In my head it's been nine eight six. I'm starting to read nine eighty-six as dominant. Nine eleven, nine fourteen, nine forty-four, etc.

Nope. It's only 9-8-6 for me ;)
No one I can think of would know "Boxster" any more than they would know "986".
At least people know what a "Porsche 9xx" is.
Nobody knows what the heck a Boxster is and 986 sounds way cooler :p

It's been my experience that more people associate Porsche models with numbers rather than names.

I'll have to agree with you on that one. When people find out that I bought a Porsche and ask what it is, I also say nine eighty six. sounds cool and fast. When I say Boxster, I think of boxy like a the older Volvos or the Sportster the cheap Harley.

9 ATE 6, that looks sexual however

:) kinda does, doesn't it. I like to think of mine as a Nine Eight Six Essss