Should You Buy The 'Ultimate Sportscar Bargain' Or Is It Cheap For A Reason? || Porsche Boxster 986

[@petrolpoodle]

If you had say a budget of £8000 I'd say this: MX-5 2009-2015 - Allow £7,000 and keep the £1k for any mods you fancy to improve it/rustproof the underside if it's not already too rusty Boxster - I'd spent £5000 tops and have £3000 purely put to one side for maintenance. But absolutely worth it if you can afford it and if you're able to leave it to one side for a few weeks at a time whilst you sort bits!

[@purple-porker-productions]

So great seeing my car presented so professionally. Really cracking video. Here's to many more.

[@that_biker_boy5550]

Thank you for giving this channel the opportunity to present your Porsche! As a 986 Boxster owner myself, I truly appreciate the growth of this channel and I’m forever thankful for new Porsche content! 🙏 Lovely motor mate! ✨ This is where the Porsche community excels the most in my opinion 👌

[@purple-porker-productions]

@@that_biker_boy5550 GT4 video coming very soon to this channel. Thanks for all your nice comments.

[@that_biker_boy5550]

@@purple-porker-productions- Sounds great mate! I can’t wait to see it! 🤩 I’ve always fancied a GT4 myself, but never quite had the budget in all honesty… Amazingly, the GT4 can now have a full exhaust system and re-map to effectively create a car that is on par with the GT4RS pretty much! I know some people will call B.S but the info presented (inc multiple dyno sources) is pretty substantial and well documented now. Crazy to think there could be a further 60bhp locked away in a car that is already fantastic! Especially from only a good exhaust (inc Headers, Cats etc) and then having the car expertly mapped! Not that it needs it in my opinion! The GT4 is a beautiful car as it is. Looking forward to the future content and thank you once again for sharing the experience. ✨👌

[@robertsanders9068]

As a 60+ who is 18months into 2.5 ownership, you were absolutely spot on in all respects. You did forget to mention the benefit of a throttle cable 😂😂😂(see my comment on your 911 video last month) - Channel is going from strength to strength👍

[@delscorey8727]

Enjoy your car my friend ,61 and enjoying my 60th present 3.2 s cheers

[@petrolpoodle]

Hahaha thank you very much! And I know, I got home and I absolutely kicked myself! I KNEW there was something I forgot to mention and it bothered me for hours!!! The pick-up and response is just off the charts, it has so much pull as you just brush the throttle. Love it! And thanks again!

[@Gr8Pony]

I bought a higher mileage 986 and flew up to Sonoma to get it. Promptly dropped the top & Drove it home down the coast to San Diego. Felt more settled vs my NA Miata. I liked it so much I soon bought a later low mileage 986 and I love her too! My NA Miata was passed to my son, and I alternate between the two convertibles for daily driving. A proper set of summer tires and basic maintenance and they both run strong. More storage than anyone would think. Now off to drive one after watching this

[@BOULDERGEEK]

I moved to Napa this summer to work in wine production. In my second week, I got into an accident that totalled my 987 Cayman S. 😞 Tragic. Traffic here sucks.

[@daichi.litchi8592]

How is the high mileage 986 nowadays? Any problems between the two convertibles? I am coming from Toyota and Lexus manual coupes and have been very curious about the 986.

[@Gr8Pony]

@ both run great thanks. These cars are a joy to drive and I strongly suggest you get one.

[@Trophy_R]

Best automotive reviewer on KZbin by a country mile, you sir are brilliant and give such an honest review, just brilliant 👍🏼

[@brightenupcc]

😂

[@petrolpoodle]

Thank you so much mate, that's incredibly kind of you to say! Occasionally I get imposter syndrome so it's epic to see this kinda support!

[@petrolpoodle]

Watch it @brightenupcc! Hahaha

[@richardgrant418]

I made an almost identical comment on another of his videos

[@Trophy_R]

@@richardgrant418 check out his review of the Porsche GT4 he’s recently done 👍🏼

[@nickcarophotography]

Great presentation and real world review that covered all the bases that a prospective buyer would or should know, plus the quality of the filming, editing (and especially audio) was spot on. Great job Sir. Instant sub here.

[@petrolpoodle]

You are a gent and a scholar! Thank you so much mate, seeing in your name that you do photography means even more! Thanks a million mate!

[@PhpGtr]

Well done. I wasn't even interested in any of these cars, and now I am. You rascal.

[@petrolpoodle]

Hahahaha I can't remember the last time I was called a rascal, but it has really made me laugh, thank you!

[@hotmetalslugs]

@@petrolpoodle I shake my fist at you from Boston, MA!

[@petrolpoodle]

@@hotmetalslugs 😂 😂 😂 😂

[@tag2222]

Yayyyy he's back!! Great video and loving there's more in the pipeline! There's a lot to be said for a cheap boxster - might look into bore scoring my bank account next year

[@petrolpoodle]

This really made me laugh out loud!

[@robnelsonbayvillage]

Bought my Boxster as CPO with 22K miles on the clock. Sold it recently at 154,600 miles. My 3rd and most reliable Porsche. 2004 2.7L Lots of track days.

[@Nicool333]

This guy is such a great reviewer. Better than most.

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks a million pal, that means the world!

[@heinzr9734]

I appreciate your style of storytelling. Because that's the secret, I think, when someone like you reports from the perspective of many people with less money. It's always very easy to create emotions when you describe a 150K plus sports car or vintage car... what great performance it has or how beautiful it is. What I like about your work is that even those with a smaller budget have a right to a lot of fun and excitement when buying and driving a car. You manage to combine this very well and you open up possibilities for potential buyers and viewers of your videos. Another aspect: of course I also like videos where cars are driven to the limit on the race track. But you can communicate very well whether a car is fun to drive on normal roads and feels sporty or fast, or whether someone has to drive it at 180 km/h before the emotions awaken. I have subscribed, thank you very much.

[@petrolpoodle]

This is a truly delightful comment, thank you so much! I actually read this one out loud to my girlfriend I was so pleased! I have plenty more videos to come, thanks for subbing!

[@alfashowroom]

Great video as the Porsche itch as one even an Alfa guy has to scratch and a Boxster has been on the cards. Loved that you said to subscribe etc as you're trying to make a living out of it, everyone else is too but you just came out with it which was great. Good luck!

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks so much pal, this is a surprisingly delightful comment! I really appreciate it! More content coming in the next few days, hang tight!

[@rcmakingtracks18]

Good luck with the future of the channel, I think you will do well. Very nice honest review. John

[@petrolpoodle]

Thank you so much, John. That's really kind mate!

[@alfpetzer5812]

Got a 2005 non-S a few years ago. I shares the garage with a few more more „reputable“ cars, among them a 911. My 2 cents: Biggest fun bargain on the planet. Light, flat 6, no roof. Little ownership hassle. Not stupidly powerful, so you can put your foot down and keep it down and let that flat 6 sing. As for the Miata - don’t know why these come up here. Interesting little car, but the Boxster will happily do 160mph on the Autobahn. Different league.

[@S50Sinner]

I actually think the Miata is an important comparison, I got my 98 Boxster to recapture the magic I once had with my Miata, of course the Boxster is objectively superior in most ways, but the Miata is a great target to compare it to, because it does everything a roadster should very well. To me, the Boxster compromises a few hundred pounds, maintenance costs and the ability to hit redline in traffic for a whole lot of convenience, including the power to keep up with traffic safely, the presence of side-impact airbags, room for people taller than 167cm, that cavernous frunk and, most importantly to me, proper rust protection. In short, it's a more balanced vehicle, of course it's much faster than the MX-5, but in fun, the real purpose of a roadster, they're close competitors. I think having my Boxster now hasn't tainted my memories with the Mazda at all, I still get nostalgic whenever I spot one. If I could, I'd have both. But for the buyer's guide, it's relevant because there is market overlap at current prices: if someone is in the market for a beat-up Boxster, they should go for a nice MX-5 instead. And this isn't just a Boxster/MX-5 thing, someone in the market for a rough 911 should look instead at a well-kept Boxster, and someone looking for a ratty 355 should be shopping for clean 911's.

[@melaniezimmermann-jv7th]

Good and important words, thank you for posting. 👍​@@S50Sinner

[@gearswitch5692]

Great review, spot on. I’ve owned a 986 for three years. To buy one you should either have deep pockets or time and talent to make repairs. I’ve spent more time working on mine than I have in a decade owning three gens of Miata.

