Porsche Boxster S (986) | PH Fleet
It's finally finished - and fantastic
It’s a slightly weird arrangement, getting a car fixed up that isn’t yours and which isn’t being taken on for financial gain. (As a reminder, the Boxster belongs to my future father-in-law; he paid for the work, I got it to where it needed to be.) However hard you try, it’s impossible not to form some kind of bond, taking a car here and there, witnessing it get better and better along the way. You feel in a way responsible for its dramatic improvement, even though - of course - it’s the actual professionals that deserve all the credit.
But with the Boxster now done (or at least done as far as this summer goes) and back with its rightful owner, it’s nice to look back on what’s been achieved in not very much time. What was a slightly sorry-for-itself old Porsche that didn’t look very nice and drove a whole lot worse is now a modern classic sports car again. Well, I think so, at least.
Looking back, the project was completed the wrong way around, with all the cosmetic improvements done ahead of the major mechanical work. So in addition to the paint detailing, the wheels were refurbed, the brake calipers brought back to red and the roof replaced, which ensured the Boxster at least looked the part. A ropey 986 doesn’t look great; some cars can get away with not being in the best cosmetic condition in a way that these can’t so much. But when a 986 is looking its best, there’s something almost exotic about it given how relatively little they cost (can you tell I got a bit attached?).
We all knew the major work was underneath, however, and so leading up to PH Annual Service, the Boxster was at Wrightune in Wallingford for an extended period. A quarter of a century of being cared for only just about well enough meant it was almost easier to list what didn’t require replacement rather than what did. Driveshafts, discs, suspension arms, a cat, a backbox, an expansion tank, undertrays, bushes, bolts, washers… you get the idea. It was a lot.
A big thanks here to GSF Car Parts for their help supplying lots of the bits and bobs required for the Boxster at Wrightune. Plenty of project cars are years in the making, whereas this thing was transformed in little more than three months. The window of opportunity between sorting the roof, the CarPlay and whatnot, then having it ready for Bicester, really wasn’t very wide, so shout out to them for getting us the right stuff at the right time. Nothing hurries progress along like getting a car ready to show, and a man who wants his Porsche back before you marry his daughter…
The resulting invoice for the time spent at Wrightune was enough to buy one of the more affordable Boxsters currently in the PH classifieds. Add in the rest of the work undertaken and the spend would buy some of the nicer 986s we have for sale. Good job it's now a corker, then. The outlay shows a couple of things, I think: first, in case any kind of reminding was required, is that fixing old Porsches is never a cheap endeavour. Even if they’re not worth a great deal now - even if they’re supposedly junior models - getting work done properly is going to need money in a way that something humbler wouldn’t require.
Chris and the team at Wrightune deserve huge credit for avoiding new parts when the existing ones could be repaired (the anti-roll bars were shot blasted and powder coated for the tenth of replacement cost, for example), but sometimes you just gotta pay Porsche prices. And they’re a lot. We just tried not to where possible - a Dansk backbox costs about a third as much as an OEM item. So just don’t say you weren’t warned…
The second thing spending thousands on the Porsche demonstrated is that, to be frank, a similar level of expense might be required for lots of low-mileage, few-owner cars out there. They can still be bought for little and kept looking visually nice for, relatively speaking, not very much effort. But it’s the less sexy stuff underneath that really makes the difference between a Boxster feeling like a proper Porsche sports car and feeling like an old heap. I know it sounds obvious, but if you are tempted by a 986 (join the club) then it’s worth finding out when important stuff was replaced. Or allow a budget for doing the work. Because it’ll cost a fair bit, but also transform the car into what it should really be.
The suspension work feels like the most important change for the Boxster. Which is good, because that’s where a significant amount was spent. A suspension kit comprises arms (front diagonal, rear diagonal, lower and rear toe), drop link and track rods, costing £1,170. I opted to replace the springs and dampers with BC Racing BR Series coilovers for £1,099; probably something closer to stock would have fitted the nature of the build better, but boy does a Boxster look good for the resulting 30mm ride height drop. The ride hasn’t been obliterated, either.
