Porsche Boxster 986 – Model Year Differences

986 Porsche Boxster & Porsche Boxster S Model Year Differences

1997 Boxster

• The 986 Boxster is introduced
• Technical Specifications: 201 HP 2.5 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Early cars were produced in Stuttgart (11th digit of VIN is “S”) while later cares were produced in Finland. (11th digit is “U”).

1998 Boxster

• Technical Specifications: 201 HP 2.5 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: 18” wheel available as an option with rear chassis reinforced to accept new wheels. Rear body structural change included redesigned wheel wells and coil spring mounts, lower engine compartment bulkhead, rear wall crossmember and rear axle mount reinforcements.
• Side air bags were offered as standard (not available in ’97.) and satellite navigation was now an option.

1999 Boxster

• Technical Specifications: 201 HP 2.5 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: Small storage compartment between engine compartment lid and the convertible top. Larger and redesigned fuel tank and venting system including a fuel tank differential pressure sensor.
• Xenon Litronic headlights was now an option.

2000 Boxster and Boxster S

• The S model is introduced.
• Base Technical Specs: 217 HP 2.7 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• S Technical Specs: 250 HP 3.2 Litre engine with a 6 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: New Base 2.7 engine with highet output and increased redline from 6700 to 7200rpm. Twin resonance induction and ME7.2 Electronic Throttle System (eGas) on both 2.7 and 3.2Litre engines (new intake manifold with DME controlled flap). on both 2.7 and 3.2Litre engines. Warm up catalytic converters (now 4 converters total) for emissions on both 2.7 and 3.2Litre engines. Gearing change on 4th and 5th gears in Base model manual gearbox. Tiptronic gearbox also revised to work with larger engines, temporary manual mode allowed even while in Auto mode. Trans-fluid to water heat exchanger added. Suspension changes, including shocks, sway bars and springs. Manual seat height adjustment and lighted vanity mirrors now offered as standard. Subwoofer speaker system as option and Silver look trim in door pulls, lid openers, instrument bezel trim.
• S Model includes larger brakes, stronger wheel bearing carriers, larger bearings and longer control arms. Wheels are 17” as standard, there’s an additional front radiator grill, left and right radiator inlets titanium, twin exhaust tailpipes, specific “S” Door sill trim, a new 3-spoke steering wheel and Cloth headliner and changes to the top mechanism.

2001 Boxster and Boxster S

• Base Technical Specs: 217 HP 2.7 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• S Technical Specs: 250 HP 3.2 Litre engine with a 6 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: All Boxsters got 3-spoke steering wheels with Porsche crest, Ambient lighting standard (door pulls, ignition switch and center console). Trunk releases made electronic switches instead of pull handles. Ignition key allows remote access to both trunks. Cloth headliner standard on all Boxsters. Porsche Stability Management as optional. Roll bar soft touch paint. Trunks got new carpeting. Optional rain sensing wipers Dual cup holders.

2002 Boxster and Boxster S

• Base Technical Specs: 217 HP 2.7 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• S Technical Specs: 250 HP 3.2 Litre engine with a 6 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: Front seat belt pre-tensioners and force limiters. New multifunctional display inside instrument cluster when optional on board computer ordered. Keys have color Porsche crest. Matte surface switches. Anti-entrapment trunk release lever. Optional Bose sound system replaces previous digital sound package. Additional colors: Black, Carrera White, Basalt Black Metallic.

2003 Boxster and Boxster S

• Major upgrade in engines output and interior.
• Base Technical Specs: 228 HP 2.7 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• S Technical Specs: 258 HP 3.2 Litre engine with a 6 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: Lockable glove box. Improved cup holders. Bose digital audio system option. Base model gets same suspension as 2002 S model. Glass rear window (heated) standard. Grey/White turn signals replace the prior years yellow/orange ones. Larger air intakes. Side air intakes body colored. Altered rear air spoiler. Different front and rear bumpers. Redesigned and lighter wheels. Tweaked exhaust. Center vents smaller. CDR-23 uses MOST audio bus. Standard in-dash CD player. Optional PCM II using MOST. Switches horizontal. Revised console (between seats). New anti-roll bars in “S” model.

2004 Boxster and Boxster S

• Last production year.
• Base Technical Specs: 228 HP 2.7 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• S Technical Specs: 258 HP 3.2 Litre engine with a 6 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: New colors available, Atlas Gray and Carmon Red. New sports exhaust system as option.
• A special 2004 Boxster 550 S model is available. 1953 units were built to mark the year the Porsche 550 Spyder was first introduced. It included 3.2Litre engine 266 HP at 6200 RPM, 6 speed manual transmission, or Tiptronic 5 speed optional, GT silver metalic paint, Cocoa full-leather interior with perforated sport seats and steering wheel (also available is Dark grey with option code DY), Cocoa convertible top, 18” Carrera wheels with colored crests and grey spokes (delete grey option code 192), Silver brake calipers, Color-matched roll hoops, Unique stainless steel exhaust tip, Xenon Litronics headlights with washers, GT Silver interior accents, Unique aluminum shifter and handbrake, Heated seats, On-board computer, Chrome rimed gauges, Hi-Fi Stereo system, Custom grill inserts for rear bumper, Special chrome badging for rear deck lid and interior, Special rear tail light lenses (all red), Sports suspension, Spacers on all 4 wheels for wider track, PSM – Porsche Stability Management

1997 Boxster

• The 986 Boxster is introduced
• Technical Specifications: 201 HP 2.5 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Early cars were produced in Stuttgart (11th digit of VIN is “S”) while later cares were produced in Finland. (11th digit is “U”).

