Porsche Boxster 986 2.5 - Is it just me???

[mrpenks]

About 9 months ago I stumbled upon a mint, low mileage silver Boxster 2.5 being sold privately whilst looking for a car to use at weekends as a break from the diesel boredom of motorway mile munching. The owner had maintained it fastidiously and it looked showroom fresh. I read up as much as I could and was put off by claims it was slow, unreliable and had the wrong engine. Yet when I test drove it I found a rapid, fantastic handling car that would run rings around most other 'fast' cars. So I took the plunge and purchased it for under £4k. The owner even included a hard top in the sale. I was certain it must have had an engine swap to 2.7 or have been tuned yet on inspection I found the engine was original.

Fast forward to today. I popped out for a spring blast yesterday and couldn't help thinking is it just me or is the 2.5 Boxster the bargain of the century and a true drivers champ. 150mph, 60 in 6.7 seconds, 30mpg, wind in hair driving, amazing chassis balance and great build quality. Mine is 17 years old and has no faults, no rust and the engine is like a Swiss watch. Moreover the 2.5 doesn't suffer with ims failure issues contrary to myth.

So I've turned to PH for a reality check. Am I mad, sad or blinkered in my view that my weekend motor is a great car or a wannabe Porsche undeserving of the badge that I'm viewing through rose tinted spectacles?

Edited by mrpenks on Saturday 16th April 11:19

[mrpenks]

[Piersman2]

No, you're not mad. I bought a 2001 S a couple of years back. Ok I had to spend some money sorting mine out after a lack of 'investment' from a few previous owners but it's now just such a great car to actually drive. Even as a 3.2S it's not massively quick by modern day standards, it doesn't have the straight line grunt of my other cars, but that's not what the Boxsters were ever about, they were about handling, driver involvement, etc... Sportcars if you like!

Enjoy yours, sounds like you found a good 'un.

[mrpenks]

Piersman2 said:

No, you're not mad. I bought a 2001 S a couple of years back. Ok I had to spend some money sorting mine out after a lack of 'investment' from a few previous owners but it's now just such a great car to actually drive. Even as a 3.2S it's not massively quick by modern day standards, it doesn't have the straight line grunt of my other cars, but that's not what the Boxsters were ever about, they were about handling, driver involvement, etc... Sportcars if you like!

Enjoy yours, sounds like you found a good 'un.

Thanks for this. Yes, it'd be on a par with modest hot hatches in a straight line and left for dead by some of the latest 300bhp plus ones but where I live in twisty road Wales, I can't help but think it'd leave most FWD hot hatches for dust, sounding better, feeling more involved and having cost peanuts to buy and own.

[FELIX_5]

I don't think the 0-60 time is anything to shout about for a Porsche. But, do agree these are cracking value at the moment, and it would seem you've picked up a peach. An awful lot of car for the money, will follow this thread with interest.....

What's the mileage?

[mrpenks]

FELIX_5 said:

I don't think the 0-60 time is anything to shout about for a Porsche. But, do agree these are cracking value at the moment, and it would seem you've picked up a peach. An awful lot of car for the money, will follow this thread with interest.....

What's the mileage?

Hi there, yes the 0-60 isn't supercar but back in 98 it was in my view a quick car and still respectable today. I wouldn't claim it's the fastest but I can't help thinking what other used car comes close as an ownership proposition at this price and also can't work out why the 2.5 gets slated so often. The mileage is 75k

[FELIX_5]

mrpenks said:

Hi there, yes the 0-60 isn't supercar but back in 98 it was in my view a quick car and still respectable today. I wouldn't claim it's the fastest but I can't help thinking what other used car comes close as an ownership proposition at this price and also can't work out why the 2.5 gets slated so often. The mileage is 75k

Yes I would agree with you. Absolute steal at that price! Enjoy.....

Think we need some more pics, interior etc....

Edited by FELIX_5 on Saturday 16th April 09:52

[mrpenks]

FELIX_5 said:

mrpenks said:

Hi there, yes the 0-60 isn't supercar but back in 98 it was in my view a quick car and still respectable today. I wouldn't claim it's the fastest but I can't help thinking what other used car comes close as an ownership proposition at this price and also can't work out why the 2.5 gets slated so often. The mileage is 75k

Yes I would agree with you. Absolute steal at that price! Enjoy.....

Thanks!!!

[mrpenks]

FELIX_5 said:

mrpenks said:

Hi there, yes the 0-60 isn't supercar but back in 98 it was in my view a quick car and still respectable today. I wouldn't claim it's the fastest but I can't help thinking what other used car comes close as an ownership proposition at this price and also can't work out why the 2.5 gets slated so often. The mileage is 75k

Yes I would agree with you. Absolute steal at that price! Enjoy.....

Think we need some more pics, interior etc....

Edited by FELIX_5 on Saturday 16th April 09:52

Sorry, not the best pics, I'll have to take some more....

[FELIX_5]

Looks very tidy! Did it come with that number plate, or is it coming off?

[mrpenks]

FELIX_5 said:

Looks very tidy! Did it come with that number plate, or is it coming off?