[@purple-porker-productions]

So true. Mine has been a money pit

[@Swarm509]

The only people I know that drive them regularly and are young are mechanics. And even then they are working on them all the time, but they usually get them very cheap form clients who want them gone.

[@tomormsby329]

@@purple-porker-productions hi, im considering buying a Boxster, how much do you reckon you need aside incase of things breaking?

[@that_biker_boy5550]

@@tomormsby329- Ideally a few thousand pound… That’s just to start off with! I’ve owned a 2.7 986 Boxster for two years now… These are my costs and I’m lucky that the car already had its IMS sorted and not been affected by bore scoring currently! But so far it’s needed…. 4x decent tyres (N rated) which was over £1000. It needed an exhaust… £600. It needed a major service… that was another £1100. It needed all lower arms done, that was another £800 in parts alone! Alloys wanted refurbishment, managed to get this done for £400. Manifold has developed a small hole now, so I bought another one for £300… but not fitted it yet! I had a headlight issue, but replacements were £1500 per light, so I spent £400 and all the right HID intervals and rebuilt them myself, then I had to sorted the yellowing lens (myself) and restored them with a £30 Cerakote kit! When I bought my 986, I purchased the best example I could find for my budget and got it at £6,000 in the end, with a full porsche service history. That is an example of True Boxster ownership! The car is fun, drives great and has plenty of soul as a Porsche, but yeah… If you are on a limited budget, I’d get a decent MX5 instead! 👍

[@purple-porker-productions]

@@tomormsby329 HI Tom. If it's a good car that has been looked after and had things like suspension replaced etc, then I would imagine £1-2k would be more than enough. You might find that one year all it needs is a service and then the next you might have to spend a few grand. It's so hard to put a figure like that on a 25 year old car. What kind of budget do you have?

[@jScizz]

Love your review, you have a new subscriber. You got it spot on, I've had my boxster 2.7 for 3 years absolutely love it. It's so practical, I can go shopping with the wife and fill up the front and rear boot with the same amount as our boring family SUV. But this little car is so well designed and put together, every journey feels like an event and puts a massive smile on my face everytime. Keep up the good work, look forward to watching your old and new videos.

[@petrolpoodle]

Thank you so much pal, I really appreciate it - super kind words! I'll give you a little spoiler, if the algorithm doesn't suggest my next video to you in 2 days, come looking - Cayman GT4!

[@that_biker_boy5550]

I love my 2.7 986 Boxster! I had a choice out of several 3.2 Boxster S and a really tidy 2.7! Having driven them all, I preferred the 2.7… Sure, it was probably 1 second slower to 60mph (who cares) but its engine felt quite revy, it sounded better and I felt the NA 2.7 Flat 6 spirit from many of the previous 2.7 911’s telling me to pick this one! It was a very tidy car and a really good example… People ask about typical running costs in year 1…. Well this is my first 2years approx… Your initial budget for repairs and maintenance wants to be Ideally a few thousand pound… That’s just to start off with! I’ve owned my 2.7 986 Boxster for two years now… These are my costs and I’m lucky that the car already had its IMS sorted and not been affected by bore scoring currently! But so far it’s needed…. 4x decent tyres (N rated) which was over £1000. It needed an exhaust… £600. It needed a major service… that was another £1100. It needed all lower arms done, that was another £800 in parts alone! Alloys wanted refurbishment, managed to get this done for £400. Manifold has developed a small hole now, so I bought another one for £300… but not fitted it yet! I had a headlight issue, but replacements were £1500 per light, so I spent £400 on all the right HID internals and rebuilt them myself, then I had to sort the yellowing lens (myself) and restored them with a £30 Cerakote kit! When I bought my 986, I purchased the best example I could find for my budget and got it at £6,000 in the end, with a full porsche service history. So you can see I’m in £4-£5k of costs, almost the cars initial price, and my cars still not ‘perfect’. Do I regret the car? NOPE! But it’s not the cheap convertible with Porsche Heritage that some younger drivers might think is a total bargain at first glance! If you don’t do the maintenance, they become Worthless pretty quickly and if you blow an engine… Well, It can be 3x times the cost of buying the cheapest Boxsters outright, to sort properly! That is an example of True Boxster ownership! The car is fun, drives great and has plenty of ‘soul’ as a Porsche, but yeah… If you are on a limited budget, I’d get a decent MX5 instead! 👍

[@purple-porker-productions]

Fantastic write up mate, thanks for all the effort. I have spent a similar amount on mine, although my car was a fair bit cheaper to buy. They are great machines but you need a healthy budget. Enjoy

[@petrolpoodle]

This is an absolutely superb writeup!

[@that_biker_boy5550]

@@petrolpoodle - Thank you fella! I appreciate your comment. Great channel but the way… I’m loving your honesty and straight talking style. I’m always a fan of any Porsche content, so I hope to see more on your channel when the opportunities arise! Thank you for raising people’s awareness of the Boxster platform. ✨👌 Subbed!

[@petrolpoodle]

@@that_biker_boy5550 thank you so much mate! I've just this second been frustrated with a moronic comment on a different video so yours is the absolute boost I needed! Thank you! And you'll be very glad to know I have 3 Porsche videos booked in as we speak!

[@that_biker_boy5550]

@@petrolpoodle- Glad to have provided you that additional strength mate. 🙏 I hear ya!… I’ve been there with the same frustrations. I don’t really do ‘social media’ anymore, but 7years ago approx, I had 500,000 followers on Instagram, I was a sponsored motorcyclist, with a state of the art superbike, being paid well and gifted extravagant items by companies that wanted to partner. Truth be known… I didn’t care about fame, I just enjoyed what I did, loved the people I shared my passion with and enjoyed the community around me… All I ever wanted though was people to recognise that I was a nice guy, knew my stuff and build mutual respect for myself and the followers I’d been fortunate enough to attract. Believe you me… I had plenty of haters, trolls, and ugly comments… At first it used to get under my skin and it weighed heavy on my soul! … I wasn’t use to such negativity in life! However, one day I realised that ‘I don’t owe anybody, anything!’ Not even a reply if their comment was obnoxious! 😂 Here’s the key in my opinion; People follow YOU because they feel a connection and interest in the videos you enjoy making… So make them for YOU! That way you always enjoy filming, you always talk with passion and genuine interest and that will be enough for those that love what YOU do! I’ve learnt over the years that haters are gonna hate! Whether you’re male, female, good looking or less obviously ‘attractive’… Whether you know your stuff or are clueless! A small percentage of people will never be happy and make negative, destructive comments regardless… Maybe that person is going through an off day, have home/family issues, maybe they have a rubbish job or they are having a tough break in life… People say dumb stuff for a countless amounts of reasons. That’s on them though mate… Not you! Your video is just their opportunity to have a voice, no matter how irrelevant their comment. Don’t sweat the small stuff dude! 👌 I’m a real car guy… I always click with other real car people when I meet them. I can tell that you are passionate about cars and know your way around motors… You have great insights and opinions in your videos, your presentations are super valid and there’s a wealth of good knowledge and tips to absorb from your videos. Just keep being YOU and making what YOU love… The following will come naturally because of your passion. Ps - Stoked for the future Porsche content! I’ll turn that bell icon on… Which I’ve done for no other channel and I’m subbed to a fair few! 😂 Harness ‘negativity’ and let it fuel your super power! ✨

[@presidentofsudan287]

Great review, was surprised to see how relatively small this channel is - more engaging than a JayEmm review

[@petrolpoodle]

That's enormous praise and thank you so much! I actually had someone screenshot your comment and send it to me! Chuffed!

[@blacker1000000]

As a previous owner of an mr2 roadster, an mx5, a 986 and currently a series 1 Elise, I can say that a 986 is a great choice. I would suggest not paying top money for one and to always bear in mind that the running costs are high and parts are not cheap. They can also be a little more awkward to work on depending on what you are doing. Overall, would i have another one? Definitely, yes. And lastly, this is a great review, by the way.

[@petrolpoodle]

Thank you so much pal, I really appreciate it. And I'm glad to hear my thoughts match your ownership experience and how you feel about it in hindsight too!

[@InLane]

Just found your channel today. You are a good communicator and the ask interesting questions of the cars you are reviewing. I have subscribed, looking forward to the next videos 😊

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks so much pal that's super kind of you! Sorry it's taken a while to reply, it's been a manic fornight. Really appreciate it and look forward to hearing your thoughts on future videos!

