Used Porsche Boxster 1996-2004 reliability review

The originalPorsche Boxster is still sublime to drive, with a sonorous six-cylinder sound and balanced handling

More used reviews:

What should I look for in a used Porsche Boxster?

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

There's no such thing as a cheap Boxster. Cared-for cars wear their miles well, and if you're being offered an untidy car with some niggly faults, it's likely that it's a car with serious problems and you should walk away.

Crash damage is the biggest problem on cars, so leaky or poor fitting hoods, and less than perfect paintwork and panels should make you suspicious. Also, in rare cases, water can get past the window seals and short-circuit the electrics.

Scrimping on servicing to save money is a false economy. A full service history is a sign of a cared-for car. The engine doesn't use much oil, so if it's very low or very dirty, there could be problems.

Some owners take their Boxster to the track. Look for badly worn brakes and scored pads, while rapid and uneven tyre wear is a sure sign the tyre alignment isn't spot on.

Tips & Advice

Used cars available now

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Porsche Boxster 2.7 986 2dr

Porsche Boxster

2.7 986 2dr

£3,795

Porsche Boxster 2.5 986 2dr

Porsche Boxster

2.5 986 2dr

£3,990

Porsche Boxster 2.5 986 2dr

Porsche Boxster

2.5 986 2dr

£4,995

Porsche Boxster 2.5 986 2dr

Porsche Boxster

2.5 986 2dr

£4,995

Porsche Boxster 2.7 986 2dr

Porsche Boxster

2.7 986 2dr

£5,695

Porsche BOXSTER 2.7 986 2dr

Porsche BOXSTER

2.7 986 2dr

£5,995

Porsche Boxster 3.2 986 S Tiptronic S 2dr

Porsche Boxster

3.2 986 S Tiptronic S 2dr

£5,999

Porsche Boxster 2.7 986 2dr

Porsche Boxster

2.7 986 2dr

£6,295

Porsche Boxster 2.7 986 2dr

Porsche Boxster

2.7 986 2dr

£6,985

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Stuart Milne, digital editor

Name: Stuart Milne

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Stuart has been a motoring journalist for more than 25 years, writing and editing for a wide range of consumer titles. Today, Stuart is responsible for the smooth running of whatcar.com and all of its related social and digital channels. And he’s the man responsible for making sure you're able to find What Car?’s industry-leading content whenever you search for it.

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