Immaculate Deception: 2004 Porsche Boxster S – SOLD!

May 16, 2021 Update – we confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call Rudy directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

Dictionaries define the adjective “Immaculate” as spotlessly clean and having no flaw or defect.  I will be the first to agree this 2004 Porsche Boxster S once listed in April 2021 on Craigslist in New Haven, Connecticut is very clean. However, from a fanatical Concours enthusiast perspective, this final-year 986 is several weekends of serious detailing away from being ready to be called “Immaculate.”  I know there are several Porsche Concour judges reading this post who will be able to pick out the cosmetic items needing attention from the pictures provided. That said, this all-black Boxster S is a prime candidate to take it to Concours level. The fact the seller shouts in his ad, “YOU WON’T FIND A CLEANER BOXSTER ANYWHERE !!!” proves he has never attended a Porsche Club of America Concours event.

My nit-picking aside, with only 60K original miles and both the IMS bearing and rear main seal already upgraded, the asking price of $18,500 is nicely priced.  Comparing that price against the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms the private seller has his 986 priced five hundred dollars less than this guide’s #2 “Excellent” estimate of $19,000.

The car that saved Porsche.  While the famed German Brand enjoys growing success today, in the mid-nineties a very strong Deutsch Mark combined with high priced, essentially hand-built products had the company flirting with financial ruin.  To turn the company’s fortunes around, Porsche launched its all-new mid-engined, water-cooled, flat-six powered, sports car in the fall of 1996 at a very affordable $40,000 price point.  The original base Boxster was an immediate hit for Porsche with one of the few complaints being the 201 horsepower 2.5 Liter flat six not having enough power.  Porsche answered the call in 1999 with the Boxster S.  These upgraded models feature a 3.2 Liter flat-six producing about 50 more horsepower than the base model.  2001 was the last model year of the original 986 design before a mid-cycle refresh came along for the 2002 model year that saw the convertible top’s rear window converted from plastic to glass and a major interior upgrade. 2004 was the final model year for the first-generation 986 version of the Boxster.

This Hello Road YouTube review of the Porsche Boxster S is spot-on as these cars continue to be the best-kept secret as one of the finest handling and most practical sports cars you can buy:

Finding a 986 vintage Boxster S for under $20K with the IMS and rear main seal upgrades already complete is somewhat of a value.  As with all vintage German cars, we highly recommend having a reputable third party complete a pre-purchase inspection (“PPI”). As long as that event doesn’t find any major defects, you’ll have a ball driving this Boxster every chance you get.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“Immaculate 2004 Porsche Boxster S, YOU WON’T FIND A CLEANER BOXSTER ANYWHERE !!! 6 Speed, black interior, all manuals, two sets of keys, just completely serviced, runs and drives like it’s brand new!!! Comes with a new battery tender. Tons of service records from previous owners, Tires appear as new, ALL THE PROBLEM PARTS REPLACED!!! Had NEW clutch assembly LN Engineering IMS bearing and rear main seal installed about 11,000 miles ago. NEEDS NOTHING, had 60K service, radiators cleaned, etc. JUST HOP IN AND DRIVE!!! Original CA. Car PLEASE DON”T WASTE TIME WITH LOWBALL OFFERS !!!
Thanks,
Domenic“

Show or go: what would you do with this final-year 986 Boxster S?  Comment below and let us know!