PATRICK O’BRIEN
The 986 Boxster has enabled countless enthusiasts to enter the world of Porsche ownership without shelling out serious money, but don’t make the mistake of considering a bargain Boxster to be a ‘cheap’ Porsche — no matter the price you pay, you’re investing in fantastic sports car engineering...
Some people consider the 986 Boxster to be a cheap Porsche. It isn’t — there is a world of difference between something being available at a low price and something being ‘cheap’. The 986 Boxster is far from the latter, possessing the same amazing engineering as any other Porsche product. The fact an early Boxster is mostly 911 beneath its open-top, two-seat silhouette is testament to what amazing value for money the roadster is in the current climate. The fact prices of the model are increasing, helped by extra attention brought about by media coverage of the original Boxster’s twenty-fifth anniversary in 2021, adds to the appeal of getting in on the act.
From my workshop in Walsingham, Norfolk, I’ve been lucky enough to serve many of the county’s enthusiastic Porsche owners. It’s great getting to know each of them and the cars they drive, but in recent months, I’ve noticed a strong desire for upgrades and personalisation of Porsches from clients who would ordinarily consider ‘trading up’ in favour of a different (perhaps newer) car. Many 986 Boxster owners, in particular, are expressing a desire to enhance the cars they’re already in possession of, as opposed to moving on to another Porsche. Consequently, my team and I have seen a sharp uptake in cosmetic improvements, including wheel refurbishment and corrective paintwork, as well as restored or replaced canvas hoods.
Not every Porsche is in need of such drastic surgery, of course, which is why cars with tired — but unblemished — bodywork can benefit hugely from professional paint correction and machine polishing. The difference this can make to the overall appearance of a vehicle is massive, often resulting in what looks like a Porsche fresh out of a paint booth. It’s certainly a lot ‘cheaper’ than paying for a respray or buying a new car.
Stainless exhaust systems have also proved very popular in recent months. Early Boxsters sound great, but they can be a little quiet, even under load. New stainless Dansk pipework, as well as performance air filter upgrades, can transform the soundtrack to a drive in a 986 Boxster, releasing untapped power along the way. Staying at the rear of the car, more clients are now investing in preventative maintenance for their 986 Boxster engines, too. Again, this is, in part, due to the values of tidy first-generation examples beginning to rise, allowing owners to spend without fear of losing their money. Typical jobs being undertaken include renewal or upgrade of the much talked about Intermediate Shaft (IMS) bearing for peace of mind.
Having said all this, I certainly don’t advocate buying the ‘cheapest’ (there’s that word again!) 986 Boxster you can lay your hands on. Most examples are currently under the £10k mark
— go above this and you’re in 996-generation 911 territory — but my advice to you is to buy the very best example available, not the one with the lowest price. The depressed values of these cars for many years mean some have suffered neglect at the hands of previous owners, with service intervals ignored and essential maintenance skipped. A 986 Boxster might attract a lower asking price than a 996-generation 911, but they’re largely the same car underneath, meaning the same careful attention and mechanical sympathy needs to be observed — a cheap Boxster (or 911, for that matter) can soon turn out to be a very expensive purchase for reasons you might not fully understand until you’re the unfortunate owner faced with regrettable repair bills.
Buying the best Boxster doesn’t mean spending all of your budget, though. I always advise William Hewitt customers to consider allowing enough wriggle room for the kind of upgrades I’ve already talked about or, as is often the case, fixes of niggles they inherit with their purchase. Whatever car they’re thinking about buying, they can sleep easy knowing they can be the proud owner of a low-mileage 986 Boxster for the same price as a high-mileage 987. Personal preference regarding the look of each car inevitably comes into the decision making process, but there’s growing appreciation for the 986 design, even the early ‘fried egg’, amberlensed models. Put it this way, if I was buying a 986, I’d be looking for the highest specification, lowest mileage older car instead of putting my money into a less ‘good’ newer example. This is a sentiment I’m having to repeat less and less, mind — today’s buyers are more informed than ever before. They know the pitfalls. They also know how much fun they can have in a 986. •