Porsche Boxster S 550 Spyder 50th Anniversary Edition | Extended Review and Test Drive

If I could fit it in the title, I would have added, 'my favourite car ever' because the Porsche Boxster S 550 Spyder 50th Anniversary edition is genuinely my favourite car ever. I had the car around 3 days and I fell for it immediately. There seems to be a consensus that the Boxster 986 is a brilliant car and from my short time with it, I agree entirely.
In the video I mention that the reason for it being my favourite ever may be because its tiny and a similar age to my first ever car (my Peugeot 106 from 2001 which I am restoring on this channel in the coming months). I think the size makes it super fun to drive, almost like a go kart and the Boxster S comes with the 3.2 Flat 6 that is quick for saying its nearly 20 years old.
Everyone who's owned a Boxster, particularly the Boxster 986 seems to be completely besotted with them and I have to say I appear to be no different. What a car, the balance, the chassis control, the noise, the styling (particularly on the 550 Special Edition that I drove), it all adds up into one incredible little machine.
My first real experience with a proper Porsche was a brilliant and I can't wait for the next.
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[@mattbuckley392]

I was smiling with the review .... I am over 50 with a 986 S and yes it's the b__l_x .... I was hooked test driving a 2.7 standard, it is that good. The car is just ridiculously good. Anybody even remotely thinking otherwise is blinkered. Just drive one and go .... holy sheeet .... it's the handling and noise. Its perfect .... and yes I have driven a 911 987 Turbo, a classic 994 and many TVR's. It is just UK perfect. Small and nimble and grips like a velociraptor on acid.

[@macswhips]

Thanks for taking the time to comment Matt. They really are special aren't they. How long have you had yours? What are TVR's like out of interest? Had a passenger ride in a Cerbera but I've never driven one! P.S. I will be taking the line grips like a velociraptor on acid going forward 😂

[@augustortiz]

I have driven plenty of cars and the early Boxsters are still by far some of the very best to just drive and enjoy. Id genuinely take this 550 edition over many “average” (Non GT) 911’s

[@jf9601]

I know your channel is new, you’ve got a good style and your enthusiasm radiates in this vid. Keep at it as you’ve a natural talent. Great vid and good luck.

[@macswhips]

Ah thank you very much, I appreciate that comment.

[@cyriaccaunois2454]

Love so much your review bro! I bought one a year ago, that was my dream, cocoa interior! My first porsche and I want to keep it all life long! What a fantastic and beautiful car! Just the middle between old and new! As for me this is the perfection!😍

[@macswhips]

Ah thanks man, really appreciate it! It really is in-between the old and new era isn't it. Yeah what a fantastic car. I hope you hang on to it for a while!

[@robertwarren462]

I just bought the 25th edition it is in perfect condition I just love it . The ride is just amazing

[@macswhips]

Oh fantastic Robert. I hope you're enjoying it. By the my favourite car I've ever drive. Where are you based?

[@jeffers1104]

Great video. Really well put together. Well done kid

[@macswhips]

Thank you very much. Greatly appreciated.

[@peterhughes575]

Hi we’ve had ours #1148 for just over a year and recently completed a 3000 mile road trip to Portugal. Fantastic fun and a great touring car.

[@macswhips]

Thanks for the comment Peter, Thats fantastic, very close the one I drove. I bet its a beautiful car to road trip in! I've not driven Portugal yet but I imagine it's brilliant!

[@kriskalpa]

mine is 1951 almost the last haha we should start an owners group

[@Texasslim57]

impressive!

[@UNIONSTEVEMUSIC]

Great review👌thank you!

[@macswhips]

Thank you, really appreciate the comment.

[@chrischallis4240]

Still have my 550 from new..just a keeper, just 750 kilometres on the clock - never washed or polished it ! Still as fresh as the day I bought it..

[@chrischallis4240]

Number 1101 of the build..

