The Porsche 718 Boxster is a 2-door sports coupe with a folding roof designed for those who want to experience what an agile Porsche feels like without going all the way. Furthermore, the 718 Boxster enables you to take the roof down which further adds to the occasion. The 718 Boxster is a really fun car to drive because it is agile, good-looking, and has that desirable Porsche shield on the front.
The 718 Boxster seems to be a reasonably reliable car as most Porsches are, but most Porsches are also fairly expensive to maintain. The most common 718 Boxster issues are associated with the transmission, the paintwork, overheating, the equipment, and issues with the A/C. These issues aren’t necessarily related to lack of maintenance though.
Problems such as these tend to occur even if you maintain the car adequately. It’s also important to state that early 718 Boxster models were considerably more problematic than later models because Porsche is continuously upgrading their cars throughout production.
All in all, the 718 Boxster is a reliable car and it should be able to last quite some time. Porsches are notorious for high running costs, but the Boxster is an entry-level Porsche which means that the running costs aren’t as serious.
Porsche 718 Boxster – Transmission issues
Early Porsche 718 Boxster models were known to suffer from various transmission issues. The transmission used on these cars are either 6-speed manuals or PDK automatic dual-clutch gearboxes and the PDKs were the ones causing the most trouble. Owners complained about the PDK being lazy, especially while downshifting.
More serious PDK issues are related to the limited-slip differential slipping which severely influenced the way the car drives. Clunkiness, unwillingness to engage a gear and jitteriness at lower speeds were also relatively common. Be sure to change the transmission fluid whenever necessary as that is likely going to solve the issue.
Porsche 718 Boxster – Paintwork issues
Early 718 models were also experiencing issues with the paint quality which is indeed a really big issue. The paint simply wasn’t coherent enough and there were many swirl marks and defect straight out of the factory. These are likely due to a lack of quality control after the cars were made and if you don’t notice them early enough, there was nothing you could do about it.
As such, if you are looking at a used 718 Boxster, be sure to go around the entirety of the car and pay close attention to the paint quality. Repainting an entire 718 Boxster at Porsche costs obscene amounts of money. Paining your 718 elsewhere could hurt the car’s resale value quite a bit so be sure to inspect the paint quality thoroughly before you decide to pull the trigger and buy a 718 Boxster.
Porsche 718 Boxster – Overheating issues
Overheating issues are some of the more stressful encounters you can have with a 718 Boxster. One owner complained about the 718 experiencing continuous overheating issues with just 25,000 miles on the clock. Porsche replaced the water pump and the thermostat, but the issue still persisted. Keep in mind that the temperatures recorded were well over 230 degrees at the engine.
Some say that these issues are due to leaks in the radiator circuit which only take place when the car is at temperature. This means that you can’t notice the leak while the car is cold. Others said that these issues are related to a bunch of sensors that are not able to properly read the car’s temperature and adjust the cooling system accordingly.
Porsche 718 Boxster – Equipment issues
The 718 Boxster also has its fair share of equipment-related issues such as those associated with the rear spoiler not wanting to go down fully. Whenever the spoiler goes down, it just can’t get flush with the rest of the body. Other equipment-related issues are associated with the folding rooftop which can get slow and unresponsive.
The rear taillights are also sometimes an issue because they can lose power and the gaps between the fenders and the front trunk can be uneven. All in all, these equipment-related issues are mostly niggles and don’t really affect the car’s overall usability that much.
Porsche 718 Boxster – A/C issues
Finally, we need to talk about all the A/C-related issues because these seem to pop up on both newer and older 718 Boxster models. Owners have complained about the A/C system losing its cooling abilities, refrigerant leaks, and condensation line issues.
These usually do stem from a lack of proper maintenance which means that a properly maintained 718 should not have any of these. Either way, be sure to check the A/C system before you decide to buy a used 718 Boxster.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Porsche 718 Boxster?
The Porsche 718 Boxster is an agile 2-seater car made for those who want to enjoy the thrills associated with top-down driving. The Boxster is a well-balanced mid-engine sports car which is why it is so fun to drive. Some say that the 718 platform feels more lively and exciting than its bigger brother, the 911.
All in all, if you want a compact 2-seater sports convertible, the 718 Boxster is certainly a good option and you should consider it.
Is the Porsche 718 Boxster better than the 718 Cayman?
The 718 Boxster costs a bit more money, offers a retractable roof, and is the preferred way for most people. The Cayman on the other hand is the more focused option of the two because it is lighter and more rigid, and you can definitely feel that while on the edge.
As such, if you want a serious performance car, get the Cayman. On the other hand, if you want a performance car, but you also want a top-down cruiser, the Boxster is the better choice.
Why are Porsches expensive to maintain?
There are two reasons why Porsches cost more money to maintain. First of all, spare parts costs are 10-15% more expensive than other comparable European brands while the serviceable life of these parts is also up to 50% longer.
This means that you get a great value for money, but you have to pay for it initially. Porsches are not Audi’s, BMW’s, and Mercedes cars which means that the Porsche badge is certainly a level up on these three.