Porsche Boxster - Tell me what I need to know before buying

[Kapenta]

Come along over to http://boxa.net

You will get a rather balanced view, since AFAIK, only 1 IMS failure amongst us...There is also an extensive Buyer's Guide there, too.

We are all poor men who can't afford a REAL 911, hang out with Tony & Guy and wear our trousers pulled up above our navels. We also actually meet up with each other face to face for convivial lunches, do 'Ring trips, know each other by first and nicknames and visit one another abroad. Actually, and quite bizarrely, these cars provide us with a lot ot thrills and some REAL 911's get beaten around tracks by even the humble 2.5 version in the hands of capable drivers.

[Luke.]

yellowbentines said:

, they are completely different cars - not like a Vauxhall Vectra, essentially a very poor man's SAAB

They're not really completely different cars though are they? They're more or less identical from the A pillar forward and share pretty much the same dash.

In fact, my 986S with all the extras the previous owner plied it with looks much better than most 996s.

[yellowbentines]

Luke said:

They're not really completely different cars though are they?

Having driven both, IMO, yes, completely different.

I didn't spend much time looking at the exterior - The Cayenne aside, all Porsches look similar now to how they did in 1965, so I didn't see much point

[BRMMA]

schmalex said:

Driven sensibly, you will see north of 35 to the gallon on the motorway. Giving it the beans will see you at low '20's around B roads.

Edited by schmalex on Tuesday 18th January 10:48

I've never seen 35mpg other than when being stuck in a 50mph with average speed cameras and i did a reset to see what MPG it would do at that speed. I find that at 70mph it'll 30mpg, the best i've ever recorded over the course of a journey was 33mpg which was 200 ish miles from lichfield to Eastbourne, with my mixed driving of 85% fast A-road and the rest being town i get around 24mpg

[Noisy]

My dad was actually talking about getting a early 2.5 boxster, I think it could be nice for him to have something fun, if the engine does go how much is a rebuilt engine likely to come in at? Changing shouldn't be a issue, I could do that if need be.

[S1MMA]

Turbodiesel1690 said:

Poor mans 911

Turbodiesel1690's Garage said:

Vauxhall Vectra 2.0 DTi 16v

It must rock to be you.

I'd take a poor mans 911 every day over 99.9% of cars on the road.

If someone offered you a Boxster S to swap for your leggy shopping trolley, you should bit their arm/leg/head off.

It's a great car. Keep smiling .

[BMWChris]

Someone once said that my Boxster was a poor man's Porsche.

I said "really? What kind of Porsche do you drive?"

'nuff said.

[Jobbo]

yellowbentines said:

Luke said:

They're not really completely different cars though are they?

Having driven both, IMO, yes, completely different.

I take it you 'drove' the 996 from the rear seat if you thought they were that different.

[wca]

I guess I would have to budget for a bumper sticker reading:

My other Porsche is a 911

would that be okay?

[Greenwich Ross]

BMWChris said:

Someone once said that my Boxster was a poor man's Porsche.

I said "really? What kind of Porsche do you drive?"

'nuff said.

"A GT3 RS", came the reply.

Oh, cock...

[Bottrill]

I purchased my 2001 986 S in July last year. I absolutely love it. Register on Boxa.net would be my first point of call. Great community and lots of advice to be had. There are plenty of good examples around, just use your head when buying and preferably have the car inspected before hand.

[Dr S]

jshell said:

If you're very tall you won't fit.

Please specify what you mean with "very tall". I'm close to 6.4 feet and ran two 986S over seven years as daily drives and did not have an issue with space...

[wca]

~~~ BREAKING NEWS ~~~

The wife has been told that a Boxster in as Estate Agents car and I need to get a 911. Add 5K to the budget!!


~~~ BREAKING NEWS ~~~


What 911 Cabrio for 15K?

Quick scan of the ads show anything from 1983 - 2002 at £14,995 so please feel free to leave a summary of the different models, strengths, weaknesses and general advice

[dudleysdad]

wca said:

~~~ BREAKING NEWS ~~~

The wife has been told that a Boxster in as Estate Agents car and I need to get a 911. Add 5K to the budget!!


~~~ BREAKING NEWS ~~~


What 911 Cabrio for 15K?

Quick scan of the ads show anything from 1983 - 2002 at £14,995 so please feel free to leave a summary of the different models, strengths, weaknesses and general advice

Blimey ..... shall we buy it for you as well?

[mollytherocker]

wca said:

~~~ BREAKING NEWS ~~~

The wife has been told that a Boxster in as Estate Agents car and I need to get a 911. Add 5K to the budget!!


~~~ BREAKING NEWS ~~~


What 911 Cabrio for 15K?

Quick scan of the ads show anything from 1983 - 2002 at £14,995 so please feel free to leave a summary of the different models, strengths, weaknesses and general advice

Has anyone also told her that a 911 Cab is a Footballers car?

Add another 5K!
MTR

[Bottrill]

Grow some big ones, whip those trousers off your missus, and buy what YOU want.

For the record, I would take a new Boxster over an older 911 cab. I also feel the 911 cabs are a little like marmite in the looks department, but thats just my opinion.

[S1MMA]

Bottrill said:

Grow some big ones, whip those trousers off your missus, and buy what YOU want.

For the record, I would take a new Boxster over an older 911 cab. I also feel the 911 cabs are a little like marmite in the looks department, but thats just my opinion.

I would be in a 987 Boxster S for the money if I was you.

Much nicer interior than a 996. Newer. You can slap a Porsche warranty on it. Drives better. Handles better. What's not to like?

[helmutlaang]

I brought a 2001 3.2 boxster s with plenty of extras for £6500 a couple of weeks ago.

Needs a few small jobs but has full history and runs really sweet so there are the occasional bargians out there.I have budgeted around £1k-1.5k to make it 100% and even if I spend all that it should still be well worth it.

[FlybyWyre]

General car stuff as far as a look around is concerned.
Clutch replacement around 60k.
Not excessive quantity of owners.
Heated seats! 18" wheels make the car.
Big smile cos the engine/exhaust sound is sublime, as is the handling.
Use an Indie for servicing if the car is off Porsche warranty.
General service parts don't cost a fortune, brakes can be replaced for not very much and are easier to do than mass market stuff cos the engineering is better.

[Luke.]

helmutlaang said:

I brought a 2001 3.2 boxster s with plenty of extras for £6500 a couple of weeks ago.

Needs a few small jobs but has full history and runs really sweet so there are the occasional bargians out there.I have budgeted around £1k-1.5k to make it 100% and even if I spend all that it should still be well worth it.

Nice buy. Where'd you find it and what kind of miles has it done?