∙Comprehensive main dealer service less than 4000 miles ago

∙Low mileage for year

∙Solid rust-free example

The first-generation Boxster (the 986) was introduced in late 1996 and was powered by a 2.5 litre flat, six-cylinder engine. Harm Lagaay's design, inspired by the 356 Speedster and 550 Spyder, stimulated a commercial turnaround for Porsche. 

It is widely agreed that the introduction of the Boxster helped save Porsche from acquisition. It was Porsche's first water-cooled, mid-engine sports car as opposed to the 911 which has its engine in the rear.  

This layout provided a low centre of gravity, near-perfect weight distribution and good handling. The Boxster was Porsche's biggest volume seller from its introduction in 1996 until the company introduced the Cayenne in 2003.

This Porsche has always remained in enthusiast ownership - the stamps in the service book are all from main dealers or specialists - and it has had even and limited use all of its life. The present owner acquired the car in 2020 and set about some upgrades and refreshes, including new badgin and a new hood with glass rear screen, as well as a comprehensive main dealer service in July of that year, costing in excess of £2000. (The Boxster has driven fewer than 4000 miles since). Later in the year, the Porsche was also detailed and treated to a paint-protecting ceramic coating.

As well as a current MOT and V5, documents bear out the mileage and the work done on the car - including a brochure for the new hood. The Porshce retains its original service book with a comprehensive set of stamps.

The black paint is consistent across the car on both metal and plastic parts, and maintains a good gloss across each. The lacquer shows no polishing swirls and also benefits from a recent ceramic coating treatment. Shut lines are good, as are the between panels and materials are good. The mesh in the front apron and rear side vents is clean and the light cluster lenses bright. You’ll notice that all the badging around the car - nose, wheels and boot script - is new. Understandably, the lower nose shows a few stone chips, and the rear edges of the front wheel arches show a couple of grazes.

The hood is only a year old - the owner wanted a glass rear window - and is in very good condition. There are no tears or worn patches, though the lower edge could do with cleaning. Its mechanism is easy to operate and the top folds down quickly and smoothly, with its tonneau clicking neatly into place when folded.

This Boxster Red really does complement the black bodywork very well. Successive owners have obviously looked after the interior and the leather remains in an excellent condition. Its near terracotta colour has not faded, and it and the carpets remain a good match. There is some scuffing most predictable on the outer driver’s seat bolster, but apart from light creasing, the hides remain good. This is also true of the black leather items - gear knob and steering wheel - which, save for a couple of scuffs, remain largely free of scratches and handling marks.

Black plastic panels and switch gear remain clean and fit snugly together, as do the various sections of the door panels - no rattles as they open or close.

The floor mats are new and very clean, but the carpets underneath are a little more grubby, with one or two  stains behind the seats. The joins between carpet material and the rubber door seals are snug,  and the seals themselves look healthy, showing no cracks.

Front and rear stowage compartments are clean with good carpets, and their lids are clean and corrosion free on their undersides.

The Porsche looks solid underneath. There is surface corrosion on suspension and steering parts and a light dusting along the edges of some seams, but components appear solid and the underside of the body strong. There don’t appear to be any stains from leaks on the subframe supporting the engine and that structure looks very robust. The alloy wheels are in good shape - the bolts on the rears looking shinier than those on the front - and the tyres have plenty of tread.

The owner is happy for prospective bidders to talk to Preston Porsche Centre about the car’s service record and general health.

In the Boxster, Porsche returned to building a relatively simple roadster. It was and is a less complex, easier car to live with than a 911, while still rewarding its owners with probably almost all of the real world driving pleasure - and handling. This is a nice, relatively low-mileage example that has been well maintained. It’s a car that  can be a tourer, a point-to-point printer or simply a boulevardier all in one day. Plus, confidence in the marque means that its values will probably remain strong.

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