2005 Porsche Boxster 2.7 - Rolling Refresh

[John Laverick]

I've never done a readers car post before but thought I'd share my plans & progress for my 2005 Porsche Boxster 2.7.

A bit of background, my wife bought this car around one year ago and has run it as her daily (including a European tour around Spain / Portugal in the summer). She's just given birth to our first baby boy and bought a brand new Maxda CX-5 so the Porsche is surplus to requirements.

The obvious solution is to sell it but I must admit I've become quite partial to it so the plan is to turn it into a keeper for the weekends!

We purchase it in August 2018 on 74571 miles for £7700 and it currently sits on around 86k.

A few pictures to whet your appetite:

Edited by John Laverick on Wednesday 29th December 09:42

[John Laverick]

It's not been a cheap year of motoring .... I spent £3915 in maintenance over circa. 12,000 miles so far.

Most of the money was on essential maintenance, some was on preventative maintenance and some was on upgrades and refreshing areas.

Heres the breakdown:

Number plate bolt covers =£1.49
Water pump = £610.79
Mats = £76.09
Boot strut = £24.99
Bonnet struts = £39.98
Key Rings x 2 = £31.99
Number plates = £19.99
Wheel bolts = £49.99
Exhaust repair = £200.28
Coolant hoses = £635.59
Body work repair = £200.00
Rear stone guards = £31.00
Wheel centre caps = £20.00
May '19 Service Items = £752.18
Engine oil top up = £13.35
MOT = £35.00
Service = £541.05
Windscreen excess = £75.00
Aircon service = £44.99

The bodywork repair was to fix an arch / concrete post interaction in my wifes underground car park at work!

20181109_080210 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20181109_080221 by John Laverick, on Flickr

[John Laverick]

Basic plans are:

1. Refresh seats
2. Refresh interior (steering wheel / gear nob / handbrake re-trim)
3. New seat belts
4. Painted center console
5. Auto android sterio
6. Paint correction
7. Minor external paint plus new badges
8. Replacement tyres
9. Brake caliper refurb
10. New suspension (extent to be determined) + geometry
11/ Wheel spacers

Nothing exactly amazing but just generally bringing the car back to a good usable standard.

[LordGrover]

Never had a 987, but really like them. I'm in the minority I'm sure, but the non-S models are invariably the sweet spot for me.
Keep on top of it and it'll last another 80,000 miles. Enjoy!

[John Laverick]

First job was to refurbish the manky HVAC switches.

Now bear in mind ... i'm going for an improved usable finish not concourse perfection ... if it can be done on the cheap it will be!

These haven't turned out perfect but based on the fact I had some paint in the garage so the cost was effectively zero i'm happy enough.

Before:

20190906_171747 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20190906_171753 by John Laverick, on Flickr

During:

20190908_163324 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20190912_184904 by John Laverick, on Flickr

After:

20190924_121652 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20190924_121659 by John Laverick, on Flickr

They look better in real life I promise!!

[John Laverick]

Seats next:

20190923_155311 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20190923_155324 by John Laverick, on Flickr

[smithyithy]

Following with interest, I may be in the marking for an early 2.7 987 soon, so might learn a few things from your thread.

The breakdown of costs isn't reassuring

[james_gt3rs]

I'd like to try a 987. Had a 986 and 986S and miss them still..

[John Laverick]

smithyithy said:

Following with interest, I may be in the marking for an early 2.7 987 soon, so might learn a few things from your thread.

The breakdown of costs isn't reassuring

They're great....but not cheap if you want to look after them properly. I thought I bought a really good example too!!

[ollyh1988]

John Laverick said:

smithyithy said:

Following with interest, I may be in the marking for an early 2.7 987 soon, so might learn a few things from your thread.

The breakdown of costs isn't reassuring

They're great....but not cheap if you want to look after them properly. I thought I bought a really good example too!!

These cars need plenty of preventative maintenance, so never buy one that hasn't had money spent on it. I recently sold a similar car and my running costs for one year were very similar (but I did get unlucky with needing new coil packs following a break down...).

[sinbaddio]

John Laverick said:

Seats next:

20190923_155324 by John Laverick, on Flickr

What's your plan for the bolster John? My 986 has the same issue, was looking at retrim or second hand seats but neither seem financially viable.

