Porsche Boxster 986 Convertible (1996-2004)

75% Neofiliac
Keywords: compactconvertibledohchigh-performancemacpherson-strutmanual-transmissionporscherwdsports-car

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Product Overview

Porsche Boxster 986 is a compact convertible sports car in production from 1996 to 2004. It was available with a range of flat-6 engines that displaced 2.5 to 3.2 liters. Both manual and 5-speed ZF 5HP automatic transmissions were offered.
A smaller, mid-engined alternative to the 911, the 986 Boxster brings back the form factor and sporting purity of earlier 911s, as the larger model went upmarket. Porsche made sure that the 986 all had flat-6 engines, though some had serious reliability issues.
Suspension-wise, Porsche not only had to use MacPherson at the front but, curiously MacPherson strut at the rear. This is ostensibly to accommodate the engine between the wheels in the car's narrow frame. Hence, handling is not the best.

Ratings

What we found**

Neofiliac score 75% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
  • Good little fun car
  • Characterful H6 engine
  • Manual transmission
Cons
  • MacPherson suspensions all around
  • Horrendous ZF automatic transmission
  • Serious engine reliability issues

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Specifications

Boxster 2.5Boxster 2.5 ATBoxster 2.7 220Boxster 2.7 220 ATBoxster 2.7 225Boxster 2.7 225 ATBoxster S 250Boxster S 250 ATBoxster S 258Boxster S 258 AT

Capacity

Cargo Capacity260 L / 9.2 cu-ft
Coolant Capacity17.0 L / 18.0 qt
Engine Oil Capacity8.3 L / 8.8 qt8.3 L / 8.8 qt8.5 L / 9.0 qt8.5 L / 9.0 qt7.8 L / 8.2 qt7.8 L / 8.2 qt8.5 L / 9.0 qt8.5 L / 9.0 qt8.3 L / 8.8 qt8.3 L / 8.8 qt
Fuel Capacity57.0 L / 15.1 gal57.0 L / 15.1 gal64.0 L / 16.9 gal64.0 L / 16.9 gal64.0 L / 16.9 gal64.0 L / 16.9 gal64.0 L / 16.9 gal64.0 L / 16.9 gal64.0 L / 16.9 gal64.0 L / 16.9 gal
Passengers2
Payload310 kg / 683 lbs300 kg / 661 lbs310 kg / 683 lbs310 kg / 683 lbs325 kg / 717 lbs325 kg / 717 lbs320 kg / 705 lbs320 kg / 705 lbs310 kg / 683 lbs310 kg / 683 lbs

Chassis

Brakes | FrontVentilated discs
Brakes | RearVentilated discs
Power SteeringHydraulic Steering
Suspension | FrontMacPherson strut
Suspension | RearMacPherson strut
Tire Size205/55 R 16205/55 R 16205/55 R 16205/55 R 16205/55 ZR 16205/55 ZR 16Front wheel tires: 205/50 ZR 17 Rear wheel tires: 255/40 ZR 17Front wheel tires: 205/50 ZR 17 Rear wheel tires: 255/40 ZR 17Front wheel tires: 205/50 ZR 17 Rear wheel tires: 255/40 ZR 17Front wheel tires: 205/50 ZR 17 Rear wheel tires: 255/40 ZR 17
Turning Circle11.1 m / 36.4 ft

