Timeless design

[haz]

The 986 is not a future classic I´m afraid, too many built and not special in any way. Don´t get me wrong, I love my Box, but there were "too many" built for it to achieve any classic status. The first Turbo and the 959 are classics to come. Not even the 914 which I have driven a lot, is special enough.

[RaisedOnPorsches]

I tend to agree with everyone here. The 986 has classic lines that lend it to a timeless look. That said, too many were made for these to ever appreciate value significantly. It might help them hold value a bit better than other entry-level Porsches like the 924.

Additionally, since there were so many made they have less of a 'something special' feel for those of us in urban environments where Porsches/BMWs/Mercedes/Audis are common sightings. I see on average at least 2 Boxsters (986/987/981) each day not counting my own.

Are these cars beautiful and timeless? I'd say so. Will they ever be something to bet your retirement on? Nope. Will these cars consistently deliver performance and fun? Yes!

[papasmurf]

Being a limited production vehicle does little to define a car as a classic or determine how collectible it will be one day (ex: every muscle car built). Just take for instance the early S30 series Z cars...they were a dime a dozen when I was growing up and you would see one all the time. The production numbers were very strong for most all the various models and iterations but now days you rarely see one because they were either not cared for and eventually sent to the scrap yard, or they rusted away. A well maintained early example can sell for significant money today and they will continue to appreciate. Did anyone think the daytona./superbirds would be worth $200k+ one day when they were on the market? Boxsters are not likely to rust away like some of the others but they could wind up neglected, abused, and scrapped till the remaining cars begin to appreciate....not to the extent a vintage ferrari would by any means but I do think they will appreciate some day.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by papasmurf

Being a limited production vehicle does little to define a car as a classic or determine how collectible it will be one day (ex: every muscle car built). Just take for instance the early S30 series Z cars...they were a dime a dozen when I was growing up and you would see one all the time. The production numbers were very strong for most all the various models and iterations but now days you rarely see one because they were either not cared for and eventually sent to the scrap yard, or they rusted away. A well maintained early example can sell for significant money today and they will continue to appreciate. Did anyone think the daytona./superbirds would be worth $200k+ one day when they were on the market? Boxsters are not likely to rust away like some of the others but they could wind up neglected, abused, and scrapped till the remaining cars begin to appreciate....not to the extent a vintage ferrari would by any means but I do think they will appreciate some day.

+1 on the above. Anyone else ever watch the BarretJackson auto auctions?
1964.5-1966 Mustang & VW bug, highest volume production cars made until the Japanese invasion & neither was a high quality car. Any drivable example will sell for more than it did new today. Here in CA any convertiblehas value. I laugh everytime I see a Dodge Dart convertible!

[Jager]

Only time will tell...

[Porsche9]

In terms of eventually being a classic and compared to other Porsches it ranks above the 924, 944, 968, 928 and 914. IMO. Unfortunately that's not saying too much as to this group except some exceptions (914-6, 944 Turbo S, very late 928s and a very few other). Too many made and when cars get to the point where repairs cost more then the car (with the known engine issues this one is easy) the possibility of it becoming a classic becomes slim. I love my Boxster but I do have high hopes for it becoming classic. Maybe I'm wrong and in 20 years analog drivers cars like the Boxster become desirable and with this being one of the last from Porsche plus it's good look it might become a classic.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by haz

The 986 is not a future classic I´m afraid, too many built and not special in any way. Don´t get me wrong, I love my Box, but there were "too many" built for it to achieve any classic status. The first Turbo and the 959 are classics to come. Not even the 914 which I have driven a lot, is special enough.

by that that standard nearly all Porsches are used cars. Few have recovered their original sticker prices in the second hand market, certainly not when you consider what it cost to buy a Porsche in earlier periods of substantially higher interest rates. They were much more expensive in past than a new 991 or 981 sells for today.

I may be mistaken but a genuine collectible is a car that regardless of mileage is now traded for a price above its original purchase price. Very very few Porsche have reached this point. The 550 is one, the 73 RS another.
However most older Porsches today, particulalry the air-cooled, if mileage starts to go up high, the price goes down quickly and below its original sticker. That's technically still used car status (albeit a resilient used car) and not yet a true collectible.
So if the Boxster never becomes a collectible it will simply be like just about every other Porsche made since the 550.

[haz]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

by that that standard nearly all Porsches are used cars. Few have recovered their original sticker prices in the second hand market,

Carrera GT, 356, first Turbo, 959. Alle true classics that you need to pay for more for than when new.