How much of a risk is a 986 Porsche Boxster?
Discussion
It's only a risk if you can't afford to run one in the first place and then are daft enough to take it to a main dealer or an over
Priced 'specialist' the first time it goes wrong.
It will go wrong due to age, You just need to find a good mechanic, where are you located ?
My last Boxster was a 2001 3.2S with Fsh and it always needed needed things sorted, nothing Major but would have been expensive at the wrong garage.
Priced 'specialist' the first time it goes wrong.
It will go wrong due to age, You just need to find a good mechanic, where are you located ?
My last Boxster was a 2001 3.2S with Fsh and it always needed needed things sorted, nothing Major but would have been expensive at the wrong garage.
Id be looking at a early 2.7. I've looked at insurance for the 2.5 and the 3.2 and the insurance quotes are over a grand more! I'm guessing this is due to the 2.5 being popular with people after a cheap Porsche and the 3.2 due to the extra performance.
I've not being taking much notice of the mileage.. mostly full service history. I have indie garage ive been going to for 8years with various cars and I think he isn't out to rip us off. My family gets 6cars maintained at his garage.
They do seem great value.
I've not being taking much notice of the mileage.. mostly full service history. I have indie garage ive been going to for 8years with various cars and I think he isn't out to rip us off. My family gets 6cars maintained at his garage.
They do seem great value.
There are loads of Internet scare stories about the 986, but they're not that bad to run at all.
RMS is the main oft touted terror story. It is simply the seal betwixt engine and gearbox. If you are changing the cluth, it is about a £20 job. If you need to take the engine out to replace the RMS, it's a few hundred quid at an Indy (mainly for time taken to remove the engine). However, a slight weep from the seal is nothing really to worry about - just keep an eye on it. My old Box had an RMS weep for about 18 months and my (very well known) local Indy just advised to leave it and keep an eye on it u til I got the clutch changed.
They are pretty robust, really. Auxhillary rads can pick up some stone chips, but they are easily accessible. They are pretty sensitive to tracking being correct. Just use a good Indy and it will be no more expensive to run than a similar age BMW or Merc. In the 3 years I owned mine, it didn't cost any more than than the E39 it replaced to run.
The S also sounds heavenly when over about 3.5k rpm and is one of the composedm chuckable cars you will ever drive.
RMS is the main oft touted terror story. It is simply the seal betwixt engine and gearbox. If you are changing the cluth, it is about a £20 job. If you need to take the engine out to replace the RMS, it's a few hundred quid at an Indy (mainly for time taken to remove the engine). However, a slight weep from the seal is nothing really to worry about - just keep an eye on it. My old Box had an RMS weep for about 18 months and my (very well known) local Indy just advised to leave it and keep an eye on it u til I got the clutch changed.
They are pretty robust, really. Auxhillary rads can pick up some stone chips, but they are easily accessible. They are pretty sensitive to tracking being correct. Just use a good Indy and it will be no more expensive to run than a similar age BMW or Merc. In the 3 years I owned mine, it didn't cost any more than than the E39 it replaced to run.
The S also sounds heavenly when over about 3.5k rpm and is one of the composedm chuckable cars you will ever drive.
schmalex said:
There are loads of Internet scare stories about the 986, but they're not that bad to run at all.
RMS is the main oft touted terror story. It is simply the seal betwixt engine and gearbox. If you are changing the cluth, it is about a £20 job. If you need to take the engine out to replace the RMS, it's a few hundred quid at an Indy (mainly for time taken to remove the engine). However, a slight weep from the seal is nothing really to worry about - just keep an eye on it. My old Box had an RMS weep for about 18 months and my (very well known) local Indy just advised to leave it and keep an eye on it u til I got the clutch changed.
They are pretty robust, really. Auxhillary rads can pick up some stone chips, but they are easily accessible. They are pretty sensitive to tracking being correct. Just use a good Indy and it will be no more expensive to run than a similar age BMW or Merc. In the 3 years I owned mine, it didn't cost any more than than the E39 it replaced to run.
The S also sounds heavenly when over about 3.5k rpm and is one of the composedm chuckable cars you will ever drive.
I was going to post something myself, having owned an 11 year old 986S, but, yes, pretty much this.RMS is the main oft touted terror story. It is simply the seal betwixt engine and gearbox. If you are changing the cluth, it is about a £20 job. If you need to take the engine out to replace the RMS, it's a few hundred quid at an Indy (mainly for time taken to remove the engine). However, a slight weep from the seal is nothing really to worry about - just keep an eye on it. My old Box had an RMS weep for about 18 months and my (very well known) local Indy just advised to leave it and keep an eye on it u til I got the clutch changed.
They are pretty robust, really. Auxhillary rads can pick up some stone chips, but they are easily accessible. They are pretty sensitive to tracking being correct. Just use a good Indy and it will be no more expensive to run than a similar age BMW or Merc. In the 3 years I owned mine, it didn't cost any more than than the E39 it replaced to run.
The S also sounds heavenly when over about 3.5k rpm and is one of the composedm chuckable cars you will ever drive.
schmalex said:
There are loads of Internet scare stories about the 986, but they're not that bad to run at all.
RMS is the main oft touted terror story. It is simply the seal betwixt engine and gearbox. If you are changing the cluth, it is about a £20 job. If you need to take the engine out to replace the RMS, it's a few hundred quid at an Indy (mainly for time taken to remove the engine). However, a slight weep from the seal is nothing really to worry about - just keep an eye on it. My old Box had an RMS weep for about 18 months and my (very well known) local Indy just advised to leave it and keep an eye on it u til I got the clutch changed.