And the drive. My goodness, the drive - this is what people have been raving about with 986s. What was floppy and vague is now alert and agile, scything through bends like a mid-engined Porsche ought to and flooding the driver with feedback in the process. The newfound tautness means confidence to push on and exploit the chassis that was never there before, which is such a joy with the roof down and exhaust roaring. Turns out old Boxsters are quite good, if you haven’t heard.
But for an all too brief introductory period, I was smitten with the little 986. There was also the usability of something newer thanks to a proper roof and the new stereo, with the traditional appeal of something with a big flat-six, a manual gearbox, and a properly sorted chassis. I’m sure it’ll bring Russell many more happy miles motoring yet. Hopefully I’ll get another go soon as well, now it’s a Boxster as it really should be. Could be the wedding car, in fact…
FACT SHEET
Car: 2001 Porsche Boxster S (986)
Run by: Matt Bird
On fleet since: April 2025
Mileage: 59,955
Last month at a glance: Boxster? Completed it mate
Previous reports
Thanks to GSF for their help with the Boxster
Probably the former and take the hit so it’s just right for me. Be interested in how this has worked out for other PH’ers.
Probably the former and take the hit so it s just right for me. Be interested in how this has worked out for other PH ers.
I found it quite enjoyable to own in some respects but not particularly cheap to maintain at all and mine had no major issues in the time I had it, my local specialist wasn't far off main dealer rates and many parts are only available directly from Porsche new.
It was quite comfortable on long drives, I took mine to both Spa and the Nürburgring on separate occasions, mine had some sort of after market exhaust on it which was far too loud in my opinion but I never got round to replacing it because a genuine Porsche one as the article notes is very expensive but it did probably ruin the experience for me of the car.
I would say you have to remember the 986 is 20 plus years old now and it can feel it at times, after driving mine for a few days at a time I couldn't wait to get back into the BMW M240i which was my daily at the time. I ended up selling mine after I did the Spa trip which was the second European trip I did in it because the whole time I was away I was wishing i'd taken the BMW instead.
When I sold the car I sold it on Motorway and I sold the removable hard top separately so I did more or less break even on it taking the maintenance costs out of it and i'm pleased I had the opportunity to own it and experience it. I doubt i'd buy another Boxster now but I would seriously consider a more modern Cayman in the future.
I found it quite enjoyable to own in some respects but not particularly cheap to maintain at all and mine had no major issues in the time I had it, my local specialist wasn't far off main dealer rates and many parts are only available directly from Porsche new.
It was quite comfortable on long drives, I took mine to both Spa and the Nürburgring on separate occasions, mine had some sort of after market exhaust on it which was far too loud in my opinion but I never got round to replacing it because a genuine Porsche one as the article notes is very expensive but it did probably ruin the experience for me of the car.
I would say you have to remember the 986 is 20 plus years old now and it can feel it at times, after driving mine for a few days at a time I couldn't wait to get back into the BMW M240i which was my daily at the time. I ended up selling mine after I did the Spa trip which was the second European trip I did in it because the whole time I was away I was wishing i'd taken the BMW instead.
When I sold the car I sold it on Motorway and I sold the removable hard top separately so I did more or less break even on it taking the maintenance costs out of it and i'm pleased I had the opportunity to own it and experience it. I doubt i'd buy another Boxster now but I would seriously consider a more modern Cayman in the future.
Pump loads of money into an old Boxster and you are left with an old Boxster that’s not worth more than you paid for it.
I found it quite enjoyable to own in some respects but not particularly cheap to maintain at all and mine had no major issues in the time I had it, my local specialist wasn't far off main dealer rates and many parts are only available directly from Porsche new.
It was quite comfortable on long drives, I took mine to both Spa and the Nürburgring on separate occasions, mine had some sort of after market exhaust on it which was far too loud in my opinion but I never got round to replacing it because a genuine Porsche one as the article notes is very expensive but it did probably ruin the experience for me of the car.
