Boxster - poor experience....
Discussion
snorkel sucker said:
I was also most annoyed to be told that the brakes were ok and my OH wasn't happy that her remark on the drive that the brakes didn't feel right was greeted with a "that's how they feel" reply.
Hold on. If the discs are very lipped but in a decent nick and there is only 2mm left on the pads, then the braking performance for now may well be superb but on a Boxster, brakes are massively under-servoed compared to the on-off pedal feel of most road cars so it can be disconcerting at first as they need a bigger shove than expected. In turn, this is why I love Porsche brakes as modulation capability is superb.snorkel sucker said:
I'm no fool when it comes to understanding dealer margins, but it did suprise me that the car could have such quite obvious signs of neglect that had not been tended to. I was also most annoyed to be told that the brakes were ok and my OH wasn't happy that her remark on the drive that the brakes didn't feel right was greeted with a "that's how they feel" reply.
They well have come back as being marginally ok, and therfore not replaced, but then I'd have bought knowing a large-ish bill was looming. Converesly though, it does also leave the wrong impression with a potential purchaser who then thinks "if they've left the brakes and tyres, what else have they ignored..."
Finger in air, I would expect a trade-in bid of £5,000 for your car. Not sure how that compares with your 'insulting' offer? Given that, maybe worth sticking an ad in Autotrader for £5,700 - making it probably one of the cheapest private sale cars but still more than trade price and accept £5,500 - I am sure it will sell fairly quickly leaving just the 1 car to part-ex and putting you in a better position? They well have come back as being marginally ok, and therfore not replaced, but then I'd have bought knowing a large-ish bill was looming. Converesly though, it does also leave the wrong impression with a potential purchaser who then thinks "if they've left the brakes and tyres, what else have they ignored..."
Nick, good point; noted - thanks. I have driven lots of nice motors, in varying states of tune and with different brake setups but I can assure you that those on the car we saw were well past their best.
No disrespect to my OH, but her comment in isolation about the brakes may perhaps have been in regard to their different feel. Backed up by myself driving the car however I can assure you they were well past it!
A shame really, as I have heard good things about the Boxster brakes; I look forward to having a proper go in one!
No disrespect to my OH, but her comment in isolation about the brakes may perhaps have been in regard to their different feel. Backed up by myself driving the car however I can assure you they were well past it!
A shame really, as I have heard good things about the Boxster brakes; I look forward to having a proper go in one!
MrTickle said:
Finger in air, I would expect a trade-in bid of £5,000 for your car. Not sure how that compares with your 'insulting' offer? Given that, maybe worth sticking an ad in Autotrader for £5,700 - making it probably one of the cheapest private sale cars but still more than trade price and accept £5,500 - I am sure it will sell fairly quickly leaving just the 1 car to part-ex and putting you in a better position?
As depressing as it is, you aren't far off! I've got mine up at - as far as I can see at least - the cheapest on PH or Autotrader. However the old adage of it only being worth as much as someone is willing to pay is oh so true.On the flip side though, the OH's car is much more sell-able (small, economical car, low tax etc etc) I think it was that one which was more of an ooooppphh with the part ex figure.
Its mine thats dragging us down!
snorkel sucker said:
Nick, good point; noted - thanks. I have driven lots of nice motors, in varying states of tune and with different brake setups but I can assure you that those on the car we saw were well past their best.
Fair enough. The other thing to do is to have a feel for the inside of the discs (when cold!!). Should be smooth.I hired a Boxster for a few days before I bought one and then, once I owned one I was offered lots of different test drives of other Porsches, unaccompanied.
The best was a 997S for 24 hours.
If you hire one you will be able to take your time with it, use it for a run, go shopping, even commute and see how it will fit in with your life plus you won't have to worry about massive charges if you scrape it as long as you have taken out the CDW insurance.
The best was a 997S for 24 hours.
If you hire one you will be able to take your time with it, use it for a run, go shopping, even commute and see how it will fit in with your life plus you won't have to worry about massive charges if you scrape it as long as you have taken out the CDW insurance.
i've got a better idea... skip the boxster altogether... you'll only spend the rest of your days on this forum getting scared stiff over stories of ims and rms failure and then praying that your engine doesn't lunch itself before you have managed to offload the thing into the vast ocean that is the boxster market.
just my 2p's worth as a former boxster 3.2s owner who had absolutely no problems with his car and got a good price selling it... wouldn't touch another though.
just my 2p's worth as a former boxster 3.2s owner who had absolutely no problems with his car and got a good price selling it... wouldn't touch another though.
From my perspective as a dealer I'm quite happy to take more than one car in part exchange and I've done it a few times. However, I may differ from some dealers in that if it's a decent car I'll probably retail it myself - so each one represents a profit opportunity.
