Porsche: the new Mazda

The go-to car of the twenty-teens petrol head was the MX-5. Picking up a decent car for under was easy, with countless cars on offer all over the internet. The popularity exploding through the roof with icons like Alex Kersten’s Phil becoming a staple of automotive media.  Simple and easy to work on with the only limitation for modifications is the owners imagination, it’s easy to see why they became so popular.

Now, anything under the £1k mark seems to have a rotten chassis. An imported Eunos Roadster in OK condition goes for around £5,000. Second and third generation cars tend to be less prone to disintegrating, but they’ll set you back a couple of thousand minimum.

It appears the MX-5 is facing the same consequences as the early 2000’s BMW; the tale of the e46. A car so accessible, so modifiable, that the stock, standard cars become rare. Half a million MX-5’s built by the turn of the century, a million 15 years later. A car that shouldn’t be rare becoming rare simply because they have all been modified in some way or another. Some more than others, of course - track focused, drifters, low-riders, you name it, it’s been done. What

Where does that leave the petrolhead now?

Trawling Autotrader for anything at an entry level price becomes monotonous quickly. A German saloon with a 2-litre diesel with moon miles isn’t exactly the epitome of fun. It’s not an inspiring range of options at first glance. There is one thing that stands out though. A small, mid-engined sport car. Convertible too.

Porsche built just over 150,000 of the 986 Boxster between 1996 and 2005. Jonny Smith famously bought a ‘Bargain Boxster’ for £1900 mid-2024. With a little work, it’w now used often and Jonny shouts it’s virtue from the rooftop. There are plenty available now, and all for a reasonable price.

A rear-wheeled drive, mid-engined sports car for £5,000 or less. What’s not to love? The driving experience is second to none. The feel from a Boxster is unlike anything else. The raw sound of the 6-cylinder boxer, as it pushes you along the road. My 986 has 105,000 miles and counting, yet there is no better car for the B-roads of the UK. The small footprint makes it perfect for country lanes. The 2.7 engine puts out 217 horsepower and weighing only 1,250kg’s the handling is ideal for the twisting backroads of the countryside. The soft top lets you really experience the outdoors. Shockingly, the insurance is pretty reasonable too.

Brand prestige can’t be overlooked here too. There is a fantasy associated with ‘owning a Porsche.’ Most people may immediately think 911, but the badge is the same. Having been fortunate to drive a 992 911 Carrera 4S, I would actually choose the Boxster. There is something exciting about being able drive closer to the limits of a car without actually breaking the law. Letting it rev out and staying within the limits.

The Boxster is a surprisingly easy car to work on too. ‘101 Projects for Your Porsche Boxster’ is a staple for anyone who has one. Porsche have given the early Boxster classic status, meaning OEM parts are surprisingly affordable. There is also an incredible amount of aftermarket support for everything Porsche. Magnus Walker has made it acceptable to modify the classics too. Being a Porsche Outlaw is a brand, something to be proud of, something encouraged. The price of the 986 generation is now opening up this world to an entire new generation.

We seem to be at a crossroads, then. The Boxster is still a little too expensive to count as the next MX-5. You can’t get one under £2,000 really, but can you get anything? The price of everything increasing, inflation hitting hard over the last few years. Do the dirt cheap project cars still exist? I don’t think so unfortunately. The worlds evolved and the price of entry is a bit more now.

Does that mean that Porsche is the new Mazda? No, of course not. But, the Boxster could well be the new MX-5.