Roadster - Porsche Boxster
One of the few upsides to the economic downturn is that getting a Porsche on your drive has never been easier.
A Porsche Boxster for £7,500? That’s not a misprint. One of the few upsides to the economic downturn is that getting a Porsche on your drive has never been easier.
In fact, you’re not even scraping the bottom of the Boxster barrel at this price level. While new car buyers might still get hung up on the ‘couldn’t-afford-a-911’ implications of Boxster ownership, for £7,500, who cares? The entry-level Porsche has been a fantastic driver’s car from the day the first example left the factory in 1997. However, Boxster ownership isn’t without its pitfalls. While the Porsche might share its price with a new Hyundai i10, it will cost much more to run than a tiny city car.
Fuel, tax and insurance bills are all relatively predictable, but the real stinger could be servicing. Parts are pricey on all variants, while main dealer maintenance is well out of the league of a £7,500 car. Instead, find a Porsche specialist, check every aspect of a prospective purchase’s history and get it professionally inspected before you buy. Access to the mid-mounted engine is difficult no matter how small the job.
Early 204bhp 2.5-litre models are now dropping towards £5,000, so £7,500 will buy the 220bhp 2.7-litre version introduced in August 1999. Automatic Tiptronic models go for a premium, but don’t be talked into paying too much – the manual is the sweeter transmission. Choose well and budget for hefty annual bills and the Boxster offers a slice of supercar life for the price of a supermini.