I would say you have to remember the 986 is 20 plus years old now and it can feel it at times, after driving mine for a few days at a time I couldn't wait to get back into the BMW M240i which was my daily at the time. I ended up selling mine after I did the Spa trip which was the second European trip I did in it because the whole time I was away I was wishing i'd taken the BMW instead.
When I sold the car I sold it on Motorway and I sold the removable hard top separately so I did more or less break even on it taking the maintenance costs out of it and i'm pleased I had the opportunity to own it and experience it. I doubt i'd buy another Boxster now but I would seriously consider a more modern Cayman in the future.
Pump loads of money into an old Boxster and you are left with an old Boxster that s not worth more than you paid for it.
My advice is to check the history before buying as a complete suspension refresh will run into £1000,s , the cheaper after market exhausts can resonate which is horrible, and a decent back box will cost upwards of a grand to replace, but when it's done, boy, what a car.......😁😁
I have travelled this road before. Don’t buy an old sports car without understanding this.
IF you can work on the car yourself- and enjoy doing that, then the world of modern classics is ripe with interesting cars to explore.
If you are requiring the skills of other people to look after your car, then you really need to be thinking twice.
If you are of the mindset that you want your 20 plus year old car to look and feel close to new and you are relying on the hands of others for labour, I would urge you to seek help.
You will end up like the Joker in the Dark Knight. All your spare time spent dancing the specialist boogaloo with your partner questioning what on earth you are doing.
It gets like a trek from the Shires to Mordor. With a 100lb pack on your back and your leg in a splint. Painful. Never ending.
I spent a summer taking my low miles Elise for various pieces of remedial work, trying various specialists, always chasing something. Get up early, drive wherever, spend half a day mooching about some glum town, drink too much coffee and stroke your phone. Shuffle back and collect the car. Pay a bill that’s always more than you were expecting. Get told about another ‘emerging’ issue. Brace for more expense and more time spent getting stuff done.
This is all MUCH worse if you are any sort of perfectionist. I always buy low mileage cars. This is no guarantee that work won’t need doing. If you invert that and think you will buy high miles, with all the work done, think again as that is no shortcut to nirvana either. Either the paint or the interior or both, will show those miles.
If, if, if you possess handy hands all this is massively mitigated. You still have the time suck but it’s on your timetable rather than someone else’s and you won’t end up holding a Bill more unpleasant than Cosby. Untrained hands, keep walking.
Where as a good mate of mine has an Alfa Romeo and has to get it trailered 2 hours away whenever it breaks, which it seems to fairly reguarly
I found it quite enjoyable to own in some respects but not particularly cheap to maintain at all and mine had no major issues in the time I had it, my local specialist wasn't far off main dealer rates and many parts are only available directly from Porsche new.
It was quite comfortable on long drives, I took mine to both Spa and the Nürburgring on separate occasions, mine had some sort of after market exhaust on it which was far too loud in my opinion but I never got round to replacing it because a genuine Porsche one as the article notes is very expensive but it did probably ruin the experience for me of the car.
I would say you have to remember the 986 is 20 plus years old now and it can feel it at times, after driving mine for a few days at a time I couldn't wait to get back into the BMW M240i which was my daily at the time. I ended up selling mine after I did the Spa trip which was the second European trip I did in it because the whole time I was away I was wishing i'd taken the BMW instead.
When I sold the car I sold it on Motorway and I sold the removable hard top separately so I did more or less break even on it taking the maintenance costs out of it and i'm pleased I had the opportunity to own it and experience it. I doubt i'd buy another Boxster now but I would seriously consider a more modern Cayman in the future.
If you can enjoy an old Porsche which isn’t perfect these are ideal
If you need your car to be more perfect run run run
And these are more like 25 years old now - mine is
From the comments and experience though I struggle with feedback such as, "its cheap to buy and expensive to run" implying its not worth it.
Is it better if its expensive to buy and expensive to run?
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