However, it can be more painful to hit people with 2 trade figures, each of which is often lower than they expected. This means that cumulatively it can create a much bigger price difference (because there are now 2 trade profit margins to support) and people aren't always ready for that. I will happily tell people that they will usually be better off selling privately if they can be bothered with the hassle and risk - people make the choice that suits them best.
However, it can be more painful to hit people with 2 trade figures, each of which is often lower than they expected. This means that cumulatively it can create a much bigger price difference (because there are now 2 trade profit margins to support) and people aren't always ready for that. I will happily tell people that they will usually be better off selling privately if they can be bothered with the hassle and risk - people make the choice that suits them best.
I've been through that phase. Too much negativity on forums about it all really.
I'd rather get one, drive it and enjoy it.
village idiot said:
i've got a better idea... skip the boxster altogether... you'll only spend the rest of your days on this forum getting scared stiff over stories of ims and rms failure and then praying that your engine doesn't lunch itself before you have managed to offload the thing into the vast ocean that is the boxster market.
just my 2p's worth as a former boxster 3.2s owner who had absolutely no problems with his car and got a good price selling it... wouldn't touch another though.
just my 2p's worth as a former boxster 3.2s owner who had absolutely no problems with his car and got a good price selling it... wouldn't touch another though.
village idiot said:
i've got a better idea... skip the boxster altogether... you'll only spend the rest of your days on this forum getting scared stiff over stories of ims and rms failure and then praying that your engine doesn't lunch itself before you have managed to offload the thing into the vast ocean that is the boxster market.
just my 2p's worth as a former boxster 3.2s owner who had absolutely no problems with his car and got a good price selling it... wouldn't touch another though.
This is the problem with forums, negativity is unbelievable. You state you had a Boxster had no problems and got a good price when selling it, yet are still negative towards it??? What more do you want from a car???just my 2p's worth as a former boxster 3.2s owner who had absolutely no problems with his car and got a good price selling it... wouldn't touch another though.
I've had 3 Boxsters and had no problems with any of them, they are wonderful cars and I now have a 911 but still miss the fun you get with a Boxster.
OP - good luck, buy the best you can find and enjoy!!!
jimmy p said:
This is the problem with forums, negativity is unbelievable. You state you had a Boxster had no problems and got a good price when selling it, yet are still negative towards it??? What more do you want from a car???
I've had 3 Boxsters and had no problems with any of them, they are wonderful cars and I now have a 911 but still miss the fun you get with a Boxster.
OP - good luck, buy the best you can find and enjoy!!!
Same here albeit I only had one Boxster 3.4 before the 911 - a stunning car that was 100% reliable from the day I bought it to the day I sold it. Some people scare monger too much! I've had 3 Boxsters and had no problems with any of them, they are wonderful cars and I now have a 911 but still miss the fun you get with a Boxster.
OP - good luck, buy the best you can find and enjoy!!!
Op,
I can beat that experience. When I wanted to buy one I was told by a certain local sports car dealership I could not test drive the boxter unless I bought it first! Sales guy attitude was its a Porsche you don't need to drive it. This was a bit of a ropey one too which was about 2K overpriced. Oh and I didn't turn up in a tracksuit and I'm in my 30s.
Additionally mixed brand/worn or cheap and nasty tyres on a mid engined sports car = walk away. Either the dealer or previous owner doesn't know how to maintain one.
I can beat that experience. When I wanted to buy one I was told by a certain local sports car dealership I could not test drive the boxter unless I bought it first! Sales guy attitude was its a Porsche you don't need to drive it. This was a bit of a ropey one too which was about 2K overpriced. Oh and I didn't turn up in a tracksuit and I'm in my 30s.
Additionally mixed brand/worn or cheap and nasty tyres on a mid engined sports car = walk away. Either the dealer or previous owner doesn't know how to maintain one.
SFO said:
you really mean the buying experience was poor, not the Boxster ..
Your thread title is misleading
Warning to OP never write anything, even mistakenly, that might be considered a slight to the boxster. You'll find many owners still haven't got over Clarkson's "poor man's porsche" joke.Your thread title is misleading
SM
supermono said:
SFO said:
you really mean the buying experience was poor, not the Boxster ..
Your thread title is misleading
Warning to OP never write anything, even mistakenly, that might be considered a slight to the boxster. You'll find many owners still haven't got over Clarkson's "poor man's porsche" joke.Your thread title is misleading
SM
SonnyM said:
supermono said:
SFO said:
you really mean the buying experience was poor, not the Boxster ..
Your thread title is misleading
Warning to OP never write anything, even mistakenly, that might be considered a slight to the boxster. You'll find many owners still haven't got over Clarkson's "poor man's porsche" joke.Your thread title is misleading
SM
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