Buying a Boxster 2.5

[voodoochild]

Looking at a Boxster 2.5, affordable to buy but my concern is running one. What are these like to run? 15k a year id be doing and would like to spend around £5500 buying one.

Are they belt or chain driven?

What are the major service costs like?

What is the reliability like?

Who do you recommend for insurance (U21)?

What milage wouldn't you buy above?

Any buying advice?

Thanks

[thegoose]

You'll probably run a sensibly bought one for £2k per year doing that kind of mileage, but if the engine fails (which happens more often than it should, and is usually entirely without warning) the car will be a write off, perhaps worth £1.5k - £3k in parts. If you're OK with that risk, then get anything you fancy inspected by someone that know them, take their advice, jump in and enjoy!

[Porkster]

voodoochild said:

Looking at a Boxster 2.5, affordable to buy but my concern is running one. What are these like to run? 15k a year id be doing and would like to spend around £5500 buying one.

Are they belt or chain driven?

What are the major service costs like?

What is the reliability like?

Who do you recommend for insurance (U21)?

What milage wouldn't you buy above?

Any buying advice

Thanks

Mine was brilliant, ultra reliable and awesome to drive, in fact it inspired the following 3 porsches i've had since.

Chain driven, no belt to replace.

Had mine serviced at a local garage who does a little porsche work to keep costs down, haven't got that luxury with the newer one or tbh I wouldn't give them my 996 turbo to service but was very comforatable letting them service the Boxster.

Only part I replaced was the micro switch for the roof, which one day failed and made the windows play up (or down!)

No idea on insurance. good luck at your age! mine you had loads of high group cars when I was younger.

Mine had over 140k on it when I bought it and didn't miss a beat or use any oil.

[jamesogt]

Group 17 insurance, good luck being under 21!

I'm 35, no speeding, accidents + garaged, tracker, 5k miles, 6 yrs no claims (lived abroad), not great postcode - 800 quid fully comp

On a 3.2S 2001.

[madmover]

jamesogt said:

Group 17 insurance, good luck being under 21!

I'm 35, no speeding, accidents + garaged, tracker, 5k miles, 6 yrs no claims (lived abroad), not great postcode - 800 quid fully comp

On a 3.2S 2001.

I insured my TT 225 and all mods declared at 17 which i believe is group 18 after some looking about. Grouping shouldn't be an issue simply companies who will insure people with a rwd convertible at 200bhp and a porsche badge are few and far between. Best place tends to be the independent brokers from what ive found.

[jamesogt]

Didn't think it would be impossible, just expensive!

[JayPee]

8 Months and 7k miles into owning a 108k 1998 2.5 (New engine at 30k in 2001, block porosity issue I believe)
Are they belt or chain driven?- Chain

What are the major service costs like?- At the price that the cheap ones are going for, this may be the downfall. Good independents have to be the only way to go I think, otherwise the cost of service compared to car value would hurt (IMHO). Potentially I would trust a home serviced one, as they are becoming cost effective to maintain in that way and providing proper intervals have been observed by a seller who appears competent, I can't see issues. Again IMO

What is the reliability like?- The engine failures do sometimes play on my mind, though I just keep in perspective that if broken for parts after a failure, the loss wouldn't be as terrible as a rebuild. That said, the 5-speed box is supposedly fairly robust, and mine at 108k still feels tight. I have had to change a starter motor and a radiator on mine since purchase, neither of which were that expensive when using OEM-spec parts (BEHR rad and Bosch recon motor). I would keep a few hundred quid at least contingency to sort issues, which I think is only fair for a car that is 11-15 years old.

Who do you recommend for insurance (U21)?- I am 24 and use Admiral, had decent quotes from Flux and Brentacre also. Not that cheap, but things like S2000's and certain hot hatches are much, much worse.

What milage wouldn't you buy above?- Depends how it has been used and looked after, mine had many bills for things like a new roof and the engine. I actually would think twice about ultra low mileage garage queens. Maybe not true but it feels like I read of more issues of these then cars that have been used daily.

Any buying advice?- I really like mine, the driving experience took a while to make sense after my MX-5 but it just feels special every time I drive it, and as an everyday car it has been great. Google all the possible problems to check on a viewing. Obviously make sure you drive it yourself, and listen out for rattles and clunks, as these are pretty much bad news on Porsches I think!

[FisiP1]

Admiral by miles for insurance for me, but I'm 23; 1300 p/a on my 2.7 Cayman. 1750 p/a on my stopgap 3.4 991.

Like the chap above mentioned, many hot hatches and certain other 'sports cars' come back far worse for me too.

[SalesManager]

2.7 is a country mile better than a 2.5, especially if you're doing miles.