Why not? That was one of the criticisms of the GT4 that you could do most tracks in 2 gears instead of the typical 3 for momentum cars.

No matter how they did it 40mpg out of a ~300hp engine is wizardry. Even if they're sandbagging the numbers because EU test cycle is bunk that should be well into the 30's mpg. Time will tell if it falls to like EcoBoost levels for U.S. release.

Why bother? That engine is probably well into $20k+ to buy off the shelf, not to mention figuring out all the wiring and ECU and sensor stuff, bolt on FI and a custom tune gets the FA20 to similar numbers for under $7k really reliably. Unless it's got a godly engine sound or has insane overhead (that won't be proven until 2-3 years after release) that swap won't make sense for 20 years until someone is looking at an 86 with a blown engine and a Porsche that went headlong into a wall sitting side by side for chump change.

The Boxster is 2944 lbs vs the WRX at 3450. The WRX has more driveline drag given AWD. The WRX is shaped like a brick.

Just pick a taller gear and that difference is negated. There are so many other things that affect MPG.
It's hardly fair to compare the engine of a $25,000 Subaru to that of a Porsche at three times the price. Just stating the displacement, horsepower and torque figures ignores a huge number of other determining factors for vehicle efficiency. Especially in boosted cars of differing weights, designs and drivetrain layouts.

And yet gearing is a primary component in how the AT 86 gets an extra 10% mpg over the MT 86...

I'm not saying Porsche copped out or that's the only factor, but it IS a factor and it IS a common trait their modern cars have.

And you can't pick a taller gear on the freeway when you're already in top gear, MT 86 cruises at ~3k rpm and the AT is several hundred rpm lower.

Edit: reread the article:

:lol: True.


Yeah all the above stuff is true. It is a huge assortment of things.

40mpg is still pretty nice for a sports car that goes 0-60 in less than 5 seconds though.

We get 30mpg and our 0-60 is, well, more.

Dafaq is a virtual gear...

...and well, our car also cost like $50000 less.

get an frs... $25k. dealer installed edelbrock $7k... total $32k w/ 250whp (like 300hp crank) with waranty. this would still be way more bang for buck, get 30mpg and probably do 0-60 in 5.2 sec. pretty good imo. and still be able to haul people and cargo if you need to.

Blown FR-S is a better value, but a Porsche is well, a Porsche. I'm sure the Porsche turbo 4 will last forever, and with just an aftermarket tune it'll be good for another 40-50 whp on stock internals. I love the 86 platform to death, but if I had to choose a $40k 86 or a $50-$55k Porsche there wouldn't be much hesitating before I bought the Boxster. Lucky for me, I have a budget, so my $33k modded FR-S gets me all the fun I can manage and leaves $20k for hookers and blow. :D

Yeah that's pretty good too.

Of course it wouldn't have the refinement of the Porsche, but if the goal is as simple as 0-60 in around 5 seconds and good mpg, then yeah that's fills the role with $20k to spare.

Yeah exactly!

Made me think of CVTs, with their simulated ratios... But I wondered about that too...

Am I the only one who has a pure hatred for the boxster? I mean I hardly even consider it a Porsche, It's like a high class Volks to me. FFS I used to floor them all the time with a damn almost stock is300, does not scream performance to me. The newer ones are better but still... whenever I see one my brain just goes oh look someone who didn't have enough to buy a real Porsche (don't get me wrong I don't have the budget for even a boxster), I'd take a 944 before a boxster.

Man those pictures look gorgeous. I'd still probably get the Cayman rather than the Boxster, but hopefully this is the car I'll be driving in ~10 years, with any luck. :thumbup: :thumbup:

I agree with what others have said. The 86 is an unreal value, but a Porsche is just so much more refined. Dream garage: 86 track machine, Cayman DD :party0030:

This is from a Car and Driver blog article on the 718:

I owned a 986. From the firewall forward it is a 996. Quite literally, you can see the part numbers stamped in the panels saying 996. The major difference is engine location and size. Drive one sometime. You'll change your tune. I've driven 944s, too, and they're no where near the car the Boxster is. The Boxster is much closer to a 911 of the same generation than a 944.
First-hand experience driving cars is much more useful than reading articles written by people that don't know cars.