Came with the car

[Magic919]

You get a lot of car for the money. It's only the bork factor that scares buyers off. Looks like you've done the research and grabbed a good one.

[egor110]

mrpenks said:

Piersman2 said:

No, you're not mad. I bought a 2001 S a couple of years back. Ok I had to spend some money sorting mine out after a lack of 'investment' from a few previous owners but it's now just such a great car to actually drive. Even as a 3.2S it's not massively quick by modern day standards, it doesn't have the straight line grunt of my other cars, but that's not what the Boxsters were ever about, they were about handling, driver involvement, etc... Sportcars if you like!

Enjoy yours, sounds like you found a good 'un.

Thanks for this. Yes, it'd be on a par with modest hot hatches in a straight line and left for dead by some of the latest 300bhp plus ones but where I live in twisty road Wales, I can't help but think it'd leave most FWD hot hatches for dust, sounding better, feeling more involved and having cost peanuts to buy and own.

I think you'd be surprised how capable £1500-£2000 worth of clio 172/182 would be on the twisty roads.

I doubt very much you'd give up your lovely interior or the fact you have a porsche but i think in all honesty the pure nimbleness and throw it into a corner and it just grips ability would surprise you on twisty roads.

For a budget of £5000 i'd seriously look at the boxster purely because i like the engine noise but i'd also look at the nissan 350z for the same reason, i couldn't not consider something french again like a megane f1 purely because there so capable for the money, but i'd be sacrificing the engine noise of the boxster/350z.

[Tickle]

Looks great OP. I like the early boxters, they are more compact and more suited to threading down a nice B-road.

Looks like a minter too, good buy.

[mrpenks]

Magic919 said:

You get a lot of car for the money. It's only the bork factor that scares buyers off. Looks like you've done the research and grabbed a good one.

Thanks. It's a good point, I did see one or two horrid examples when looking - one a 2.7 manual with bad accident damage and another 3.2 tiptronic which appeared to be made from several cars and rusting badly! For me, I found the fact the 2.5 has a better ims so engine less likely to blow was the real surprise from doing the homework...plus I can't honestly say it feels notably slower than the 2.7

[mrpenks]

egor110 said:

mrpenks said:

Piersman2 said:

No, you're not mad. I bought a 2001 S a couple of years back. Ok I had to spend some money sorting mine out after a lack of 'investment' from a few previous owners but it's now just such a great car to actually drive. Even as a 3.2S it's not massively quick by modern day standards, it doesn't have the straight line grunt of my other cars, but that's not what the Boxsters were ever about, they were about handling, driver involvement, etc... Sportcars if you like!

Enjoy yours, sounds like you found a good 'un.

Thanks for this. Yes, it'd be on a par with modest hot hatches in a straight line and left for dead by some of the latest 300bhp plus ones but where I live in twisty road Wales, I can't help but think it'd leave most FWD hot hatches for dust, sounding better, feeling more involved and having cost peanuts to buy and own.

I think you'd be surprised how capable £1500-£2000 worth of clio 172/182 would be on the twisty roads.

I doubt very much you'd give up your lovely interior or the fact you have a porsche but i think in all honesty the pure nimbleness and throw it into a corner and it just grips ability would surprise you on twisty roads.

For a budget of £5000 i'd seriously look at the boxster purely because i like the engine noise but i'd also look at the nissan 350z for the same reason, i couldn't not consider something french again like a megane f1 purely because there so capable for the money, but i'd be sacrificing the engine noise of the boxster/350z.

Yes I remember a passenger ride in an early 172 when I had an Alfa spider. It was much, much more capable but have to agree the interior and the fact most get Barry'd at Halfords puts me off. Never been in or driven a 350z but they do seem great value too

[mrpenks]

Tickle said:

Looks great OP. I like the early boxters, they are more compact and more suited to threading down a nice B-road.

Looks like a minter too, good buy.

Thanks, it's a good point that the B road brings out the best in it to be honest. I'm tempted to head out for a blat to Llandovery again this afternoon now...!

[Bosshogg76]

Thanks for posting that, we're about to need a second car, and as it doesn't need to be a 4 seater. I'd stated looking at s2000 thinking Boxsters would be a no go. Certainly food for thought

[mrpenks]

Bosshogg76 said:

Thanks for posting that, we're about to need a second car, and as it doesn't need to be a 4 seater. I'd stated looking at s2000 thinking Boxsters would be a no go. Certainly food for thought

My friend had an S2000 and it was a very different car. Less refined and a bit cheap feeling but lots of fun and very tail happy. It needed the right gear in the real world to be quick but was certainly quicker than the Boxster once wound up to over 6000 revs, just requiring concentration unlike the Boxster that really picks up from about 4000rpm and feels more flexible. if you were to go for an early 2.5 Boxster, I would urge you to ignore the opinions and drive a good, cared for one and form your own opinion.

[egor110]

mrpenks said:

Tickle said:

Looks great OP. I like the early boxters, they are more compact and more suited to threading down a nice B-road.

Looks like a minter too, good buy.

Thanks, it's a good point that the B road brings out the best in it to be honest. I'm tempted to head out for a blat to Llandovery again this afternoon now...!

Are you going to the welsh pistonheads meet tomorrow?