I'm struggling.... Boxster S / Impreza STI / E46 M3?
Discussion
TroubledSoul said:
Argh!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXWZDt4l0jAGet the Scooby. Its the cheapest to fix, and if properly sorted it will mince the other two
TroubledSoul said:
I think I may be having a change of heart on the M3. Was all set to go see one at the weekend but I've been reading up on the boot floor/subframe issue and it's put the frighteners on me!
It sounds as though it will likely happen to most E46s at some point simply because it's an inherent design fault. Couple that with the cost to repair as almost all are outside of the ten year goodwill period and it's a big thing to consider.
Facelift 986 Boxster is starting to look very appealing again....
That did raise a large smile after everything you'd posted.It sounds as though it will likely happen to most E46s at some point simply because it's an inherent design fault. Couple that with the cost to repair as almost all are outside of the ten year goodwill period and it's a big thing to consider.
Facelift 986 Boxster is starting to look very appealing again....
These sorts of cars will cost money to maintain regardless and there is always a risk of 'impending doom'- often overplayed. If that was such a huge concern though we'd all be driving boring Corollas.
With regards to easing the pain on the general maintenance side, I'd personally avoid getting everything done all at once as Shnozz describes above. It's far less painless spread out and I'd suggest would be an extremely rare occurrence for so much to be required all at once.
No I agree, and I know enough these days to be prepared for big bills. But the boot floor thing in the M3 is now really bothering me.
So I'm weighing it up and giving it some thought. I'm a pretty impulsive person and whatever I buy, I will be wondering afterwards if I should have bought the other. That's just my nature and something that I have learned to come to terms with.
I'm torn really between going for the legendary, big power, amazing engined M3 but having to worry about the boot floor or going for the slightly slower but still adequate baby Porsche with the drop top and amazing soundtrack and handling, which will probably beat an M3 around a twisty track.
One thing I do know now is that should I go for an M3, I will not be buying one that hasn't had the repair or a very recent inspection and clean bill of health.
Big money services etc. are fine. It's something you expect when you buy a performance car. Cracking boot floors are not fine!
So I'm weighing it up and giving it some thought. I'm a pretty impulsive person and whatever I buy, I will be wondering afterwards if I should have bought the other. That's just my nature and something that I have learned to come to terms with.
I'm torn really between going for the legendary, big power, amazing engined M3 but having to worry about the boot floor or going for the slightly slower but still adequate baby Porsche with the drop top and amazing soundtrack and handling, which will probably beat an M3 around a twisty track.
One thing I do know now is that should I go for an M3, I will not be buying one that hasn't had the repair or a very recent inspection and clean bill of health.
Big money services etc. are fine. It's something you expect when you buy a performance car. Cracking boot floors are not fine!
Edited by TroubledSoul on Monday 5th January 15:06
Patrick Bateman said:
With regards to easing the pain on the general maintenance side, I'd personally avoid getting everything done all at once as Shnozz describes above. It's far less painless spread out and I'd suggest would be an extremely rare occurrence for so much to be required all at once.
Fair point, and some of the work was perhaps advanced slightly for ease of having it combined. But irrespective, 4k is still 4k, whether its spread over 6 months or in one lump. It was more just a heads up to state the obvious I guess - £50k car in pricey upkeep shock. TheAngryDog said:
Every performance car has the ability to throw up some big bills. No matter what you buy there is always going to be that element of risk.
Buy a vauxhall with its 100,000 mile warranty
I suppose it's down how one perceives value and worth.Buy a vauxhall with its 100,000 mile warranty
I'd be VERY pissed off with a 4k bill on a 986 Boxster. It's not "worth" it for me, for want of a better expression.
I'm not entirely convinced an E46 M3 is worth the potential cost and hassle either, tbh
Need one of each.Yeah of course they can. Like I say, I'm fine with that. I just think the boot floor thing is pretty ridiculous and if you have it inspected and it's fine, how do you know when to have it inspected next? It's unlikely to last forever.
Do you pay somebody to reinforce it, or do you keep getting it inspected yearly?
On the flipside of that, I rarely keep cars longer than a year anyway, but if I really bonded with something special, I wouldn't want to feel like I have to move it on before it goes wrong.
FFS. If I don't buy an E46 M3 now then I most likely never will. What a predicament.
Boxster S, Bose sounds, flat 6, top down.... has to be nice, right?
I think I'm going to have to drive both and see if either grabs me significantly more than the other before making a final decision.
I drove my MR2 at the weekend and thought "I'm going to miss this...."
I don't like having to choose
Do you pay somebody to reinforce it, or do you keep getting it inspected yearly?
On the flipside of that, I rarely keep cars longer than a year anyway, but if I really bonded with something special, I wouldn't want to feel like I have to move it on before it goes wrong.
FFS. If I don't buy an E46 M3 now then I most likely never will. What a predicament.
Boxster S, Bose sounds, flat 6, top down.... has to be nice, right?
I think I'm going to have to drive both and see if either grabs me significantly more than the other before making a final decision.
I drove my MR2 at the weekend and thought "I'm going to miss this...."
