Test Drive: 2013 Porsche Boxster S 6MT

Update: See how the Boxster S performed head-to-head against the all new Jaguar F-Type V6S.

Sometimes, you get into a car and it just feels familiar. Those sensations that you first experienced when you drove the various predecessors of such a car come flooding back and it only take moments to settle into a comfortable oneness with the car. Porsches, more than any other brand I have driven, seem to be able to capture that exact emotion. Heck, if you look at them, it seems that they are engineered around that concept, with the heritage of early 911s still clearly evident in even the latest model. Even the less expensive Boxster exhibits this character. I first drove a first-generation Boxster many years ago and even back then, the car was hugely impressive and really set a new bar for performance from convertibles. When I finally got around to testing this latest version, I was pleased to discover that this Porsche absolutely lives up to expectations. However, the competition has gotten significantly better in the more than a dozen years since the Boxster was originally introduced. So is the Boxster still king of the performance heap?

Editorial: What Does the Average Car Buyer Look For?

Image courtesy of Sunbrite Auto Works, Inc.

I am an auto enthusiast. Anyone who knows me knows that I am an auto enthusiast. When I search for a vehicle, I know exactly what I am looking for in terms of performance, safety, gadgets, etc. Being an auto enthusiast though, I find that when people come to me for advice on buying a car, I have a bad tendency to tell them about the things I would look for in a car, which in some cases is not very helpful. This got me thinking about what the average car buyer would look for when searching for a car. Afterall, buying a car can be a daunting task, especially today's newer cars with all sorts of electronic gadgets and safety measures.

In order to help me gather data, I devised a short survey to see what the average car buyer looks for when looking for a new car. After passing it around to friends and family, here are the results of the survey. Keep in mind that this is an informal survey and is in no way scientific, but does show how one broad group of people approach buying a new car.

Crazy of the Week: Post #2 - Motorcyclist rescues mug

This week, we bring you a bit of crazy with a happy ending. Riding a motorcycle takes a fair bit of skill and concentration and is already pretty mentally taxing for some folks. The rider in this video, however, is clearly very skilled and completely unaffected by the rigors of motorcycle riding and is extremely observant to boot.

Upon seeing a mug resting on the bumper of a pick-up trunk, the courageous rider races to catch up to the truck and then, with some precision riding skills, swoops in and rescues the helpless mug before it shattered into a million pieces on the asphalt. And, as if that weren't enough on its own, the rider proceeds to chase after the owner of the mug and kindly returns the still coffee filled container. This impressive feat of riding is truly praiseworthy for its demonstration of motorcycle handling skills, close proximity riding, and mental focus.

Now if the rider could only be bothered to add a little protective gear to the mix, they could be the poster boy for the motorcycle community. Watch the video and tell us what you think about this rider's actions.