£6k Boxster S - am I stupid?
Discussion
Hi guys,
First post after lurking for about 5 years on PH.
Luckily I work for the NHS so have kept my job through all this mess and lockdown means I'm saving more money than I thought would be possible so, finally have the means of getting hold of a Boxster. I formed an unhealthy obsession with them about 20 years ago due to playing too much Porsche Challenge on PS1. Won't be used as a daily just as a weekend/holiday machine.
My plan is to hold on to it long term, looks as though prices aren't going down and i'm using that as a justification to be willing to spend a decent amount on it each year to keep it up to scratch with the hope that in 5 years or so i'll get my initial outlay back.
There looks like there's a few decent examples under £6k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
I have done a lot of reading, and aware of IMS, RMS issues, regular servicing essential etc.
Questions:
Is the S that much better - should I be going for a tidier 2.7?
Does mileage matter that much?
Should I be budgeting for the IMS upgrade if it hasnt been done?
Should I hold off another few months and be looking at £7-8k examples?
Appreciate any advice
First post after lurking for about 5 years on PH.
Luckily I work for the NHS so have kept my job through all this mess and lockdown means I'm saving more money than I thought would be possible so, finally have the means of getting hold of a Boxster. I formed an unhealthy obsession with them about 20 years ago due to playing too much Porsche Challenge on PS1. Won't be used as a daily just as a weekend/holiday machine.
My plan is to hold on to it long term, looks as though prices aren't going down and i'm using that as a justification to be willing to spend a decent amount on it each year to keep it up to scratch with the hope that in 5 years or so i'll get my initial outlay back.
There looks like there's a few decent examples under £6k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
I have done a lot of reading, and aware of IMS, RMS issues, regular servicing essential etc.
Questions:
Is the S that much better - should I be going for a tidier 2.7?
Does mileage matter that much?
Should I be budgeting for the IMS upgrade if it hasnt been done?
Should I hold off another few months and be looking at £7-8k examples?
Appreciate any advice
Do your checks & then buy the car you like best the black one looks the nicer of the two, mileage matters as suspension components will be more perished, if you buy a high miler budget a refresh also check the engine mounts etc.
This one could be interesting if you could haggle nearer to 5k to help cover the cost of the paint & catch:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
This one could be interesting if you could haggle nearer to 5k to help cover the cost of the paint & catch:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
ZX10R NIN said:
Do your checks & then buy the car you like best the black one looks the nicer of the two, mileage matters as suspension components will be more perished, if you buy a high miler budget a refresh also check the engine mounts etc.
This one could be interesting if you could haggle nearer to 5k to help cover the cost of the paint & catch:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Thanks for the advice, yeh that does look nice, interior looks like its in really good nic - and seller is being honest about faults, also having the hard top would be a bonusThis one could be interesting if you could haggle nearer to 5k to help cover the cost of the paint & catch:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
I've owned both a 3.2S and 2.7... not much to choose between them really, people will say the 3.2 has more torque, and it does, but both cars need revving to really move. Theoretically the smaller engined car is cheaper to run, but it all depends on condition, and a bit of luck. The 2.5 is nice to drive too.
illwill89 said:
My plan is to hold on to it long term, looks as though prices aren't going down and i'm using that as a justification to be willing to spend a decent amount on it each year to keep it up to scratch with the hope that in 5 years or so i'll get my initial outlay back.
That's wishful thinking IMO!I've never owned one but have come close. They seem to be incredibly unreliable cars and when things go wrong, and it will, they cost a fortune to fix.
If you're handy with a spanner and willing to get under the car that'll help in the long run.
Best to buy one that has had all the problem areas fixed, or set aside a budget to cover them in the future.
If you're handy with a spanner and willing to get under the car that'll help in the long run.
Best to buy one that has had all the problem areas fixed, or set aside a budget to cover them in the future.