[@chrispenn715]

Had an Audi TTR 225 when they were new - agree with you about the steering, kind of inert. Had an NC Mazda MX5 - we toured Italy two-up in that. Luggage space was manageable with custom bags. Best fun for short trip - Suzuki Cappuccino 😃. With all the speed cameras these days and being an old fart now - I have a 350SL. It's spacious and fast enough, the typical 'grand tourer' rather than a sports car. Did consider the Boxster at a few times, but they never really clicked for me..... Thank for the video.

[@normanjohnson4648]

Great video, interesting presentation. I have enjoyed my various Miata's over the years (NA to NC) but a few months ago I purchased a 944S. The 944S simply captivated me, until it's untimely early demise, with it's solid feel and power. I recently drove an early 986, for the first time, to see if a 986 was a adequate replacement. Without question I would have to say it was a definite step up in performance and drivability. However, I'm finding that it is far harder to find a well sorted 986 than finding a well sorted 944 or Miata.

[@BOULDERGEEK]

In 2015 I started looking for a fun commuter. I started with Miatas. then looked at SLKs. Then I just waid, "just get a 944. it checks all the boxes." I got a 1986 refreshed 944 2.5. Some track prep, suspension and exhaust by prior owner. I replaced all pubing with silicone, refreshed all o-rings and gaskets, and it drove amazingly. I swapped it for a 2006 Cayman S, which I also farkled up to be a little poor-man's GT3. Great experiences.

[@Sussexfauns]

Great video, I would love to have the opportunity to own a 986. A car I always loved when growing up and hoped to own one day. Beachy Head is a fantastic driving road as well, enjoyed many a good run round there!

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks very much chum, and hopefully you can enjoy the upside of their ownership soon! And aren't those roads delicious!

[@dyerhaus]

Your story is not dissimilar from mine. I've always loved Porsche, I just never thought I could afford one. Then, in 2010 I was searching for a fun car and ran across a 1997 Porsche Boxster for just $4,000 USD. It was the bare-bones, completely base model, and it was sublime. I kept that car for eight years then bought a 2001 Porsche 911. I kept the 911 for six years, and both cars were extraordinarily fun to toss around the twisty mountain roads, and both were ultra-reliable. I was never left stranded and never had any unexpected repairs. They're great cars, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one again.

[@purple-porker-productions]

$4K in 2010 is super cheap. I bought a 2.5 in 2010 (UK) for just under £7k and it needed a fair bit of work. You did really well. I also then went on to a 996, still miss that car.

[@dyerhaus]

@@purple-porker-productions - It was definitely a bargain! I think the reason it was so cheap was due to the paint being fairly tired and the top was just as tired. Mechanically, the car was perfect, and the interior (while completely basic-no-frills) was in decent shape. Others I had looked at were more in the $7,000 to $9,000 USD range, which I think was more normal back then. I too miss my Boxster and my 996, and right now I don't own a Porsche at all! I replaced my 996 with a Dino 308 GT4, but I do hope to add another Porsche in the near future.

[@petrolpoodle]

I love this! So what do you drive now if you don't mind me asking?

[@dyerhaus]

@@petrolpoodle ​​⁠- I’ve taken a slightly different route and I’m now driving a 1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4. A completely different car from a bygone era, yet a number of similarities to the 996 (historical similarities).

[@sthr2110]

LOVE LOVE LOVE my S/C'ed MX-5! The steering is absolutely remarkable while the suspension is compliant...aka: not harsh. I prefer it SO much more than the Boxster I owned for a couple of years. It's also extremely reliable.

[@petrolpoodle]

God I bet that thing is amazing! Which gen MX-5 is this?

[@sthr2110]

@@petrolpoodle It's an '08...so an NC (which looks great, IMO, in the deep red color). Not a lot of mods, really. Harddog rollbar, 2 sets Enkei wheels/tires (one for street, one for track), Braum 4-point seats with Tanaka harnesses, upgraded (EBC) brakes and thicker, adjustable swaybars, Cosworth supercharger (tuned to 294whp/284tq by Fab9 and running ECUTek). For me, it is the perfect combination of handling (including comfort), braking and acceleration. Just a lovely car and I LOVE its small stature and light weight.

[@rusty911s2]

Well done, very well rounded and sensible review I'd say. I've just bought a high miles 2.7 (155k), with history, hardtop, nice spec and looks honest / straight / original. Paid £3600. I'm going to defuse the IMS bearing with a kit, fit a new crank seal and just inspect the clutch and flywheel. If within tolerance they can go back in on basis that if they have issues later they won't leave me stranded or grenade the engine. Overall, the idea is to put in about £1500 plus DIY time and have a well sorted sports-car for tiny money. Out of interest, the car was nearly £40k new, that's over £70k in today's money. Btw, I prefer the 986 to the 987 as it's a little more compact and has a more classic / quirky interior. For me, the 987 looks pretty meh and no different to a Mondeo of the period: all those silver painted bits!

[@purple-porker-productions]

I feel totally the same way about the looks. I don't care if the 987 is better, it's not as pretty as the 986.

[@petrolpoodle]

Massively appreciate it! And that's totally right, I wish I'd mentioned the value of these things in today's money (when new!)

[@johngalt5411]

3:23 that's how I feel every time I get into my Boxster ;)

[@navsofour2892]

Get the 3.2 liter Boxster S, that's the experience. Yes be prepared for the bills. But you won't even think of comparing to a MX.

[@purple-porker-productions]

This is such a common thing to say, often by people who haven't driven a 2.5

[@jpgburgess]

My own 986 adventure started when I borrowed an MX-5, which I loved, but I wanted more beans. S2000 was a new car (2004) - I test drove one and fell in love with revs and the gearbox. Booked myself a second 'confirmation' test drive in the S2000 which was postponed due to rain and, a few days later, I turned up to find "we are awaiting parts". I'd never seriously considered Porsche. I walked out of the Honda dealer in Swindon and right across the road was the Porsche place. I was honest when I went in "I don't think I'm your kind of customer, but try me". Took out a 986 that was unprepared - had only arrived trade in that morning - and totally feel in love. As you said the review, it's just a lovely car to be in. Roof down, 6000rpm (and it would turn out later I had a 3k sports exhaust) - I was smitten. It was my daily driver for 2.5 years, commuting from Bath to Reigate regularly. The MX-5 was cheeky and lovable. The S2000 was a weapon but you had to drive it like you stole it. The Boxster just nailed it. Fast forward to 2020 and I picked up a 918s. Much much faster, much nicer interior, but there is a little bit of me that would retire back into a 986 again. Really enjoyed the review. If you are near Bath and want to review the 981 then shout.

[@petrolpoodle]

I absolutely love this, what a joyful read! And that's incredibly kind, if you could email me at [e-mail] it'd be super useful as I can search for this and find it again :)

[@kriskalpa]

great video, nice presentation. That is an early Boxster from the first batch of cars used for dealers to introduce the car, I have 2 from the same batch and an S anniversary. The 2.5's are much simpler and honest imo. The S is far more aggressive. Also have a 911 which is comparatively nicer though as you say. Leaves more of an impression and feels more planted and assured on the road. Good luck with the channel and more boxster/911 content would be cool always seems to do well.

[@purple-porker-productions]

Yes, it's a demo from an OPC in Birmingham. Was registered in Dec 96. I found an article in a Porsche Magazine but never found a photo of my car. Can't remember exactly but it's chassis is 1200ish. I believe they all came with hardtops. Mine was missing. I have upgraded the interior a little, it has the lined roof from an S and I upgraded to the best 986 wheels. If it hadn't been missing all it's history when I rescued it then I would have left it standard. Are yours from Birmingham too?

[@kriskalpa]

@@purple-porker-productions Cool, good to meet another enthusiast! Yes, the demo cars all had hardtops. No both of them were registered by Porsche Reading, one a press car and one a demo car. I rescued mine too I think some people didn't know what they had. Both are completely standard except for a new radio in one as it had been changed anyway. your car looks great glad to see it still exists.

[@purple-porker-productions]

@@kriskalpa Thanks for the kind words.

[@petrolpoodle]

Thank you so much mate, a delightful comment to read!

