£3000 Porsche Boxster 986. How Mad am I?
Poll: £3000 Porsche Boxster 986. How Mad am I?
Total Members Polled: 71
Discussion
I have a company van which I use for everything at the minute. It's useful and cheap to run which is all good.
But there are those times I just want to have a bit of fun, and I find myself looking at old Porsches more and more, namely the 986 Boxster.
Not being the powerfully built director type, I'm looking at the cheap end of the market. I'm surprised to see an early 986 can be had for as little as £3000.
Now the sensible part of my brain is saying it'll be a money pit and I'd be better off in the long term placing my £3000 in a meat grinder. I've read all the horror stories; IMS bearing, leaking roof etc. But this is Pistonheads, where there is no room for logical thought.
The budget will mostly get me a 2.5, the odd 2.7 creeps in around there too. I thought I'd be happy with a 2.5 despite it having around the same BHP as a new Fiesta ST, a car which I have driven a lot at work and absolutely adore. But the 2.7 is apparently the sweet spot; budget won't stretch to the 3.2 S!
Come on then, tell me I'm just being a bit mad and stick to the van.
But there are those times I just want to have a bit of fun, and I find myself looking at old Porsches more and more, namely the 986 Boxster.
Not being the powerfully built director type, I'm looking at the cheap end of the market. I'm surprised to see an early 986 can be had for as little as £3000.
Now the sensible part of my brain is saying it'll be a money pit and I'd be better off in the long term placing my £3000 in a meat grinder. I've read all the horror stories; IMS bearing, leaking roof etc. But this is Pistonheads, where there is no room for logical thought.
The budget will mostly get me a 2.5, the odd 2.7 creeps in around there too. I thought I'd be happy with a 2.5 despite it having around the same BHP as a new Fiesta ST, a car which I have driven a lot at work and absolutely adore. But the 2.7 is apparently the sweet spot; budget won't stretch to the 3.2 S!
Come on then, tell me I'm just being a bit mad and stick to the van.
If somebody was going to rely on a three grand Porsche for their livelihood as a long-distance courier then I'd say that they were indeed bonkers. As it is it's not costing you a lot to buy and you've got another vehicle to use for the day-to-day, so it doesn't strike me as very mad at all I'm afraid.
Early 986 Boxsters seemed to have fallen in price a bit recently and I have been having the same thoughts as you. I have seen a couple on eBay in the last few weeks for under £3k and these have sold very quickly despite having issues.
I am seriously tempted to wait a couple of months and then try and get the best 2.7 I can for between £4 and £5K. However, having read a few posts by people who have done this very thing, they seem to spend this sum again on fixing issues with the car. If that is the case then you might as well buy a newer 987 for the same total outlay.
I am seriously tempted to wait a couple of months and then try and get the best 2.7 I can for between £4 and £5K. However, having read a few posts by people who have done this very thing, they seem to spend this sum again on fixing issues with the car. If that is the case then you might as well buy a newer 987 for the same total outlay.
These represent an amazing car for the amount of money at the moment.
As mentioned if the engine does go bang, then you should be able to get a fair proportion of your purchase price back by breaking it, and if it doesn't go bang then the majority of the other costs in keeping one going and improving it are accessible to a decent DIY'er.
I enjoy mucking about and fixing mine almost as much as driving it.
As mentioned if the engine does go bang, then you should be able to get a fair proportion of your purchase price back by breaking it, and if it doesn't go bang then the majority of the other costs in keeping one going and improving it are accessible to a decent DIY'er.
I enjoy mucking about and fixing mine almost as much as driving it.
Do your research, know them inside out, be prepared to look at a few to get a feel for them, make cheeky bids.
You need to live and breathe them for a month or two, know every potential fault and how to tell if its a problem, model years, affected cars and how you fix them. Try everything if you go to see one.
Dont neglect tyres, brakes and other consumables, could be another grand lurking that needs spending. Know what stuff costs for them.
Dont assume higher mileage is worse on these, tiny milers can be harbouring problems at this age just as easily and tend to get over priced, give me one with a good history in regular use that has loads of bills for work done and evidence of oil changes.
Above all, if it doesnt feel right, trust your gut and walk away, they made thousands of them.
You need to live and breathe them for a month or two, know every potential fault and how to tell if its a problem, model years, affected cars and how you fix them. Try everything if you go to see one.
Dont neglect tyres, brakes and other consumables, could be another grand lurking that needs spending. Know what stuff costs for them.
Dont assume higher mileage is worse on these, tiny milers can be harbouring problems at this age just as easily and tend to get over priced, give me one with a good history in regular use that has loads of bills for work done and evidence of oil changes.
Above all, if it doesnt feel right, trust your gut and walk away, they made thousands of them.
I bought a 2.7 986 for a little over £3k a couple of months ago.
I didn’t really have my sensible hat on that day, but the 2.7 felt like it had the little extra grunt the 2.5 felt like it lacked.
Personally I felt more comfortable paying less and knowing I could virtually walk away from a massive bill than spending twice as much and still knowing it could go wrong.
I have discovered the central locking and remote keys don’t work, the drivers window doesn’t drop when the door is being closed, the vanity mirror cover on the sun visor is broken and I have just spent £40 on a new Boxster badge as my ‘r’ had fallen off. My mechanic reattached the front suspension which was making a bid for freedom and so I have spent more than I anticipated so far and have an mot to look forward to the week before Christmas.
Having said all that, I have a 6 cylinder, mid engined convertible sports car for the weekend. Kids think I am cool for once, wife thinks I am mad. But in years to come I know I will look back fondly on the couple of years I pottered around in my beat up old Porsche.
Do it - before we all drive electric cars😀
I didn’t really have my sensible hat on that day, but the 2.7 felt like it had the little extra grunt the 2.5 felt like it lacked.
Personally I felt more comfortable paying less and knowing I could virtually walk away from a massive bill than spending twice as much and still knowing it could go wrong.
I have discovered the central locking and remote keys don’t work, the drivers window doesn’t drop when the door is being closed, the vanity mirror cover on the sun visor is broken and I have just spent £40 on a new Boxster badge as my ‘r’ had fallen off. My mechanic reattached the front suspension which was making a bid for freedom and so I have spent more than I anticipated so far and have an mot to look forward to the week before Christmas.
Having said all that, I have a 6 cylinder, mid engined convertible sports car for the weekend. Kids think I am cool for once, wife thinks I am mad. But in years to come I know I will look back fondly on the couple of years I pottered around in my beat up old Porsche.
Do it - before we all drive electric cars😀
As has been said do your research. These cars are fantastic when well sorted. I've had mine for about 8 years and spent a small fortune on it. Remember the cars are quite old now, so age related issues are starting to get more prevelant (suspension, hoses, brake pipes etc.). Try and get one with a fair bit of history, so you can see that it has been looked after.
For comparison i'm selling mine, it might give you an idea of options and ways to take whatever you find. Ignore folk saying to avoid a 2.5 or a 2.7. My first one was a 2.5 Tiptronic. Probably the most hated of the lot. Actually it was a hoot to drive and once it had picked up it's skirt... could shift ok. It's much lighter than the cars that followed. Happy hunting...
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
For comparison i'm selling mine, it might give you an idea of options and ways to take whatever you find. Ignore folk saying to avoid a 2.5 or a 2.7. My first one was a 2.5 Tiptronic. Probably the most hated of the lot. Actually it was a hoot to drive and once it had picked up it's skirt... could shift ok. It's much lighter than the cars that followed. Happy hunting...
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
ZX10R NIN said:
A nice drive back from Northern Ireland, too :-)
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