New 2004 Boxster S

[shaunmbenson]

Hi Gang

So for years I had wanted a 986 or 987 and after driving almost every iteration I bought a Teal Green metallic 2004 986S

They say you buy the seller as much as the car. This couldn't have been more true in my case. The man was meticulous about this gently optioned car (including factory speedster humps) and we spent 5 hours together when I test drove.

I bought it based on him, the drive (best mid engined I drove excluding later much more expensive 981 and 718 and honestly - 986S better for where rev range in 2nd sat in the city) and incomplete but recent service records including IMS/RMS 1k before my purchase

Car has 56,000kms on it (34,700 miles)
I paid $30k - 22USD

I did no ppi cause f*ck it and the day I plated it my fiancee and i embarked on an 11,000km (7,000 mile) road trip through the pacific northwest and Canadian Rockies all the way up to the Yukon and then back across the northern rockies back to Toronto

Some days we drove 1400 or more kms and allegedly there were 2-3 hour stretches where the speed never dropped below 160kph. Of course that never happened and I obeyed all speed limits but hypothetically had this happened - including sustained moments above 200kph with top up and down - I can attest that..

THIS CAR IS BRILLIANT. I mean perfect. I mean cant get over the handling, the sound, the ergos -even the cupholder is fine - not great but the foldaway aspect is fab.

I truly have no words for how much better an experience it is than what I was expecting.

See Ive owned three 3.2 air cooleds (currently an 85 that I've done many similar road trips in including this spring) and they are special. But I literally had posts removed on FB 911 group for doing a comparo and hands down naming 986 as victor. The same group has left up similar threads where the air cooled was named as better. Insert crying laughing emoji

As a daily driver in Toronto - 10/10 no notes. Rev range for the 3.2 in 1st or 2nd is highly usable with no lugging or undue urgency if 1st is held between stop signs and the stock suspension is ideal

About that - I would love to do ohlins because I also have tracked this car already in the 18,000kms I've done since July but won't because that would make the majority of its use too jarring. I've done the track set up for city in the past with air cooled and have always regretted it given how much I drive these cars day to day

Negatives? Air Oil Separator went at the track. Was original part and cost me my last session and a mechanic visit. But I've trailered air cooled home from mosport for CHT sensor so is what it is
And the sheet metal is less robust than my 85 911 so I've noticed some starring and light ripples in the bonnet and trunk metal from parking under trees etc. Again is what it is but not ideal

I am a mid engined wailing intake (half the reason I bought was that SOUNDDDDD) convert and may keep my 85 but only as a "when I'm 70 I'll be glad I still have it" kinda thing. It gets less and less seat time as I explore the sublime nature of my 986S

Maybe I keep til I'm older but I could genuinely see myself selling or even trading 911 for a 981 or 718 Boxster S with pdk just to keep enjoying how damn good these cars have gotten

Would I do Cayman? Nope - best test car I drove aside from 718 gts (altho again rev range therefor powerband was less than ideal for city joy) was a 2008 Cayman S with Ohlins but even my 911 is a targa cause I need that open top for me





joy

[recycled sixtie]

Hi Shaun, congrats on your purchase of your Boxster S and a great writeup. It sounds like you have put it through the wringer and was successful. I used to own a 2001 Boxster base and still miss it. After four years of almost problem free ownership it had engine problems and it needed $5000 cdn to fix it. I sold it as is . I bought a 2013 Mazda Miata but it never compared as well in performance to the Boxster but having said that the Miata was 100% reliable.
Cheers, Guy.

[shaunmbenson]

My first true sports car was a 2000 Miata. I loved it. Simple perfection

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Hi Shaun, congrats on your purchase of your Boxster S and a great writeup. It sounds like you have put it through the wringer and was successful. I used to own a 2001 Boxster base and still miss it. After four years of almost problem free ownership it had engine problems and it needed $5000 cdn to fix it. I sold it as is . I bought a 2013 Mazda Miata but it never compared as well in performance to the Boxster but having said that the Miata was 100% reliable.
Cheers, Guy.

[Marc Meacham]

A man after my own heart! 2002 986 S with 61 K miles. I’ve owned it for 20 years & am doing a “refresh” now - new tires, fluids, shocks, canvas, & killer sound system. Never tempted by 911, I can scare myself just fine with the 3.2 986, thank you very much. It’s been from Montreal to Naples and Boston to Vegas.