[@Treeburnify]

10 years ago, I was looking for a pre-retirement roadster, considered a Boxster and MX5/miata but ultimately settled on a 2007 Mercedes SLK350, love its 3.5 litre V6 and hugely prefer its folding roof to the rag-top alternatives. Across the 10 years it’s only ever required a yearly service to MB service schedule, other than a Mercedes airbag recall and that was free of charge. Also 10 years of advisory free MOTs. It stays in the garage over-winter on a battery maintainer, so is never exposed to salt and wet, still in mint low mileage condition. Ten years on, I wouldn’t swap it for a Boxster. Sure, its not quite as edgy as a Boxster, but that’s not my style of open top motoring and frankly the SLK has enough performance and road manners for todays UK driving.

[@dom6561]

Ne pas oublier que le SLK a le même défaut ou presque qu'un boxster S,ims pour la Porsche et pignon d'arbre d'équilibrage(entre autre)pour la SLK.Dans les 2 cas,plusieurs milliers d'euros à dépenser en cas de problèmes.

[@petrolpoodle]

Ooooo I've always had a soft spot for these you know! I'd love to review it for the channel if you're anywhere in the South East but zero pressure, of course :)

[@jpgburgess]

But if the Boxster had an air scarf... 🙂

[@john_dee1431]

I appreciate the MX-5 comparisons. And it's true, precision and soul are different.

[@petrolpoodle]

I was worried I'd jab enthusiastic MX-5 owners in the eye with some remarks but I'm glad to hear you back it! I also forgot to mention that MX-5s of the same budget as these Boxsters are obviously 10+ years newer as a whole too but yeah, they certainly have their own strengths and weaknesses!

[@john_dee1431]

@@petrolpoodle Good point about age and related issues. Many car enthusiasts will base their project on things like availability of parts either from the dealer, new (hopefully) or quality second-hand options.

[@PKWeaver74]

I seem to look at the driver of an old boxter a lot more enviously now than I did when they were new.

[@jonnyhoath515]

Smart new hair cut lad. Great review, has me wanting to scratch the flat 6 itch!

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks mate! And you should, it's addictive!

[@timsearle7695]

🙌 love these videos

[@petrolpoodle]

Love your comments!

[@montysport94]

I have owned a 986S and four Miatas. I can talk about these cars until I'm blue in the face. I really like the way you put it. If you're in your 20s and looking at the top of your budget, the Miata is the better option. You're getting a car that's very approachable, reliable, easy to work on, huge aftermarket, and a large, diverse community. There's no dress code, there's no gatekeeping, come as you are. If you're approaching retirement age with disposable income and are looking for a weekend car that is a more complete package, the Boxster might serve you better. I can elaborate more but you've covered most of it in the video already. What makes the 986 better in some ways is that you're buying into the Porsche brand for cheap. Part of the brands appeal in itself is that it's not an everyman car. On a surface level that might sound ridiculous, but in reality while "anyone" can buy a cheap Porsche, the ability to keep one running and well kept isn't as easy. Plus, being at the Porsche table means sitting next to STEM majors, business owners, C-suite execs, and others in high places which if nothing else can expand your network and horizons.

[@tomormsby329]

hey, im looking to buy a 986/7 how much do you reckon yearly maintenance is, I've seen different figures from non owners but would love to hear from an owner of one!

[@montysport94]

@@tomormsby329 mine was a bit of a basket case so I’m not the best person to ask. If you buy a garage kept unicorn with service records, you might do little more than basic maintenance. If you buy one cheap off marketplace with a sketchy title and no receipts you may get an endless money pit. To be on the safe side, I would mentally prepare to spend at least $3-5k per year in maintenance and repairs, especially if you pay a specialist to do the work for you. If you’re willing to sacrifice your weekends to do the work yourself, you can save a lot of money but keep in mind, parts are not cheap. There’s some VW/Audi parts bin stuff but you will end up paying the Porsche tax in one way or another.

[@huwjones5879]

@@tomormsby329 Do the work yourself and maintenance is low, once you start paying someone else to do the work prepare to open your wallet and have it emptied. VED is high as they are old cars. Insurance is low if you are older, it's way less than my Tesla Model 3!

[@Sir-Prizse]

You are absolutely right. My first car is also a Miata, it's also good for learning the driving dynamics with rear-wheel drive. The Boxster 986 is a great car, but the design has never grown on me... In fact, I would always go for the MX-5, Z3 or SLK of that same period.

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks very much pal!

[@rhettcorcoran2879]

Excellent video, I had a a 987.1, 2.7l, it was and is IMHO an excellent sports car, I moved from that into a 997.2, I do still miss the Boxster. ETA, you're right about the 911, it is a great all rounder.

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks so much mate, and it sounds like you've had 2 brilliant examples of Porsche at their finest! I'm dying to review a 997 on the channel, so if you're UK based and would consider it, I'd love to hear from you - [e-mail]!

[@rhettcorcoran2879]

@@petrolpoodle no drama, I am away for a few days, I will DM you, I am UK based.

[@rhettcorcoran2879]

@@petrolpoodle You have mail.

[@ulrichsherry7092]

I picked up a 2003 Boxster S with a new flat 6 engine after a previous owner had an IMS failure. It is a stunning road car.

[@ulrichsherry7092]

I raced an LMP Prototype with 90% performance of a F1 car.......and the Boxster still put a smile on the dial!

[@RUNDMC1]

Nice work Jimmy! Excited for that DeLorean vid ⏰🛞🔥

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks so much, Gez! I'm dying to get it out there! Just a few bits to knock down ahead and it'll be at the front of the editing queue!

[@martinboulden4388]

Good video - I’ve done 40k miles in my 987 in the last 18 months and enjoyed every mile ! You should come on a Tribal Porsche Event. ❤

[@petrolpoodle]

Oooo mate I'd love to, great idea! I went to the Legends meet recently (working, I shot some video there) but just loved the atmosphere and the people were brilliant too!

[@harrybosch1357]

Loving this channel. Keep it up.

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks so much mate, really appreciate the support!

[@peterf46]

Nice video! And you're driving on my favourite road. 😀 I used to love driving my Abarth 124 spider along Beachy head and missed it so much that I get an MX5. Considering it's almost the same car, the Abarth is packed full of carisma and noise compared to the gentle MX5.👍

[@purple-porker-productions]

It is such a lovely road. You do have to drive sensibly but I wish they would shut the road once a year and host some sort of rally.

[@petrolpoodle]

Thank you! And yes it's stunning isn't it! A great spot! And how are you finding the MX-5?

[@aidan463]

Really liked this video and agree with many other comments about how professional it was 😊. As a 3.4 Boxster S owner I do admit that Bore scoring is always in the tiny back place of my mind but in addition to video you referenced from Jay and Hartech, The PorscheClub of USA did a great series on the causes and how you can drive it and minimise the risk of it happening. As a result I’ve done 135k miles with smiles to date and have no doubt my car will do 200k+ without that problem occurring

[@petrolpoodle]

Thank you so much mate, that's absolutely lovely of you to say. And that's a wonderful car, I'm really glad you've enjoyed your ownership and can drive with some decent enough peace of mind! Lord above I want a 987 now!

[@aidan463]

@@petrolpoodle All such great cars, and fly under the radar too… which I love. My advice is go for one that’s been used and not been sat in a garage deteriorating, and with great service history. Can’t go wrong with a car that does 7-8k a year every year and is pampered imo… Oh once you have one, don’t let it sit idling on the drive to warm it up… get it moving quick, up to temp and so onto a less rich mixture as fast as possible. Much better for a flat 6 I’m reliably told

[@chrisbaxter5041]

1st time back to the channel since you sold the mx5 great review

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks for coming back pal and for your kind words!

[@petermatthews850]

Seldom mentioned is that the Boxster was designed and built as a mid-engined two seater sports car. As I understand all other Porsche cars, the 911 genre particularly, developed into what they are today, including the fatal flaws of a heavily biased rear engine, with all its handling dangers. Not so the Boxster.

[@Sir-Prizse]

I bought my 1998 MX-5 during the pandemic in 2020, it was the cheapest NB around here. Nothing at all had to be done to it in the first three years, except new brake pads. This year a front fender had to be welded and painted and the coupling rods at the front were worn out, otherwise, it passed MOT without any problems. Also good fuel economy and dirt cheap in insurance and tax. As a young person the car has been the right decision so far. As much as I love Porsche, I'm not yet in a situation where I should buy one.

