now. Merely
100 metres into the drive, I can tell that it’s a very different animal. It
feels like a military-grade precision tool. The mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
layout puts me in the centre of the action and I know I’m going faster than I
was in the Z4 just before. At this point, the Boxster’s quicker 0-100kph time
of 5.5 seconds (to the Z4’s 6.1 seconds) seems merely academic. That’s because
the smallest of inputs on the steering, accelerator and brake result in
something special, giving me all the confidence to choose a tighter line, brake
later and blast out of corners sooner. Even the seven-speed PDK double-clutch
gearbox is sublime. It doesn’t break the flow and let’s the Boxster’s motor
spin all the way to 7,800rpm (the Z4 engine will go to 7,000rpm). And with the
Porsche’s engine just behind the seats, you are only a prod of the throttle
away from hearing the most glorious of snarls from that 3.4-litre flat six.
The
Z4’ seats come in increasingly expensive grades of leather as you rise through
the line-up, and the seating position is suitably low with a real sensation of
almost sitting over the rear axle
On the next set of back-to-back runs, I get
a sense the two cars are fundamentally different in how they deliver the
thrills. For instance, the Boxster, for all its livewire handling, calls for
more concentration to drive hard. It is the more involving car to drive, no
doubt, but it’s so sharp in every sense that you need to be very clear with
what you want of it. Don’t get me wrong, that’s no bad thing. The Z4, on the
other hand, does things differently. It’s more forgiving and, in a sense, gives
you freedom to be naughty (read: kick the tail out) at not-so-high speeds.
The
Boxster’ sports seats meld comfort and support brilliantly, and complement a
perfect, low driving position befitting of an exemplary sports car
It’s on the slower drive to our photography
halt at the beautiful Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat that I’m quite taken by the
Bimmer’s cabin. Quality levels are superb, the adjustable seats comfy and the
stylish dash seems glamorous enough. But with the roof up, it does feel a tad
too snug in here and headroom isn’t generous. That’s not a problem on the
Boxster, but the brilliantly put together cabin looks too busy and business-like.
You can customise it to your liking, but be prepared to pay through your nose
for options. The base Boxster S ($149,500, ex-showroom, Delhi) has fewer
features than a Hyundai Grand i10. You have to pay for everything, such as
metallic paint, leather seats, folding mirrors, park assist and steering audio
controls.
Boot
space of the Z4 gets squeezy if the metal roof is folded into the boot, but
expands from 180 to a decent 310 litres if the Z4 is in ‘coupe’ mode
Then there’s the PDK, paddle shifters,
adjustable suspension and torque vectoring system we’d recommend you tick on
the options list. In all, the Boxster S can set you back by well over $164,000.
That price alone makes the Z4 look like an incredible bargain. It costs
$118,120 and gives you all the goodies you’d like, including satellite
navigation.
Front
luggage compartment of the Boxster is relatively narrow and short but usefully
deep
Later in the day, in the soft evening sun,
I have to make a hard decision. Were it my money on the line, would it be the
BMW Z4 or the Porsche Boxster? Cliched as it sounds, it’s a head-vs-heart
decision. The Z4 is easily the more sensible buy on account of its price, but
to recommend it solely for its relative value proposition would be taking away
from the fact that this is a supremely fun car in the truest of BMW traditions.
The thing is, today, it’s up against a genuinely landmark car. The Boxster is a
car you won’t bore of driving years down the line, it’s that spectacular. For
an enthusiast, it’s actually something to pass down the generations. It’s
really pricey, yes, but in my books, the Boxster is a long-term investment like
few others and finally, is the car I’d buy.
Quick tip – pitch the Boxster to your
accountant as the chance to buy a classic before it becomes one; he should
agree. Else, just take him for a drive in one. That should do it.
