2004 Porsche Boxster S

In the seller’s care since April 2015, ‘LX04 CKP’ is a lovely example of the ever-popular Porsche Boxster S. Kept garaged and meticulously maintained, most recently by a Porsche-trained local mechanic, it is finished in Atlas Grey Metallic with a black leather interior.

Still showing just 43,000 miles on the odometer, it’s also completely standard and so offers the unadulterated 986 Boxster experience Porsche’s engineers intended.

Sadly, a recent injury means he’s finding it hard to get in and out of his beloved Porsche – and being the gentleman that he is, he’d rather it went to a new home with someone who will continue to love and use it rather than sit unused in his garage.

Porsche build quality was still evident back at the turn of the century, so while this Boxster is old enough to buy a drink in the USA, it’s little wonder it still looks so good.

With mm-perfect shutlines and flawless panel alignment, this one is still a poster child for West German engineering – and Finnish quality control.

The Atlas Grey Metallic (paint code LM7X) is really a dark blue colour making it almost as ruthless as black in its ability to highlight even minor flaws – yet that same colour works in its favour by highlighting its diminutive proportions and timeless lines: Pop a private numberplate on and the casual viewer could easily mistake it for a much younger car.

The 18-inch split-rim alloy wheels are free of scuffs and scrapes, which leaves the only problem being some peeling paint and a couple of missing Porsche badges from the centre caps. The open design also gives a good view of the ventilated brake discs and bright red calipers that are fitted to all four corners.

More importantly, perhaps, is the wheels are fitted with matching Michelin Pilot Sport N3 tyres, in 265/35ZR18 on the rear and 225/40ZR18 on the front. Their ages vary from 2014 through to 2021, but all have good tread and no obvious sidewall damage.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The black folding roof is as well engineered as the rest of the car; rising and falling smoothly, few, if any, hoods are as easier to operate or as weathertight. With a proper heated glass rear window, few, if any, convertibles are easier to live with through a British winter, either.

This one is also in great shape with no holes, rips, or tears and only light creases from where it’s been folded plus a few white lines on the nearside rear. The stitching is good too.

As for blemishes and flaws, the front end shows the usual stonechips, including to the windscreen. The offside of the bonnet is a little off-shade in colour too, and the nearside front wing has a scratch, and a little rust is developing inside the lip. The nearside door has some chips to its rear edge, plus a scratch under the handle and some marks to the sill.

Finally, part of the ‘Boxster’ badge is missing on the boot lid, the rear bumper has various light scratches to its surface, the offside rear wing has a scratch above the wheel, the offside rear lamp is scuffed, the driver’s door has chips along its trailing edge and near the handle, and the offside front wing has a scratch.

The headlamps are bright and clear though; in fact, all of the lights are free of chips, cracks, and other damage.

The black leather interior, complete with Porsche-crested seats, is every bit as well-engineered as the rest.

For example, take a look at those seats, which are still as plump and firm as a baby seal’s nose. They’re also beautifully shaped, combining elegance with the sort of grip you’ll appreciate when you start exploring the upper reaches of the high-G shenanigans the Boxster S is capable of.

There’s some gentle creasing to the driver’s seat, of course, and a tiny bit of colour loss to its outer edge but it’s weathered the past couple of decades better than anyone in our office.

The seats are manually adjustable too, a feature that saves weight and bakes in longevity; if something breaks – and being a Porsche it probably won’t – you can dig out your reassuringly analogue toolbox and fix it.

But please don’t mistake simplicity for poverty because nothing could be further from the truth.

A clear wind deflector sits between the rollover bars/headrests to offer ruffle-free motoring, even at speed. The heater is powerful enough for you to brave anything the British winter can throw at you in complete comfort – and the air-conditioning would allow you to cross the Sahara in equal comfort.

Four sliding drawers offer CD storage, and there’s a CD multichanger in the frunk too, giving you multiple ways to enjoy the whole-album experience so many of us miss since we’ve started playing nothing but our favourite tracks.

