The Porsche Boxster 987 turns 20 – Is it the perfect first Porsche?

There was someone at school with great behavior, good grades, a friendly and uncomplicated nature, a great smile, but always a bit inconspicuous and never part of the coolest cliques. At a class reunion 15 years after graduation, you meet up again. She or he has hardly changed at all. But you are blown away. You wonder why you didn’t notice all this much earlier… Sounds like Hollywood? What could pass as a template for a movie or love song does indeed occur in the automotive world. The Porsche Boxster 987, which is now 20 years old, might be proof of this.

Model student or plain Jane? The Porsche Boxster 987 impressed with the best manners and great driving performance

When Porsche launched the second-generation Boxster, the 987, the roadster market was hotly contested. Virtually every well-known manufacturer offered an open-top two-seater. The competition included the BMW Z4, Audi TT Quattro, Nissan 350Z and Honda S2000. The Mazda MX-5 and Mercedes SLK also poached in the same segment. In addition to the Porsche Boxster, the Lotus Elise and Opel Speedster as well as the Toyota MR-2 and MG TF in the entry-level segment even offered plenty of mid-engined choice. In the roadster class, there was virtually no space left in 2004.

And as in any school class, it was a colorful mix of very different characters. If you want to use a few clichés at this point, it reads as follows: On the one hand, there was the budding competitive sportswoman Lotus Elise with the somewhat more civilized sibling from Opel. At the other end was the somewhat American-looking 350Z with the SLK from a very good family. Then there was the classroom clown MX-5 and the two aspiring, budding business students BMW Z4 and Audi TT Quattro as well as the science genius Honda S2000.

When new, the Boxster stood in the shadow of the 911

And how exactly did the Porsche Boxster fit into the picture? Although it had already left the lower school behind with top marks in the form of the 986, it was always overshadowed by the 911, the exceptional athlete known throughout the school. The slightly smaller Boxster even had better grades and better behavior – a real model student. However, it did not quite match the top sporting performance of its sibling. In some cases it even had to admit defeat to the BMW Z4. So it was popular, but had the image of not being quite as strong, fast and famous as its big brother.

The perfectly balanced, open-top flat-six symphony couldn’t repeat the 986’s success

From its launch on November 27, 2004, the Porsche Boxster 987 was beyond reproach. The already brilliant chassis of its predecessor was carefully revised once again. Light alloy components, a wider track and, for the first time in a Boxster, Porsche’s optional Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) made the 987 so agile and at the same time so safe to drive that it was showered with praise.

And it was precisely this praise that led to the fact that – despite the increased performance of the 240 and 280 hp engines – it was repeatedly stated: The Porsche Boxster 987 could do with considerably more power because its chassis is so good. But then it would come dangerously close to its big brother, the 911, so that was not an option. The performance and driving pleasure were impressive in themselves. A manual base Boxster reached 62 mph in 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. Not bad for 32,000 euros less than the 911 – the new prices were 43,068 to 75,200 euros.

It wasn’t only the driving performance, that was at an impressively high level either. The new front end with more appealing headlights and, above all, the interior based on the 997-gen Porsche 911 made the 987 Boxster look much more grown-up. Even 20 years later, the design still cuts a fresh, good figure.

The 2009 facelift did not bring a turnaround – but DFI engines and PDK

For the 2009 model year, Porsche took the next step and updated the 987. The new engines with direct fuel injection (DFI) now produced 255 and 310 hp from 2.9 and 3.4 liters of displacement. On the transmission side, the new Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) replaced the outdated 5-speed Tiptronic. That made the automatic gearbox a serious alternative even for sporty drivers. A PDK-equipped Porsche 987 Boxster S matched the 997.2 Carrera 4’s 0-62 mph time of 5.0 seconds.

However, the second Boxster was still unable to repeat the commercial success of the 986. After almost 165,000 first-generation Boxsters were sold, the 987 only managed to sell a good 104,000 units over an equally long production period of just under nine years. To save the 987’s honor, however, it should not be concealed at this point that around 68,000 Cayman 987s were delivered to Porsche Centers.

Boxster fans have known it for a long time – the 987 offers everything you could ask for

Over the last ten years, prices have risen across many Porsche model series, in some cases drastically. The answer to the question of the ideal entry-level Porsche has therefore become increasingly difficult to give. For a long time, the Porsche 944 was the first choice. It was relatively cheap to buy and maintain, offered decent performance and even plenty of storage space. However, 944s are now sought-after classics and difficult to find in great condition. Even the most recent models are over 30 years old and fewer and fewer garages are familiar with these models.

All 987 Porsche Boxster and Boxster S offered on Elferspot

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At virtually the same time, the mood in the Porsche world turned towards the Boxster. By its third generation, Porsche’s mid-engined roadster was completely emancipated. The former image of being the Porsche for all those who could not afford a 911 was finally shaken off. Especially as a 987, the Boxster is stylistically timeless and offers driving performance that is in no way inferior to many 911s. Not to mention the sound of the naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine. The Boxster also proved to be a reliable companion even after many years, offering plenty of everyday usability despite its fabric roof – not least thanks to the two luggage compartments.

Especially as a 987, the Boxster is timeless in style and offers driving performance that is in no way inferior to many 911s.

Even in terms of maintenance, the two-seater is relatively frugal. Service work is inexpensive and spare parts prices are also reasonable. The insurance premiums are not only below the level of the 911, but are even cheaper than the 944’s. If we now include modern comfort features such as xenon headlights, cruise control, heated seats and automatic air conditioning in the equation, the Boxster looks like a Swiss army knife compared to the 944. In our eyes, the second Boxster generation is therefore the almost perfect choice for entry into the Porsche world.

Like its 911-siblings, the Porsche Boxster 987 also holds its value

In recent years, the Porsche Boxster 987 has steadily increased in value. Average asking prices have risen from 28,000 to 35,000 euros since 2020 – an increase of 25 percent. The cheapest Porsche 987 Boxsters with higher mileages are available for just under 20,000 euros. But you can also find cars with five-digit mileage for well under 30,000 euros. In terms of price, the Boxster and Boxster S are relatively close together. The later models with DFI engines, on the other hand, cost considerably more. Even though 30-35,000 euros is certainly not peanuts, a good 987 Boxster costs just as much as a new entry-level Golf with a few extras.

A car with these ingredients, especially for less than 30,000 euros in some cases, will no longer be available new in 2025. That’s why the 987 is, in a way, the perfect choice for entering the world of Zuffenhausen sports cars. No other Porsche with a price tag of around 30,000 euros is as modern, reliable and still impresses with its sporty performance. With this knowledge, you don’t have to be a clairvoyant to give the Porsche 987 Boxster a good value forecast. Although prices are not expected to double in the medium term, depreciation should not be an issue – assuming good care and no extreme mileage.

There are cars that have always been great, but sometimes it just takes a little time before they receive the recognition they deserve…

20 years after leaving school, the second Boxster is still fresh and full of zest for action. These years of maturing have done the second Boxster – and above all its image – a lot of good. In a way, this proves our initial thesis. There are cars that have always been great, but sometimes it just takes a little time before they receive the recognition they deserve…

© cover picture: CarJager