10 Reasons Why the 986 Boxster Is the Best Sports Car Value Right Now

Intro

In the interest of full disclosure, the Ocean Blue Metallic 1999 Boxster that you see here and in most of the pictures throughout this article is my personal car. So, I will admit that I am a bit biased. However, one of the reasons I bought this car in the first place is because I believe that the 986 Boxster represents the best sports car value available from any manufacturer. My ownership experience over the last year and a half has only reinforced that belief. Yes, it lives in the shadow of its big brother, the 911. I have owned and driven many different Boxster/Cayman and 911 models, and I can say without hesitation that the mid-engine cars are as enjoyable, if not more enjoyable, than the 911. The 911 may have more clout but from behind the wheel, I never had a bad time in a Boxster or Cayman.

The 986 Boxster is not perfect. Yes, every one of them will eventually blow foam insulation from the vents into your face. And there is of course the IMS bearing that people love to try to convince you is just one revolution away from destroying your engine. But no car is perfect, especially as they approach their 30th birthday. However, the 986 Boxster has a lot going for it. These are the 10 reasons why it is the best sports car value.

Image: Joe Kucinski

1. Purchase Price

The 986 generation includes the 1997 to 2004 model years. The first few years there was the base Boxster only and in 2000 the Boxster S came along with a 250 horsepower 3.2L flat six. The 2003 and 2004 models got a horsepower bump, revised styling and a glass rear window. These are considered the 986.2 cars. The point is you can buy any one of these for less than $20K. In some cases, for way less. A solid 986 can be found for $10K. I know a guy that recently bought a 1998 model with a dented hood and non-operational top for just $3K. These cars are almost being given away at this point. And for this price you get a mid-engine, naturally aspirated flat-six Porsche convertible with a manual transmission (a Tiptronic auto is also available). Are you kidding me? Why doesn’t everyone have one of these?

Image: Porsche

2. Running Costs

A word of caution here. These are still Porsche products and parts are priced accordingly. Buying a $10K 986 is not the same as buying a $10K Mazda Miata. So, you need to have some money in your budget set aside to cover the unexpected. However, in the world of Porsche these cars are very reasonable to run. In the last year and a half, I spent $1,501 to maintain my 1999 Boxster. $925 for a new set of tires including mounting and balancing. $154 to replace the old drive belt that was fraying. $422 for state inspection, oil and brake fluid service. That’s it. I also spent money putting a short shifter in the car with new shifter cables as well as paint correction and powder coating the brake calipers. But those were wants, not needs.

Will I get hit with bigger bills down the line? It’s quite possible, but so far that has not been the case. At some point I may do the preventative work on the IMS bearing. But the 1999 models still have the more reliable dual row bearing, so I am in no rush. In any event these cars don’t cost a fortune to keep on the road.

Image: Joe Kucinski

3. Depreciation Proof

A 986 Porsche Boxster in decent shape is always going to be worth something. They will likely never go up in value very much, but they are also unlikely to lose much value from this point either. Buy the car, drive it for a while, maintain it well, and then a few years down the line sell it for about what you paid for it. Or just keep it forever. I have a 2025 911 Carrera on order (don’t worry I am keeping the Boxster) that should be here in about a month. The second I drive it off the lot it will probably depreciate more than the entire purchase price of my 986.

Image: Joe Kucinski

4. Performance

The 986 is not winning any drag races against any modern Porsche. The 986 S models have a bit more punch than my base car, but they are still slow compared to a shiny new Boxster. And you know what? That doesn’t matter one iota. In fact, in many ways driving the slower Boxster is more fun. At one time my Boxster shared a garage with a tuned 991.2 911 Turbo S that was stupid quick. And while it was fun to get on the gas in the Turbo S from time to time to feel the acceleration, in the real world those moments were fleeting. But in my 986 I can floor it and run up through the gears without facing jail time. The 986 is just quick enough to have fun, but not so quick that it is frustrating on the street. It really strikes a nice balance.

Image: Porsche

5. Low Tech

Whether you are afraid of big brother spying on you or you just don’t feel like being bothered to turn off auto stop/start and lane keep assist every time you get in the car, the 986 is wonderfully devoid of any advanced technology. There is no night vision system, or front axle lift, or ventilated seats, or surround view camera, or really much of anything. It is just you and the car. In the modern age with technology advancing so quickly, it is nice to take a step back every once in a while and enjoy the simple life.

Image: Joe Kucinski

6. Historical Significance

The 986 holds a special place in Porsche history as it helped save the company from financial ruin. This and the Cayenne pulled Porsche back from the precipice. Some folks hate the part sharing between the Boxster and the 996 generation 911 but it was needed to return the company to profitability. If you are driving around in your fancy GT3 RS or 911 S/T and you see a humble 986 buzzing around, give it a nod. Because without it, you would likely not have those other cars to enjoy.

Image: Porsche

7. Small Size / Light Weight

My 1999 Boxster weighs a little over 2,800 pounds and is 171 inches long and 70 inches wide. A base 2024 Boxster is about 250 pounds heavier, an inch and a half longer and an inch wider. All things considered that is not bad for 25 years of progress. But still, there is just always something about driving a smaller and lighter sports car. Even if it makes less power and it's slower, the feeling you get in the smaller car is more enjoyable most of the time. You feel more connected to the road and closer to your surroundings.

Image: Joe Kucinski

8. Mechanical Features

The 986 Boxsters all have lovely flat-six engines. No 4-cylinders, no turbochargers, just a simple flat-six. Through the year 2000 the Boxsters used a throttle cable, and the entire generation of 986 cars had hydraulic steering. Some folks today are crying about the start button on the new 911 and the loss of the mechanical tachometer. The 986 has a full set of mechanical gauges and you use an actual key to start it. If you like these things, the 986 is the least expensive and most modern Porsche, you can enjoy them in.

Image: Joe Kucinski  

9. Looks Expensive

Many of you might not care about this but I know at least some of you will. The 986 has aged well and it looks more expensive than it is. All of you reading this on Rennlist are Porsche savvy and know that the 986 is not an expensive car. But you make up a tiny fraction of the public. A lot of people still think these are expensive cars. They see the badge on the hood, the vents behind the doors and think this must be an expensive exotic.

Quick story. This summer my fiancé and I stopped by our local Wawa in the Boxster. As we were getting back into the car a woman stopped us. She said to my fiancé “oh you are smart to stay with him.” As she was gesturing to the car. Inferring that I must be rich and successful because I had this Porsche. Little did she know it was probably the least valuable thing in the parking lot at the time. But most people don’t see it that way. The Porsche purists may not be impressed but the 986 still wows the general public. If that sort of thing matters to you.  

Image: Joe Kucinski

10. Carefree Driving

Here is another great thing about the 986. Because they are not rare several hundred-thousand-dollar cars that you need to bribe the dealer to get an allocation for, you can drive the thing anywhere without caring. Drive it, and park it wherever. Pile on the miles. People are terrified to drive the 911 Sport Classic because each mile reduces the value when it gets listed on Bring a Trailer. 986 owners don’t give a darn about that. We stuff our dogs in the passenger seat and take them for a drive. We won’t make money flipping these cars, but we will make memories that no amount of money can replace. If you are looking for a fun sports car that you can buy, drive and enjoy on a budget, the 986 Boxster should be at the top of your list.

Image: Joe Kucinski 

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