[@petrolpoodle]

I couldn't agree more my friend! Stick with the Mazda and enjoy life! The Porsche is cool and all but in your situation, take it from me who's messed up multiple times from 24 to 30 years of age, I wish I'd stuck to reliable fun cars instead hahaha! I also can't recommend the Mk2 Swift Sport enough by the way! Check out that review as I actually had more fun in that than my MX-5!

[@paultasker7788]

Our neighbours had a 2.5 and we showed interest in it. Took us for a test drive. Soon a 3.2s was on our drive. Amazing car. That engine! The noise. What to replace it with. 987 of course. But for some reason it lacked the magic of the 986. Ironically a custom exhaust made the engine too boomy and lost that lovely bark. Sound means a lot with these. Also it handled too well. Felt too composed. Couldnt get anywhere near the limit whereas 986 felt like you could. So it went and dad now has AMG SLK 55 AMG. 5.5 litre V8. Sounds even better although I have to say the Porsche has better handling. The Merc feels more like a muscle car. It's got amazing character.

[@petrolpoodle]

It's funny you should say that, I've always referred to the 987 Boxster S as being too capable! I just think okay, it can do anything at any speed. No sense of a limit hahaha and whilst impressive, I don't feel as excited by that!

[@bradley7240]

It’s interesting on your thoughts of having to fix a car regularly makes you fall out of love for it. Entirely fair enough if it’s a labour of love but I feel the opposite with many cars: a cheap one means your weekend sorted making it work and instead of currency you pay via hours, but this allows you to make it yourself the reason it works and love it even more

[@petrolpoodle]

Ahhhh yes a good point! See my problem was THE unreliable cars I had were that THE only cars I owned at the time hahaha! So them stinging me continuously, stopping me from making important journeys, eating my entire Christmas budget for my family 1 month before Christmas, eating my entire holiday spending budget 4 days before flying, coming home and then ANOTHER holiday budget's worth of problems hitting me upon return.... And being my only car. I was just like FUDGE this, the badge and the nice interior isn't worth it! But owning one as a second toy that can sit on the driveway for weeks on end without trouble would be a different story! And also I tended to make these dumb purchases when I over-estimated my income hahahaha!

[@danpearson7119]

Thank you for this. I’m after a budget 2 seater, I’ve had an mk1 mx5 and given they’re now in the same price range, I’m gonna go for this.

[@petrolpoodle]

Amazing, glad to help! If you had say a budget of £8000 I'd say this: MX-5 2009-2015 - Allow £7,000 and keep the £1k for any mods you fancy to improve it/rustproof the underside if it's not already too rusty Boxster - I'd spent £5000 tops and have £3000 purely put to one side for maintenance. But worth it if you can afford it!

[@that_biker_boy5550]

@@petrolpoodle- This comment is literally SPOT ON! ✨👌 As a 986 Boxster owner I couldn’t agree more! Even if you buy a really REALLY tidy Boxster, you’ll still need that kinda budget to address casual maintenance that comes up in the first year or 2 due to the natural age of these cars now. I’m glad to see a channel giving such wholesome, honest advice! It’s far too easy to think your buying a Porsche for £2-3k and think it’s a solid purchase that you can enjoy without hidden expenditures in the initial years of ownership etc. 👍

[@petrolpoodle]

@@that_biker_boy5550 thanks so much mate! I dealt with an irritating bellend comment today for the first time in a while and it's surprising what a huff it can put you in hahaha and people like you who go out of their way to say great, supportive things give exactly the boost I need!

[@speedyben]

Enjoyed this, subbed.

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks very much pal, I appreciate it!

[@chrisbaxter5041]

I agree the MX5 is missing some power my 3.75 mx5 is now 190 bhp and feels much sharper the 987 2.7 with a 5 speed is on my radar

[@petrolpoodle]

I'd say if you have your MX-5 up to 190bhp and you're happy with the size then keep it! I think you'd feel a sensory step backwards (potentially!). I'll have an answer for you very soon as I'm about to review a BBR200 NC on Sunday!

[@alexolivares8852]

Looking off your exhaust when you hit the gas it seems like you need transmission and motor mounts. But is a nice car I got one of those too

[@purple-porker-productions]

I think you are right, not got there yet, so much to do!

[@Jonathan-qz9kd]

I have a boxster 987 2.7 cracking car I had a 986 previously! We also had a 997 3.8 I can tell you that a boxster is 80 percent of a 911 in some ways it’s feels better because of the prices and you can hammer it feeling less stressed!

[@petrolpoodle]

That's a very good point actually! Ownership experience is as important as the car and actually relaxing about your ownership is a big deal

[@michaelferguson387]

In Australia these start at around $20,000 and up. Motor goes and that money is gone. $3000 pound is less then $6000 aus

[@petrolpoodle]

Holy moly!

[@emgee9775]

You can buy these cars on a budget, but it’s never just the car you’re buying it’s the maintenance cost too, which is not cheap. Things do break, and quite often-window regulators, starter motors, door locks, alternators, pipes, air con, steering to name a few.

[@kilovwdude6457]

Honestly parts wise this the cost isnt much worse then my a3 i just looked on fcp euro im sure labor is stupid because of the flat 6 though

[@RichardAube-f7w]

I have a 2000 Boxster S and there is a world of difference with a 2.5...Mine kicks ass!!!!!

[@purple-porker-productions]

@@RichardAube-f7w it's a bit quicker. I wouldn't call that a world of difference. A 911 is.

[@petrolpoodle]

The 987 S was quite a bit quicker for sure, I haven't experienced the 986 S yet! Congrats though, must be a great thing to own!

[@alanthomson1227]

Oh dear you have me in a quandary , I’m 70 and had MX 5 for 7 years now , all it’s ever needed were rear brake pads last MOT . I love Boxster but terrified of potential repair costs .

[@purple-porker-productions]

You probably own the right car then. But a much newer Boxster like a 981 would be much cheaper to run. My 986 is 27 years old, it's the age that's the issue, not poor quality parts etc.

[@petrolpoodle]

Well, Alan, I'm about to review a BBR200 MX-5 on Sunday. And the fact that will be as quick or quicker than the Boxster S of this era might have me yelling from the rooftops that people need to tune their MX-5s more haha! I would say that the MX-5 is just delightful and keeps life headache free. If you have spare cash and you've always wanted a Porsche or similar, I'd say go test drive one and see what it tells you

[@alanthomson1227]

@@petrolpoodle thanx for that , I’m a poor retired pensioner so I think my Porsche aspirational days are over but I will watch your video .

[@SueDzendzera]

A fab reviewer of a fab car. Still miss my Jag xkr but my Leaf os electric and that has to be the way forward. Doesn’t it?!

[@martinfloyd6891]

A series 1 986s boxster will out perform most new porsches on the market today, the reason being its light has a mid engine , it's to fast for the uk roads and no frilly bits in the cockpit.

[@themancuniancandidate2744]

I went the opposite way; I had a 2000 Boxster S and moved in to MX5 ownership via a NC and now an ND RF. The Boxster was awesome, and in many ways I still regret selling it. But here in Australia the running costs are quite a bit higher than in the UK. A 986 will set you back more than double the UK prices you cited, and a 987 more like 3 times the cost. I live in Perth, and there are only a couple of specialists who can work on them. Mine needed new front suspension bushings and new timing chain guides; so my friendly specialist said while that was being done it was sensible to change the original IMS bearing too. Total estimated cost? $10000, or around 5500 quid. I only paid $14000 for the whole car. Yes, they are beautiful, and characterful, and look amazing; but my ND is pretty much as fast as my auto Boxster S was, and handles better too. And there's a hidden issue with owning a Boxster that I didn't consider when I bought mine. When anyone asks what you drive, you open your mouth....and it doesn't matter whether you say "Porsche" or "Boxster", you are going to sound like a wanker. Great review, as always.

[@peterh4809]

I was in a similar position, I owned a 987 Cayman S with low k's (40,000 klm). Absolutely loved it. However everytime it had an issue it was like $1,000-$2,500 to fix, plus servicing costs. Sold it an bought a new ND2 MX5 roadster, five year warranty an zero maintenance except for servicing. Love the car. And yes the wanker label with the Porsche, as much as I hate to admit it was an issue too.

