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Old 05-30-2016, 04:56 AM   #61
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986 as a future classic

My 986 is a classic to me every time I start it up. It ticks nearly all of my boxes (hey, a pun). I'm in for the long haul and I plan on keeping road worthy as long as I can. If it some day starts to be worth a little money then great, but either way I am happy.


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Old 05-30-2016, 08:31 AM   #62
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I bought my 01s back in June 2009,brought it into Canada, and got it on the road for about $25,000, (including all taxes, licensing and 4 new tires)

It's still in great shape and I could not sell it for high teens now in cdn pesos, but what would get me as much fun for the same price today?

The 986s is not perfect, but it's still a great car for the $$, especially if you can find one in good condition.

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Old 05-30-2016, 09:03 AM   #63
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I have enjoyed reading the various opinions. I do think they are beautiful cars, especially the S's with the red calipers poking through the twists. As far as collectibility or being a classic, I am not sure the car will ever overcome the stigma. It was the porsche community that unfortunately attacked the car upon release. Did the same to the 996. Dam shame in my opinion. I have my guesses why. Though as the porsche community was bashing these cars, all the car reviews at the time these were introduced were very, very favorable. The writers had no vested interest in protecting the 911 so I think they wrote as they believed. I believe when the S came out in 2000 it knocked the vette and the z3 off car and drivers top ten. Pretty amazing feat considering it was stigmatized as the "hair dressers" car.
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Old 05-30-2016, 02:10 PM   #64
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Hello,

914. Well i think you have to differentiate between a 914/4 and a 914/6.

I would say the 986 is a future classic, because Porsche is interested that it will get a classic Porsche car – just because Porsche Classic centre is interested in doing business.

Also Porsche always raises part prices for Classic Porsche cars. So maintenance is getting expensive, which also means maintenance prices raise and that means car prices for good cars stay stable or raise.

Will the value raise? Edition cars always raise a little bit more than the "standard" cars. So a 986 550 Spyder might be a good choice.

But if you take a look at the maintaining costs i'm not shure if it is a good invest. I think if you drive your car you can throw around 1.000 Euros of maintenance costs in your car yearly (tyres, brakes, oil changes, general maintenance). And every 10 years i see an investment of around 5.000 Euros (clutch, suspension, water pump, generator, condensators, convertible top, rubber parts and all the other stuff that can break). So in 10 years you'll have an invest of 14.000 Euros. Plus taxes, insurance, fuel, garage rent and so on. Plus inflation.

So if you put the car in a car collection and wait, maybe you'll get a little money out of it. But f you drive it you won't. But you will have driving pleasure.

And at the moment i see a bubble in Porsche prices over here in Europe – mainly caused by low bank rates. So people try to invest in goods.

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Old 11-20-2024, 12:03 PM   #65
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First post here. Now over a decade since this thread was started.

How are we feeling about collectibility now? There were some strong opinions in 2013.
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Old 11-21-2024, 06:54 AM   #66
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A 10 year old thread! I wouldn't be surprised if many of the responders aren't Boxster owners anymore.
Personally, I don't care about my 98's value or if it will ever become collectible....it could be worth $0 and I'd still keep it and drive with a big smile on my face.
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Old 11-21-2024, 08:14 AM   #67
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Thanks Rob, exactly what I think.
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Old 11-21-2024, 11:58 AM   #68
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Just my opinion, and depending on your personal definition of “classic”, but I think the 986 will certainly be considered a classic at some point. However not all will make it to that honored place. The very first models like the ‘98 base and 2000 S will be sought after. The special editions have a spot reserved as well as the very first 986.2 models. All others are destined to simply make their owners happy with being one of the best little cars Porsche designed.
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Old 11-23-2024, 05:43 AM   #69
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My thinking is that there are lots around, so the Boxster will not have the benefit of scarcity (relatively speaking) of the 914. Also, for some reason potential owners opt for other cars with a certain cachet, which I observe, often stay in the garage much of the time. I predict that Boxsters will be like the MGB or the mid-century Mustangs -- in the hands of happy owners who maintain and drive them. A ready market, but not a market for those wishing to turn a profit.
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Old 11-23-2024, 07:13 AM   #70
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Never have I purchased a car thinking that someday it will ever be worth more than I paid for it.....I just assume that it's a losing proposition. But that's probably because I'm a "driver" not a "collector".....

My 98' is more "car" than "computer". The new Boxsters (like most all other cars) are way to complicated, maintenance intensive, expensive and lack the feel of my 98'.....but that's just me....lol

And, if or when they ever go all electric I'll definitely NOT be interested!
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Old 11-25-2024, 05:36 PM   #71
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986 is a classic…..

…..just ask Porsche, the 986 is now covered under “Porsche Classic” with full parts support forever.

As far as money is concerned, who cares? She’s my forever car.

Now forgive me, I gotta go for a drive.
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Old 11-26-2024, 02:00 PM   #72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fintro11 View Post
986's will be as collectable as a 944 .....
beat me to it ...

i was reading a thread the other day that the guy had kept his car running for over 15 years without buying a single Porsche part ever in its history and was proud of it .. all after market stuff and a lot of zip ties for things ..
This is what makes me think the Boxster may go the way of the 944 ...


Sad to see really..

