Porsche Boxster S

As surely as night follows day, then a new Boxster – the 987 – arrived in 2004 at the Paris Motor Show. As with the 986 Boxster, it was developed alongside the forthcoming ‘new’ 997 model 911. Like the new 911, it was ‘beefed up’ in the body dept. The base Boxster came with a 2.7-litre engine, producing 236bhp, while the 3.2-litre Boxster S weighed in with 276bhp.

S CLUB HEAVEN

Which is exactly what we have here: An early 987 Boxster S. Plenty of those around, but not many with under 20,000-miles on the clock and condition to match.

Delivered to Porsche Centre Edinburgh in March 2005, this particular Boxster is finished in Midnight Blue, with a black leather interior. Typically, it is lightly optioned, but then there’s only so much trinketry that you can squeeze into a two-seater, before it starts to look ‘blinged’ up. Indeed it appeals to our purist sensibilities.

Crucially it’s a six-speed manual too, and with standard 18in wheels, it’s suitably light on its Michelin shod feet.

Servicing has been a mix of Porsche Centre and specialist, as evidenced in the stamped service book. Predictably, with minimal mileage, this has been largely routine, with no major issues. In recent years, this Boxster has had something of a sabbatical. Recent servicing has concentrated on recommissioning and as such it is ready to go, with fresh fluids/filters, brake pads, battery and paintwork, where required.

So, this is not your average 17-year old Boxster. Indeed it is hard to correlate age with as new condition. But unlike so many low-mileage cars – Porsche or otherwise – it’s value is not conditional on its mileage. This is a Boxster that deserves to be used.

ON THE ROAD

First get the roof down! Second, fire up that charismatic flat-six! Excited? You should be. The clutch is light, the gearshift/box is one of Porsche’s best and the steering is hydraulically sublime. On the road the 18in wheels and passive dampers offer a near perfect blend of grip and ride and the handling is pure, mid-engined perfection, further aided by flat-six, low centre of gravity.

Performance – 166mph/0-60mph in 6.2 secs – and size are perfectly matched, for UK roads and if that’s not enough, there is the Boxster’s often unsung practicality, combining both front and rear luggage space for extended touring.

IN SUMMARY