Could this be the time? The Boxster has been our favourite Porsche and favourite sports car for years but that was before they cut two cylinders off. Has the magic gone with the old flat six to be replaced by an efficient flat four? Given that the Porsche in question, the 718 Boxster S, is a £50k car, could the highly desirable and proven TTS Roadster mount a challenge, helped by its list price tag about £9000 cheaper?

The thing is Porsche has crammed more power into its smaller turbocharged engine, more power than before and more power than in the Audi. It shows when you go for hard acceleration. The Boxster was about 1.5sec faster in real life than the TTS to 60mph. Both engines have turbos, both have slight lag but the Porsche just pulls harder once it’s past 2000rpm all the way. The Audi, despite the four-wheel drive, was harder to launch, needed more gearchanges thanks to its short gearing and tailed away before the redline.

The Audi has the better sounding engine, and we live in a strange world where that is the case when it’s up against a Porsche Boxster. But no, that sonorous growl from the Porsche is gone, and the Audi sounded the harder of the two. It’s strange how important the sound becomes when it’s changed or gone, it colours a lot of perceptions about the car.

But the Boxster hammers right back when it comes to the handling. It’s just perfect, in terms of balance, feedback from the steering, turn-in, exit, whatever. It had the adaptive dampers admittedly, which are a near-£1000 option, but with it the ride was exemplary.

Adaptive dampers are standard on the Audi, but even with them set at their hardest it still couldn’t match the roll-free demeanour of the Porsche in the fast corners.

Inside they’re not that far apart in many ways although the red leather of the Porsche is a bit of a dazzler, made more so by the optional extension to the dashboard leather trim. But it’s the Audi that wins here with a cabin which feels even better put together than that of the Porsche, and better laid out with more simplicity and class.

Above those cabins are two fabric hoods, and they both go up and down at about the same speed, taking about 10sec either way. They do impede luggage area but both cars have enough for short stays. Not much in it.

In terms of kit, neither car has all that much as standard, even at the Porsche price point. It’s hard to believe but things like sat-nav, cruise and climate control and rear sensors are all options you have to pay extra for. Then there’s this list: DAB radio, heated seats, auto wipers and multi-function steering wheel. All those things, and the adaptive dampers, are standard on the Audi but join the long list of optional extras on the Porsche.

Yet the Porsche, once dealer discounts have been wangled, can cost £13,266 more than the Audi. That’s rather a lot. Both cars will lose the same percentage in depreciation over three years but in real money that’s £8450 more for the Porsche owner than the Audi owner. But what is certain to swing it is the new, soulless-sounding Porsche can manage 34mpg now while the Audi can do 32.7mpg. That’s the killer for the swing voters we’re sure.

So where does that leave us? Despite everything, every niggle, the Porsche is still the finer car by a margin. But that margin has got smaller with the advent of the new engine. If you want a Porsche that sounds like a Subaru then this is for you, but for some the magic will be gone. Yet it is still a sensational sports car and now it’s even faster and even costs less too. You just have to love it.

But the Audi TTS Roadster has got noticeably closer to the 718 Boxster S. It’s a fine sports car with an impeccable interior and very capable performance. It loses out to a much more expensive vehicle. If budget is anywhere in the picture, then spend it on the Audi and you’ll be very happy. But if you have the money, then buy the Porsche.

Audi TTS Roadster 2.0 TFSI quattro

Engine size: 2.0-litre, petrol, turbocharged

List price: £41,435

Target Price: £37,429

Power: 306bhp

Torque: 280lb ft

0-60mph: 6.0sec

Top speed: 155mph

Fuel economy: 32.7mpg (True MPG)

CO2 emissions: 173g/km

Porsche 718 Boxster S 2.5

Engine size: 2.5-litre, petrol, turbocharged

Price from: £50,695

Target Price: £50,695

Power: 345bhp

Torque: 310lb ft

0-60mph: 4.5sec

Top speed: 177mph

Fuel economy: 34.0mpg (True MPG)

CO2 emissions: 184g/km