1998 Boxster

• Technical Specifications: 201 HP 2.5 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: 18” wheel available as an option with rear chassis reinforced to accept new wheels. Rear body structural change included redesigned wheel wells and coil spring mounts, lower engine compartment bulkhead, rear wall crossmember and rear axle mount reinforcements.
• Side air bags were offered as standard (not available in ’97.) and satellite navigation was now an option.

1999 Boxster

• Technical Specifications: 201 HP 2.5 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: Small storage compartment between engine compartment lid and the convertible top. Larger and redesigned fuel tank and venting system including a fuel tank differential pressure sensor.
• Xenon Litronic headlights was now an option.

2000 Boxster and Boxster S

• The S model is introduced.
• Base Technical Specs: 217 HP 2.7 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• S Technical Specs: 250 HP 3.2 Litre engine with a 6 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: New Base 2.7 engine with highet output and increased redline from 6700 to 7200rpm. Twin resonance induction and ME7.2 Electronic Throttle System (eGas) on both 2.7 and 3.2Litre engines (new intake manifold with DME controlled flap). on both 2.7 and 3.2Litre engines. Warm up catalytic converters (now 4 converters total) for emissions on both 2.7 and 3.2Litre engines. Gearing change on 4th and 5th gears in Base model manual gearbox. Tiptronic gearbox also revised to work with larger engines, temporary manual mode allowed even while in Auto mode. Trans-fluid to water heat exchanger added. Suspension changes, including shocks, sway bars and springs. Manual seat height adjustment and lighted vanity mirrors now offered as standard. Subwoofer speaker system as option and Silver look trim in door pulls, lid openers, instrument bezel trim.
• S Model includes larger brakes, stronger wheel bearing carriers, larger bearings and longer control arms. Wheels are 17” as standard, there’s an additional front radiator grill, left and right radiator inlets titanium, twin exhaust tailpipes, specific “S” Door sill trim, a new 3-spoke steering wheel and Cloth headliner and changes to the top mechanism.

2001 Boxster and Boxster S

• Base Technical Specs: 217 HP 2.7 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• S Technical Specs: 250 HP 3.2 Litre engine with a 6 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: All Boxsters got 3-spoke steering wheels with Porsche crest, Ambient lighting standard (door pulls, ignition switch and center console). Trunk releases made electronic switches instead of pull handles. Ignition key allows remote access to both trunks. Cloth headliner standard on all Boxsters. Porsche Stability Management as optional. Roll bar soft touch paint. Trunks got new carpeting. Optional rain sensing wipers Dual cup holders.

2002 Boxster and Boxster S

• Base Technical Specs: 217 HP 2.7 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• S Technical Specs: 250 HP 3.2 Litre engine with a 6 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: Front seat belt pre-tensioners and force limiters. New multifunctional display inside instrument cluster when optional on board computer ordered. Keys have color Porsche crest. Matte surface switches. Anti-entrapment trunk release lever. Optional Bose sound system replaces previous digital sound package. Additional colors: Black, Carrera White, Basalt Black Metallic.

2003 Boxster and Boxster S

• Major upgrade in engines output and interior.
• Base Technical Specs: 228 HP 2.7 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• S Technical Specs: 258 HP 3.2 Litre engine with a 6 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: Lockable glove box. Improved cup holders. Bose digital audio system option. Base model gets same suspension as 2002 S model. Glass rear window (heated) standard. Grey/White turn signals replace the prior years yellow/orange ones. Larger air intakes. Side air intakes body colored. Altered rear air spoiler. Different front and rear bumpers. Redesigned and lighter wheels. Tweaked exhaust. Center vents smaller. CDR-23 uses MOST audio bus. Standard in-dash CD player. Optional PCM II using MOST. Switches horizontal. Revised console (between seats). New anti-roll bars in “S” model.

2004 Boxster and Boxster S

• Last production year.
• Base Technical Specs: 228 HP 2.7 Litre engine with a 5 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• S Technical Specs: 258 HP 3.2 Litre engine with a 6 speed manual transmission or optional 5 speed Tiptronic (automatic).
• Changes: New colors available, Atlas Gray and Carmon Red. New sports exhaust system as option
• A special 2004 550 S model is available. 1953 units were built to mark the year the Porsche 550 Spyder was first introduced. It included 3.2Litre engine 266 HP at 6200 RPM, 6 speed manual transmission, or Tiptronic 5 speed optional, GT silver metalic paint, Cocoa full-leather interior with perforated sport seats and steering wheel (also available is Dark grey with option code DY), Cocoa convertible top, 18” Carrera wheels with colored crests and grey spokes (delete grey option code 192), Silver brake calipers, Color-matched roll hoops, Unique stainless steel exhaust tip, Xenon Litronics headlights with washers, GT Silver interior accents, Unique aluminum shifter and handbrake, Heated seats, On-board computer, Chrome rimed gauges, Hi-Fi Stereo system, Custom grill inserts for rear bumper, Special chrome badging for rear deck lid and interior, Special rear tail light lenses (all red), Sports suspension, Spacers on all 4 wheels for wider track, PSM – Porsche Stability Management