Buying dilemma
Discussion
So, my mid-life crisis has come and I've decided to finally buy myself a sports car. After a couple of years (!) of deliberation over which Porsche model to buy (it was always going to be a Porsche, or perhaps a Ferrari 308gt4 when you could still buy one for £15k), I've decided that if you can only have one sports car it should be a convertible, and that the Boxster fits my requirements just right.
I've narrowed my requirements down to an early 986 S. Having initially disliked the amber lights when the cars were new, I now think the clear lens ones just don't look right! 987 doesnt float my boat either for some reason.
So, having been looking for some time, I now have two options, both of which I really like, but both with slight concerns.
First up is a 2000 model in Blue with full black leather, hard back sports seats and 60k on the clock. It has a pretty comprehensive history, although it does have a gap of a couple of years a few years ago. Niggles are mid-range, mis-matched tyres (that may imply last owner didn't really care for it), a few minor cosmetics and fat boy after market wheels (18" Turbo look-a-likes) which must have a different offset to standard 18" wheels as they really do fill out the arches - (to be honest, I really like the look - do you think it looks a bit hooligan-ish?). The car comes with a warranty, but I'm not convinced it is any good - doesn't cover consequential damage for starters. There were a couple of probs with car when I first looked at it, and seller has had them sorted without quibble.
Second is a higher mileage (90k) red car - again 2000 model. Now this is £1000 cheaper and has had a full Hartech engine rebuild 10,000 miles/2 years ago. On that note alone, this second car is very tempting. However, there are a couple of more major cosmetic issues (very worn drivers seat bolster and chipped doors from opening within a tight garage). The bigger worry though is despite the engine rebuild, there is definitely evidence of an engine oil leak. Just looking underneath, the flat "ice-cream tub" looking bit at the front of the engine is covered in oil, with a droplet forming. Also, looking at the re-build paperwork from Hartech, it states that there is a certain oil change regime to be followed post rebuild, and there is no evidence to support that this was done. (oh, and a previous service also states air con not working - suspect needs new condensers, which hasn't been done). Having said that, the current owner has spent a lot on the car. It has recent brakes, and good premium tyres.
So, I am genuinely undecided. Truthfully, they are probably both good cars (as long as leak isn't serious!) The second one probably needs some money spending on it soon (condensers, cosmetics) which would cancel out the price difference, so it sort of comes down to comparing a leaky rebuilt engine, with a dry original!
Any thoughts?
I've narrowed my requirements down to an early 986 S. Having initially disliked the amber lights when the cars were new, I now think the clear lens ones just don't look right! 987 doesnt float my boat either for some reason.
So, having been looking for some time, I now have two options, both of which I really like, but both with slight concerns.
First up is a 2000 model in Blue with full black leather, hard back sports seats and 60k on the clock. It has a pretty comprehensive history, although it does have a gap of a couple of years a few years ago. Niggles are mid-range, mis-matched tyres (that may imply last owner didn't really care for it), a few minor cosmetics and fat boy after market wheels (18" Turbo look-a-likes) which must have a different offset to standard 18" wheels as they really do fill out the arches - (to be honest, I really like the look - do you think it looks a bit hooligan-ish?). The car comes with a warranty, but I'm not convinced it is any good - doesn't cover consequential damage for starters. There were a couple of probs with car when I first looked at it, and seller has had them sorted without quibble.
Second is a higher mileage (90k) red car - again 2000 model. Now this is £1000 cheaper and has had a full Hartech engine rebuild 10,000 miles/2 years ago. On that note alone, this second car is very tempting. However, there are a couple of more major cosmetic issues (very worn drivers seat bolster and chipped doors from opening within a tight garage). The bigger worry though is despite the engine rebuild, there is definitely evidence of an engine oil leak. Just looking underneath, the flat "ice-cream tub" looking bit at the front of the engine is covered in oil, with a droplet forming. Also, looking at the re-build paperwork from Hartech, it states that there is a certain oil change regime to be followed post rebuild, and there is no evidence to support that this was done. (oh, and a previous service also states air con not working - suspect needs new condensers, which hasn't been done). Having said that, the current owner has spent a lot on the car. It has recent brakes, and good premium tyres.
So, I am genuinely undecided. Truthfully, they are probably both good cars (as long as leak isn't serious!) The second one probably needs some money spending on it soon (condensers, cosmetics) which would cancel out the price difference, so it sort of comes down to comparing a leaky rebuilt engine, with a dry original!
Any thoughts?
paul chocks said:
So, my mid-life crisis has come and I've decided to finally buy myself a sports car. After a couple of years (!) of deliberation over which Porsche model to buy (it was always going to be a Porsche, or perhaps a Ferrari 308gt4 when you could still buy one for £15k), I've decided that if you can only have one sports car it should be a convertible, and that the Boxster fits my requirements just right.
