Considered by many as one of the best roadsters of all time, the 986 Porsche Boxster helped Porsche to be back on the map. Launched when the BMW Z3 and Mercedes-Benz SLK ruled the market, the 986 Boxster came at a time when the competition was rising in the 2-seater roadster segment. The perfect pricing coupled with the exceptional handling prowess made it an instant hit in America and this helped it to be the most-sold Porsche of its time.
The M96 flat-6 engines came in multiple cubic capacities, and all of them made the 986 Boxster a hoot to drive. The 5-speed manual was also available along with the 5-speed automatic transmission for those who loved to shift on their own. The capable chassis and suspension, beefy brakes, and design that came from the 996 Porsche 911 were impressive too. With the average selling price of the 986 Boxster hovering around the $14,000 mark in the used car market, is it the right to lay your hands on one? Here are 10 things you need to know before buying a used 986 Porsche Boxster.
10 The Porsche Boxster Offers Excellent Handling
The 986 Porsche Boxster offers the same impressive driving dynamics as the 996 Porsche 911. This also makes the 986 Boxster a preferred choice for enthusiasts who cannot afford its bigger brother. The mid-engine rear-wheel drive setup helps it to corner well with minimal body roll and understeer.
The independent front and rear suspension with coil springs and anti-roll bars are also onboard. Apart from that, the 986 Porsche Boxster has a low ground clearance and the curb weight of 2,822 lbs is lower than most of the segment rivals as well.
9 The Porsche Boxster 986 Featured A Water-Cooled Boxer Engine
Unlike the other models from the Porsche stable in the 90s, the 986 Porsche Boxster came with a water-cooled engine. This was also the first Porsche to come with a water-cooled engine that wasn't on the front of the car. All of these made it a bit more special than the later generations.
This means that the 986 Porsche Boxster never ran hot when at the limits. The refinement level was superb and the engine offered impressive horsepower and torque figures. This also meant that the acceleration figures were up there with the best of the lot.
8 The Porsche Boxster Came With Both Manual And Automatic Transmissions
For the enthusiasts out there who wish to drive a stick, the 986 Porsche Boxster doesn't disappoint one bit. Coming with the 5-speed manual transmission as standard, the true potential of the 986 Boxster's engine is more accessible than the automatic model.
The acceleration time of the 986 Boxster when equipped with the manual transmission is much superior to the 5-speed automatic variant. However, if you wish to rest your left leg, the 5-speed automatic transmission equipped 986 Boxster makes a lot of sense.
7 The Porsche Boxster Isn't A Practical Daily Driver
If you are looking for a daily driver 2-seater roadster, the 986 Porsche Boxster may not cut the bill perfectly. The low ground clearance of the Boxster makes it a bit hard to get in and out of. The seats do not have the best side bolstering as well.
The 986 Porsche Boxster offers underwhelming headroom and legroom when compared to the Mercedes Benz SLK and BMW Z3. As a result, the taller folks may not find the seating very comfortable. The shoulder room is a bit disappointing too.
6 The Fuel Efficiency Of The Porsche Boxster Was Decent For The Segment
Fuel efficiency isn't something the buyers are going to be too concerned about. However, the 986 Porsche Boxster returns above-average fuel efficiency numbers, making it a decent daily driver for buyers.
This roadster managed to churn out 17 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway. The combined gas mileage of 20 MPG was superior to the 911 of the time too. With a 15.3-gallon fuel tank capacity, the 986 Boxster could do about 367 miles on the highways with a full tank of gas.
5 The Porsche Boxster Is An Attainable Sports Car In The Used Car Market
The 986 Porsche Boxster is an attainable sports car that ticks all the right boxes for enthusiasts. The average selling price of the 986 Porsche Boxster in the last five years is $14,625 according to classic.com.
The most expensive 986 Boxster got sold for $37,750 and was a restomod version with just 67,000 miles on the clock. However, you could get a badly maintained 986 Boxster for as low as $3,000.
4 The Porsche Boxster S Special Edition Is The Most Desirable Variant
The 986 Porsche Boxster S came to the American market in 2004. What makes it very special is that it was a low-production run moniker and came with lots of interior, exterior, and performance upgrades.
Only 500 cars came to the American market and all of these cars were in GT silver metallic color along with coco brown full leather with gray natural leather. Other features onboard include Bose audio system, 18" Carrera wheels, Boxster S sports exhaust, M030 sports suspension, and the production number tag.
3 The Porsche Boxster Was Quite Feature-Packed
The features available on the 986 Porsche Boxster isn't bad, especially when factoring in the age of the car. The 1996 Boxster came with many standard interior features like automatic climate control, sporty four-dial analog gauge cluster, sports seats, and an audio system.
There were many exterior features on offer as well, including a convertible top, fog lights, heated and powered side mirrors, and many optional extras. Airbags and ABS were standard for all the trims too. If you get the later model years, a full-fledged infotainment system with navigation is also offered.
2 The Porsche Boxster May Not Be The Easiest Sports Car To Maintain
Even though the 986 Porsche Boxster is going to be a cheap car to buy, it is not going to be a cheap car to maintain. The complex technology, advanced powertrain, and old age mean that many of the 986 Boxsters have been off the road due to the steep repair costs.
The M96 engine came with too many troubles and it was far from reliable. Cracked or slipping cylinder lining, coolant and oil mixing, and other engine defects were very common in the earlier model years of the Boxster. Even the automatic transmission wasn't known for its bulletproof reliability. All of these means that you need to have a fat pocket to keep the Boxster in perfect mechanical condition.
1 The 3.2-Liter Flat-6 Engine In The Porsche Boxster S Made It A Hoot To Drive
The 3.2-liter naturally aspirated DOHC flat-6 Boxer engine codenamed M96 came under the hood of the 986 Porsche Boxster and was one of the most advanced engines from Porsche. It came with an MPI fuel injection system and had four valves per cylinder.
The 986 Porsche Boxster managed to put out 256 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque and the power went to the rear wheels only. The 5-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed automatic transmission was available, with the manual transmission variant doing the 0-60 MPH run in just 5.7 seconds. The rolling acceleration was superb too.
Sources: Edmunds, Classic.com, Bring A Trailer