If you’re being practical, spending an extra $37,800 for a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S as opposed to getting a 718 Boxster GTS may not seem like a great idea, although people do tend to purchase these types of cars with their “hearts” instead of their heads.
In reality, the two are quite different. For starters, the Carrera 4S is powered by a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo engine, producing 444 HP (450 PS) and 391 lb-ft (530 Nm) of torque. That power is then sent to all four wheels.
The 718 Boxster GTS on the other hand is a rear-wheel drive machine, and a convertible, mind you. It’s a shame Carwow couldn’t get a convertible 911 for this little comparison. In any case, the Boxster GTS packs a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged unit, good for 360 HP (365 PS) and 317 lb-ft (430 Nm) of torque.
Also, both cars feature automatic transmissions, and both have Launch Control at their disposal, so there’s no telling what’s going to happen off the line, seen as how real world performance often makes specs sheets seem obsolete.
Also watch: Mark Webber Gives New Porsche 911 Carrera S Seal Of Approval
On paper, the new 911 Carrera 4S is clearly the quicker car, needing just 3.4 seconds to hit 60 mph (100 km/h in 3.6 sec). It also has a top speed of 190 mph (306 km/h), as opposed to the Boxster GTS’ 180 mph (290 km/h) top speed. Meanwhile, the latter needs 4.1 seconds to hit 60 mph (100 km/h in 4.3 sec).
The reviewer ran three different tests. The first was a standstill 1/4 mile drag race, the second a rolling start race, followed by a brake test.