[John Laverick]

sinbaddio said:

John Laverick said:

Seats next:

20190923_155324 by John Laverick, on Flickr

What's your plan for the bolster John? My 986 has the same issue, was looking at retrim or second hand seats but neither seem financially viable.

I investigated having them repaired by a smart repair company but was told because they're vinyl not leather the result wouldn't be very good.

So I investigated a retrim which was about £550.

However instead I've just bought a pair of full leather crested 2nd hand replacements instead for £282 and I plan to sell my old pair on to recoup some cost.

The drivers bolster on the replacements are a little worn however so I'm planning to do a refurb myself using the Furniture Clinic kit.

Edited by John Laverick on Thursday 26th September 17:34

[John Laverick]

Pair of ebay seats ... heated and crested so a minor upgrade from the originals.

The passenger seat is pretty much perfect and is now fitted ... the drivers needs a light bolster refresh to remove some scuffing. This will be done over the following week (or two).

The car will be coming off the road next week when the Mazda arrives to allow me to remove the steering wheel / gear knob /. handbrake and seat belts to send them off for trimming.

Ebay seats:

Screenshot_20190921-185110_eBay by John Laverick, on Flickr

Swapping airbags across:

20190925_163635 by John Laverick, on Flickr

Work in progress (found two packs of polos and a tape measure. Cash back!)

20190925_163654 by John Laverick, on Flickr

Fitted:

20190925_170101 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20190925_170107 by John Laverick, on Flickr

[Richard-rjbph]

Interesting thread. I bought an 05’ 987.1 3.2S around 6 months ago, managed to get it for a good price but needed a service. Budgeted £1k, actually cost was closer to £2k!!!! Still some way off yours though!!!! Not cheap, but absolutely brilliant drivers car.
Would be interested in whether you agree with my comments in the video below from a “base” model rather then “S” model.
https://youtu.be/TZklTHI0hXI

[sinbaddio]

John Laverick said:

Pair of ebay seats ... heated and crested so a minor upgrade from the originals.

These look ace!

[John Laverick]

I told myself I'd only do one job at a time but I couldn't help myself today ....

The paint on the Porsche is superficially pretty good but in the sunlight it's quite heavily swirled with plenty of light scratches all over .... I've never corrected paint before but I intend to give it a bash. Bought some bits and bobs to supplement what I already have:

DA Polisher

20190905_203030 by John Laverick, on Flickr

Polishing pads

20190905_202937 by John Laverick, on Flickr

Compounds / polishes

20190905_202923 by John Laverick, on Flickr

[John Laverick]

I decided to have a practice on the headlight and taillights to get me going ... pretty happy with the results.

Before ... generally dull with surface hazing / oxidation

20190927_145013 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20190927_145049 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20190927_145105 by John Laverick, on Flickr

During

20190927_150420 by John Laverick, on Flickr

After

20190927_161404 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20190927_161411 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20190927_161417 by John Laverick, on Flickr

[John Laverick]

Not much progress made due to a new 3 week old in the household.

New windscreen (5th visit from Autoglass to finally get it right with a dealer screen):

20191004_082549 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20191004_083952 by John Laverick, on Flickr

Progress on the replacement drivers seat refurb (about halfway)

Products:

20191001_162219 by John Laverick, on Flickr

Before:

20191001_162232 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20191001_162240 by John Laverick, on Flickr

During:

20191002_192816 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20191002_192820 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20191004_184444 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20191004_184450 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20191004_190343 by John Laverick, on Flickr

20191004_190345 by John Laverick, on Flickr

[soxboy]

Watching with interest.

Got a 2005 2.7 tip, just over 133k miles though. Bought 2 years ago.

Mine has now become surplus to requirements and now deciding whether to invest in it or shift it on. The former option seems a bit silly as values are so low, but I would fancy a winter project.

[John Laverick]

soxboy said:

Watching with interest.

Got a 2005 2.7 tip, just over 133k miles though. Bought 2 years ago.

Mine has now become surplus to requirements and now deciding whether to invest in it or shift it on. The former option seems a bit silly as values are so low, but I would fancy a winter project.

That was exactly my thought process when it became surplus to requirements. Not worth selling for circa £7k when it's so enjoyable to drive plus I also fancied a bit of a winter project too.