NelsonM3 said:
To get them driving and looking properly can be dear. I’ve spent nearly £10k since in the 3 years I’ve had my 2.7
Nothing drives and grips quite like it though. I have a 986 and an E46 M3 and for fun I’d always pick the Boxster.
That's good to know, I thought about £2-2.5k a year in up keep would do it. How much of that £10k was 'essential' ?Nothing drives and grips quite like it though. I have a 986 and an E46 M3 and for fun I’d always pick the Boxster.
I've owned my 986 S for 2 yrs now, which for me counts as a long time. Bought because i always wanted one. Like you i had a bit of an obsession about them but was slways too wary/scared to tske the plunge.
My wife's 40th was coming up and we planned a euro trip to celebrate, and a boxster seemed the perfect choice. It was. The trip was awesome and the car faultless.
Mine is an 02 plate and had 76k on it. I paid £8k, which was high, but it is in colbalt blue (rare), and has a lovrly grey interior with hard back sports seats. IMS and clutch done at 70k. And sitting on new pilot 4s, which are my preferred tyre
It needed new rear discs/pads, so i did those myself for about £100.
Then it started to misfire on cold damp mornings so i fitted new coil packs myself for about £150.
After that it did the 2000 mile euro trip just fine, returning 36 mpg in the process. It was the perfect car for it.
Since then it needed nothing for about a year. Then the front discs really started to look shabby. The inner faces rust unless you brake HARD and often. It was 2 yrs since its last proper service so i had it gone over by a specialist. New discs and pads, plys new brake pipes (advisory on last MOT), all filters, new brake fluid, coolant and oil. £700, which i thought was ok. He remarked that it was a good example.
That's about it really.
I do think about selling it because i hardly use it, but a quick drive soon settles that. It's such an event to drive, esp as mine has the haywood and scott exhaust bypass so sounds like a GT3 above 4k revs.
My wife's 40th was coming up and we planned a euro trip to celebrate, and a boxster seemed the perfect choice. It was. The trip was awesome and the car faultless.
Mine is an 02 plate and had 76k on it. I paid £8k, which was high, but it is in colbalt blue (rare), and has a lovrly grey interior with hard back sports seats. IMS and clutch done at 70k. And sitting on new pilot 4s, which are my preferred tyre
It needed new rear discs/pads, so i did those myself for about £100.
Then it started to misfire on cold damp mornings so i fitted new coil packs myself for about £150.
After that it did the 2000 mile euro trip just fine, returning 36 mpg in the process. It was the perfect car for it.
Since then it needed nothing for about a year. Then the front discs really started to look shabby. The inner faces rust unless you brake HARD and often. It was 2 yrs since its last proper service so i had it gone over by a specialist. New discs and pads, plys new brake pipes (advisory on last MOT), all filters, new brake fluid, coolant and oil. £700, which i thought was ok. He remarked that it was a good example.
That's about it really.
I do think about selling it because i hardly use it, but a quick drive soon settles that. It's such an event to drive, esp as mine has the haywood and scott exhaust bypass so sounds like a GT3 above 4k revs.
Edited by PTF on Friday 1st May 07:41
Similar to last post above....have a Y reg S bought around 21 months ago for just under £9000.was high price but had had a Hartech engine rebuild new soft top and 70k miles.
In that time only expense has been major service about £600 ..
Never had a problem with it ,started first time every time ,plenty fast enough for my driving ability and nothing beats top down experience...
Yes consumables are pricey but factor that into the running costs...i have no spannering ability beyond basic ( and i mean basic) bulb replacement etc...
If it’s had the dreaded IMS and RMS done then do it....
In that time only expense has been major service about £600 ..
Never had a problem with it ,started first time every time ,plenty fast enough for my driving ability and nothing beats top down experience...
Yes consumables are pricey but factor that into the running costs...i have no spannering ability beyond basic ( and i mean basic) bulb replacement etc...
If it’s had the dreaded IMS and RMS done then do it....
Elatino1 said:
What did the invoice on the rebuild equate to? £7K?