[@macswhips]

Ah that is incredible Chris. I did wonder if I would manage to find somebody who actually owned one. It's unreal that you have managed to keep the mileage so low. Perhaps in a few decades, when (if) you're ready to sell (and I can afford the price tag), I can have buy it from you!

[@kriskalpa]

awesome

[@davidbuchanan1538]

Gone through 2 911’s while keeping the 550 jahre. A 911 is probably the better bet, but this is the sweet spot. Manual, on B roads- damn!

[@macswhips]

Special special cars aren’t they. I’ve not had much properly driving a 911 though. I’m sure they’re a dream to drive as well though?

[@nornibres]

I just purchased 1156 in Canada. Should get it in a week or so.

[@thedrivebygg]

Great review, looked at these new, think they were about £42k in the UK. My pick would be the brown interior.

[@macswhips]

Ahh thank you! I appreciate the comment. Did you ever get one? Holding their value quite well considering they're 20+ years old now

[@84SebaT]

I just bought a silver 2.7. It's the best convertible with Porsche feeling for the money! Just a great car!!

[@macswhips]

Absolutely agree. I hadn't really experienced that special Porsche feeling until I drove this thing. Is it your weekend fun or daily?

[@84SebaT]

@@macswhips It my weekend fun car. Have planned already some nice trips this summer. :-) (Live currently in NL)

[@macswhips]

Ah that sounds lovely. What a fantastic road trip car!

[@nornibres]

I have a 2009 Boxster S with PDK and recently bought a 2004 986 base with manual. Love the cars but really more surprised by how good the 2.7 is. I wouldn't hesitate to buy any base Boxster now, they are that good.

[@lillywilliams_]

Outfit is on point 👌

[@macswhips]

Why thank you Lilly

[@davidbuchanan1037]

Had one of these for just over a year now. Cocoa brown hood and interior- my must have spec. All going well, it's a keeper. Its lower and wider stance, stunning driving experience, and special trim, make this look and feel a very special car. Not in as much limelight as its 996 40th anniversary bigger brother, but probably the better for it? Drives just as sweet, if not better, as it did when it came off the production line nearly 19 years ago. To be driven and not stored, and now unlikely to depreciate.

[@macswhips]

Sounds like an absolute peach! Are you planning on keeping it a while David? I imagine, like you said, the rarer and well kept ones will surely hold their value and maybe even appreciate over time.

[@davidbuchanan1538]

@@macswhips that’s the idea anyway. Gradually tidying it to factory spec, taking into account 19 yrs of patina.

[@WillHartshorn]

Love it

[@macswhips]

Thank you brother

[@cyrilattwell5702]

Good video, just bought #1197 in South Africa, it is so good, manual RHD. Perfect power and road holding. Would like to know how many of the Special editions are in each country currently.

[@kriskalpa]

great review! just bought one as I've always wondered what they are like. bit of fun and pretty cheap.

[@macswhips]

Thanks Kris. I appreciate the comment. Yeah brilliant fun to drive aren't they!

[@kriskalpa]

@@macswhips Yes, great cars.

[@nigel.w]

I don't think Tiptronic suits these cars. I understand that if the first buyer bought the car as their only car and they lived in London or another big city and commuted in it that Tiptronic was the way to go. But as most buyers would now be buying as a weekend car, I think manual is definitely the way to go.

[@macswhips]

Yeah that’s an interesting take. I imagine the manual is incredible to drive. Have you driven one? I lean towards automatics because I’ve spent 10 years crawling down the M1!

