Can’t quite afford a 911? Opt for a Boxster instead and you won’t be disappointed
Boxsters provide a comfortable driving position for both short and tall drivers, thanks to an adjustable-position steering wheel and decent seat adjustment. Once settled in, it quickly becomes apparent that the chassis and steering are so good that the Boxster can seem underpowered at times, especially the base 2.5-litre model. It blooms when being driven at the upper and outer edges of its performance envelope, easily making you laugh out loud with pure pleasure! The exquisite noise emanating from behind your ears makes you want to send the tachometer’s needle into the upper ranges again and again, as the flat-six’s ethereal wail really comes on song around 5000rpm. The car dances around country lanes, its nose responding to even the smallest inputs, the brakes so finely judged that you’ll found yourself left foot braking in time - a dab to tuck the nose in, unwind the steering and then nail the power. A good Boxster drives like a Porsche should then, and feels solid, just like a Porsche should.
VITAL STATISTICS
1996 Porsche Boxster 2.5
Engine 2480cc/6-cyl/DOHC
Power (bhp@rpm) 201bhp@6000rpm
Torque (lb ft@rpm) 177lb ft@5000rpm
Top speed 155mph
0-60mph 6.4sec
Consumption 29mpg
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
BODYWORK & CHASSIS
Park the car on level ground, then start the exterior examination by checking for signs of body damage or accident repairs. Corrosion is easy to spot as the paint will have bubbled and/or cracked. Measure the body panel gaps, particularly around the front and rear luggage compartment lids and the doors. If the gaps are even then chances are the body is straight. Major inconsistencies in gaps indicate the car has been poorly repaired after an accident.
ENGINE
Engine access is complicated, but it’s possible to carry out a basic inspection of the top of the engine. Look for obvious signs of oil, coolant and power steering fluid leakage. A known Boxster issue is failure of the engine’s rear main seal – a giveaway sign being when oil begins weeping from it. Owners usually keep an eye on the oil level and get a new RMS fitted when the car is having a clutch change or service, but if you’re viewing a car with a weeping seal, then factor this into your thinking when haggling on price.
ELECTRICS
Check around the combined headlight and indicator assemblies for cracked lenses and stone chip damage. You also need to grab a torch and peer through the front spoiler to assess the condition of the front mounted radiators. The excellent aerodynamic design of the Boxster is fantastic at drawing cooling air through the radiators, but the downside is that it also acts as an enormous vacuum cleaner, sucking up anything it can from the road surface. Make sure the radiators are clear of debris, as organic materials will decay and cause corrosion issues as the car ages.
Remove the plastic battery cover in the centre of the front luggage compartment and inspect the battery for condition and any evidence of acid spill and/or corrosion. Examine the compartment’s panelled areas for moisture damage and staining – if everything is clean, what lies beneath is probably in decent nick.
BRAKES
Check the brake discs (rotors), callipers and pads. Pad friction material must be greater than 2mm, and the discs must be free from damage or surface rust. Look for evidence of fluid leaks over any components in the wheel wells, including at the rear of each wheel.
INTERIOR
Inspect all interior fittings and assemblies, including assessing the condition of both seats, ensuring none of the trim is cracked, torn, faded or missing. Check all electric seat functions are working correctly, especially heated seats. A cracked dashboard is extremely expensive to repair. Run the electric windows up and down to see if there’s any moisture trapped within the door.
OUR VERDICT
The Boxster phenomenon didn’t happen by accident. Porsche has long understood the importance of component sharing, ever since the strategic revolution that transformed the company’s corporate fortunes in the mid-1990s. The original 986 Boxster was the first Porsche to prove the value of that concept, sharing much with the 996-generation 911. The Boxster was an immediate hit, and ever since has maintained an intimate relationship with the 911, while contributing strongly to Porsche’s bottom line.
Mixing almost perfectly resolved handling with serious performance and appealing value for money, the original Boxster’s status as a fully-fledged, envy-of-the-class Porsche sports car now seems indisputable. Grab one with the optional hardtop and you’ll be able to use it all year round too. Best of all, you can bag a decent example with full service history for as little as £5k today. What are you waiting for!