Porsche 986 Boxster Review

Should I buy a cheap Porsche? I get this question a lot.
Can a cheap Porsche like the 986 Boxster deliver the Porsche driving experience? In this video we take a drive in a pretty rough, high mileage Boxster and find out. This video is all about the drive. It's not about the cost of ownership - only you can decide if you're comfortable with that. And remember a "cheap Porsche" not turn out to be a cheap Porsche once you discover the work it needs. So do your homework and always get a Pre Purchase Inspection from a reputable Porsche service centre.
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[@GrenvilleMelonseedSkiff496]

Twenty years ago, I bought a one owner 1999 Forest Green Metallic Boxster, black top/interior, manual transmission and sport classic wheels. My first and only Porsche and it’s brilliant! Did I mention the sound of that little NA 2.5 when the revs get past 5K … a really fine exhaust note! My car rolled through 100K miles this year (on my birthday no less) and will celebrate her 25th birthday in July 2024.

[@lastrasp]

Absolutely love this! I’m a big fan of forest green metallic too! Love hearing stories like this. Brilliant stuff.

[@renneleven]

The title should be “should I buy the best Porsche ever and stop being a snob” 👀👀👀

[@lastrasp]

Haha. You may be right my man. You may be right!

[@hawkinsjd11]

I love my 03 986 S. My concern of what others think about is below zero.

[@lastrasp]

Bwahaha. Rightly so! I still got plenty of thumbs up even in this slightly tired example.

[@Boxsterox]

I’ve owned many Porsches over the years. Air cooled, GT3, 911 Turbos, a 986 Boxster, a 986 Boxster S, a 981 Boxster Spyder. I’m a track guy, having worked my way up to tracking GT3 Cup cars. I say all that to say this. My favorite car for street use is a tossup between those two 986 Boxsters. With a proper suspension, they approach my Cup car in terms of cornering prowess. The 986 is absolutely the best sports car ever! On mountain roads these cars are unbelievably fun and confidence inspiring.

[@lastrasp]

Absolutely love this comment. It’s amazing how you can experience so many Porsches and work out that there’s something captivating about this simple, mid engined car.

[@rodsalvador3608]

love my 986. nobody pays attention to me, and it's all about that wonderful drive. cruising my 986S and 996 up and down PCH is heaven. just maintain, and enjoy. more money for other wonderful things in life!

[@lastrasp]

Everything you’ve just said makes perfect sense to me! Now I just need to drive a good example.

[@kriskalpa]

I have the 2.5 and 3.2, LOVE them. You get so much car for the money and to be honest, better than a 911. Road tests in 1996 tended to prefer the boxster over the 993. Expensive to maintain but cheap to buy.

[@lastrasp]

Great summary!

[@OutbackTouring]

Something very liberating about a Porsche your not neck deep in financially, all of a sudden stone chips, dirt and some snot nosed kid hanging around it are no longer matter. Still love and look after it but all of a sudden it’s about the drive, friends and of course a decent coffee!

[@lastrasp]

Such a great point. And just shows you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy these cars.

[@sokgso]

Completey agree!

[@francescocaresio2098]

I bought a 2.7 ‘02 986 last summer, the interior was quite ruined but I got it fully restored. It had an amazing maintenance history and it drives like a brand new car. Plus it’s black with cream interior, extremely elegant! Best money I’ve ever spent! If you guys are looking for a fun sports car that will hold value, this is the one!

[@lastrasp]

Sounds like you hit the jackpot! Enjoy that car.

[@glennhand4053]

I paid 20k more than17k for a well-maintained 2003 S model, but it definitely feels like a 40k plus car. I was never inclined to buy a 911- great cars though they are, and even if price wasn't an issue - instead, I was looking for the best 2-seat covertible out there, and I think I found it.

[@lastrasp]

Absolutely sounds like you did! Congrats. So glad to hear people are enjoying their Boxsters!

[@billnorblat4047]

They're all so good

[@lastrasp]

Facts!

