When is a car still analog?
09/23/2025
Nowadays, people like to talk about the fact that driving (and cars) used to be analog. However, it is somewhat unclear what exactly is meant by this. Is it enough if you can still change gears yourself in a classic H-shift, i.e. by operating the clutch and moving your hand? Does electric power steering or a hill-holding function, or even ESP or ABS already make the car digital? Or even an electronically controlled fuel injection system? Then you would have to go back to the 1960s to be sure that you are dealing with an analog car. For most people, however, "analog" in cars is more of a sensory and haptic story.
An interesting car to look at is the Porsche Boxster 718 4.0 GTS, which until a year ago was still available as a manual transmission. Of course, this sports car has a whole range of electronic helpers on board and there should be no shortage of microprocessors distributed throughout the car. There are several LCD screens and the steering relies on an electric motor for support.
But there are also two analog display instruments for speed and revs, a clutch pedal and a manual gearbox are also on board. However, the parking brake is once again operated electronically and the roof opens electrically, as do the windows and the flaps at the front and rear.
The engine, however, is a classic, high-revving naturally aspirated unit, with no turbocharger, let alone an electrically assisted one. A 12-volt battery is sufficient to keep the car running and the chassis relies on conventional components.
So is the Boxster 718 4.0 GTS in 6-speed version still an analog car? It certainly comes close in terms of driving feel, but if you compare it with an MG TC or a Porsche 356 from the early 1960s, or even a 911 from the 1970s or 1980s, then the modern Boxster is already very digitalized and easy to operate.
We still like it, even forgive the black wheels and think it's a shame that Porsche stopped production months ago. We dare to doubt whether the next Boxster generation, which is expected to be exclusively electrically powered, will come close to the still rather analog driving experience in the 718 4.0 GTS.
