Street WiseBefore getting savaged by the GT Street S, I enjoyed a more agreeable run in the lesser-powered GT Street.
With 530 bhp and 546 lb-ft (740Nm) of torque this is still serious hardware. But with a more forgiving suspension setup and the teeth only slightly filed down on that monstrous engine, it was by far the best car for the real world.
When the horsepower figures get beyond 500 bhp you're unlikely to miss the extra 100 on the road and I would gladly sacrifice them after experiencing this car's improved manners at low speeds-where most road cars spend the majority of their working lives.
It still launches from a standing start and hits 60 mph in just about the same time, and if it loses out deep into three figures then that's unlikely to impact too drastically on your ego. Most witnesses would have disappeared in the rear view long before then.
It still presses slightly toward understeer, but with this much power that's a necessary evil to stop the car swapping ends on the public road. And, compared to the bigger-engined machine, this car hugs the racing line like a clingy girlfriend thanks to the sport stabilizer kit produced in-house.
It's 20mm lower than the standard GT2, enough to rid it of the comfort-compromised factory settings but not nearly as extreme as the GT Street S that was, in truth, little more than a racing car with a license plate. Smaller 18-in. wheels make a world of difference to the ride quality, too.
It looks exactly the same as the range-topper, bar the livery and more comfortable interior, which has been color coded in bright yellow. And this one, with 45,000 miles on the clock, is available at the relatively bargain basement EUR99,500.
At that price, it's a mighty tempting proposition.
Boxing CleverTechArt's Boxster has been around for a while now, but presented with the opportunity to blast this boosted, mid-engined roadster round the airfield, I could hardly refuse.
Again the German company that specializes in big-engined conversions has taken the chassis to its limits, with a bigger capacity 3.6-liter engine. The bore has been increased to 96mm and new pistons fitted together, together with a specially developed crankshaft and balanced rods.
A new air filter, modified induction pipes, an aluminum manifold, sport camshafts, a new exhaust and a recalibrated ECU complete the extensive work hidden away under the bodywork.
This all adds up to a 330-bhp engine with 280 lb-ft (380Nm) of torque that takes the Boxster to 60 mph in 4.9 sec. and on to a maximum speed of 176 mph. At that speed you'll be glad of the major aerodynamic work that has gone in to this car to reduce front-end lift and squash its fat rear to the floor.
It still needs a mid-corner lift to unstuck the 10.5x18-in. rears, but once it's there it's possible to balance it on the throttle, with practice.
All the mods make the Boxster a mightily impressive car, but they all add up and the final price is firmly in 911 territory. Justifying that is a tough call indeed, but it's a popular conversion so clearly the customers like the idea of a lithe, little guy with a knockout punch.