1999 Boxster 5-Speed

When I was in high school, the kid with the Guards Red 944 had one of the coolest cars in the parking lot. The fact that a high-schooler was driving a Porsche was just wild. Granted, it was a 20-year-old Porsche back then, but that didn’t matter; a Porsche was a Porsche. As some of you know, as a parent with daughters who will drive in a few years, I’m considering a 20-year-old Porsche for them: a first-generation 986 Boxster.

First off, it’s a manual transmission. And I’m sure if you’re reading this, you agree that all kids need to learn to drive stick. Plus, it will keep the majority of their friends from driving it. Speaking of friends, Boxsters only have two seats, so they can’t pack the car full of distracting peers. And then there is the speed factor or lack thereof. Early Boxsters come equipped with 201 hp 2.5-liter flat-sixes, which isn't all that much power in the grand scheme of things. I’ve owned Hondas with more.

This 1999 Boxster 5-Speed would have been the perfect one. Finished in Arctic Silver Metallic over Black, this 986 shows just over 70,000 miles on the odometer. It has been well cared for throughout its life, as evidenced by its extensive service history, including replacing the notorious IMS bearing. With only three owners since new, the body is in good condition, showing only typical signs of wear as seen in the MANY photographs in the listing. The interior is also in good condition, and the undercarriage and engine bay look cleaner than most.

The market for 5spd 986s has been relatively flat over the last twelve months, only recently showing signs of softening, which is great news when you’re looking for a car for your kids. The market average recently dipped below $15,000 to $13,500 over the last thirty days. Also, during the previous thirty days, we’ve seen several sub-100,000-mile cars sell at or below the $10,000 mark, with our Spotlight car selling for $10,350, most likely due to condition and service history. As the market goes down, things are looking good for my girls.

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