The first generation 986 Porsche Boxster was the marque's first car to be designed primarily as a roadster since the 1953 550 Spyder. Launching in 1996, it combined the name of the boxer engine and roadster to create the title Boxster, more memorable than the at times confusing numerical naming of the 928, 944, and 968.

Sharing the same front facia as the 996 generation 911, the 986 had the controversial "egg yolk" front lights that were met with scorn among the Porsche community. Regardless, the design aged poorly heading into the new millennium. Porsche returned to the drawing board and in 2004 announced the 987 Porsche Boxster, this time alongside the new 997 911. Again both shared front facial features, but with more traditional front lights and a quintessentially Porsche front bumper.

So, let's look back at the 2005 Porsche Boxster and what makes this ride so special.

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Introduction To The 2005 Porsche Boxster

2005 Porsche Boxster
Via: EurovisionNim, Wikimedia Commons - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Porsche's design team turned their attention to the rear, adding an Italian-inspired flare to what had once been a very minimalistic rear. Notably, the rear light clusters were turned into a more curvaceous and styled design, improving the previous generation's somewhat utilitarian layout.

When launched in 2005, the 987 was available with a 2.7-liter engine producing 236 HP and a 3.2-liter with 276 HP in the S model. With a curb weight of 2,855 lbs, each engine and transmission were able to propel the car to 60 MPH in about 7.1 seconds. In this day and age, that figure is not that impressive, with almost all hot hatches able to outperform the Boxster.

Cornering, Powertrain, And Dynamics

2005 Porsche Boxster
Via: 195032005275, Wikimedia Commons - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

To look at a Boxster and judge it by its performance is to miss the point. A mid-engined, rear-wheel drive, convertible Porsche isn't about how fast you get to your location but how you feel going around a corner. The 2005 Porsche Boxster is what the Mark 1 MX-5 owner dreams of. Not only does it have the coveted Porsche badge, but it's surprisingly more practical than other convertibles on the used market.

The engine is mounted low in the body, again improving dynamics but also meaning that the Stuttgart-based manufacturer could include two boots. With 150 liters of space in the front and 130 behind the engine, grand touring is a distinct possibility with the Boxster.

By comparison, the MX-5 only has 130 liters of boot space, the competing SLK with the roof down only has 225 liters, and in the same state, the Z4 has just 180 liters. The 987's roof has no impact on boot space. To finish the package, the 987 comes with a tiny body. As sports cars and performance cars have grown in size, the 987 comes from a time before the bloat in designs.

At 1.8 meters wide and 4.3 meters long, it is shorter and narrower than current rides like the Jaguar F-type convertible, which boasts only 207 liters of storage despite its larger proportions.

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What's Inside The 2005 Porsche Boxster?

Porsche Boxster Interior
Via: The Car Spy, Flickr - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

The 987's interior is pretty similar to recent Porsche designs, albeit lacking a large Tesla-esque central display. With clear instrument clusters and the tachometer placed centrally, it is undeniably a Porsche design. The infotainment is admittedly outdated, though, as it lacks the features that a buyer would now expect.

Not only is there a plethora of aftermarket parts available, but Porsche's interest in keeping older models on the road saw them release two Porsche Classic Communication Management systems. Since both provide connectivity for older models with little work, there are few drawbacks to this now 16-year-old car.

The 987 has exceptional build quality, and in most rides, the leather and suede have held up well, although lighter colors have aged relatively poorly and, in general, have acquired more signs of visible wear. Examples with black, grey, red, or navy leather are the most common and have remained pretty fresh, however.

How Much Does A 2005 Porsche Boxster Cost Today?

via Collecting Cars

The now old flat-six engine isn't too uneconomical, all things considered. With a claimed 27.6 MPG, it is more efficient than the Mercedes SLK 55 AMG, which returns around 22 MPG. This design and engineering marvel does not come with a low price tag, though. When initially released, it undercut the contemporary 911 by nearly $30,000, but that did not mean it came cheap, launching with a cost of around $40,000.

While these cars have depreciated significantly by now, with a base Boxster model going for under $20,000 and a Boxster S for $25,000, these cars find themselves competing with an awful lot of performance cars. Such rides include older super saloons such as the B7 RS4 and the E92 M3, as well as newer muscle cars and even MX-5s and GT86s.

Final Thoughts On The '05 Boxster

2005 Porsche Boxster
Via: The Car Spy, Flickr - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

The 987 generation of the Boxster comes from a time when the Porsche lineup was simpler, before the GT3 madness that ensued with the 997 911s that has overflown into other models for nearly a decade.

These models come with special editions, namely, the Boxster Spyder, the rarest and most attractive from this generation, and the RS60. In retrospect, they seem awfully similar to the Boxster 25th anniversary vehicle, Porsche's current special edition Boxster, which sports red leather, new wheels, and some tweaked bodywork.

These two special editions carry a premium but with them comes rarity and, more often than not, a more complete service history with fewer modifications undertaken by previous owners. As is expected with older luxury cars, maintenance bills are high, but with the Boxster, the reward is massive.

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