[@Swarm509]

I was wondering if the social stuff would matter. Even if you bought a super cheap Porsche if you roll up to the office, or to a client, or to meet friends you will be that "Porsche" guy that is expected to be a bell-end or just rich. Plus you will get a bunch of attention otherwise. People see a Mazda MX-5 and think other things, but it isn't the same at all. Honestly an MX-5 basically just disappears into the landscape at most places which is nice.

[@themancuniancandidate2744]

@@Swarm509 My Boxster cost half what I’d have paid for a new bog standard Focus. But I got tired of people screwing up their faces when they found out I had a Porsche, even a 20 year old one.

[@themancuniancandidate2744]

@@peterh4809 Let’s also not forget hearing “Ah but it’s not a real Porsche, is it?”, usually delivered with a smug smirk. No mate, it isn’t. So what does that make your bog standard Camry?

[@Michael_Lorenson]

Excellent, thanks.

[@petrolpoodle]

You're welcome, thanks for the comment!

[@JBPodcast]

Legend video as always 💪🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks a million mate!

[@Tchuo1]

For sure you have to buy. I have one too. But I have swap engine, Audi 1.8T engine with hybrid turbo, meth injection system and many aftermarket parts on it. In total it has 400hp and weight reduced under 1100kg. It goes 402m under 11 seconds.

[@purple-porker-productions]

Some would say you have removed the soul. The point of the Boxster is not performance. But, if you love it, that's the main thing.

[@Tchuo1]

@@purple-porker-productions unfortunately it’s soul was dead, that’s why I decided to swap another engine and it’s glorious

[@purple-porker-productions]

@@Tchuo1 Ahh, well at least you rescued one too. I bet it is a heap of fun!

[@petrolpoodle]

That sounds like an absolutely insane car, I love it! It's got to be almost in unique, there can only be a handful of you worldwide with this!?

[@benbertoni]

fantastic video. subbed

[@petrolpoodle]

Big thanks, Ben! Hoping to have the DeLorean video out this weekend or Monday worst case!

[@PestoPathogen69]

Firstly, this is an incredible review. Secondly, I'm in a weird position where at 27 y/o I've just gotten my license. I've had a look at insurance premiums and I can get insured on a 2003 2.7 Boxster with just under 120k miles on the clock for about £100 less than the premiums on a 10 y/o Fiat 500 0.9L TwinAir (which baffles me?!). The Boxster is on sale for under £4k. It only has a partial service history but otherwise from the pictures at least seems to be in relatively decent condition for a 21 year old car with some serious mileage. It's even MOT'd until 2025. This car would be my daily, commuting 50 miles round trip twice a week at least if not more on the weekends when needed along with others. Only mentioned issue, before viewing, is something to do with the passenger side door lock which is apparently an easy fix. Do you think this is actually worth considering?

[@purple-porker-productions]

Any 986 could be a gamble, many things will need replacing. If you have proof that a lot of this has been done then it could save you a lot of money. Be prepared to spend a few thousand a year maintaining it and you should be ok. But have it inspected if you want a bit more piece of mind. You cannot run these on tight budget. So much cooler than a 500 though. Door actuator probably needs replacing, hey common, both mine play up time to time. £150 for the part, 1-2 hours labour.

[@PestoPathogen69]

@@purple-porker-productions that’s similar to what I’ve read elsewhere. Also seen a few people saying that a car still running after this time would probably be free from the main issues that affected boxsters of this era/generation. Of course I understand fully it’s quite a gamble. Buying into any luxury ecosystem comes with large potential costs, just like buying into Apple as opposed to PC or android if anything goes wrong you get punished for it severely. Regarding the maintenance costs, it seems to be the consensus from what I’ve seen that one should budget a couple thousand for the first 2 years or so on top of the standard running costs to mitigate any issues but after that it shouldn’t be a huge issue? Obviously hard to know without seeing the car and who knows what could go wrong down the line. But also yes, my initial thought is if it’s going to cost me the same money to purchase and insure a Fiat 500 why would I not get a Porsche lol

[@petrolpoodle]

Thank you for your superbly kind words pal! If I'm not too late to this, I'd advise walking away from a cheap Boxster with partial history for your first car my friend! The running costs will likely be far higher than you'd anticipated. SUPER cool first car and it'd be so, so much fun when it all works. The Fiats are so high to insure because of the number of people who make claims in them! I.e brand new young drivers! So yeah, ironically you can pick more dangerous fast cars and get cheaper quotes haha! Are you still in the market? What did you go for in the end?

[@PestoPathogen69]

@ thanks for the response! I did toy for a while with the idea of getting a “cool” first car but ultimately settled on a 2014 Honda Jazz that belonged to an old lady with only 33k miles on the clock. Got it for about £2.5k so it’s basically throw awayable once done

[@Swarm509]

Locally these with manual trans are available for around $14k (Canadian, roughly 10k USD) and the only people I know driving them are mechanics who work on European imports, and older people who can afford them. And as this video says it is for a reason when talking to them. The biggest issue is that parts are both expensive and mechanics are very expensive in my area. These two groups take care of that, the mechanic only need to buy parts and labour is free and the older "boomers" have a pile of money to sit on to fix it and basically just run it during fair weather weekend or to car shows. The younger and richer engineers and such are all buying much newer cars since they don't care and can afford them. To me an MX-5 still makes the most sense for most people with how cheap they are, even new, and how easy/cheap they are to work on. I'd be curious what the insurance rate difference is as well since they are both "old people" cars. If I could get one in good working order for under $10k Canadian it would be a steal whatever happens to it, but those tend to be high KM/bagged out models with automatics it seems.

[@petrolpoodle]

Totally agree! I adored the peace of mind ownership of my MX-5 and it just worked and worked and worked. I do miss it, it drove spectacularly well!

[@JohnnyTurnerMusic]

I work in carsales... There's no such thing as a cheap Porsche. Its cheap to buy yes but Porsche Parts are still Porsche Parts. Upkeep is the killer

[@purple-porker-productions]

You are pretty much right with the exception that parts can be found cheaper from other suppliers and if you can work on it yourself then they are fairly simple. Generally, they are very reliable cars. The main issue is their age, mine is 27 years old, so regardless of reliability, things wear and need replacing. I have spent more than double what I paid for the car over the last 3 years.

[@petrolpoodle]

Exactly! Those cheeky low 'barrier to entry' prices will get ya!

[@nikolastojanov8749]

Could you do one of these for a Mazda RX-8? Its exactly the type of car you are reviewing, but different enough. You already have the less interesting cool Mazda from the same period...

[@petrolpoodle]

I'd absolutely love to review an RX-8, I've always wanted to drive one! They're just so insanely rare given how few are left on the road/weren't that popular in the UK from memory. I've spent hours watching documentaries that show how much they share in common, so they sound like a dream in many ways!

[@paultasker7788]

The reliability of the rotary engine pretty much killed them off. Too much to fix. But now might be an interesting left field buy

[@marklangren3142]

I have owned 911's from a 64 to a 996, 996 is best long distance driver

[@purple-porker-productions]

Agreed. Such a great GT

[@petrolpoodle]

I loved it so much, I just felt inspired to keep on driving as far as possible!

[@lmc333]

The fun interruption bits are granted

[@petrolpoodle]

Hahahaha I'm glad to hear!

[@aaronobrien7821]

How is it compared to the BMW z4 e85? I have a 3.0 SI Sport model and would like to maybe get a boxster or even stretch to a s2000 as it'll never lose any value. Cheers

[@petrolpoodle]

Hey Aaron, Sorry for the slow reply, I can't believe the amount of comments that stack up after a few days! So the BMW has got a super charming engine, is a nicer place to be sat in and they should have much lower running costs when stuff goes wrong - as it's just BMW parts that happen to fit in a Z4 half the time. I way prefer the way the Boxster drives and that the shorter nose makes you feel like you're driving a smaller, more agile car too. If I was on a tight budget and wanting to keep it that way I'd go for a Z4. If money is less of a stress I'd enjoy a Boxster! An S2000 would also be absolutely outrageous fun! Though I'd feel slightly on edge about the twitchy handling - having pulled someone out of one I witness roll over (it's in the MX05 Rollbar video of mine, if you're new to the channel!)

[@beauwulf]

987 Cayman/Boxster seems like the better value. Only a bit more expensive with better quality interior. Similar or slightly less (less age) maintenance costs.

[@purple-porker-productions]

I guess it all depends on what life it has had, you could buy a cheap 986 and it runs well for a long time or you could buy a 987 that has lots of issues. I have not driven a 987 but have heard it is a more modern car with many refinements. But I don't think it's as pretty and the 987 doesn't have the same analogue feel. You can't beat a proper throttle cable.

