BRITS can pick up a classy roadster with a frightening top speed for less than the price of the nation’s cheapest new car.
The light-weight convertible is widely considered a modern classic by petrolheads and is often talked up as, for the money, one of the best value sports cars on the second-hand market.
The iconic Porsche Boxster, the six-cylinder mini-beast that was first introduced by the German marque in 1996, is considered a fun, relatively affordable car to own and run.
To some, it’s considered a poor man’s version of the 911, but the Boxster is quite different to its more-famous brother – with its mid-engine layout making it unique from a 911 with more stable, less challenging feel.
The original Boxster was a breath of fresh air when it was released ahead of the new millennium, and saved Porsche from bankruptcy.
Over the years, there have been four generations of Boxster – with the 718 Boxster released in 2016.
Older models, such as the Mark 2 987 model, released between 2005 and 2012, are beginning to enter collector territory with many fans of modern classics rushing to pick them up.
We were able to find a particularly eye-catching example on the Autotrader website for just £9,999.
That’s a fair bit less than the Dacia Sandero, which currently ranks as the UK’s cheapest new car at £12,955.
The second-hand model, which is from 2007 and has 101,000 miles on the clock, features a 3.4-litre engine and a manual transmission – and, as it’s the 987 S, can hit a top speed of 169 mph.
According to the list, this Boxster even comes with £13,000 worth of optional extras.
Earlier this year, Sun Motors spoke with a car expert who specialises in modern classics.
James Russell, of the Motor Grid, spoke very highly of the Boxster, especially the Mk1 model.
James said: “The perfectly balanced, perfect under £10,000 sports car has got to be the 987 Boxster.
“Manual, flat-six, you just can’t go wrong. It’s perfect.”
How the Boxster saved Porsche
By Michael Golson
Today, Porsche is a financial juggernaut, and the company’s profits are the envy of the car industry.
But two decades ago, things were very different for the German giants.
A recession, coupled with their uncompetitive lineup of ageing motors, led to dwindling sales that pushed them to the brink of ruin.
But the release of the Boxster in 1996 changed that.
Porsche were able to sell 7,500 cars in the US and Canada and by 1997, that number had nearly doubled. 20 years later, in 2017, that number topped 54,000.
That’s why the Boxster is considered one of the most successful but controversial sports cars to hit the market in recent times.
Over the years, Porsche purists have taken its water-cooled, mid-engine layout as an affront to the brand’s iconic rear-engine, then-air-cooled 911.
But the car’s supporters often praise the first-gen Boxster for its superb driving dynamics that defined its category.
What’s more, the windfall from the release of the Boxster allowed Porsche to make changes that put the company on the path to long-term success.
Recently, it was revealed that another legendary Porsche sports car was set to be reimagined for the 21st century – some 37 years after it was first launched.
Elsewhere, VW have unveiled a special edition hot hatchback that’s inspired by a legendary model from 1990s.
The Boxster is widely praised by petrolheads for its driving dynamics and perfect balance[/caption]
The original Boxster was a breath of fresh air when it was released ahead of the new millennium, and saved Porsche from bankruptcy[/caption]