Without getting the invoice out not 100% sure but think it was nearer £9000..Will check later ...TBH that was the major factor in choosing this one,long with the new soft top.Exterior is also really good subject to the inevitable minor stone chips .Also need a bumper respray due to me miscalculating the brake efficiency.....grrrrr.....
Can’t add much to the above except to say the IMS bearing divides opinion. Some say best left alone as replacement in situ (ie without splitting the crankcase) can cause more problems than it solves. But then you’ve got to drive with your fingers crossed of course because they do go and take most of the rest of the engine with them. But that’s why they’re so cheap!
Only other thing to add - is the 2.7 5 speed versus the 3.2 being 6?
Only other thing to add - is the 2.7 5 speed versus the 3.2 being 6?
PTF said:
I've owned my 986 S for 2 yrs now, which for me counts as a long time. Bought because i always wanted one. Like you i had a bit of an obsession about them but was slways too wary/scared to tske the plunge.
My wife's 40th was coming up and we planned a euro trip to celebrate, and a boxster seemed the perfect choice. It was. The trip was awesome and the car faultless.
Mine is an 02 plate and had 76k on it. I paid £8k, which was high, but it is in colbalt blue (rare), and has a lovrly grey interior with hard back sports seats. IMS and clutch done at 70k. And sitting on new pilot 4s, which are my preferred tyre
It needed new rear discs/pads, so i did those myself for about £100.
Then it started to misfire on cold damp mornings so i fitted new coil packs myself for about £150.
After that it did the 2000 mile euro trip just fine, returning 36 mpg in the process. It was the perfect car for it.
Since then it needed nothing for about a year. Then the front discs really started to look shabby. The inner faces rust unless you brake HARD and often. It was 2 yrs since its last proper service so i had it gone over by a specialist. New discs and pads, plys new brake pipes (advisory on last MOT), all filters, new brake fluid, coolant and oil. £700, which i thought was ok. He remarked that it was a good example.
That's about it really.
I do think about selling it because i hardly use it, but a quick drive soon settles that. It's such an event to drive, esp as mine has the haywood and scott exhaust bypass so sounds like a GT3 above 4k revs.
Beautiful car, thanks for sharing your ownership experience - I guess you have been 'lucky' that your costs haven't been too high but you bought a car that had been looked after and had major jobs done recently.My wife's 40th was coming up and we planned a euro trip to celebrate, and a boxster seemed the perfect choice. It was. The trip was awesome and the car faultless.
Mine is an 02 plate and had 76k on it. I paid £8k, which was high, but it is in colbalt blue (rare), and has a lovrly grey interior with hard back sports seats. IMS and clutch done at 70k. And sitting on new pilot 4s, which are my preferred tyre
It needed new rear discs/pads, so i did those myself for about £100.
Then it started to misfire on cold damp mornings so i fitted new coil packs myself for about £150.
After that it did the 2000 mile euro trip just fine, returning 36 mpg in the process. It was the perfect car for it.
Since then it needed nothing for about a year. Then the front discs really started to look shabby. The inner faces rust unless you brake HARD and often. It was 2 yrs since its last proper service so i had it gone over by a specialist. New discs and pads, plys new brake pipes (advisory on last MOT), all filters, new brake fluid, coolant and oil. £700, which i thought was ok. He remarked that it was a good example.
That's about it really.
I do think about selling it because i hardly use it, but a quick drive soon settles that. It's such an event to drive, esp as mine has the haywood and scott exhaust bypass so sounds like a GT3 above 4k revs.
Edited by PTF on Friday 1st May 07:41
I think going forward the first thing is to need to test drive a 2.7 and 3.2 and see how much difference the extra power and extra ratio make. Seems to be loads of good advice on boxa.net about what to look out for on a test.
I'd be keen not to have the IMS issue at the back of my mind, so look for one that's had it sorted. Am I right in thinking the early 2.7s and 3.2s had a dual row IMS? interesting to hear that fixing the issue can also cause problems!
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