2016 PORSCHE 718 BOXSTER REVIEW – VIDEO

or the past 20-years, the Porsche Boxster has been a somewhat achievable entry point to iconic, flat-six Porsche sports car ownership.

But now, with the 2016 Porsche 718 Boxster, the 2.7-litre flat-six has made way for a 2.0-litre, turbocharged, boxer-four – pushing that six-cylinder Porsche goal just a little bit further away. About $160k further away if a 911 is your new starting point.

The move might upset purists, but it is supported by arguments for emissions and efficiencies, and let’s face it, a four-cylinder Porsche isn’t a new thing.

There’s the 356, the 912, 914, 924, 944 and most recently the 968. Not forgetting the 1957 718 RSK Spyder, which is where the new car gets its name. Even going the other way we saw the Porsche 928 push a big atmo V8 for almost 20-years. Sure it was more GT than pure sports but you get my point, you don’t need six-eggs to bake a proper Porsche cake.

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FIAT 124 SPIDER 2016 REVIEW – VIDEO

We were very impressed with the Fiat 124 Spider when we tried it for the first time in Italy earlier this year. We particularly liked theFiat’s flexible turbo engine and compliant ride. Now we’ve driven the car in the UK, though, we’re even more sure that it’s one of Fiat’s best ever sports cars.

For a start, the ride quality doesn’t disappear on our lumpy, pitted tarmac. In fact, the compliant suspension set-up means that on a fast but badly-surfaced road it feels very composed, without any of the skittish progress some stiffly-sprung sports cars bring.

As in the Mazda MX-5 it shares a platform with, the smooth ride of 124 Spider comes at a cost of some body roll in corners. A sharp S-bend will upset the balance most but on a long, fast curve the Fiat feels great. It’s a superb cruiser, perfect for a coastal drive or scenic route through mountains where the grippy Bridgestone tyres mean it feels planted in those sweeping corners, too. The steering is short on feel for a sports car, but it is nicely weighted and quick enough to make the 124 Spider feel alive at your fingertips.

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