I've narrowed my requirements down to an early 986 S. Having initially disliked the amber lights when the cars were new, I now think the clear lens ones just don't look right! 987 doesnt float my boat either for some reason.
So, having been looking for some time, I now have two options, both of which I really like, but both with slight concerns.
First up is a 2000 model in Blue with full black leather, hard back sports seats and 60k on the clock. It has a pretty comprehensive history, although it does have a gap of a couple of years a few years ago. Niggles are mid-range, mis-matched tyres (that may imply last owner didn't really care for it), a few minor cosmetics and fat boy after market wheels (18" Turbo look-a-likes) which must have a different offset to standard 18" wheels as they really do fill out the arches - (to be honest, I really like the look - do you think it looks a bit hooligan-ish?). The car comes with a warranty, but I'm not convinced it is any good - doesn't cover consequential damage for starters. There were a couple of probs with car when I first looked at it, and seller has had them sorted without quibble.
Second is a higher mileage (90k) red car - again 2000 model. Now this is £1000 cheaper and has had a full Hartech engine rebuild 10,000 miles/2 years ago. On that note alone, this second car is very tempting. However, there are a couple of more major cosmetic issues (very worn drivers seat bolster and chipped doors from opening within a tight garage). The bigger worry though is despite the engine rebuild, there is definitely evidence of an engine oil leak. Just looking underneath, the flat "ice-cream tub" looking bit at the front of the engine is covered in oil, with a droplet forming. Also, looking at the re-build paperwork from Hartech, it states that there is a certain oil change regime to be followed post rebuild, and there is no evidence to support that this was done. (oh, and a previous service also states air con not working - suspect needs new condensers, which hasn't been done). Having said that, the current owner has spent a lot on the car. It has recent brakes, and good premium tyres.
So, I am genuinely undecided. Truthfully, they are probably both good cars (as long as leak isn't serious!) The second one probably needs some money spending on it soon (condensers, cosmetics) which would cancel out the price difference, so it sort of comes down to comparing a leaky rebuilt engine, with a dry original!
Any thoughts?
Hartech one was reading really well until the oil leak problem and the lack of oil changes. Who'd spend all that money thn not have the beasty serviced?I've narrowed my requirements down to an early 986 S. Having initially disliked the amber lights when the cars were new, I now think the clear lens ones just don't look right! 987 doesnt float my boat either for some reason.
So, having been looking for some time, I now have two options, both of which I really like, but both with slight concerns.
First up is a 2000 model in Blue with full black leather, hard back sports seats and 60k on the clock. It has a pretty comprehensive history, although it does have a gap of a couple of years a few years ago. Niggles are mid-range, mis-matched tyres (that may imply last owner didn't really care for it), a few minor cosmetics and fat boy after market wheels (18" Turbo look-a-likes) which must have a different offset to standard 18" wheels as they really do fill out the arches - (to be honest, I really like the look - do you think it looks a bit hooligan-ish?). The car comes with a warranty, but I'm not convinced it is any good - doesn't cover consequential damage for starters. There were a couple of probs with car when I first looked at it, and seller has had them sorted without quibble.
Second is a higher mileage (90k) red car - again 2000 model. Now this is £1000 cheaper and has had a full Hartech engine rebuild 10,000 miles/2 years ago. On that note alone, this second car is very tempting. However, there are a couple of more major cosmetic issues (very worn drivers seat bolster and chipped doors from opening within a tight garage). The bigger worry though is despite the engine rebuild, there is definitely evidence of an engine oil leak. Just looking underneath, the flat "ice-cream tub" looking bit at the front of the engine is covered in oil, with a droplet forming. Also, looking at the re-build paperwork from Hartech, it states that there is a certain oil change regime to be followed post rebuild, and there is no evidence to support that this was done. (oh, and a previous service also states air con not working - suspect needs new condensers, which hasn't been done). Having said that, the current owner has spent a lot on the car. It has recent brakes, and good premium tyres.
So, I am genuinely undecided. Truthfully, they are probably both good cars (as long as leak isn't serious!) The second one probably needs some money spending on it soon (condensers, cosmetics) which would cancel out the price difference, so it sort of comes down to comparing a leaky rebuilt engine, with a dry original!
Any thoughts?
There are plenty of cheap older boxsters out there. I'd keep on looking.
Re oil changes - car number 2 has had annual services since the re-build. It's just the Hartech paperwork specifies more frequent changes in the first so many thousand miles post rebuild (with I think specific, different, grades of oil if I remember correctly). Its these, specific changes that don't appear to be documented. It was the leak that concerned me more if I'm honest.
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