Porsche Boxster (1998)
1998 Porsche Boxster
CarHunch analysed 1,936 real MOT records for the 1998 Porsche Boxster.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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The 1998 Porsche Boxster has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.5%, which is noticeably below the UK average of 80%, signalling that these cars are ageing noticeably and tend to need repairs before they pass. More concerning is that 27.5% of these Boxsters have had a dangerous defect logged at some point, a figure well above the normal threshold—suspension, steering, and brake issues are real buyer concerns on the used market.
At nearly 78,000 miles median mileage for cars now 26 years old, these are relatively well-preserved examples, yet they're still clocking up an average of 3.78 failures per MOT attempt and 21.1 advisories, pointing to cumulative wear across multiple systems rather than one glaring weakness. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection specifically focus on the suspension geometry, brakes, and cooling system—the data indicates these are chronic weak spots on this generation.
The 1998 Porsche Boxster has a decent first-time pass rate (77.4%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.
These stats describe 1,936 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.
What tends to go wrong
Across 1,936 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,936 Porsche Boxster cars.
Before you buy a 1998 Porsche Boxster
Based on MOT data from 1,936 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
27.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded -
recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle. -
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Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price.
Inspection
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Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically.
History
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (94%) | 1,820 | 77.5% | 3.95 |
| LPG (5%) | 89 | 72.2% | 1.17 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 45,845 Porsche Boxster vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 1998 Porsche Boxster vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1998 Porsche Boxster vehicles fall between 59,432 and 94,395 miles.
1998 Porsche Boxster — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 60% of 1998 Porsche Boxsters are still active.
708 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 60% of the peak remain.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.
MOT History Averages
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Compare with another model
See how the 1998 Porsche Boxster stacks up against a rival.