2002 Porsche 986 Boxster S

Fitted with the 3.2-litre engine and sublime Tiptronic automatic gearbox that allows it to reach 62mph in 6.4 seconds and 160mph flat out, this 2002 Porsche Boxster S is finished in Cobalt Blue Metallic with a grey leather interior.

First sold by AFN of Guildford on the 26th of October 2002, it drives well, something that’s at least partly explained by the fact it’s still showing just 39,000 miles on the odometer and has a full service history.

Bought as a ‘forever car’ to replace a much-loved 911 Targa, it’s been in the care of the current keeper since 2015. He’s only covered a couple of thousand miles since then and is only selling it because he’s lost his storage facility.

Cobalt Blue Metallic is a cracking colour and one that suits the Boxster’s diminutive lines to perfection and this one is in a great condition with straight panels, ripple-free flanks, consistent shutlines, and the sort of fit ‘n’ finish that demonstrates why German build quality was so highly thought of back in the day.

The black folding roof has a proper glass rear window, complete with a heating element. This, along with its robust build and well-fitting design, means the Boxster is a genuine all weather, all season sportscar that’s as comfortable outside your Swiss chalet in the winter as it is the Goodwood Revival in the summer.

Of course, you’ve probably guessed by now that it fits beautifully and is completely free of damage.

As are the lamps lenses, which are bright and clear. It’s the same story with the badges and window glazing.

There’s nothing here that rings even the faintest of alarm bells including the 17-inch alloy wheels, whose open design means you get a good look at the red brake calipers and cross-drilled ventilated discs lurking behind them.

They’re in a very good condition too, and are fitted with a matching set of Pirelli P-Zero tyres in 205/50ZR17 on the front and 255/40ZR17 on the rear.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

We’ve got some bad news for you – but only if you’re a tinkerer because there really isn’t much that needs doing. You could replace the odd rusty fastener (#e.g. #33) and some of the wheelnuts (e.g. #64) if you’re desperate to escape to the garage but that’s about it.

Of course, as with any 20-year-old car, there is the odd minor mark (e.g. #81 and #82) but none are significant which means we’d be tempted to leave them as they are for the time being; you’re going to collect more over the next few years anyway, so it’s probably better to leave them untouched in order to be able to enjoy your new convertible sportscar without worry.

The grey leather interior is only very gently patinated and looks lovely. Convertible interiors, exposed as they are the sun and rain, can take a beating but this one looks to have been cared for as well as everything else.

With nothing more than gentle creasing to the seats’ leather facings, the underlying structure is still firm and supportive and very comfortable. The seats are also electrically adjustable and heated, further bolstering the Boxster’s winter credentials; if you’ve never driven a convertible in the snow with the roof down you’re missing out on one of life’s marvels.

The steering wheel contains the controls that allow you to manually change gears on the Tiptronic gearbox, giving you all the benefits of a manual car with all the convenience of an automatic.

The wind deflector, which sits between the twin rollover hoops and allows for high-speed cruising without ruffling your locks, was sourced from Holland in 2016 to replace the somewhat ineffective factory unit.

A pioneer double-din headunit sits above a neat CD storage rack. The latter is original while the former is a later upgrade that allows for hands-free iPhone use, something that was less of a consideration two decades ago.

The boot is surprisingly spacious, and there’s easy access to items such as the engine oil filler and dipstick and coolant; this is a very well thought out car that would be almost as easy to live with as the family hatchback.

The frunk, with its space saver spare wheel, is equally clean and well ordered.

As with the exterior, there are only a few flaws. The leather has eased away from the driver’s seat tilting mechanism (#148) and the carpeted areas could do with a deep clean but that’s about all that would worry most folk.

As you can see, it starts well, idles perfectly, and revs like the B-Road demon it is. There’s a lovely exhaust crackle too, and we’re told that it “drives really well”.

The underside is pretty good for a car of its age with the only serious corrosion being to the exhaust - and even that wasn’t bad enough to warrant a comment from any of the past MoT testers.

You’d probably want to go over a few small areas with a wire brush before re-protecting it with a good quality underseal but that would be a small but satisfying job for the winter.

The Porsche’s service history runs up to 37,545 miles but given the date was 2018, we’d suggest it’s due another now despite the odometer only reading 39,000 miles five years later.

And, what a service history it is. With 16 stamps in the book, the routine maintenance record reads:

• 10.10.2003 and 4,057 miles – service plus a change of brake fluid by the Porsche Centre Guildford
• 22.10.2004 and 6,702 miles – service plus a change of brake fluid by the Porsche Centre Guildford
• 21.10.2005 and 8,967 miles – service plus a change of brake fluid by the Porsche Centre Guildford
• 23.10.2006 and 11,403 miles – service plus a change of brake fluid by the Porsche Centre Guildford
• 29.03.2007 and 11,677 miles – change of brake fluid by the Porsche Centre Reading
• 23.10.2007 and 15,163 miles – service by the Porsche Centre Guildford
• 21.10.2008 and 17,436 miles – service by Evans Autos of North Cheam
• 25.02.2010 and 22,394 miles – service by AutoKare of Cambridge
• 20.01.2011 and 25,080 miles – service by AutoKare of Cambridge
• 15.12.2013 and 29,184 miles – service by Sawyers Motor Company of Hopton on Sea
• 11.02.2015 and 36,440 miles – service by CDM Motors of Chalfont St Peter
• 03.05.2018 and 37,575 miles – service by Auto-Check of Oxford

The Boxster’s MoT certificate is valid until December 2023 and it was gained, like the one before, without any advisories.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the car comes with the Porsche book pack, the driver’s manual, service history booklet and no fewer than four keys.

There’s also a guide to laying it up for the winter, gained after exhaustive research. Following the instructions to the letter (and using a screwdriver to press the locks down, something the guide doesn’t mention) allows you to bypass the usual ‘sleep mode’ and store it with the battery disconnected.

The fact the seller went to the trouble of finding this factory-installed method suggests an uncommonly high level of diligence in protecting his beloved Boxster during long periods of inactivity.

Cars like the Porsche Boxster are gaining a loyal following among enthusiasts for whom value for money is as important as a car’s build quality and the driving satisfaction they deliver; after many years of being underappreciated, the 986 Boxster’s time has well and truly come.

Forget everything you think you know about ‘em too, because the reality is they’re brilliant to drive, cheap(ish) to maintain, and dead easy to sell when you fancy a change.

And yet, despite this loyal following, prices have yet to gain any real traction, which means this one, with its peerless service history and nigh-on immaculate condition, is probably only going to reach somewhere between £9,000 and £13,000, which is ridiculously cheap for what you’re getting in return.

Even better, the seller has such faith in his car that’s he’s offering it with no reserve, so it’s going to sell from the very first bid.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.