Last edited by theiceman; 11-26-2024 at 02:03 PM.
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Old 11-26-2024, 06:06 PM   #73
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I don’t think they will ever be a super, sought after car due to the volume and the bad rap they got. Honestly I actually prefer that since it gives me more freedom to mess with it and not worry about ruining a future classic. Anyhow, I am a big fan, I have a 2.5 and a 3.2. Both awesome in their own ways. My prediction, I do think they will have more of a cult following. People who have them will continue to buy them while others are tempted elsewhere. People who know, know. Oh, Spec racing certainly isn’t hurting the model either.
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Old 11-27-2024, 06:28 AM   #74
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Originally Posted by DWBOX2000 View Post
Honestly I actually prefer that since it gives me more freedom to mess with it and not worry about ruining a future classic.
I agree. I've been making changes to my car since I bought it. If I had to be concerned about affecting its value, I would still be riding around with an outdated sound system and a convertible top with a plastic rear window. I also would not have driven it almost 120,000 miles.

When I bought my Boxster, I wanted it to serve as a form of transportation that made a chore (driving back and forth to work) a bit more fun. I treat the car well, but I don't think I am fastidious enough to be a classic car owner.
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Old 12-24-2024, 07:47 AM   #75
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I own a 993 and a 986, both from 1997 and in Artic Silver.
The 986 is relatively cheap to maintain and still easy to get used parts. Added the silver door pulls, rings on the dails, GT-wheels, handbrake & shifter, 3-spoke steering wheel, 2-din audio, upgraded sound, salt&pepper PSE, replaced all dummies with real use switches. All original or stealth. I enjoy it, drive and park it anywhere. Will never sell, so don’t care if it increases in value or not.
The 993 is much more expensive and parts are rare, hence very costly. But every investment would potentially come back through its appreciation. Nice on paper, but I drive and enjoy it, and will never sell.

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Old 12-25-2024, 06:22 PM   #76
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Just watch the disinterest when a Boxster is offered on Mecum. If offers come fast and prices rise, then it has potential. But that doesn't seem to be happening.

The number of people who have the mechanical experience to maintain one and/or have access to a good P-car mechanic is limited. And as they age, they need work.
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Old 12-25-2024, 07:35 PM   #77
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I think the 986 has more appeal than a 924 or 944. They strayed from their timeless formula with those yet the boxster has the gentle curves of a pronounced front wheel well, the rear hips in back. The original thread was started when the general distaste of the head lamps was still palpable, but we're beyond that and the intent of invoking the 917 is clear.

The 986, particularly the ones with the most analogue features, like manual trunk releases, will become treasures. They are gorgeous cars with a true Porsche timestamp.
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Old 01-09-2025, 09:53 PM   #78
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I don't think Boxsters will become classics in the same vein as the air-cooled 911's or the first-generation Mustangs, but I think they're well on their way to being classics now. They were many people's first Porsche, whether purchased brand-new by upwardly-mobile professionals during the dot-com boom or used by mechanically-adventurous teenagers when they were valueless.

Speaking of that, they were once worth very little, and that made them disposable. Lots of Boxsters that could've been fixed for less than they're worth now were parted out or scrapped during that time, and their numbers have dwindled somewhat. They're still relatively cheap and being bought by people like me, who drive they year-round and flog them at the track. As much as I love my car, I acknowledge that my lifestyle isn't the best way of preserving it. That's fine for me, as I don't intend to sell it. Attrition rate definitely helps to create classics, look at what happened to the 180SX and what's happening to Miatas, for example.

But what makes the most sense to me is that every time a new Porsche is reviewed, they lament the absence of a naturally aspirated flat-6, the increased size, the numbness of electric power steering and the unusable gear ratios in the manual transmissions. The only way to get an N/A engine in a new Porsche anymore is to get a GT3/4.

Of course, the preferred way of doing that is an air-cooled model, but those are exorbitantly expensive to the point where many would rather get a Lotus, and air-cooled engines are no longer acceptable by many buyers' standards. The lightest, shortest-geared Porsche with the best steering to feature a water-cooled flat-6 is the 986, and by quite a margin. I think that sets it apart in pretty important metrics as far as the driving experience is concerned.
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Old 01-09-2025, 10:44 PM   #79
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What you mustn't forget: The 986 is not a car that patronises the driver with any beeping or assistance systems (except abs etc.). Fortunately, you have to switch everything on and off and there are no stupid sensors for distance, lane, lights etc. (imho).
That's one of the things that makes this car so attractive, plus it's not underpowered and if you can drive it, you can easily outpace even more powerful cars.
It is probably too early to discuss whether it will become or already is a classic.

The bottom line is that it is and remains a desirable car with a fully galvanised body!
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Old 01-11-2025, 06:32 AM   #80
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Those are great points about a simple non-"nanny" car's appeal.
I got a 997 because, you know, 911! But I find the Boxster not only more fun to drive, but inexplicably, more comfortable for long drives.
The only problem I've had in the 8 years I've had it was a coolant tank splitting.
I've thought about selling to get something else but can't ever really get to that point. My wife loves it though she is terrified to drive it (even though she has a manual M235!) Similar to my E39 540, it is just such a pleasure to be in and to drive.
And along those lines, I've driven a GTS 4.0. While I loved it, it also seems more distant than the Boxster, if you can understand what I mean. Far faster, certainly, but not as alive.
I think we have something here we'll treasure for a long time.

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