They are pretty robust, really. Auxhillary rads can pick up some stone chips, but they are easily accessible. They are pretty sensitive to tracking being correct. Just use a good Indy and it will be no more expensive to run than a similar age BMW or Merc. In the 3 years I owned mine, it didn't cost any more than than the E39 it replaced to run.
The S also sounds heavenly when over about 3.5k rpm and is one of the composedm chuckable cars you will ever drive.
Yeah well the other contender is a Z4 but I prefer the Porsche and yes the gimmick at actually being able to afford a Porsche a 23 is making me smile. Ill chuck 50quid in a pot every month for maintenance. Ill get one with smaller wheels to keep tyre costs down but to be honest it will only be used as a play thing with a trip to Bath from Manchester every couple of weeks. 90k+ miles is looking like the kind of mileage I will be expecting on my budget. RMS is the main oft touted terror story. It is simply the seal betwixt engine and gearbox. If you are changing the cluth, it is about a £20 job. If you need to take the engine out to replace the RMS, it's a few hundred quid at an Indy (mainly for time taken to remove the engine). However, a slight weep from the seal is nothing really to worry about - just keep an eye on it. My old Box had an RMS weep for about 18 months and my (very well known) local Indy just advised to leave it and keep an eye on it u til I got the clutch changed.
They are pretty robust, really. Auxhillary rads can pick up some stone chips, but they are easily accessible. They are pretty sensitive to tracking being correct. Just use a good Indy and it will be no more expensive to run than a similar age BMW or Merc. In the 3 years I owned mine, it didn't cost any more than than the E39 it replaced to run.
The S also sounds heavenly when over about 3.5k rpm and is one of the composedm chuckable cars you will ever drive.
schmalex said:
RMS is the main oft touted terror story.
I've never heard this being one of the terrors TBH, it's just an oil drip, and quite often a mis-diagnosed IMS bearing on it's way out to lunch (the engine).The M96 and M97 engines have had a full history of bore scoring, IMS failures, D chunks as the cylinder walls crack open and head issues. This is down to Porsche completely forgetting several very basic elements that are needed when building an engine, namely lubrication, strength and cooling.
On the Boxster however it's usually the IMS bearing that is the problem, and on early ones you can replace that simply from outside.
The rarity of a Boxster actually going pop when you own it however is sufficiently low that you may as well just buy one and have some fun with it. If it does lunch itself during your custodianship then just part it out on eBay and get some of your money back.
Other makes of cars have rather expensive issues too - not being able to build an engine properly for the last two decades is not exclusive to Porsche, and you can get back into another cheap 986 Boxster for £3k (IIRC) anyway.
Be ready for
Water leaks into cabin, damp carpets and condensation on screen in winter
Clonks and knocks from front and rear suspension
corroded radiator and aircon condenser and pipes watch out for leaves stuck there
Dated unpleasant cabin
Cheap plastics used on heating and switchgear
Poor performance - don't except it to feel fast
Water leaks into cabin, damp carpets and condensation on screen in winter
Clonks and knocks from front and rear suspension
corroded radiator and aircon condenser and pipes watch out for leaves stuck there
Dated unpleasant cabin
Cheap plastics used on heating and switchgear
Poor performance - don't except it to feel fast
rallycross said:
Be ready for
Water leaks into cabin, damp carpets and condensation on screen in winter
Clonks and knocks from front and rear suspension
corroded radiator and aircon condenser and pipes watch out for leaves stuck there
Dated unpleasant cabin
Cheap plastics used on heating and switchgear
Poor performance - don't except it to feel fast
I never experienced any of those with mine. Albeit, it was a facelift 3.2S with the glass rear screen, PCM2, Bose, extended leather etc, etc. it was actually quite a pleasant place to be (and much quieter than my recent B7 S4 cab) and was as quick, point to point, as the B6 Audi S4 Avant we owned at the same timeWater leaks into cabin, damp carpets and condensation on screen in winter
Clonks and knocks from front and rear suspension
corroded radiator and aircon condenser and pipes watch out for leaves stuck there
Dated unpleasant cabin
Cheap plastics used on heating and switchgear
Poor performance - don't except it to feel fast
It may blow up, it may not.
I bought a 54 plate S after trying a 2.7 and feeling a little disappointed with the performance.
The 3.2 is hardly ballistic.
Parts are quite cheap, unless of course your rebuilding an engine.
Mine was fine, and I made money on it when I sold it.... well, 50 quid
I bought a 54 plate S after trying a 2.7 and feeling a little disappointed with the performance.
The 3.2 is hardly ballistic.
Parts are quite cheap, unless of course your rebuilding an engine.
Mine was fine, and I made money on it when I sold it.... well, 50 quid
Loved mine & as long as you get good indie they don't cost a fortune to keep.
If you get anything other than the S you will regret it.
Mine is for sale unfortunately if your interested in a mint 2001 s (not far from you either so even if your not interested & you want to try one out let me know)
If you get anything other than the S you will regret it.
Mine is for sale unfortunately if your interested in a mint 2001 s (not far from you either so even if your not interested & you want to try one out let me know)
kippax said:
Loved mine & as long as you get good indie they don't cost a fortune to keep.
If you get anything other than the S you will regret it.
Mine is for sale unfortunately if your interested in a mint 2001 s (not far from you either so even if your not interested & you want to try one out let me know)
Thanks for the offer mate. Insurance for the S is far too much, as is the 2.5. 2.7 seems to be cheaper for some reason. I do like the Z4 and with the 2.5 engine will surely shift? Isnt as dated to look at either, which is important as im hoping to keep for a while and this is the most ive ever spent on a car.If you get anything other than the S you will regret it.
Mine is for sale unfortunately if your interested in a mint 2001 s (not far from you either so even if your not interested & you want to try one out let me know)
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