[@poisonarrow0631]

I have a question as most Boxsters in my country, the Netherlands, with less than 200.000km, are mostly 10k+. Is this just a difference in region or should I just wait until a good one for less than 8k pops up? Also how much € does one recommend on putting aside for maintenance?

[@purple-porker-productions]

@@poisonarrow0631 used cars are quite a bit cheaper in the UK. You can buy running 986 for £2k. It breaks my heart. Don't wait, find a good car and bit it. Allow 10% of cars value a year for maintenance, but preventive maintenance is going to be as much as you want. I've spent thousands on this car, it still needs loads more money spending on it, but it has never broken down.

[@petrolpoodle]

People have said you want 2000-3000 set aside a year for maintenance

[@ShushsusShahshshsh]

lots of effort in this video 😄

[@purple-porker-productions]

And that's just the gearbox!!

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks for the recognition pal! I think this is the most effort I've gone to on any video, so glad to see it noticed!

[@dynamotightstar3472]

Our definitions of "cheap" are very different indeed! 🤣

[@RUfromthe40s]

you talk like all porshe boxters are the same but i can´t let this go as i have cars from porshe since 74 and in the 90´s i was like "they don´t look good with the changes made " but they are necessary to be atractive to more younger people, when this was released was a good time for porshe as they almost close doors in late 80´s or early 90´s and by this time allthough i didn´t like what was made with the 911 model so to speak, has i drove a Carrera4 i got hooked and bought it, what a car i thought as i have other 4x4 cars but this was excelent and when the roadster came out i really liked it and i remenber all world talking bad about this model ,one day i saw my self driving a roadster from a girl, it was the cheapest model i´m not sure now but i think it had a 1.8L engine and i remenber that knowing this was a cheaper car but how good was it´s driving feeling it was like nothing that i expected, i thought to my self ,"I have to buy one" as it was perfect driving experience and cheap on top , don´t know if you heard they were trying to make a modern car with the type of car that James Dean the actor died in one, i don´t know what else to say this was the best ,not saying there aren´t better but this was top quality in driving experience ,the Z4 not even close as i drove one when new and i was like...what is this i own several BMW´s mostly from the 70´s but the Z´s aren´t good cars ,some do like them as they think they look cool if driving one, i paid for a Boxter S driven not parked by a old man and in perfect condition 18.000€ and it´s like what was missing at the time, a roadster, if it had automatic gears it would be a BMW moto with training wheels, if not that rich to afford a top sportive car buy this it will give a fine driving experience, the ones who don´t agree there is only one factor , not knowing how to drive a car, in mountain roads it can be driven fast but a hand on the gear shifter as braking and steer is not for this type of car , it´s a complete car and not that expensive some years ago ,today i don´t see them for sale , only shows that the ones who have it don´t want to get rid of it, but maybe it´s like the Z8 today they ask a lot of money for a car that didn´t sol for one fact only , who would buy a Z8 having the 850 V8 or the V12, today the few sold make them expensive but again not that good and they are rare as no one wanted them

[@Projects1.1]

What microphones are you using??? Your voice sounds so crisp!

[@petrolpoodle]

Thanks so much! So I use a Tascam TM10LB (don't buy it by itself though, you can get the Tascam DR-10L as a recorder which includes one of these. Used they're not much different in price to the lavalier by itself and they're designed to complement each other. It's about a £65 lavalier mic though and in this particular video I was running it directly into a Tascam X8 32-Bit audio recorder. I then use iZotope RX 10 Advanced and went to the EQ and pulled down the volume enormously on everything below 80hz to get rid of car rumble. I believe I also used a gentle preset for a general enhance, (I think a little boost in the 250hz and 1khz or something similar) I had a separate track of audio running from the microphone pointing at the exhaust and I just made sure that wasn't too over the top in the mix.

[@silv3rArrow]

Well this all sounds great but in the EU this costa around 20k€. So it’s 20k plus the expenses to fix it…

[@petrolpoodle]

Crickey that's a harder sell! I'd put my money into something else for that value, I have to say!

[@alfpetzer5812]

What’s wrong with a mid engines flat 6 open roof Porsche being 20k?!

[@silv3rArrow]

@@alfpetzer5812 in the video he mentions it’s a good deal for 3k£ (meaning even though maintenance will be needed it’s ok because it’s cheap). But in EU markets it’s almost 10x more, so it defeats the purpose as it’s not “bargain” anymore. At that price point IMO your better off with an ND MX-5. Easy to work on, right drivetrain especially if you get the package with LSD.

[@alfpetzer5812]

No offense, but 3k is not car money, thats what people pay for their MacBook. In the EU you can buy good Boxster starting at maybe 12k, I paid 16k for a very good example 4-5 yrs ago, prices have since then gone up a bit. As for the MX5 - nice car, but not in the same league.

[@silv3rArrow]

@@alfpetzer5812 I have to agree with you. 3k only in the UK, where cars are cheap and insurance is crazy expensive. I would also prefer the Porsche, but I’m not good enough to make the maintenance/fix it myself. The MX-5 for me is more approachable, maybe one day 😁

[@JColeman00]

Thanks

[@JColeman00]

Really enjoy your reviews and they were invaluable when I bought my 2.0L 2010 sport tech MX5 earlier this year. Best of luck with trying full time!

[@petrolpoodle]

Thank you so much, @JColeman00! I've never had a Super-thanks/donation in 4 years of doing this! So this is immensely, immensely appreciated. Just a really kind gesture, thank you! Really glad to have helped and congrats on the purchase pal, that's epic!

[@jbfinishingsjellebilliau9054]

I have a 944,this was my first porsche...money pit.😅i want a porsche boxster to compleet my porsche dream.but it's gonna be a money pit to😅😂porsche=spending a lot of euro's

[@purple-porker-productions]

I have to imagine a 986 will be easier and cheaper to maintain and repair than the 944, especially if you are good with a spanner.

[@jbfinishingsjellebilliau9054]

@@purple-porker-productions 944 parts are not cheap,gearbox revision was around 5000euro😅and this was only for revision...not to put it back in the car🥵,luckly i find a second hand to reduce the costs a little bit

[@WilliamWhitaker-y1x]

Wish I could find one now for 4/5K. Anywhere from 8500-20,000K near me.

[@purple-porker-productions]

I am considering upgrading to a 911, so thinking about selling mine. It's the one in this video. £5K would possibly be enough to buy it. But I am guessing you are not in the UK.

[@petrolpoodle]

Bloody hell!

[@anonimushbosh]

Two questions… will they donut when it’s cold, wet n greasy & what’s the cheapest way to make one look cool?

[@purple-porker-productions]

1.Yes. 2.Depends what cool is to you. I think the only improvements you can make is to fit a genuine aero kit. But cheap it isn't and also rare. Hardtop on looks good too. They are not the sort of car you drop and stick on 20s, it would ruin how it drives.

[@anonimushbosh]

@@purple-porker-productions You had me at yes;) On making it look cool I was half expecting you to say never wash it. I was thinking more like functional aero & non-gloss paint job - all with a DIY grunge look. It’ll never look nice, but it could look mean!

[@petrolpoodle]

2 superb questions! I see that @purple-porker is the right guy for your answers!

[@earlbee3196]

Goodness, gracious me, slow Down man, it’s terrifying to watch.

[@purple-porker-productions]

LOL

[@petrolpoodle]

It really does sound like it's going so much faster than it is. But it's noted for future videos, thanks for the feedback

[@earlbee3196]

@@petrolpoodle Okay, got it ! Thanks for the explanation .

[@andycrawford1356]

I had a Porsche years ago when they weren't like a mass production line. They are no more reliable than anything else. The Downside is that no one lets you out of junctions, 1 finger salutes and knobend handsigns at traffic lights, key scores from jealous people. Beware!

[@purple-porker-productions]

Having owned 2 Boxsters and a 911, I never received negative attention. Certainly get more greef in my i3.

[@petrolpoodle]

Jesus, what is wrong with people!?

[@frankoch600]

A MONEY PIT< THE REPAIRS ARE CONSTANT, everything will fail, built from cheap parts and will be in the shop 30 to 35 percent of the time.

