Porsche Boxster – Photo Gallery: When people think of the culture of Southern California, words and phrases like flashy, hot (in several senses), fast, overpriced, and image-conscious come to mind. Coincidentally, they’re also terms associated with the 2007 Porsche Boxster, a popular automotive staple in the land of sunshine and wannabe celebs. To be sure, drop tops in SoCal are a great choice, but after a week of testing, we came away with mixed impressions. Yes, this entry-level Porsche (if there really is such a thing) is flashy, gets attention with its looks, and is sufficiently uncommon and badged to satisfy those yearning for upward social mobility. But it’s quick, not fast, and at more than $56,000 as tested, most definitely overpriced.

Pictured on these pages is the 2007 Boxster base model that the folks at Porsche loaned us for a week of evaluation. We didn’t get a window sticker, so we did some of our own calculating to determine how much it would cost to buy off the showroom floor. Starting price for the base Boxster is $46,395 including a $795 destination charge. Our tester added items such as dual heated seats, Carrera S 19-inch alloy wheels, a rear wind deflector, floor mats, and more, all of which helped push the final price to about $57,000.

Included with the base model’s $46,395 price are a 2.7-liter six-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission, front-side airbags, fog lights, heated mirrors, a retractable rear spoiler, and a basic audio system with a single-disc CD player. Buyers also get leather upholstery, a glass rear window with a defroster, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, traction and stability control systems, keyless entry, a tire pressure monitoring system, and more. In addition to the standard features offered on the base model, the $56,295 Boxster S tacks on a 3.4-liter engine and six-speed manual tranny, an upgraded 180-watt sound system, and unique S badges.

Don’t ever criticize Porsche for going too light on the options – at least not in quantity. Pricing for these goods is another issue entirely, ranging from $115 floor mats to nearly $7,000 for the Preferred Package Plus with a Tiptronic transmission. You can select just the tranny for $3,210 or the Preferred Package Plus for $3,850. Other options include adaptive sport seats, an upgraded exterior sport package, two sports chrono packages, a navigation system, Bose audio, a Porsche Active Suspension Management setup, a removable hard top, a six-speed manual transmission, and a seemingly endless variety of alloy wheels. Options for the 2007 Boxster S mirror those of the lesser base model, with one notable exception – ceramic brakes, which will run you $8,150.

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