I am about to buy a Porsche Boxster 1997, used, but apparently in mint condition ( I am getting it inspected Monday by a certified mechanic, though )

l was wondering what i'm getting into : are these cars reliable ? 11 years after, how do they hold up ? Should l expect lots of repairs as I am driving it ? is the Mileage-per-Gallon as good as it seems on paper ?
Please, 1997 Boxsters owners - or people that know about this car on an everyday basis, let me know your feedback!
Well, got it inspected by a certified ( and independant ) mechanic who told me that the car was pristine - and a ''go''. So, as of today, I am the proud owner of a Boxster!
l was driving a Mazda Miata, which l had a blast with, but the Boxster engine is definitely a different league. Thanks for the !

Yes, they r reliable. The most reliable German brand.

MPG is very good.
Porsche is r the most fuel efficient sportscars.

l have driven the 98 Boxster for 2 days.
It is very fun to drive.
But it is RWD, so it is slippery in rain. l slipped a few times.
And it is impossible to drive in snow like all RWD cars.

The only problem l have ever heard with the older Boxster is that if u close the top in the wrong way, it can get stuck.

l am a true Porsche enthusiast & a member of the Porsche Club of America, & l can say that the 1997 Porsche Boxter is a waste of money. The Porsche Boxster that is made now is 10X better & it still sucks. They r not real Porsche's. They r a cheap way to get into a Great Name car. If u want a powerful little convertible, but do not have deep pockets, look at a Honda S2000 or a Mazda Miata. Both great & affordable cars. They will also be cheaper & more fuel efficent. Besides, driving a Porsche Boxster, especially one thats not an S makes u look like a girl or a gay.

l disagree with C7S is statement about reliability. Yes they're reliable, but not the best German vehicle. Repairs r expensive, & unlike BMWs (my personal fav), u almost need a certified Porsche mechanic to work on it, because the engine & transmission is unique to porsche. Your average mechanic does not see many mid engine RWD vehicles!
l got a chance to test drive one, & l loved it! It is probably more fun than my M5, although not as practical, but who cares about practicality, it is a Porsche!!!

1997 was the first year of the car. It ran the 2.5l which had very little power. It was changed out for the 2.7 in 2001 l believe. Dont listen to anyone that says its not real. All porsches have hand built engines on the same line as a 911. They are perfectly balanced and can out perform even some 911's. That guy is a loser that had probably never driven a porsche in his life. l would say save up for a 2003 which had a glass window top and more power.

Awesome cars. You will need a lot of money to fix it if there are a lot of problems with it though. Look it over and try it out before you buy it.

nice cars but your going to get alot of grief from the higher end Porsche owners, we do tend to be elitists.

l own a 2003 Boxster & a 2001 996 (911). l took a look at the late 90 is Boxsters & they r a good value for the money, but l chose the 2003, due to being only a little more expensive for a low mileage car. The 2003 has a larger engine with more power, an updated interior, glass back window & an upgraded stereo. The general rules for purchasing a Porsche r to make sure u get as low mileage as u can, make sure the car has been meticulously maintained & make sure the previous owner did not beat the car. Oh yes, most important is to make sure the car has never been in an accident.

You also want to purchase a car that u can afford. l do not mean the price, but also include the cost to insure ur new car, as well as the maintenance & fuel cost (do not skimp on the gas - high octane is a must).

You ask about reliability. This car is reliable for a German car, but it is not in the same league as the Japanese. You will have a few repair issues - not lots of them, but a few. The thing u need to remember is that every repair is costly.

My Boxster had quite a few problems, but they were bugs that needed to be worked out. The 1999 Boxster was the last of the 2.5l 6's. They r a blast to drive, but need to be revved a little. This make it a fun car to drive, but also a bit of a pain in stop & go traffic (lots more shifts needed due to low torque).

If the car fits ur budget, definitely get it. l actually enjoy driving my Boxster more than my 996 for day to day driving. Ditto for driving on a beautiful sunny day (which we get lots of here in So Cal). l chose my 996 when l am in the mood to drive hard & l want the power or the edginess of the suspension.

When l was shopping for my Boxster, l looked at the 350Z Convertible, Z4, Crossfire Convertible, Miata Speed, MR-2, TT, SLK & S2000. After driving the cars, l narrowed it down to the Boxster & the Z4. The trunk space & the beautiful sound of the engine made my choice an easy one.

Finally, be careful listening to some of the guys on this site - a Boxster is a true Porsche. The engine is a dream! The suspension is incredible! Best brakes out there! Great steering feedback! This is why u buy a true sports car!

Good luck!