2005-2012 Porsche Boxster | Review and What To LOOK For When Buying One

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This is the second generation Boxster - This model single handedly saved Porsche from Bankruptcy. I already covered the first generation 986 Boxster in another video, but Today, I’m going to show you why this second generation 987 Boxster is SO MUCH BETTER! I will share with you some of my favorite features, take it for a drive and give you some driving impressions, and in the end I will point out some of the things you should LOOK for if you’re planning on buying one.
[Background paragraph on vehicle]
So, yes, this model SAVED Porsche from bankruptcy! No, not this one specifically, but the first generation. If the 986 Boxster is the first Fast and Furious movie, you know, dated with poor acting, but very true to the car world, then this second generation 987 Boxster is Furious 7, the best version! You know, maybe not the most technological with the biggest budget, BUT it was the last movie with Paul, which pays tribute to him and it has the best action sequences! Just like this car!
If you’re looking for a Boxster, this is the one to have and I’ll tell you why, but first in case you’re wondering why Porsche was almost bankrupt, here’s what happened...
You see, by the turn of the 90s, Porsche sales were dropping faster than this top. Their numbers plummeted to a mere 14,000 in the early '90s. At that time, the brand's sole survivor was the 993-generation 911, as the front-engined 924/944/968……………………………………… range had been discontinued.
To compound the issue, Porsche was hemorrhaging funds producing these models, as they were hand assembled with very inefficient practices. There are horror stories of workers having to climb up a ladder to gather up parts. That’s just insane! Something had to be done!
Taking cues from Japan, Porsche sought inspiration from the success of the Mazda Miata and enlisted ex-Toyota engineers skilled in “Kaizen”, Toyota’s 'just-in-time' production methods. The result was a decision to base all forthcoming Porsche products on a common platform - a seemingly radical move for a company famous for the iconic 911, which was ,as I mentioned, hand assembled.
However, the Boxster would forever alter the trajectory of the 911. It introduced a water-cooled engine, a departure from tradition that would eventually find its way into the 996-generation 911. In a nod to the 550 Spyder race car of the 1950s, Porsche positioned the flat-six engine in the middle of the car, rather than all the way in the rear. The base engine in this second generation Bosxter was a 2.7-liter producing 236 horsepower, while the S trim received a 3.2-liter producing 276 horsepower. For 2007, the base Boxster received a revised engine featuring VarioCam Plus and the Boxster S engine was upgraded from 3.2-liter to 3.4-liter.
Now here’s why the 987 Boxster is the BEST of them all. The first gen 986 has runny egg headlights, terrible interior, and reliability issues. The 3rd gen 981 has more modern styling which will show its age, it’s bigger, heavier, has electric Power steering, drive-by-wire, and all kinds of electronic safety nannies. While these things make the car safer and faster, they also take away from the driving experience.
The 987 has iconic great looks that will age phenomenally, beautiful interior, hydraulic power steering with great feel, adequate power and tight gearing making this car a perfect combo!

[@marjieoconnor7317]

That dial on top of the dash indicates that the car is equipped with the optional Sports Chrono package, which was (and still is) a highly desirable feature on the 987, adding a Sport Mode and a lap timer on the dash. The lap timer is the most readily visible part of the Sports Chrono package.....it's a cute-but-largely-superfluous feature that is largely useless unless you're running timed laps. (And even in a track situation, it probably has limited usefulness. But it looks cool!) Sport Mode is the heart and soul of the Sports Chrono package and is what makes it so desirable. Enabling Sport Mode makes the engine's throttle response noticeably more aggressive, more powerful, and provides a noticeable improvement in acceleration. In P-cars equipped with a PDK transmission, Sport Mode bumps the transmission shift points to higher RPMs....so the engine revs higher and generates more torque before changing gears. Also in PDK-equipped cars, the Sports Chrono package has a third mode "Sport+"...which is Sport Mode on steroids. Sport+ moves the shift points to VERY high revs before shifting gears...it's really intended more for extremely aggressive driving in racing/track environments . Many drivers (myself included) find Sport+ mode is actually too aggressive and overkill for normal everyday driving. Sports Chrono also has a "Launch Control" function in PDK-equipped vehicles; this allows for extremely aggressive "launch" starts by running the engine up to 8000+ RPM while keeping the brake pedal fully depressed....then releasing the brake to launch the car. (I haven't personally tried it yet, and I suspect this feature has very limited usefulness....but it's there.)

[@andyn4797]

Man ! I’m sold ! 😂 great review !!! Love the tips on what to look when buying a used car ! Well done Miguel !❤

[@phwhitefly]

Thanks Miguel, let's add a couple of things to look out for on these cars. 1). Always check the cooling radiators in the front, leaves and debris will get trapped in there and will corrode the pipelines, owners in the know will install an aftermarket mesh grill or routinely vacuum out that area. 2). There is an elastic that keeps the soft top seated properly around the door frame. This will wear out and the roof will stop fitting correctly, this is an easy fix with new elastic, plenty of videos on this. 3) You mentioned the short shift kit added to this car but people should be aware that 987/997 shifter cables can become brittle and snap at the gearbox connection and leave you stranded. Replacing the cables at the same time as installing the short shift kit is a must do while you're in there. 4) Glad you mentioned bore score, while there is no cheap fix if this happens, you can take lots of preventive steps before it starts. Miguel pointed out the videos on the PCA channel, the best thing you can do to any car that you enjoy is to have the old motor oil tested looking for impurities that will alert you to poor injectors that is one of the main reasons for oil delusion that leads to bore scoring. The last problem you'll get with these cars is the permanent smile that will develop on your face while driving. Don't let the internet scare you away from the 987 Boxster or Cayman, these are wonderful and reliable cars that will be future collectables.

[@robertscheinost179]

Nice car you have there! I like how you express your energy, you would be a great salesman! Thanks for the video.

[@STUFF_-oy5zp]

Great review, overview! Tremendo!

[@peterharper420]

Thanks for the review of the Porsche Boxter, I really enjoyed it.

[@Miguelsgarage]

Thanks for watching!! Where are you watching from?

[@markjohnson1016]

Its worth stopping the hood halfway back to have a peek at mechanism and also rain channel holes - also check drain holes in the front and look around in the battery area - hopefully you will see no damp and a few spiders (yes 8 legged type).

[@marksaville9211]

It's an ashtray in the middle. The pen holder thing is where you stub out your smoke. I like older cars for the smoker driver gadgets

[@Miguelsgarage]

You had me looking at it again LOL

[@eduardotoledano]

Obrigado, Miguel!

[@Miguelsgarage]

De nada!

[@rabulc]

Master🎉

[@Miguelsgarage]

Thank you! I really appreciate it!

[@LightsAndButtons]

Good tips! ...and now I cannot unsee the "two front ends" haha!

[@Miguelsgarage]

Hahaha!!

[@Sportscarbible]

Good Video ! What blue is this if you know ?

[@Miguelsgarage]

Dark Blue Metallic! It's a really nice color with hints of purple under certain lights at night. The interior is sand beige.

[@johnturcotte7057]

Stock exhaust?

[@vancvrman604]

$200 for a Porsche PPI? Seriously? Any qualified mechanic that works on Porsches won't open their tool box for $200 let alone do a thorough PPI.

[@liamfisher4191]

The preambles are painful. Repetitive themes .Good car though.

[@Miguelsgarage]

Thanks for the feedback! Which part? Can you give me the time stamp?

[@adamsangels9874]

Nothing to see here until 15.10 according to thumbnails and still nothing that hasn’t been said before..yawn….

[@apenneukende]

not only does he not know how to use the time lapse clock, he also doesn't know basic editing... smh