Construction

Body Style2-door Convertible

Dimensions

Ground Clearance121 mm / 4.8 in
Size | Height1290 mm / 50.8 in
Size | Length4315 mm / 169.9 in4315 mm / 169.9 in4315 mm / 169.9 in4315 mm / 169.9 in4320 mm / 170.1 in4320 mm / 170.1 in4315 mm / 169.9 in4315 mm / 169.9 in4320 mm / 170.1 in4320 mm / 170.1 in
Size | Width1780 mm / 70.1 in1780 mm / 70.1 in1780 mm / 70.1 in1780 mm / 70.1 in1780 mm / 70.1 in | 1930 mm / 76.0 in (mirror unfolded)1780 mm / 70.1 in1780 mm / 70.1 in1780 mm / 70.1 in1780 mm / 70.1 in1780 mm / 70.1 in
Track Width | Front1465.0 mm / 57.7 in1465.0 mm / 57.7 in1465.0 mm / 57.7 in1465.0 mm / 57.7 in1465.0 mm / 57.7 in1465.0 mm / 57.7 in1455.0 mm / 57.3 in1455.0 mm / 57.3 in1455.0 mm / 57.3 in1455.0 mm / 57.3 in
Track Width | Rear1525.0 mm / 60.0 in1525.0 mm / 60.0 in1528.0 mm / 60.2 in1528.0 mm / 60.2 in1528.0 mm / 60.2 in1528.0 mm / 60.2 in1508.0 mm / 59.4 in1508.0 mm / 59.4 in1514.0 mm / 59.6 in1514.0 mm / 59.6 in
Weight1250.0 kg / 2755.8 lbs1310.0 kg / 2888.1 lbs1260.0 kg / 2777.8 lbs1310.0 kg / 2888.1 lbs1275.0 kg / 2810.9 lbs1330.0 kg / 2932.1 lbs1295.0 kg / 2855.0 lbs1335.0 kg / 2943.2 lbs1320.0 kg / 2910.1 lbs1360.0 kg / 2998.3 lbs
Wheel Size6 J x 166 J x 166 J x 166 J x 166 J x 16 ET 506 J x 16 ET 50Front wheel rims: 7 J x 17 Rear wheel rims: 8.5 J x 17Front wheel rims: 7 J x 17 Rear wheel rims: 8.5 J x 17Front wheel rims: 7 J x 17 ET 55 Rear wheel rims: 8.5 J x 17 ET 48Front wheel rims: 7 J x 17 ET 55 Rear wheel rims: 8.5 J x 17 ET 48
Wheelbase2415 mm / 95.1 in

Performance

Acceleration | 0 - 100 km/h6.9 sec7.6 sec6.6 sec7.4 sec6.4 sec7.3 sec5.9 sec6.5 sec5.7 sec6.4 sec
Acceleration | 0 - 60 mph6.7 sec7.4 sec6.3 sec7.0 sec6.1 sec6.9 sec5.6 sec6.2 sec5.4 sec6.1 sec
CO2 Emission239 g/km264 g/km245 g/km264 g/km233 g/km259 g/km265 g/km280 g/km255 g/km268 g/km
Coefficient Of Drag0.310.310.310.310.310.310.320.320.320.32
Fuel Economy9.7 L/100km / 24.2 MPG (combined) | 14.3 L/100km / 16.4 MPG (urban) | 7.1 L/100km / 33.1 MPG (highway)10.9 L/100km / 21.6 MPG (combined) | 15.8 L/100km / 14.9 MPG (urban) | 8.1 L/100km / 29.0 MPG (highway)9.9 L/100km / 23.8 MPG (combined) | 14.6 L/100km / 16.1 MPG (urban) | 7.4 L/100km / 31.8 MPG (highway)10.9 L/100km / 21.6 MPG (combined) | 15.9 L/100km / 14.8 MPG (urban) | 8.0 L/100km / 29.4 MPG (highway)9.7 L/100km / 24.2 MPG (combined) | 14.2 L/100km / 16.6 MPG (urban) | 7.1 L/100km / 33.1 MPG (highway)10.7 L/100km / 22.0 MPG (combined) | 15.3 L/100km / 15.4 MPG (urban) | 7.9 L/100km / 29.8 MPG (highway)10.7 L/100km / 22.0 MPG (combined) | 15.6 L/100km / 15.1 MPG (urban) | 8.0 L/100km / 29.4 MPG (highway)11.3 L/100km / 20.8 MPG (combined) | 17.2 L/100km / 13.7 MPG (urban) | 8.2 L/100km / 28.7 MPG (highway)10.5 L/100km / 22.4 MPG (combined) | 15.3 L/100km / 15.4 MPG (urban) | 7.8 L/100km / 30.2 MPG (highway)11.1 L/100km / 21.2 MPG (combined) | 16.4 L/100km / 14.3 MPG (urban) | 8.0 L/100km / 29.4 MPG (highway)
Top Speed240.0 km/h / 149.1 mph235.0 km/h / 146.0 mph250.0 km/h / 155.3 mph245.0 km/h / 152.2 mph253.0 km/h / 157.2 mph248.0 km/h / 154.1 mph260.0 km/h / 161.6 mph255.0 km/h / 158.4 mph264.0 km/h / 164.0 mph258.0 km/h / 160.3 mph

