Porsche 986 Boxster S

0-100 km/h: 6,06 sec Top speed: 261 km/h Power: 185 kw Torque: 305 N.m CO : n/a Fuel cons: 12,42 L/100 km 2

Most of us have, at some stage, dreamt about owning a Porsche. At this price point, it will have to be an early model; about the turn of the century. Fortunately, most owners do not cover huge distances so overall condition should be excellent. The downside is, if you do have to fix things, it’s going to be expensive.

The first Boxster model used a 2,5-litre flat-six but upgraded to a 2,7-litre in 1999, while the “S” version featured a 3,2-litre engine. The six-speed manual gearbox is the best one to buy for true classic value. The soft top is electrically powered so make sure everything operates correctly. The rear window was made from plastic but was replaced in 2002 by a glass panel due to kinking.

Luggage space is good for a sportscar, with identical volumes of 96 litres under the bonnet and behind the rear engine compartment.

Maintenance is expensive mainly because access to the mechanicals is so difficult and therefore you pay for labour. Items to watch for are oil leaks indicating a failing rear main oil seal. The intermediate shaft bearing sometimes breaks so look out for steel or plastic particles in the oil or trapped in the oil filter.

While 15-year-old Boxsters currently sell at a healthy 50% of original prices, we expect this figure to soon start rising.