Verdict
A
Sports · Germany · 1996-Present
Porsche 718 Boxster
Porsche 718 Boxster — spec data and generation history.
Years
1996-Present
Generations
4
Segment
Sports
Porsche's mid-engined roadster — the everyday Porsche that drives almost as well as a 911. Four post-1996 generations: 986 (1996–2004) — original 'Boxster' name, 2.5 / 2.7 / 3.2 S flat-six. Saved Porsche financially with the 996 911. 987 (2004–2012) — 2.7 / 3.2 / 3.4 S / 3.4 GTS / Boxster Spyder, 6-speed manual or Tiptronic / PDK. 981 (2012–2016) — final naturally-aspirated 'Boxster' name, 2.7 / 3.4 S / GTS / Spyder (3.8 / 3.8 GT4-derived). 982 (2016-Present) — 718 Boxster era, 2.0 / 2.5 turbo flat-four; 4.0 flat-six returned on GTS / Spyder. Cayman covered separately.
What changed
Era-to-era deltas
981 2012-2016 → 982 2016-Present
BHP +15 bhp
Torque +50 Nm
0–60 mph −0.4 s
Top speed +0
MPG +5 mpg
Generations
Click any generation for the full deep dive
1996-2004
986
→
Boxster S 3.2 — 250 bhp, 0-62 in 5.7s.
Verdict
B
BHP
250
0–60
5.7 s
Top
162 mph
MPG
28.0 mpg
Used
£3,500-£14,000
- + Saved Porsche
- + Mid-engined balance
- − IMS bearing risk
- − Plastic rear window pre-2003
2004-2012
987
→
Boxster Spyder 3.4 — 320 bhp, 0-62 in 5.0s.
Verdict
A
BHP
320
0–60
5.0 s
Top
166 mph
MPG
27.0 mpg
Used
£8,000-£28,000
- + Sharper than 986
- + 987.2 (post-2009) DFI engines fixed IMS
- − IMS bearing on early 987.1
- − PDK initial cost
2012-2016
981
→
Boxster Spyder 3.8 — 375 bhp, 0-62 in 4.5s.
Verdict
A
BHP
375
0–60
4.5 s
Top
180 mph
MPG
27.0 mpg
Used
£24,000-£60,000
- + Last NA flat-six Boxster name
- + Sharper chassis
- − PDK mechatronic
- − Soft-top mechanism
2016-Present
982
→
718 Spyder RS 4.0 — 493 bhp, 0-62 in 3.4s.
Verdict
A
BHP
493
0–60
3.4 s
Top
191 mph
MPG
21.0 mpg
Used
£32,000-£135,000
- + 718 Spyder / GTS 4.0 brought back the flat-six
- + Spyder RS = Boxster of the Cayman GT4 RS
- − 2.0 / 2.5 turbo flat-four polarising
- − PCM software updates
Known issues by generation
Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.
1996-2004 · 986
- IMS bearing failure (M96)
- RMS oil leak
- Soft-top motor
- Plastic rear window pre-2003
2004-2012 · 987
- IMS bearing (early M97)
- Tiptronic mechatronic
- PDK initial issues
- Coolant pipe leaks
2012-2016 · 981
- PDK mechatronic
- PCM latency
- Soft-top mechanism
- Rare manual on later cars
2016-Present · 982
- Direct-injection carbon (2.0/2.5 turbo)
- PDK mechatronic
- PCM software updates
- Charge port (E-Hybrid not offered)
Rivals
BMW Z4 · Mercedes SL · Audi TT Roadster · Porsche 718 Cayman