[@dw4525]

Do you get much negative attention in this? I have a 987.2 and live in the same area as you’re driving in this video. It’s seriously disliked by chav pedestrians. Often get a word that rhymes with “anchor” shouted at me when I have the roof down in any built up area with an accompanying death stare. Not driving fast, playing music or doing anything that would provoke it 😅

[@purple-porker-productions]

Never had any negative comments, although mixed results when being let out at junctions. Lots of people struggling out there, they probably think our cars are worth 10 times as much and are jealous. Sorry to hear that.

[@davedave2941]

These are great cars - you just have to move past a known known - best served to turn wrenches on your own vehicle and save $1000s on parts and labor 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@purple-porker-productions]

This is great advice. This is what I try to do. Sometimes things can be surprisingly easy to replace.

[@davedave2941]

@@purple-porker-productions it’s great design, you just have to remove things to get what you want to work on / replace.

[@Trophy_R]

I’ve also heard you’ve got something a little fruity to review quite soon,🤔now that should make a good watch, promise not to scare you too much, well perhaps a little 😂

[@petrolpoodle]

Waterproof boxers are dispatched and awaiting delivery! Stupidly excited mate!

[@DctrBread]

You might be slightly disappointed once you start pushing the limits. Not all sportscars are very pleasant or stable driving at the limit, that "go kart feel" you're talking about is a bit of the side effect of a car with damping tuned for real short weight transfers, and a nice stable control at the limit.

[@purple-porker-productions]

I've never been disappointed with the 986, it feels so compliant and controllable . Although I haven't tracked one, I know a few people who race them and have never mention that.

[@DctrBread]

@@purple-porker-productions thats good to hear, i did forget that tires are a big factor in this too.

[@petrolpoodle]

I suspect that solid alignment, tyres and relatively refreshed suspension would go a long way for confidence. Despite knowing they're about the most sorted mid-engined car (including Cayman in this statement) I still had that little niggling feeling at the back of my mind not to push it REALLY hard hahaha. But thankfully the personality of this car just makes you happy at all speeds under 10 tenths!

[@DctrBread]

@@petrolpoodle Was actually trying to say that tires with too much grip can be the problem, ironically. especially since sport tires have gotten more grip in 20 years

[@petrolpoodle]

@@DctrBread ohhhhhh interesting! That's a very good point actually, not quite the same but it reminds me of the 2005 MX-5 - I've actually heard people say the MX-5 feels more fun and 'right' on midrange tyres because high grip ones are almost too good 😂. But I know that's a different point

[@putinisgod6814]

That car is such a stupid buy. If your heads finally blow it’s a total writeoff. And believe me that always happens

[@purple-porker-productions]

Stupid, but fun. We can't all live our lives in fear.

[@gsmoto9790]

But it is still cheap for THAT reason....cylinder problems, ims problems. I'll never buy one. It may be amplified, but it's still a real reason not to buy.

[@purple-porker-productions]

Every brand has it's issues, especially the German ones. BMW engines self destruct all the time. I've owned three Porsche, two 986s and one 996. Not one engine issue, all had over 100k miles.

[@WilliamWhitaker-y1x]

@gsmoto9790 less than 1% failure rate on the d row IMS. No cylinder problems in early models.

[@gsmoto9790]

​@@WilliamWhitaker-y1xwho wants a 2.5? And where is the proof that it is 1% vs my claim that it is 5%?

[@WilliamWhitaker-y1x]

Proof? I’ll look for the article but I read: 1% for d row, 7% for single row. And if you’re also talking about bore score not an issue on earlier models.

[@petrolpoodle]

It's why I'd buy one at the very cheap end and feel less wedded if it had a critical issue. But as someone who's had reliability PTSD from lots of cars, I do tend to lean towards stuff that just makes my life better haha!

[@Superbustr]

I think the late 90s Boxsters are so cheap because compared to the various 2000s Porsche models, they are very underwhelming in terms of power, specs, performance, and looks.

[@purple-porker-productions]

I'm afraid you are completely wrong, for a start they have the same front as the 911 upto the 997. Not really any difference between the 3.2 Boxster engine and the 3.4 911. Specs are the same. They are worth roughly the same as Cayennes from the same era. And only 5-7k less than a 996 911. The 3k ones you see need 10k of work.

[@Sto950]

Good review but that car and the MX5 are, I think, too far apart for any kind of a comparison.

[@petrolpoodle]

Thank you kindly! I do strangely think they're close though in that you can buy them for the same budget, they're 2 seater fun summer cars but they have very different ownership experiences and costs. In the owners group you'd often see people who'd swapped from one to the other I always found

[@yername31]

Dont buy that one someone put the steering wheel on the wrongside

[@purple-porker-productions]

I think you're just on the wrong side of the planet. 😉

[@yername31]

@@purple-porker-productions germany ?

[@terryjones9987]

That interior looks like a box of Lego. Common as muck, and to honest most 2.5 litre cars can perform like that. Why no try some real fun - a classic British sports car , my classic does 0-60 in 9 seconds and feels more like a space shuttle and gives far more feedback

[@purple-porker-productions]

What classic British sports car are you talking about? Have you driven many Boxsters?

[@petrolpoodle]

A box of lego hahahahaha that really made me laugh! I've driven a lot of cars on the channel and plenty off the channel, these do drive really very well. I'd love to drive a classic British sports car, what are you driving?

[@Talldivero]

Great video. Have liked and subscribed. Where is your link for your $1 per month subscription? If you want folks to subscribe to that then you need to give the link.

[@petrolpoodle]

Thank you! When I signed up for Patreon they seemed to suggest that with the Apple store taking a cut, them taking their share and I have to pay conversion fees to turn the dollars into pounds, the $1 plan was going to end up giving me a few cents! hahaha So I went with the lowest suggestion, from memory! The link is here but I'll see if there's an option to allow people to give what they like including a little lower :) www.patreon.com/user?u=136926892

[@paulross7111]

The 987 is a much better car and not that much more to buy, it's been reengineered by 90%. Interior is much better- controls dash & pedal pressure much improved.

[@purple-porker-productions]

Not as pretty in my eyes.

[@petrolpoodle]

It's certainly my choice too!

[@TimSlee1]

Damn, these things cost 30k here in Australia, even more than a second hand MX5 which averages 35k..

[@purple-porker-productions]

Wow, that works out to more than double. I'll do you a good deal on mine, you just need to pick it up from the UK! 🤣

[@petrolpoodle]

Blimey! I suppose on one hand though perhaps your cars depreciate far more kindly? Anything we own here seems to be worth a packet of cigarettes within a few years haha!

[@TimSlee1]

@@petrolpoodle Oh yeah, new car owners in the UK have it harder because of depreciation. Australians don't want their stuff to lose value.

[@bruniau]

Have fun but dont quit your day job.

[@petrolpoodle]

Luckily I quit my day job in December 2022 to go self employed shooting video professionally. So the aim is to shoot as many Petrol Poodle videos as I can between jobs but eventually make enough money from the channel to say no to other work (which is what restricts me from preventing regular content, but also keeps me paying bills and eating haha!)

[@purple-porker-productions]

@@bruniau what an unpleasant thing to say.

[@MiataBRG]

3:20 please do not publicise driving like 'a dick' on this road. Residents, East Sussex County Council and the police have put a lot of time and effort into preventing antisocial driving on this road, including shutting off the parking areas. There have been injuries and deaths in recent years, and people still pretend it's fine to race on it. This is a significant problem, and dangerous to the large number of tourists and families who use the road. We always submit antisocial driving caught on video to the police.

[@purple-porker-productions]

I think you'll find it was just a figure of speech. We all must be aloud a little fun at times, safely of course and that is the beauty of a 986. You can drive it "like a dick" and not break any laws.

[@petrolpoodle]

I've had this on my mind since reading it and I really do get it so I'd like to sincerely apologise. I lost my neighbour to a drink-driver and whenever I hear people make flippant comments and jokes about drink driving it drives me mad. I didn't realise that Birling Gap has suffered idiot drivers and certainly would have been more cautious in making that joke if I knew. I hope my comments later in the video @5:38 along the lines of "part of the joy of this car is being able to enjoy it closer to legal speeds [...] and you don't have to take your foot off the accelerator and try to find your ethics again." might show that I don't intend to encourage people to drive stupidly. I also regularly reference witnessing a rollover of a Honda S2000 in my videos and how that's really shown me that we're fragile on the roads. Anyway, my apologies again and I'll be triple mindful in future in videos.