Porsche

Porsche Boxster build years & generations

Coverage 1996-present4 named generationsConvertiblePETROL

The Porsche Boxster spans several build years and named generations (1996-present). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest Porsche Boxster generation shown; older shapes are pictured on the cards below.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

Built 1996-2004
Generation
986
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2008
Generation
987
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2009-2011
Generation
987
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with 987 and 981 cars built in the same years.
Built 2012
Generation
981
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with 987 and 981 cars built in the same years.
Built 2013-2015
Generation
981
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with 981 and 982 (718) cars built in the same years.
Built 2016
Generation
982 (718)
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with 981 and 982 (718) cars built in the same years.
Built 2017-2020
Generation
982 (718)
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2021+
Generation
982 (718)
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
1996-2004	986	Before 2005	Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
2005-2008	987	2005-2008	Counted with this generation only.
2009-2011	987	2009-2012	Counted together with 987 and 981 cars built in the same years.
2012	981	2009-2012	Counted together with 987 and 981 cars built in the same years.
2013-2015	981	2013-2016	Counted together with 981 and 982 (718) cars built in the same years.
2016	982 (718)	2013-2016	Counted together with 981 and 982 (718) cars built in the same years.
2017-2020	982 (718)	2017-2020	Counted with this generation only.
2021+	982 (718)	2021 onwards	Counted with every car built from 2021.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of Porsche Boxster build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Built

2021 onwards

982 (718) only

All 982 (718) cars built from 2021. Newer cars join this group until there is enough MOT history to split it.

Fail rate at 4 years old (latest age)

3.3%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 8 (12.5%)

Ages with data

3 to 4 years old

MOT tests counted

476

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

3 years

2924.5%

4 years

1843.3%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 3 years old.

Built

2017-2020

982 (718) only

These build years are all 982 (718), so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

7.3%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)

Ages with data

4 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

3,551

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

4 years

2127.5%

5 years

6805.7%

6 years

9965.4%

7 years

1,0677.3%

8 years

5965.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 4 years old.

Built

2013-2016

A mix of 981 and 982 (718)

These build years include both 981 and 982 (718) cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

7.3%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

5,136

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

8 years

5455.7%

9 years

1,3026.5%

10 years

1,1607.8%

11 years

1,3768.4%

12 years

7537.3%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 11 years old.

Built

2009-2012

A mix of 987 and 981

These build years include both 987 and 981 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

12.5%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

3,894

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

12 years

7048.2%

13 years

92211.7%

14 years

7929.2%

15 years

9109.1%

16 years

56612.5%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 16 years old.

Built

2005-2008

987 only

These build years are all 987, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

16.9%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

8,889

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

16 years

40211.7%

17 years

1,51012.8%

18 years

1,98314.6%

19 years

2,89217.2%

20 years

2,10216.9%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 19 years old.

Built

Before 2005

986 only

Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the 986.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

22.2%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

15,087

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

20 years

82819.3%

21 years

2,87221.4%

22 years

2,75022.7%

23 years

2,44921.6%

24 years

2,48721.1%

25+ years

3,70122.2%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 22 years old.