1998 Porsche Boxster Pure sports car and purely Porsche. By Tony Swan, New Car Test Drive .com

If you think ordinary Porschephiles are

fanatics, consider the Porsche sub-cult that regarded the old 914/6 as

the best of this distinguished breed--better, at least in terms of handling,

than the immortal 911.

Although it was re-lentlessly rectilinear and singularly unlovely, the

914 also had superb handling for its day, thanks to the balance that goes

with a mid-engine design.

Porsche faithful love to debate arcane issues such as this, like the

guys in medieval monasteries trying to figure out how many angels could

dance on the head of a pin. But we think the new Porsche Boxster effectively

consigns the 914 to history. This dramatically all-new mid-engined roadster

opens a new chapter for the world's premier sports car company.