There’s something surreal about slipping behind the wheel of a Racing Yellow 2023 Porsche Boxster GTS 4.0 — top down, sport exhaust engaged, and the sun just beginning to cast golden light across cobblestone streets.

And if you’re going to chase that feeling of being transported somewhere else entirely, there’s no better place to do it than Adriatica Village in McKinney, TX. The architecture whispers Croatia, the setting sun reflects off stone facades, and for a few brief moments, Texas takes on the warmth and charm of the Adriatic coast.

The GTS feels right at home here. It turns heads, sure — but more than that, it belongs. Whether cruising lakeside or parked in front of a faux-European bistro, the Boxster is the kind of car that enhances a place, not just the drive.

This particular model — the 2023 Boxster GTS 4.0 — is powered by a glorious naturally aspirated flat-six engine. It’s responsive, pure, and unapologetically old school in the best way. And sadly, this is the final year Porsche will offer a naturally aspirated engine in the 718 Boxster lineup. That makes drives like this even more special — every gear shift a farewell toast to an era that’s about to end.

Of course, it helps when the driver’s just as thrilled. There’s no mistaking the joy on my face in these shots — this isn’t just a car, it’s an experience. And evenings like this? They’re what that experience is all about.

Closing Note:

McKinney might not be Monaco, but on a spring night with the right car and the right sunset, it absolutely doesn’t need to be.