PORSCHE Boxster S (986) 1999-2002 Photos, engines & full specs

When it was introduced in 1996, the Boxster was a shock and some considered it as the “poor's man Porsche”. But the mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, Boxster S was something better than expected.

Yes, it was cheaper than the 911, but it was nimble and still a daily driver. The smaller engine, the low driving position, and the nimble handling made some 911 owners change their minds and reconsider the base-model from the German car-maker. After all, it was the sequel after the 1969 Porsche 914.

The design was inspired by former glory models such as the 356 Cabriolet and the 550 Spyder. The front fascia was on the same page with the Porsche 911 – 996 model. The low front end was possible due to the lack of engine and the rear rounded back was possible due to the mid-mounted engine. Two side air-intakes were mounted to feed and cool the water-cooled engine.

For the interior, Porsche took the same approach as with the 911. Even in the base model, the car was fitted with sports seats. The instrument cluster featured fewer dials than its bigger brother, but it still had the speedometer on the left, the rev-counter in the middle, and the water and fuel level on the right round dial. The two security arches behind the seats were not only mandatory but to strengthen the bodywork and stiffen the chassis.

Unlike its less-powered brother, which featured a 2.5-liter engine, the Boxster S was fitted with a 3.2-liter engine. It was mated to a 6-speed gearbox instead of the 5-speed installed on the non-S version. The result was a 252 hp roadster that could get a 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph) run in less than 6 seconds.