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Porsche Boxster / Cayman 986 S

Boxster S (986)2000–2004

Porsche's mid-engine two-seater — from the 986 that saved the company to the last flat-six GTS.

13 reviewers · 27 videos · 3 hours watched · 13 press articles

Generations
9861997–2004986 S2000–20049872005–2012987 S2005–20129812013–2016981 S2013–2016981 GTS2015–20169822017–2025982 S2017–2025982 GTS2018–2025
// 00 the verdict

Reviewers strongly agree on its performance and handling, but split on value.

across 13 reviewers

// where reviewers split
Value
9 say · liveable

"it is quite simply ones of the best sports cars for under 10k that you can buy today"

Revive My Ride · ▶ 3:02
1 say · critical

"I break down 5 things I absolutely love about the car... and 5 things that genuinely frustrate me, including some issues you might not expect in a car at this price point."

Performance Road Trips · ▶ 0:00
// the categories
// 01

Performance

4.0/513 of 13 reviewersstrong consensus

“thesee faster down the straights one quicker through the aplex down the straights I think it's got the edge on the Porsche but through the corners it has not”

positive · Autocar · ▶ 4:04

“the 2.5 seems to really... really is a smoother engine than the 2-liter... it just seems to pull a lot better with the 2.5 litre”

positive · MyRightCar · ▶ 2:26

“Its 350-horsepower mid-engine now follows the trend and is only four cylinders... since this one is turbocharged, it’s faster and runs very smoothly.”

positive · Centímetros cúbicos · ▶ 1:05
// 02

Handling

5.0/513 of 13 reviewersstrong consensus

“The stability while I'm driving it hard is really good. And it's very easy to drive fast.”

positive · Performance Road Trips · ▶ 0:17

“it's really interesting just driving them just the natural agility that this car's got and the more you lean on it the better you get an understanding of how good the balance is”

positive · Drivetribe · ▶ 10:45

“nicely balanced though this really nice Poise and balance to it I like it”

positive · Autocar · ▶ 6:34
// 03

Fun to drive

4.5/513 of 13 reviewersconsensus

“this is basically an understated road legal race car that delivers one of the best driving experiences you can get”

positive · MyRightCar · ▶ 3:53

“The driving experience it delivers is fantastic.”

positive · Kennan Rolsen · ▶ 13:24

“it just gives so much more feedback and more feel than a standard car”

positive · Revive My Ride · ▶ 4:15
// 04

Daily drivability

4.0/512 of 13 reviewersconsensus

“it is a more habitable interior and all of that adds up to the fact that the porush weighs... it is a more rounded you might argue more complete car”

positive · Autocar · ▶ 7:05

“it's more practical than the other two cars it's actually got more equipment”

positive · Men and Motors · ▶ 12:08

“despite it being 23 years old... you could still use this thing every single day.”

positive · Kennan Rolsen · ▶ 18:09
// 05

Value

4.5/512 of 13 reviewerssplit

“it is quite simply ones of the best sports cars for under 10k that you can buy today”

positive · Revive My Ride · ▶ 3:02

“in terms of value for money and performance for your bucks is this the car we think so”

positive · inCARnation Australia · ▶ 0:20

“these things have hit rock bottom in terms of depreciation you can get them for under 15 K and they're just so much value for the money”

positive · Simply Car Things · ▶ 8:19

Hear it in the reviewer’s words

Kennan Rolsen
Posted Apr 21, 2026Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
inCARnation Australia
Posted Mar 8, 2021Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
It's Joel
Posted Jan 11, 2026Open on YouTube
More Porsche Boxster / Cayman reviews
Head to head
From the press · 13 articles
EngineM96/21
Power258 hp
TX6-speed manual or 5-speed Tiptronic
Curb2,855 lb
Manual✓ available