[@martingregory5955]

I have had a 2.7 986 for about 6months and love it. I have a BMW 530i wagon for distance and an old Barina(Corsa) as a work car and the Porsche just fills that gap. We went away for a long weekend with no issues with space or aching backs. I do like the 911 but the roof a bit more complicated to remove, you gotta be able to take the roof down in a fun sports car

[@macswhips]

Yeah they're special aren't they. All Boxster owners I've spoken to all say the same thing. 530i wagons are beautiful cars. I've always loved big German estates. Big fan of the 530 and I have been driving a 350CLS recently which is a joy to drive. Whats a Barina? I google it and it came back with a Holden and an Opel. couldn't figure which one it was! Sounds lovely, I bet the Boxster is amazing for a nice weekend cruising. Yeah I've not had much experience in a 911 unfortunately but I reckon I'd like it based on my view of the boxser!

[@martingregory5955]

@@macswhips A Barina is an Australian Vauxhall Corsa(real flash not) but just used as a go to work tool

[@macswhips]

Ah got you. Another different name for an Opel! Sounds like some garage you have. I'll be in Australia in 2024 so might have to pick you brains about what cars to review.

[@Texasslim57]

Thanks, I recently bought #779, manual trans, LH drive, 120K miles, from an actual widow just wanting it gone. She had no idea what it is, lucky me! It has been well serviced for the basics, I'm now going through the engine to make it all clean and fast. I don't think the top access had been opened in a decade. Interesting there is no exhaust valve control, but there's a button for it...?

[@macswhips]

Oh fantastic. I hope you’re enjoying it? I would love to have a go in a manual one. Sounds like you’ve got yourself a deal! I can’t say I noticed the exhaust button, otherwise I’ll be able to help. I was thinking they may have been fitted to the automatics but not the manuals? But I can’t remember unfortunately.

[@Texasslim57]

Yes, tons o fun. got it for $10,000. It really can hit 60 mph schnell in 3rd gear. There are lots of subaru wrx and such here, amusing to see how they usually do not try to show me how macho their cars are. I had a top end 914 for years, sometimes kids in rice burners would try to show off when they saw me, dangerous.@@macswhips

[@Texasslim57]

There is not a valve on the exhaust, that's ok, sometimes it helps to be very quiet....@@macswhips

[@davidbuchanan1538]

To add- these are still analogue enough, and certainly have a huge smile factor. A decent enough example shouldn’t break the bank in purchase and maintenance costs. I’d rather an old school 911, but the annual upkeep costs are potentially silly, despite the driver experience probably being a few notches above this version of the Boxster. I’d like the chance to try, mind.

[@macswhips]

Analogue enough is a great way of putting it. Yeah true on the 911. I've not much experience with the 911 but I've heard they are also magic.

[@HellaRandomVideos]

❤🙏

[@macswhips]

Thanks Mikhael!

[@jeffmarkham5377]

If anybody has a 550 and wants to swap it for my Celica GT-Four ST205 please let me know

[@macswhips]

How much is that worth out of interest Jeff? Ive got no idea with those.

[@concordelounge]

I had one of these, and I was so excited to get it. Mine was a manual. Sadly as my ownership of the car continued, I found it really boring to drive. Porsche had spent all their effort making it competent and efficient, and sure, I never really found a corner you had to slow down for, but if you didn't want to lose your licence or drive like a hooligan it was really dull. I also thought the quality was poor, with really flimsy indicator stalks, and plasticky trim. To top it all, it was really quite unreliable and a dodgy alternator left me stranded on more than one occasion. What kind of idiot designs a car where the battery lives under a bonnet that you need electricity to open? I replaced it with an Aston Martin DB9, which despite having twice the power, cylinders and displacement was still a thoroughly entertaining to drive even at sensible speeds. Something Aston managed to achieve but Porsche could not.

[@brightenupcc]

It's not a special spec. Just a 986 S with optional parts added. The only thing unique about it is the interior trim and wheel colour.

[@macswhips]

Do optional parts not constitute spec? 🤔 And there are definitely more things unique to the anniversary than just the interior trim and wheel colour. Specially styled exhaust pipe, more horsepower, lowered by 10mm, 5mm wheel spacers, aluminium paint finish on the callipers, silver painted grills, PSM as standard…

[@kriskalpa]

you sound jealous!