Great thread, fun and honest comments--demonstrating again the real appeal of Rennteam. Enthusiasts letting their opinions and impressions loose on cyberspace. In that spirit, here are mine:
1. Car is knockout exciting, a clever and appealing derivative of the 550 Spyder and Carrera GT styling. It combines the "roundness and simplicity" of the Spyder (and thus the original lineage of the Speedster, RS 60, even 356) with the side vents, raked windshield, interior and rear spoiler accents of the Carrera GT. The black Boxster pictured could easily be a mini Carrera GT. The Boxster design also leaves the "purer" and simpler look to the 991 series, thus preserving that model's classic look. (The rear spoiler of the new Boxster also mimics the new rear spoiler line of the 991, which I find particularly attractive).
2. While I understand the notion behind the "some folk's "girly" impression of the Boxster, I do not, nor have ever thought of the Boxster as feminine or girly. Are the old 356s girly, how about the Spyder, or how about James Dean, or how about the thousands on thousands of men in Porsche clubs in the U.S. and around the world who own and love Boxsters? To me, the girly comment is more a comment on those who think the Boxster is girly. That said, I have never wanted to own a Boxster, as it is (or seems to be) a bit small for my sports car needs. And like Nick, I am a victim of power and want the most powerful Porsche I can afford. The Boxster may handle better than a 991 around curves, etc., but I like the rush of turbo power and, with age, the room of a Cayenne or Panamera. Bottom line, the Boxster offers any Porsche buyer the option of a fine, mid-engined sports car--simple as that. The great strength of Porsche as a brand is that if offers so many options throughout its model range.
Overall, I admire the new design directions under Michael Mauer, Both traditional and excitingly modern...