987 Boxster– How prone to water leaks / reliable is the roof
Discussion
In general terms just trying to gauge how prone to leaks / reliable the roof is, having run MR2 T-bars for years am no stranger to dealing with the odd water leak but just trying to gauge if would be something similar or worse!. Both the 987 Boxster and Cayman are on the shortlist for my next car and am currently reading up on them both to hopefully make a decision early next year. Am currently open to either with the Cayman probably being a late 987.1 and the Boxster maybe being able to stretch to a 987.2. It is to be used as a daily and kept outside all year round and with living in Scotland will probably have to contend with the worst the weather can throw at it. So just looking for owners experiences to see if am kidding myself on including the Boxster or not really.
I drove in serious rainy weather like more than an hour for many times in my 5 years ownership without hard-top. No leak or whatsoever (986). But I keep the car in underground garage, so never exposed to outside permanently, not sure what would happen in that case. 987 and later 981 should be much better I guess.
emrrtwo said:
In general terms just trying to gauge how prone to leaks / reliable the roof is, having run MR2 T-bars for years am no stranger to dealing with the odd water leak but just trying to gauge if would be something similar or worse!. Both the 987 Boxster and Cayman are on the shortlist for my next car and am currently reading up on them both to hopefully make a decision early next year. Am currently open to either with the Cayman probably being a late 987.1 and the Boxster maybe being able to stretch to a 987.2. It is to be used as a daily and kept outside all year round and with living in Scotland will probably have to contend with the worst the weather can throw at it. So just looking for owners experiences to see if am kidding myself on including the Boxster or not really.
My 2002 Boxster has been an outside car now for years, ever since I moved back to CA in early 2004. The car has been real good in the water tightness department, but it has not been 100% water tight. And one can't assume every example will be as good as my Boxster has been. IIRC Porsche states somewhere it doesn't consider its soft top cars to be 100% water proof. And really this is true of any of its cars (and cars of any maker). Seals age, or get damaged, and can and will leak at some point.
Since as long as I can remember when washing the car at a DIY car wash a bit of water -- just a drop or two -- runs down the inside of the driver side window. I just avoid blasting this area with the full strength of the water wand. The window has never leaked in wet weather.
The original top developed a leak this about 2 years ago. The leak was about in the center of the top just above where the rear window is. I think the leak arose from age coupled with the fact I had the rear window replaced maybe 6 years ago when the original one (plastic) cracked.
I had a new aftermarket top (with the plastic window) installed. The new top/window is water tight.
Both doors leaked, that is water collected in the door and the carpet along the bottom of the door was damp. In the case of the passenger door more than damp, a bit dripping wet actually.
The fix was to have a new door membrane installed. This membrane keeps water that can't help but get in the door from getting where it shouldn't be. Both doors needed a new membrane within just months of each other.
Less common is a leak from around the front windshield. While rare usually this is quickly noticed because one gets water dripping on his leg or that of his passenger. Still every once in a while when cleaning the carpet just feel around for any signs of dampness.
To help keep the car water tight, or at least dry, avoid parking under trees. Tree/plant leaf litter can cause the body water drains to plug up and water will collect and over flow into the cabin. By avoiding parking under trees one keeps the risk of bird mess on the car, on the top, low too, along with the risk of having a branch or limb fall on the car.
Whenever I spot bird mess on either of my cars I'm pretty prompt in at least rinsing the stuff off. It is no friend to any painted or soft top surface but on a soft top the mess with its acids will damage the top's rubber sheet that keeps the water out of the cabin.
Even though I'm careful about where I park my cars the body water drains still collect trash over time so I inspect these once in a while and remove any trash and make sure all drains flow water poured in from a pitcher with no signs of any backing up of the water.
With not too much work these cars can tolerate being outside in all kinds of weather with zero issues.
thanks for the replies which has helped confirm the answer was hoping for in that can consider both the Boxster and the Cayman when the time comes
Never had a convertible before thus wasn't sure how feasible they would be to run, sounds like outwith normal age related issues with rubber seals / weather-strips (like most cars) they don't seem to have much leak related problems
Thanks Again
Never had a convertible before thus wasn't sure how feasible they would be to run, sounds like outwith normal age related issues with rubber seals / weather-strips (like most cars) they don't seem to have much leak related problems
Thanks Again
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