RE: Porsche Boxster S (986) | Spotted
Discussion
PistonBroker said:
Yes please.
Mrs PB insisted on Disney this year which pushed it back onto the backburner, but I expect to get into one of these next year. Fingers crossed prices don't shoot up in the meantime!
They won't - it's still a flooded market given the (literally) thousands of them they sold at the time; I reckon another 5 years before they creep up. Some of my buying tips (apart from the obvious of course):Mrs PB insisted on Disney this year which pushed it back onto the backburner, but I expect to get into one of these next year. Fingers crossed prices don't shoot up in the meantime!
Buy manual. The auto of this vintage isn't great & numbs the experience. All show, no go.
An early 2.5 might be the 'pure' Boxster experience, but the more-robust 2.7 is the same money & quicker. A good compromise before the jump to a 3.2.
Make sure the windows lower slightly when you open the doors, make sure the doors both lock too. That whole system is controlled by a box under the passenger seat that can go wrong (whether wet or dry) and a series of tempramental aging microswitches in the doors.
Window regulators are disposable on these cars.
Learn how to open the front bonnet in case of a flat battery! Some years are better than others!
Learn how to access the engine. I can do it now in a couple of minutes, but the first time out was a head-scratcher.
As stated by others though, my Boxster is a keeper. I don't find it particularly hard to work on, and with a bit of research they're cheap enough to keep on the road too.
SimonTheSailor said:
Getting interested in these - there are some comments about large running costs though 
It depends on whether or not you value a full Porsche service history when buying a near-classic car, value maintaining that full Porsche service history once you buy it, consider using a specialist, or (my chosen option) do the spannering yourself. 2 years in and anything mine has needed, I've done myself. Some parts aren't cheap, but I haven't needed many. Some typically worn suspension components (££), servicing (£) and brakes (£). Will it have lost money because of missing stamps in the service book? Not at this stage.I cant help thinking that these are due a value correction fairly soon. If you look at the 944, which was a big selling car for Porsche in the late 80s, values bumbled along in the basement for years, but now you'd probably pay double the money for a decent 944S2 than you would for an early 986. The S2000 may have the better reliability and that V-Tec engine, but at the time these cars were new, it was the Boxster than generally won all the group tests involving the two. A Boxster S is more than quick enough for a fun weekend car and compared to other 20-25 year old stuff out there is a bit or a bargain really.
greenarrow said:
I cant help thinking that these are due a value correction fairly soon. If you look at the 944, which was a big selling car for Porsche in the late 80s, values bumbled along in the basement for years, but now you'd probably pay double the money for a decent 944S2 than you would for an early 986. The S2000 may have the better reliability and that V-Tec engine, but at the time these cars were new, it was the Boxster than generally won all the group tests involving the two. A Boxster S is more than quick enough for a fun weekend car and compared to other 20-25 year old stuff out there is a bit or a bargain really.
I think your right.I don't think the 944 has aged well at all but the first Boxsters look great especially in basic blue or red, something not the size of a battleship but still has plenty of go appeals to me. Perhaps the 2.5 might be the sought after one?
Raygun said:
greenarrow said:
I cant help thinking that these are due a value correction fairly soon. If you look at the 944, which was a big selling car for Porsche in the late 80s, values bumbled along in the basement for years, but now you'd probably pay double the money for a decent 944S2 than you would for an early 986. The S2000 may have the better reliability and that V-Tec engine, but at the time these cars were new, it was the Boxster than generally won all the group tests involving the two. A Boxster S is more than quick enough for a fun weekend car and compared to other 20-25 year old stuff out there is a bit or a bargain really.
I think your right.I don't think the 944 has aged well at all but the first Boxsters look great especially in basic blue or red, something not the size of a battleship but still has plenty of go appeals to me. Perhaps the 2.5 might be the sought after one?
Someone mentioned that the 2.5 was the most fun, as you had to/could rag it in everygear to get the most out of it, all whilst not doing stupid speeds.
Both the 2.7 and 3.2 seem to be long geared...
EarlOfHazard said:
Raygun said:
greenarrow said:
I cant help thinking that these are due a value correction fairly soon. If you look at the 944, which was a big selling car for Porsche in the late 80s, values bumbled along in the basement for years, but now you'd probably pay double the money for a decent 944S2 than you would for an early 986. The S2000 may have the better reliability and that V-Tec engine, but at the time these cars were new, it was the Boxster than generally won all the group tests involving the two. A Boxster S is more than quick enough for a fun weekend car and compared to other 20-25 year old stuff out there is a bit or a bargain really.
I think your right.I don't think the 944 has aged well at all but the first Boxsters look great especially in basic blue or red, something not the size of a battleship but still has plenty of go appeals to me. Perhaps the 2.5 might be the sought after one?
Someone mentioned that the 2.5 was the most fun, as you had to/could rag it in everygear to get the most out of it, all whilst not doing stupid speeds.
Both the 2.7 and 3.2 seem to be long geared...
Its ironic really that the early Boxsters are so cheap compared to the 944s, given that the former offers a proper Porsche Flat 6 experience and mid engined handling, the latter being a conventional 4 cylinder front engined coupe. Sadly they seem to suffer badly from "Not a 911, proper Porsche blah blah blah" snobbery...
When new in 1996, you paid £33950 for a 2.5 Boxster and £20950 for a Lotus Elise. These days, an early S1 Elise will cost at least double an early 2.5 Boxster... just shows that the German option does not always give the best residuals!!
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