1999 Porsche Boxster

1999 Porsche Boxster Black on Grey, 5-Speed Manual, Clean Undercarriage


Why This Car Is Special

The 1999 Porsche Boxster represents something Porsche had not attempted since the 914: a purpose-built, mid-engine, open-top two-seater designed from a clean sheet. When the 986-generation Boxster arrived for the 1997 model year, it was not a parts-bin special or a trimmed-down 911. It was engineered specifically as a roadster, with the engine mounted behind the driver and ahead of the rear axle the ideal placement for balanced, predictable handling. By 1999, the Boxster had already proven itself as one of the most capable driver's cars available at any price, and Porsche had worked through the earliest production teething concerns. That makes a well-preserved 1999 example a particularly sensible choice for a buyer who wants genuine Porsche driving character without the premium attached to later variants.

The base Boxster in 1999 used a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower. That number may sound modest by today's standards, but the Boxster weighed roughly 2,800 pounds, and the engine sits amidships giving the car a near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution. The result is a car that responds to driver inputs with an accuracy that larger, heavier sports cars cannot match. The Boxster S, which arrived for the 2000 model year with a 3.2-liter engine, gets most of the enthusiast attention, but the 2.5-liter car with a manual gearbox is the purist's specification. It is lighter, simpler, and every bit as engaging on a twisting road.

This specific car is finished in black over a grey leather interior and equipped with the 5-speed manual transmission the correct combination for anyone who wants to use the car the way Porsche intended it to be driven.


Features List

- 2.5L Horizontally Opposed 6-Cylinder Mid-Engine
- 5-Speed Manual Transmission
- Black Soft Top with Glass Rear Window
- Grey Leather Bucket Seats
- Porsche CDR-220 AM/FM/Cassette Head Unit
- Door Panel Speakers (front and rear)
- Automatic Climate Control
- Factory 5-Spoke Silver Alloy Wheels
- Michelin Tires
- Integrated Roll Hoops
- Power Windows
- Power Door Locks
- Power-Adjustable Side Mirrors
- Tachometer
- Single Oval Exhaust Tip
- 4-Wheel Disc Brakes with ABS
- Power Steering
- Front and Rear Storage Compartments
- Driver and Passenger Airbags
- Clean Undercarriage


Mechanical

The 2.5-liter flat-six in this 1999 Porsche Boxster is a water-cooled unit an important distinction for buyers familiar with Porsche's history. Porsche transitioned its road cars from air-cooled to water-cooled engines across the late 1990s, and the Boxster's M96 engine family was part of that shift. The engine sits longitudinally behind the cockpit, low in the chassis, where its weight contributes to a low center of gravity. Power routes through a 5-speed manual transmission, which is the gearbox most Boxster buyers specify when they are buying for driving enjoyment rather than convenience.

The suspension is fully independent front and rear, using MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup at the rear. Four-wheel disc brakes are assisted by ABS, and power steering keeps the effort manageable without disconnecting the driver from road feel. The Michelin tires visible in the photos are an appropriate choice for this chassis, which was developed with performance tire feedback in mind.

The undercarriage photos in this listing tell the most important story. The floorpan, subframes, and suspension components are clean and solid. This is a car that has not been abused, has not lived in a rust-prone climate, and shows the kind of care underneath that typically reflects how the car was treated overall. Finding an early Boxster with this caliber of undercarriage condition at this price point is not common.


In