[@joelg4849]

Hey welcome back! I was hoping new content would be released soon :)

[@lastrasp]

Hey thanks so much for the comment! More content coming. Pinky swear! Appreciate you still checking it out 🙏🏻

[@JimBob_1975]

Mine cost £5000 in the UK for a very tidy 70000 mile 2.5 example that needed a suspension refresh. With M030 anti roll/sway bars, standard Porsche springs, Koni Special Active dampers and completely new genuine suspension fitted over the last few years it handles well, is confortable, has feelsome steering, has 6 cylinder refinement at low speed, howls at full throttle and is a joy to drive even at low speeds. There's faster stuff out there these days but for the same money? I doubt it.

[@lastrasp]

Your car sounds brilliant. Sounds like you’ve made all the right upgrades for a fun and rapid road car.

[@thefreedomguyuk]

5K for a 1998 ???

[@JAYREAD]

Top vid. Completely agree!

[@lastrasp]

You're a good man Jay, thank you!

[@arthurtwp]

Am writing from Perth. Did exactly that. Bought a used one last year with tired suspension. Went full coilovers with anti roll bars. Made for a good drive. Cars best enjoyed with the roof down. Especially when the engine noise is a bit sedate. Just wished the engine was a bit more free reving though.

[@lastrasp]

Sounds like you made all the right moves. So much fun to be had.

[@glennhand4053]

Fitting a lighter flywheel would help with that.

[@tonycarapetis7485]

Cool. I picked up aan 03 986 one month ago. Awesome fun but the suspension feels a bit tired. What coil over did you refresh yours with?

[@huwjones5879]

Unless you have proof the suspension has been refreshed recently, they are all now of the age where it is required. The difference once done together with a 4 wheel alignment is astonishing.

[@lastrasp]

Seems to be the prevailing feedback across the board. Would be very interested to drive one with refreshed suspension.

[@sokgso]

Bought a 1997 Q3 (MY1998) 2.5 with the trend package in Ocean Jade Metallic with some 99k miles on it in 2 years ago. Got it fairly cheap (10k), but spent another 10k fixing it up. Love the exhaust note and stability. Definitively a bit more costly to maintain than Miatas, but also a bit more thrilling.

[@lastrasp]

Wow, what a colour! That sounds like the strategy though - get an inexpensive car with some funds leftover for well considered mods and then it's happy days.

[@Rockit181]

Springs and dampers with better body control that remain supple and well damped will show off just how excellent the handing of this chassis is. Since ROW M030 suspension is hard to find, Bilstein B8s + lowering springs for simplicity, or a high quality coilover setup with European or American made dampers.

[@lastrasp]

Interesting point re the original dampers being hard to find. Bilstein B8's are - I would imagine - a reasonably cost effective solution.

[@original2758]

The convertable top is just more icing on the cake for when your not revving out that healthy 3.2 liter flat screamer! I mean in the S of course 😂 It's an awesome platform...

[@lastrasp]

100%!

[@disturbingkreationz]

Cool video mate. I run boxsters too

[@lastrasp]

Thanks very much! There’s so much to love about boxsters.

[@PatinaMisfit]

I love my base 2.5 986. I have new dampers and an exhaust on mine :)

[@lastrasp]

Sounds like you’ve made the right mods to get the most out of such an amazing package.

[@812dolphin]

Where could I bring my Porsche Boxter to have convertible top troubleshooted, the tops mechanically won’t do anything ! Like it not getting power

[@dp-or4zh]

(WOW) congratulations. Mid engine 2 seater sports car. Sounds like needs new shocks around 200,000 km need change water pump. Keep eye on your coolant, Happy motoring. Best regards

[@lastrasp]

Thanks very much for the comment! This car definitely needs new shocks but I enjoyed my time in it.

[@original2758]

Whenever I see a review of a "Non S version" of the Boxster, I always walk away with a feeling like it's an "unfair" review of the platform as a whole... As an owner of a 2002 3.2 liter 986 Boxster S, there's just no comparison; the "S" stands for SUPER for a reason 😂

[@lastrasp]

I’d love to have a go in an S. But even this one had me smiling!

[@original2758]

@@lastrasp Just make sure it's a "manuel" when you do! 😄

[@polarpicket]

The S model is a bit quicker.

[@lastrasp]

Good to know. Must try and get my hands on one!

[@TheMinuteFam]

looks like a 996 front bumper

[@lastrasp]

Hmmm, possible.