I don't like having to choose
I'd be surprised if you had a £4k essential service bill with a Boxster unless you had a particularly tired and unloved one. I struggle to spend that with unneccesary mods and over-maintenance over 12+ months.
As for the E46 boot floor, if it's the same problem I'm thinking of, just get it seen to before it breaks. I did and it only for a few £100.
As for the E46 boot floor, if it's the same problem I'm thinking of, just get it seen to before it breaks. I did and it only for a few £100.
If you're now keeping hold of one fast saloon car, why add a second?
At the first hint of spring, isn't it better to have the choice of a two-seater drop-top, rather than 'shall we take the hard-top saloon car or the hard-top saloon car?'
In short, get the Boxster. Or, if you want something a little more modern and maybe cheaper to run, then look at 3.0ltr Z4s. Some bargains about.
At the first hint of spring, isn't it better to have the choice of a two-seater drop-top, rather than 'shall we take the hard-top saloon car or the hard-top saloon car?'
In short, get the Boxster. Or, if you want something a little more modern and maybe cheaper to run, then look at 3.0ltr Z4s. Some bargains about.
TroubledSoul said:
No I agree, and I know enough these days to be prepared for big bills. But the boot floor thing in the M3 is now really bothering me.
So I'm weighing it up and giving it some thought. I'm a pretty impulsive person and whatever I buy, I will be wondering afterwards if I should have bought the other. That's just my nature and something that I have learned to come to terms with.
I'm torn really between going for the legendary, big power, amazing engined M3 but having to worry about the boot floor or going for the slightly slower but still adequate baby Porsche with the drop top and amazing soundtrack and handling, which will probably beat an M3 around a twisty track.
One thing I do know now is that should I go for an M3, I will not be buying one that hasn't had the repair or a very recent inspection and clean bill of health.
Big money services etc. are fine. It's something you expect when you buy a performance car. Cracking boot floors are not fine!
Or buy m3 that has had work doneSo I'm weighing it up and giving it some thought. I'm a pretty impulsive person and whatever I buy, I will be wondering afterwards if I should have bought the other. That's just my nature and something that I have learned to come to terms with.
I'm torn really between going for the legendary, big power, amazing engined M3 but having to worry about the boot floor or going for the slightly slower but still adequate baby Porsche with the drop top and amazing soundtrack and handling, which will probably beat an M3 around a twisty track.
One thing I do know now is that should I go for an M3, I will not be buying one that hasn't had the repair or a very recent inspection and clean bill of health.
Big money services etc. are fine. It's something you expect when you buy a performance car. Cracking boot floors are not fine!
Edited by TroubledSoul on Monday 5th January 15:06
I bought my 2nd 986 Boxster S last year and it's been as brilliant as the first one. First had done 58k miles when I got it. I put 10k faultless. Miles on it and unfortunately had to sell for logistical reasons. I was determined to get another as soon as I could. My current 2004 model had done 68k miles when I bought it. It has since done 7k incredibly enjoyable miles, every journey is an event if you want it to be, or it's happy to pootle around occasionally giving you some lovely flat 6 noises.
My current car has had IMS upgrade & Clutch done recently. Get one that's been loved and it will reward like few other cars. I love the practicality of the 2 capacious boots, it's a brilliant all round,all season car if you don't need 4 seats.
When I got my latest one I was looking at Porsche 986s & 987s, BMW E46 M3 Verts, TVR Chims and Elise. I drove all of them and couldn't find anything that had the all round talent of the 2nd gen 986. It feels so much rawer than the 987, but not as much as the TVR did. I also had a £10k budget and would rather have the best 986 than a middling 987.
My current car has had IMS upgrade & Clutch done recently. Get one that's been loved and it will reward like few other cars. I love the practicality of the 2 capacious boots, it's a brilliant all round,all season car if you don't need 4 seats.
When I got my latest one I was looking at Porsche 986s & 987s, BMW E46 M3 Verts, TVR Chims and Elise. I drove all of them and couldn't find anything that had the all round talent of the 2nd gen 986. It feels so much rawer than the 987, but not as much as the TVR did. I also had a £10k budget and would rather have the best 986 than a middling 987.
TroubledSoul said:
Shaoxter said:
Just get an M3 which has had the subframe fixed already. It's not like they're rare cars, plenty of choice out there.
How can you be sure it won't happen again though? edc said:
I'd be surprised if you had a £4k essential service bill with a Boxster unless you had a particularly tired and unloved one. I struggle to spend that with unneccesary mods and over-maintenance over 12+ months.
Quite the opposite I would argue. Mine was very much loved and like all my cars, needed for nothing. Perhaps that was part of the problem that rather than skimp on parts, or delay their replacement, I gave the garage the nod to do all work needed to have the car A1. I've listed the parts it needed. Yes, perhaps its unlikely that so many consumables came to their end at the same time, but they are exactly that - consumables. Tyres, pads, discs and a clutch are not items that arise from being unloved, simply a fact of life. And nothing further was required that year aside from an exhaust clip that had rusted through and led to a rattle. So the annual bill was limited to that extensive service.
I've no reason to bullsheet or have arguments with people off the internet - simply stating my first-hand experience and highlighting consumable maintenance costs in addition to the £10k RMS catastrophes that seem to get the headlines.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff