Interested in Boxster

Interested in Boxster

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36270k

Original Poster:

72 posts

153 months

Wednesday 9th July 2014
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I have recently sold my beloved 924 and am interested in getting a Boxster
This one is only 15 miles from me

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-PORSCHE-BOXSTER-2-5...

Any thoughts or recommendations ?

It will be a weekend car rather than a daily driver.

Thank you
Paul

tr7v8

7,186 posts

227 months

Wednesday 9th July 2014
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Strong money for an early Tip. Reasonable spec, Climate is pretty rare on early cars. Probably the worst pictures I have seen especially from a dealer. I'd want to know more about the history at that miles it needs a tip fluid & filter change around £200 + depending who does it. What make are the tyres, Chinese specials or better quality? Has it had any suspension work, when were discs & pads last done? All could mount up. I'd suggest it is closer to 4K than 5.

36270k

Original Poster:

72 posts

153 months

Wednesday 9th July 2014
quotequote all

Isysman

319 posts

135 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
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tr7v8 said:
Strong money for an early Tip. Reasonable spec, Climate is pretty rare on early cars. Probably the worst pictures I have seen especially from a dealer. I'd want to know more about the history at that miles it needs a tip fluid & filter change around £200 + depending who does it. What make are the tyres, Chinese specials or better quality? Has it had any suspension work, when were discs & pads last done? All could mount up. I'd suggest it is closer to 4K than 5.
Agreed, would be looking for a 2.7 at that price. The 2.5 is the very earliest car out there. 97-99 and then the 2.7 and 3.2 came out. The 2.7 has electronic throttle and some other worth while additions and is up on power.

Wouldn't buy an old tip las if the box goes it will write off the car, although they are pretty reliable. Worth looking on Boxa.net, it's a forum purely for Boxsters. Some knobs on there but overall some very knowledgeable Boxster owners.

MogulBoy

2,925 posts

222 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
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The subject car looks smart to me, if you are happy with the transmission, which presumably you are.

Again personal choice but I bought a blue 986 brand new because I wanted it to be somewhat discrete as I commuted in it but if I was after a weekend plaything, I would be tempted by red or silver as a more 'classic' Boxster colour scheme.

As the earliest 986 cars approach 20yrs old, I am anticipating a mini-surge of interest and the 'classic' colour scheme cars may do better than those originally specced by boring bankers and accountants back in the day just don't project the same playfull image. However, I appreciate it can be exceptionally hard to find one that ticks all boxes given that it can appear that no two cars left the factory in the same specification and that's before you consider condition, mileage and location.

The fact that this one would appear to be running fresh brakes and a/c condensors is a bonus. One might assume that they didn't feel the need to replace the front radiators while-they-were-down-there but worth checking the condition of them.

P.S. Front grill panels are cheap and easy to replace and it can dramatically improve the appearance of the front (i.e. the visual impact of the shiny new condensors is lost when framed by milky/faded plastic grills).

On an older car, the front engine mount might be work checking and the coolant expansion tank, if original, could be living on borrowed time.

The leather interior on this one is definitely a bonus as the sound package amp and door speakers IMO. A CD changer in the front boot is mentioned and someone must have replaced the head unit with the CD version but not bothered to replace the cassette storage in the lower centre console! This is cheap to replace with a storage cubby but the first job would be to remove the P O R S C H E lettering and I would go further and de-badge the trunk.

P.S. I do like reading cmoose's posts about the virtues of the 2.5 but would be interested to know more about the virutes of the cable throttle? Is it the sensation or simply the feedback given that you would need to use a bit more nous so as not to overwhelm the fuel injection with blunt inputs vs. the latter e-gas cars you can just pin your foot to the floor for a lot of the time and let the computer say yes or no?


Edited by MogulBoy on Thursday 10th July 12:05

MogulBoy

2,925 posts

222 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
Sounds fair. The technical benefit of e-gas is of course the fact it was implented to work support the PSM stability control system that I have found to be a benefit (with the exception of the EBD which is pants in snow).

36270k

Original Poster:

72 posts

153 months

Sunday 13th July 2014
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From reading the various threads, does the 2.5 engine have better reliability than the 2.7 ?

36270k

Original Poster:

72 posts

153 months

Sunday 13th July 2014
quotequote all
The 1999 2.5 has already gone.

This one looks interesting, may go and have a look
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-PORSCHE-BOXSTER-2-7...

thegoose

8,075 posts

209 months

Monday 14th July 2014
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
You can get a 3.2 with cable throttle - the Hartech car I raced for them is just such a car (2000MY but manufactured 1999 when we checked - this was useful as MSA regs allowed it to run without a catalyst, not that I think it actually did so in the end).

The advantage I found, which is really significant, is that pushing the brake pedal doesn't cut the throttle (so I can left foot brake) - there are certain circuits where I'd really have to drive quite differently with the limitations of an e-gas car.

thegoose

8,075 posts

209 months

Monday 14th July 2014
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
E-gas cars do cut the throttle, even a 2004 GT3 RS I had (contrary to what you would want from a car designed for track use).

I'll clarify - the throttle will then work only if you put your foot on the brake first, which is OK for heel & toe but is no good for left foot braking, where your foot's already on the gas and then you press the brake (at which point e-gas will cut it, perhaps with a 0.5-1.5 second delay). My 1998 Carrera (2) road car is cable and doesn't cut the throttle if the brake pedal is applied after. Hartech's 1999 3.2 is cable (I'm told), whilst their 2004 car is e-gas, which certainly seems to be borne out by their different behaviours. I don't think it makes any difference but the 1999 car has traction control as an option (which is always turned off, except when I forgot rolleyes ) and the 2004 car has PSM which I think was an option.

36270k

Original Poster:

72 posts

153 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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edo

16,699 posts

264 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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Tip is not the best gearbox in the world. Far bigger choice of cars if you open it up to manuals.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

36270k

Original Poster:

72 posts

153 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
Dodgy knee and I found the clutch heavy on a boxster manual.
Also often in stop/start traffic.

Have arranged to have a look and test drive of this one tomorrow, will report back.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-PORSCHE-BOXSTER-2-7...

edo

16,699 posts

264 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
36270k said:
Dodgy knee and I found the clutch heavy on a boxster manual.
Also often in stop/start traffic.

Have arranged to have a look and test drive of this one tomorrow, will report back.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-PORSCHE-BOXSTER-2-7...
dead linky

36270k

Original Poster:

72 posts

153 months

edo

16,699 posts

264 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
I think that is overpriced. I also dislike blue leather, but that is just a personal choice.

edo

16,699 posts

264 months

36270k

Original Poster:

72 posts

153 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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Once out of town there are loads of lovely quiet B roads that I loved flying around in the 924

36270k

Original Poster:

72 posts

153 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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Moose you are right about the boxster clutch. I went to have a look at and have a test drive of this one today
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-W-PORSCHE-BOXTER-S-...

The clutch was fine, I suspect that the clutch was worn on the previous ones that I drove.

The car was for sale in a village garage in Norfolk, they we happy for me to examine it thoroughly and test drive it. It is in very nice condition.
Had a wonderful run out in it, handles beautifully.

Result - I have bought it, looking forward to runs around East Anglia with the roof down.

tr7v8

7,186 posts

227 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
36270k said:
Moose you are right about the boxster clutch. I went to have a look at and have a test drive of this one today
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-W-PORSCHE-BOXTER-S-...

The clutch was fine, I suspect that the clutch was worn on the previous ones that I drove.

The car was for sale in a village garage in Norfolk, they we happy for me to examine it thoroughly and test drive it. It is in very nice condition.
Had a wonderful run out in it, handles beautifully.

Result - I have bought it, looking forward to runs around East Anglia with the roof down.
Looks good mine is a 2000 S as well, but a Tip. Enjoy it, whilst the sun is out!