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21K Original Miles: 1998 Porsche Boxster

The Porsche Boxster is by now known as one of the most accessible modern sports cars, often times available for reasonble money in what has otherwise been a white-hot marketplace. The combination of mid-engined design with Porsche’s renowned chassis engineering makes almost every variety of the two-seater a treat to own and for far less than a comparable 911. The Boxster shown here on Facebook Marketplace is a unique European-market specification model with some desirable options and just over 21,000 miles on the clock.

The Boxster features a host of desirable options, the most obvious of which are the more attractive European-specification bumpers. Wearing pretty Zenith Blue Metallic paint paired with a Metropol Blue interior, the Boxster also comes with the optional 17-inch Turbo-look wheels and the M013 Sport Technic package, which combines the M030 sports chassis (lowered, stiffer suspension with uprated springs, dampers and anti-roll bars) with ASR (Automatic Slip Regulation) and ABD (Automatic Brake Differential). To put it plainly, someone ordered up all the driver-focused options you could spec.

The Boxster’s odometer reads out in kilometers, and the 35,097 KMs shown works out to be 21,700 miles or thereabouts. The little details on a low-mileage survivor is what sets them apart from the crowd, with none of the typical blemishes that come with age, like scuff marks on the interior plastics or scratches to the gauge cluster face. As you can also deduct by the cluster, this is a Tiptronic-equipped example which is likely the biggest drawback. However, for a time-warp specimen with loads of desirable features, it can likely be overlooked.

The seller notes the Boxster also comes with two-way electrically adjustable sport seats and a rear wind deflector, rounding out a generous optional equipment list. The first-generation Boxster always stands out to me for so closely resembling the show car that made the rounds before the model’s official introduction, and while the “fried egg” headlights may turn some enthusiasts off, this design language that ushered in the Boxster and water-cooled 996 was instrumental in launching Porsche into its next generation. I doubt you can go wrong with a car like this, especially considering the price of a new one.

Comments

  1. Avatar photo B.B.

    Very odd the slushbox was specified with all the performance options This was not a sequential gearbox but a standard torque converter automatic.

    The better option is the Boxer S. A lot more horsepower, and more fun to drive.

    Like 7
  2. Avatar photo Troy

    Google maps says its one day and 12+ hours away wonder if I did a cannon ball run like trip how much time I could shave off would make for a fun road trip

    Like 1
  3. Avatar photo alphasud Member

    Tiptronic on a 2.5 is a real dog. Even the regular 2.5 was weak. They do sound good when you run them up to redline but when you get passed by the new Prius you end up looking like a tool. As B.B. stated the fun only begins with the Boxster 3.2 with a clutch pedal. And they can be found for cheap money.

    Like 2
    • Avatar photo Sean M Sinkule

      I always laugh at the under powered comments, look at the outputs of the most revered Porsches in history, the classic cars everyone raves about the god like driving experience, most of the with considerably less power than the lowliest Boxster.

      Like 3
    • Avatar photo 370zpp Member

      I don’t think anyone enjoys being passed by a Prius.

      Like 0
      • Avatar photo Edwin Haggerty

        Amen!

        Like 0
    • Avatar photo Mountainwoodie

      “looking like a tool”.just about the best way to explain the problem Hilarious. Kudos! Slushboxes………….ought to be illegal!

      Like 1
  4. Avatar photo bobhess Member

    Nice looking car in good condition and fun to drive. But when it comes time to service or repair this car you’d better have pretty near what you paid for it in the bank unless you can work on it yourself.

    Like 3
  5. Avatar photo Wendell

    We have one of these with the auto. It’s perfect for tooling around town and having fun, they are not race cars for sure. We wanted a 6-spd until we got caught in Atlanta traffic….the auto was nice.

    Like 4
  6. Avatar photo Roxanna Belcher

    You have to be a Facebook user to buy it.. that’s

    Like 1
  7. Avatar photo Gordo

    The Boxter script on the rear deck lid is missing, a repair or respray?

    Like 1
    • Avatar photo Jack Quantrill

      Those are stuck on with glue, and come off in car washes.

      Like 1
      • Avatar photo menko

        When ordering new, the buyer could specify that the script be deleted. I did when I ordered mine. Didn’t want my chamois to get caught on the edges when drying.

        Like 2
    • Avatar photo Sean M Sinkule

      No just removed to clean up lines

      Like 2
  8. Avatar photo Dr Ron

    Warning: Before jumping into a Boxster of this era Google “IMS bearing failure” and Porsche “D chunk”.
    Those selling a 1997-2004 Boxster or 911 will tell you that the IMS was a very infrequent problem.
    Those selling IMS upgrade kits will tell you that you are totally doomed.
    So…. You have to be willing to drive a really great looking and handling hand grenade.
    I know from experience…
    My brother-in-law went from his air cooled ‘92 911 to a brand new ‘99 Boxster and the IMS failure demon got him shortly after the warranty expired.
    There were eventual successful class action lawsuits that benefited a limited number of owners but buyers beware in 2023.
    Always check/ask if the IMS upgrade was performed when shopping these Porsches.
    The “D chunk” is another demon altogether.

    https://www.autoscopecarcare.com/car-repair/heres-all-the-info-you-need-about-the-porsche-ims-bearing/

    https://lnengineering.com/products/watercooled-porsche-cylinders-sleeves-and-pistons/porsche-boxster-cayman-and-911-model-years-1997-2008/porsche-m96-m97-engine-failures.html

    Like 0
  9. Avatar photo Jack Quantrill

    The only caution on these is the infamous IMS bearing.

    Like 3
  10. Avatar photo Jeffery Amburgey

    I still think the 986 is one of the most underrated cars of all time. I prefer the manual 2.7, so much car for the money. I will never sell mine, a joy to own and drive.

    Like 1

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