The pedal rubbers and carpets are all in great shape. The door cards could easily be a third of their age, and the switches and instruments are as legible now as they’ve ever been.

Even the elasticated pockets on the back of the seats are still taut – and coat hooks give you somewhere to hang your jackets.

The frunk contains a space-saver spare wheel, a hazard warning triangle, and the tool kit in addition to a four-layer, all-weather car cover. The rear luggage compartment contains the windscreen washer reservoir and the oil filler cap and dipstick; this is an unusually accessible and usable mid-engined sportscar. Both areas are as beautifully conserved as the rest of the cabin.

Everything we tested worked as it should, including both door-mounted warning/puddle lights.

Flaws, therefore, are few. There are the usual light scuffs and scratches every cabin collects over the years, but none are even close to needing anything doing about them other than, perhaps, the worn cigarette lighter – and we only mention that because buying a new one would be cheap and easy.

The service history booklet shows the following work:

· 08.03.2004 and 12 miles – pre-delivery inspection by Porsche Centre East London

· 20.08.2005 and 8,907 miles – service by Steve Bull Specialist Cars

· 29.08.2007 and 17,356 miles – service by Steve Bull Specialist Cars including fresh brake fluid

· 15.10.2008 and 19,362 miles – service by Steve Bull Specialist Cars

· 12.11.2010 and 24,088 miles – service by Steve Bull Specialist Cars including fresh brake fluid

· 06.02.2013 and 26,195 miles – service by Steve Bull Specialist Cars including fresh brake fluid

· 23.04.2014 and 31,403 miles – oil service and pollen filter by Mobile Technical Support

· 21.04.2016 and 33,268 miles – service by Independent German Specialist including fresh brake fluid

· 02.05.2018 and 36,035 miles – service by Independent German Specialist including fresh brake fluid

· 16.06.2020 and 41,972 miles – service by Independent German Specialist including fresh brake fluid

· 21.04.2021 and 42,229 miles – service by Gough Services

· 30.04.2024 and 42,501 miles – service by Gough Services

· 16.04.2026 and 43,101 miles – inspection by Gough Services

As you’d expect given that little lot, it starts on the button, idles like a Swiss watch, revs with enthusiasm, and drives as it should.

It also does it without triggering any warning lights on the dashboard, making any unusual noises, or churning out excessive smoke.

The front valance shows the usual light scratches and scuffs that we see on just about every low sportscar; the result of 21st century traffic calming measures, none is serious.

The rest of the underside shows nothing more worrisome than the expected light corrosion to steel components and fasteners. Certainly no MoT tester has ever had cause to mention structural corrosion or rot. In fact, the only mentions of rust are for brake pipes and the exhaust – and the last of those was in 2021 and 2018 respectively.

The Boxster’s MoT certificate, which expires in April 2027, was issued with no advisories, just like every one since 2021.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and it comes with two keys.

The history file also contains a printout of the Boxster’s asset sheet; the seller and his son are farmers, and meticulous record-keeping in second nature to them. They’ve also hung onto various invoices for parts they’ve fitted as well as a good number of expired MoT certificates.

The Boxster also comes with the Porsche book pack, including the all-important stamped service history booklet, and the wallet to keep them in.

NB: The V5 Registration Certificate, which is in the seller’s name, shows the colour as Grey. This is because the official colour is indeed a grey, Atlas Grey Metallic to be precise, even though it’s actually a dark blue.

The Boxster remained an underappreciated sportscar for a long time, largely because it wasn’t a 911 - then Porsche changed the Boxster’s engine to a four-cylinder unit in 2016, instantly elevating the flat-six models to modern classic status.

This act of corporate parsimony did us classic car enthusiasts a favour; while rising prices might have made it a teeny bit less affordable, that rising tide also allowed owners to justify money-no-object maintenance, leaving the Boxster market in a healthier position overall.

And yet, despite their new-found rise in values, this one is still only likely to sell for between £7,000 and £10,000 – and given it’s being sold with no reserve, it’ll be going to a new home after the very first bid has been placed, no matter how derisory the final sum.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.