Porsche Boxster 986 (1996 to 2004)

The 986 is the first-generation Porsche Boxster, a two-seat, mid-engined roadster that went on sale in 1996 after a concept shown at the 1993 Detroit show. It was a turning point for Porsche: a cheaper, higher-volume sports car below the 911, sharing many components and its engine family with the 996 generation 911, and Porsche's best-selling model until the Cayenne overtook it in 2003. Production started at Stuttgart and was later also carried out in Finland.

Its engine is a water-cooled flat-six from the M96 family, mounted ahead of the rear axle. That gives a balanced weight distribution which Porsche Club GB puts at roughly 47 per cent front and 53 per cent rear. Contemporary testers praised the chassis so highly that they felt it could handle more power, and Porsche duly added a 2.7 and the 3.2-litre Boxster S. The electric fabric hood folds in about 12 seconds.

The 986's reputation today is mixed but improving. It is widely seen as a superb driver's car for the money, yet it carries the shadow of M96 engine issues, chiefly the intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing, rear main seal leaks and cracked cylinder bores. Sources agree that history and a specialist inspection matter far more than colour or options, and that serious problems are less common than internet folklore suggests.

• Years: production cars from 1996 (UK deliveries early 1997); replaced by the 987 for the 2005 model year.
• Body style: two-seat roadster with an electric fabric hood; optional removable hard top.
• Engines (water-cooled flat-six): - 2.5 (2,480cc): 204bhp (1996 to 1999) - 2.7 (2,687cc): 220bhp, rising to 228bhp at the facelift (from the 2000 model year) - 3.2 Boxster S (3,179cc): quoted between 250bhp and 256bhp depending on source, rising to 260bhp at the facelift - 550 Spyder anniversary edition: 266bhp 3.2
• Gearboxes: five-speed manual or five-speed Tiptronic automatic; six-speed manual on the S.
• Production: Classics World cites about 165,000 sold. This could not be confirmed against a Porsche source, so treat it as approximate. Hagerty gives 1,953 for the 550 Spyder edition.

• 1996 to 1999 (1997 to 1999 model years): 2.5 with five-speed manual or Tiptronic. Plastic rear window, single-skin hood. Some early cars lack air conditioning.
• 1999 model year: production moves partly to Finland; the eleventh VIN character changes from S (Stuttgart) to U.
• 2000 model year (launched 1999): 2.7 replaces the 2.5 and gains an electronic throttle; Boxster S arrives with the 3.2 and six-speed box. Double-skin hood and side impact protection introduced, the S getting the hood first.
• Facelift (2002 calendar year, 2003 model year): power rises to 228bhp and 260bhp, glass rear window in the hood, revised bumpers, rear spoiler and clear indicator lenses. Porsche Club GB regards these as the best 986s. Note sources quote either 2002 or 2003 depending on whether they use calendar or model year.
• 2004 model year: 550 Spyder anniversary S with 266bhp, lowered suspension and GT Silver paint.

Bodywork and structure

• Boxsters are not known for rust. Classics World and PistonHeads both treat rust as a sign of poorly repaired accident damage. Check rear arches, panel gaps and colour match.
• Stone chips on the nose are common and often repainted.
• Damp under the front boot carpet usually means a split coolant expansion tank.
• Water in the cabin points to blocked hood drains. The engine control unit sits behind or under the seats, so check for damp and corrosion there.

Engine

• IMS bearing: a sealed, grease-lubricated bearing supports the intermediate shaft. If it fails, cam timing is lost and the engine is usually written off. Early cars used a dual-row bearing; cars from around 2000 switched to a single-row type that PistonHeads and Hagerty consider more vulnerable. Porsche Club GB calls failure rare and Hagerty says the risk is often overstated. Ask for evidence of an uprated replacement, normally done with the clutch as the gearbox must come out.
• Rear main seal: the most common oil leak. Look for oil at the bell housing joint. A minor weep is not fatal; a steady drip is a reason for caution.
• Cracked bores: cylinders can crack at the top, and in the worst case a D-shaped section breaks away. Signs are milky "mayonnaise" deposits on the dipstick and filler cap, coolant loss and overheating. Be sceptical of a seller who blames a thermostat.
• Bore scoring: sources conflict. One engine specialist's guide states that scoring is mainly a concern on the larger 3.4 and 3.6 litre 996 engines and not on 986 engines; the UK magazine guides consulted do not discuss scoring at all. Sooty tailpipes, ticking at idle and heavy oil use would still justify a borescope inspection.
• VarioCam tensioner guides: can wear and shed fragments into the oil.
• Misfires and hesitation: usually coil packs or the mass airflow sensor.
• A specialist can read engine control unit data, including over-rev records and engine hours, which shows how hard the engine has been used.

Gearbox and drivetrain

• Manual and Tiptronic gearboxes are regarded as robust. Look for fluid changes in the history.
• Clutch replacement is the natural time for IMS and rear main seal work, so a recent clutch invoice should list them.

Suspension, steering and brakes

• Front bushes and arms typically need renewal around every five years. Clonks often mean worn ball joints or a broken coil spring.
• Check MoT history for dampers noted as "misting".
• Oversized aftermarket wheels can upset alignment and wear bushes.
• Four-piston monobloc calipers; check disc wear and the condition of tyres, as premium N-rated tyres suggest careful ownership.

Electrics and interior

• Front radiators and air conditioning condensers sit behind the bumper grilles, trap debris and corrode. Ask when they were last replaced.
• Check the hood motor and linkages, the stitching and the plastic rear window, which crazes and splits. Some cars have been converted to manual operation after motor failure.
• Driver's seat bolster wear and fragile air vents are common.
• Check the air conditioning blows cold.

Identity and paperwork

• Check the VIN against the V5C and the model year implied by it.
• Genuine S cars have the 3.2 and six-speed manual or Tiptronic; check badges and specification match.
• For a 550 Spyder, look for the numbered plaque and correct specification.
• Recent specialist history matters more than old invoices.

Parts supply is good, with many components shared with the 996 911 and a large independent specialist network in the UK. Consumables such as suspension parts are reasonably priced. Uprated IMS bearings and VarioCam guides are available. Servicing is recommended annually or every 12,000 miles. Cars that have stood for long periods can suffer dried seals and weak batteries, so low mileage alone is not a guarantee.

Club:

• Porsche Club GB (opens in a new tab), founded in 1961, with regional groups and model registers including a Boxster register.

• Has the IMS bearing been replaced, with what type of bearing, and is there an invoice?
• Has the rear main seal been replaced, and when was the clutch last done?
• Has the engine ever been rebuilt or replaced, and why?
• When were the radiators, condensers and coolant tank last replaced?
• Is there a recent specialist inspection or engine control unit report showing over-rev data?