Chapter 1 · Boxster · by HBi Auto
Buying a 986 Boxster (1997–2004)
The car that saved Porsche in the 1990s.
The car that saved Porsche in the 1990s. The 986 Boxster shares its front end and engine family with the 996 911: 2.5, 2.7 and 3.2-litre (S) flat-sixes. It is the least expensive Porsche to buy today.
The same engine questions as the 996 apply, so engine history matters more than miles.
- Engines
- M96 2.5 / 2.7 / 3.2
- Gearboxes
- 5- and 6-speed manual, Tiptronic
- Body
- Roadster
- Buy for
- The cheapest way into a Porsche
911 Tracker does not follow this generation yet, so this page has no market numbers. HBi Auto can price one for you directly.
What to look for
IMS bearing
Same family of engine as the 996; ask whether the bearing has been upgraded.
Rear main seal
Common oil leak; often done with the clutch.
Top
Check the hood and its mechanism; repairs add up.
Maintenance schedule
Maintenance planner
Pick the car, enter its miles and model year: the planner shows what is due now, the next services and the full schedule, whichever comes first, miles or years.
| What is done | 10k | 20k | 30k | 40k | 50k | 60k | 70k | 80k | 90k | 100k | 110k | 120k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brake fluidEvery 2 yr · Porsche US |
Boxster (986), 1997–2004: what is done, version by version
Not verified yet: The 986 factory schedule (oil, plugs, filters, belt, gearbox); The IMS bearing is not a factory service item; see common repairs.
Confidence: Low. Sources: 1.
Intervals are whichever comes first, miles or years. "Porsche factory (converted from km)" means Porsche's own figure for another market, turned into miles with the same km-to-mile pairing Porsche uses in the US. Your car's own maintenance booklet is the final word. HBi Auto's recommendations for cars that are tracked, driven hard or stored are being added by our service team.
The 111-point checklist: 986 Boxster
HBi Auto's full 111-point inspection, the same list our technicians sign on every car we certify. Tick as you go; your ticks stay on this device. Print it, or download the blank form (PDF) and take it to your inspection.
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The buying process
Find and price it
Compare the car with what the same model actually sold for, adjusted for miles, options and records.
Ask the right questions
Who serviced it, why it is for sale, any accidents or paintwork, and can you see every record before you travel.
Inspect it
A specialist pre-purchase inspection, paid by you, reported to you.
Agree the deal
Price, what is fixed before delivery, deposit terms and a written bill of sale.
Pay safely and ship it
Wire only to a verified account, never on instructions that arrive by email alone. Ship enclosed for anything rare or valuable.
Dealers we trust
Independent Porsche specialists we know and buy from.
Written by the 911 Buyers and HBi Auto team in Mocksville, NC. Market numbers come from 911 Tracker's VIN-checked US sales and say what they are based on; maintenance intervals say where each one comes from. This course is general information, not an inspection, an appraisal or legal or tax advice.