Powertrain

Drivetrain LayoutMid-engine (longitudinal), Rear-wheel drive
Emission StandardEuro 2Euro 2Euro 3Euro 3Euro 3Euro 3Euro 3Euro 3Euro 3Euro 3
EngineM96.20M96.20M96.22M96.22M96.23M96.23M96.21M96.21M96.24M96.24
Engine | Bore85.5 mm / 3.4 in85.5 mm / 3.4 in85.5 mm / 3.4 in85.5 mm / 3.4 in85.5 mm / 3.4 in85.5 mm / 3.4 in93.0 mm / 3.7 in93.0 mm / 3.7 in93.0 mm / 3.7 in93.0 mm / 3.7 in
Engine | Compression Ratio11.0:1
Engine | Displacement2.5 L / 151.3 cu-in / 2480.0 cc2.5 L / 151.3 cu-in / 2480.0 cc2.7 L / 164.0 cu-in / 2687.0 cc2.7 L / 164.0 cu-in / 2687.0 cc2.7 L / 164.0 cu-in / 2687.0 cc2.7 L / 164.0 cu-in / 2687.0 cc3.2 L / 194.0 cu-in / 3179.0 cc3.2 L / 194.0 cu-in / 3179.0 cc3.2 L / 194.0 cu-in / 3179.0 cc3.2 L / 194.0 cu-in / 3179.0 cc
Engine | Power204.0 hp / 152.1 kW @ 6000 rpm204.0 hp / 152.1 kW @ 6000 rpm220.0 hp / 164.1 kW @ 6400 rpm220.0 hp / 164.1 kW @ 6400 rpm228.0 hp / 170.0 kW @ 6300 rpm228.0 hp / 170.0 kW @ 6300 rpm252.0 hp / 187.9 kW @ 6250 rpm252.0 hp / 187.9 kW @ 6250 rpm260.0 hp / 193.9 kW @ 6200 rpm260.0 hp / 193.9 kW @ 6200 rpm
Engine | Specific Output82.3 hp/L / 1.3 hp/cu-in82.3 hp/L / 1.3 hp/cu-in81.9 hp/L / 1.3 hp/cu-in81.9 hp/L / 1.3 hp/cu-in84.9 hp/L / 1.4 hp/cu-in84.9 hp/L / 1.4 hp/cu-in79.3 hp/L / 1.3 hp/cu-in79.3 hp/L / 1.3 hp/cu-in81.8 hp/L / 1.3 hp/cu-in81.8 hp/L / 1.3 hp/cu-in
Engine | Stroke72.0 mm / 2.8 in72.0 mm / 2.8 in78.0 mm / 3.1 in78.0 mm / 3.1 in78.0 mm / 3.1 in78.0 mm / 3.1 in78.0 mm / 3.1 in78.0 mm / 3.1 in78.0 mm / 3.1 in78.0 mm / 3.1 in
Engine | Torque245 Nm / 180.7 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm245 Nm / 180.7 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm260 Nm / 191.8 lb-ft @ 4750 rpm260 Nm / 191.8 lb-ft @ 4750 rpm260 Nm / 191.8 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm260 Nm / 191.8 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm305 Nm / 225.0 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm305 Nm / 225.0 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm310 Nm / 228.6 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm310 Nm / 228.6 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm
Engine | TypeNaturally-aspirated multi-port injected petrol flat-6 DOHC engine with 4 values per cylinder
Transmission | Gears5-speed5-speed5-speed5-speed5-speed5-speed6-speed5-speed6-speed5-speed
Transmission | TypeManualAutomatic Tiptronic SManualAutomatic Tiptronic SManualAutomatic Tiptronic SManualAutomatic Tiptronic SManualAutomatic Tiptronic S

Production

Availability1996 ~ 19991996 ~ 19991999 ~ 20021999 ~ 20022002 ~ 20042002 ~ 20041999 ~ 20021999 ~ 20022002 ~ 20042002 ~ 2004

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