2004 Porsche Boxster S – Classified of the Week

We’re pretty spoilt for choice as classic car enthusiasts when it comes to hoonable two-seater roadsters. From the perennially popular MG B to the magnificent Mazda MX-5 there are plenty of options out there for those of us that crave a little top down, rear-wheel drive fun and the Porsche Boxster S is another such entry into this most distinguished of lists.

Derided by dunces as a poor person’s 911 the original Boxster was way, way more than that. In fact, it was nothing short of magnificent and those who coined that most fallacious of epithets are no doubt the same people upon which Harry Enfield based his ‘you don’t want to do it like that, you want to do it like this’ character. Here was a proper driver’s car that combined that classic Boxer engine grunt with sharp, precise handling and the resultant car was absolutely bang on.

Yes, it may have been built upon its bigger, 911 brother’s characteristics (even sharing numerous parts) but that can only be a good thing! What the Boxster did was open up Porsche ownership to a new type of buyer; one that craved the typical Porsche driving experience but at a more affordable price point and it was a decision by the bigwigs in Stuttgart that turned out to be an absolute belter because the first Porsche Boxster 986 sold and sold well, even pinching a few sales from the standard 911. Pudding, proof and all that.

Offered with a 205bhp, 2.5-litre flat-six upon launch a larger engine was subsequently to sate buyers’ desires to better exploit the car’s well-balanced, agile handling and a 2.7-litre wit an extra 16 horsepower was made available in 2000. This wasn’t enough, it would seem and so the S was also introduced to bolster the line-up. Here was the ultimate iteration: a 3.2-litre with a six-speed gearbox that could really hustle.

And that’s exactly the model we have for sale via our classifieds. It’s a 2004 Porsche Boxster S with just 67,000 miles on the clock. This is about where you want a Boxster to sit in terms of use. It has seen regular outings and servicing without having been driven into the ground placing it right in the sweet spot of second hand ownership. This is a late model example, too which means it has all of the facelift goodies that were introduced in 2003 so you get clear indicators and a glass rear window, a new front bumper, rear spoiler and the upgraded gearbox and bigger alloy wheels.

The car has clearly been cherished and comes with a comprehensive service history with the front springs and shocks having been replaced this year. The seller states that they are looking for something a bit more “classic” and so this four-owner Boxster is now looking for its next adventure. A wholly original and usable roadster this Porsche Boxster S represents one of the many high points in the German firm’s illustrious repertoire. We told you in 2020 that you should be buying a Boxster and we maintain that sentiment today, three years down the line. Prices may have risen a little since then but that just goes to show the trajectory that these brilliant little cars are on.