MarketPlace: 43k-Mile 1997 Porsche 986 Boxster 5-Speed
Vehicle Details
- Year: 1997
- Make: Porsche
- Model: Boxster
- VIN: WP0CA2989VS622591
- Mileage Shown: 43,450
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: Arena Red Metallic
- Seller Type: Private Party
- Location: Dublin, OH 43017
- Country: United States of America
- Lot #: V-0060781-MP
Finished in Arena Red Metallic over Black partial leather, this 1997 Porsche 986 Boxster pairs a 5-speed manual gearbox with its 2.5-liter flat-six engine. It was also factory configured with 17” Twist alloy wheels, a polished stainless-steel exhaust outlet, Boxster-logo stainless steel door entry guards, cruise control, power and heated side mirrors, the HiFi Sound System, and much more. Showing approximately 43k miles on the odometer, this Boxster is now being offered for auction by its seller out of Ohio.
This 986 Boxster is finished in Arena Red Metallic, one of Porsche’s quintessential colors of the late 1990s. Factory options include an exclusive polished stainless steel exhaust outlet, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, and 17” Twist wheels with colored Porsche crest center caps. Additional equipment consists of fog lights, side air intakes, a body-color removable hardtop, and a black power-operated soft top. The seller notes the convertible top cylinders were replaced in July 2025. Imperfections include minor rock chip touch-ups, scrape marks on the underside of the front bumper, and a thin scratch on the rear quarter panel. Detailed images are provided in the gallery along with a clean CARFAX report.
The Black partial leather interior features manually adjustable seats, air conditioning, cruise control, a HiFi sound system, a Becker-Porsche CDR-210 stereo, a CD storage compartment, a 315 MHz alarm, a wind deflector, and an engine cover storage pocket. Exclusive stainless steel door entry guards with Boxster logos were additionally specified. The seller confirms that all gauges and accessories are in proper working order. A list of factory equipment is provided below:
- L84S – Arena Red Metallic paint
- AS – Black Partial leather upholstery
- C02 – Version for USA
- XLA – Polished stainless-steel exhaust end
- X70 – Stainless-steel door entry guards with Boxster logo
- 231 – Internal production code related to tires
- 273 – Door mirrors electrically adjustable and heatable
- 396 – 17″ 996 Carrera-look twist-spoke wheels
- 424 – CD compartment
- 441 – Radio preparation
- 446 – Wheel caps with full-color Porsche crests
- 454 – Cruise control
- 490 – Hi-fi sound system
- 535 – Alarm 315 MHz
- 551 – Wind deflector
- 582 – Storage pocket on engine cover
- 688 – CD-radio Becker Porsche CDR-210
The 2.5-liter flat-six engine is factory-rated at 201 HP and 181 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox. The CARFAX report shows a total of 10 service history entries.
This sale will include a clean title, owner’s manuals, a spare tire, a car cover, a battery charger, and sales literature.
The seller would like you to know: “I purchased this car at the beginning of summer and have since enjoyed it in my free time, mostly on the weekends. The Boxster has remained in a closed garage under my ownership, and I have taken care of both known flaws (hard top & airbag light) that I purchased the car with. It has been a joy to drive, and I look forward to finding it a new home as I move back to university at the end of summer!”
Auction Results
- Buy now purchase price: $11,500
- Auction End: Sep 25, 2025 12:48:28AM UTC
- Number of Offers: 6
Attachments
Comments (28)
Purchased for $11,500
Offer in the amount of $10,356
Offer in the amount of $9,550
Offer in the amount of $9,300
I'm interested... Can we talk?
This must be the first Boxster listing where I didn't see the infamous IMS bearing mentioned or even asked. So I guess I have to ask. I'm mildly interested in this, but I assume the IMS bearing on this is still stock and hasn't been upgraded to the non exploding ones? Also, with the relatively low miles, it's still in the range of it potentially exploding.
So officially, have the IMS bearing been upgraded?
Any leaks in the top or cracks in the plastic window? How old are the tires?
What is that loud rattle in the first two or three seconds of startup?
Offer in the amount of $9,000
Offer in the amount of $8,500
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@mineralfarmer Hi! Just added a screenshot of the service log which shows more of the earlier oil changes, I do not have any other records from the previous owners, only that booklet. That being said, the service records could likely still be acquired from the shops where the carfax says “vehicle serviced” to find out how many of those included oil changes, since I know spark plugs were not explicitly listed as being changed, but upon calling and getting the record it was confirmed that they were replaced.
If one were to go strictly by the Carfax, it looks like the car has only had its oil changed twice in its life, once at 20 something and once at 40 something. Do you have any records from previous owners that might reveal more oil changes?
@markjames Thanks! Feel free to make an offer via PCarmarket to proceed!
$14250 sounds good . I am located in New Jersey and I will have my mover organize a pick up from your location after you have received payment.
@markjames The car is being garaged in a city 2 hours away from my university, I can assure the photos are representative of the current condition, seeing as, the car has not moved since they were taken, however I see no benefit to driving ~4 hours to take more photos.
As the listing says, I am located in Dublin, OH. My final price is $14.250. Thank you.
Thanks for the message, I would like to know your final price, present pictures and where are you located?
@markjames hi, what specifically would you like photos of? These are recent as of ~2 weeks ago and the car has been garaged since.
HI, How are you doing today? Well, I'm interested 43k-Mile 1997 Porsche 986 Boxster 5-Speed listed for sale and I would like you to send recent pictures apart from the ones you posted online, present condition and also your final price as well.
Bid in the amount of $7,000
Bid in the amount of $5,500
@needanothercar Yes! Sorry if it isn’t clear in the listing but as pictured in some of the later photos, a matching hard top will be included!
You mention known flaws "hard top and airbag light", is a hard top included?
Bid in the amount of $5,250
Bid in the amount of $5,000
Bid in the amount of $1,997
Bid in the amount of $986
Hi everyone, welcome to my 986 Boxster auction, I will be available throughout the next week to respond to all of your questions as best and as quickly as I can! Thanks for taking a look!