For the love of driving.  Whether on twisty seaside bends and curves or a backroad foliage stroll, the 2013 Boxster S is one of those cars you don’t have to drive fast to appreciate.  But if driving fast is your passion, the lighter and more fuel efficient 2013 Boxster S stands eager to please.  With a revamped chassis for 2013, less weight, a longer wheelbase and larger wheels, the driving dynamics on this sexy little roadster continue to top the list on what constitutes pure fun.

But you have to pay to go on this ride.  Starting at $60,900 it’s easy to pile on options like toppings on a sundae.  My super deluxe tester came to $90,000 including every goodie on the menu.  And one thing that is required to appreciate this car is an education.   (Thank goodness for my in-house car encyclopedia husband.)  Our first acronym is PDK, that exclusive to Porsche transmission which stands for Porsche Doppelkupplung.  This redesigned PDK transmission (an extra $3,200) offers seven gears, significantly quicker gear changes without interruption to the power flow making for faster sprints and lower fuel consumption.  Next is PTV, Porsche Torque Vectoring, which improves the steering behaviour and steering precision of the vehicle by selectively braking the inside rear wheel.  Another premium goodie is the Sport Chronos package ($2,370, no acronym) increases the performance bandwith to maximize driving dynamics from the race track to everyday driving.  The Sport Chronos package also  features dynamic transmission mounts which change their rigidity and damping characteristics according to the current driving situation.  And if you’re going this far, you might as well add the 20-inch classic Carrera wheels at $2,730.  Once you drive with them, you won’t want to drive without them.

On the interior, nothing was spared to enhance comfort and functionality.  Luscious Premium Adaptive Sport Seats (an extra $5,265), natural leather interior ($3,535), premium Bose infotainment ($3,860), and all the little things that add up to a wonderful experience like a sport design steering wheel, seat ventilation, six disc CD/DVD changer, and so on.  I loved being in this vehicle.  How many cars can you appreciate just sitting still?

Which reminds me, Mom spent all of her time alone in this one.  And didn’t do much shopping.  With the flat six mid-engine behind the seats, the mini trunk space gets quite warm, so I wasn’t bringing home any frozen vegetables.  Trips to IKEA are out of the question.  But for a Mom getaway day, or datenight, it couldn’t be better.  Probably most accurate, my two year old daughter summed it up best.  Every time she saw it in the driveway, she pointed and shouted, “Da-da’s car!”

Some Basics
MSRP:  $60,900 – $90,175
engine: 3.4 L, flat-6
hp/torque: 315 hp/266 ft-lb.
drivetrain:  RWD
fuel economy:  21 city/30 hwy
IIHS Safety Rating: not rated.

drivermom summary
Three words to describe this car
sporty, fun, expensive

What’s the best thing about it?
one of the best driving cars

What’s the biggest drawback?
no baby room, very little cargo space

Mom-friendliness score: C

Driver-friendliness score: A

If this car could talk, what would it say?
“You can’t bring the baby….but after a romantic evening, you might end up with another one…..”