Help Boxster Buying Advice please!!!
Discussion
Words of wisom needed.
Looking to buy first sports car, yes i know its the poor mans porsche.
But its either this or the Audi TT.
Hi Looking to buy a boxster budget 16k possibly strecth to 18.5k. As this will be a early edition 97 to 2000 model. Any advice on what to look for. Read 2.5 slow so looking at 2.7 pushing it for a 3.2. Any rules i should follow. Any problems with certain years. Whats this about Coolant Tanks, problems.
Prefer a triptronic, but do they have more problems.
Know 3.2 s have climate control.
What extras should i look for apart from these, heard full leather, air con, psm are good.
Trying to get the best car for my ,money and one that will sell better if i need to sell it for some reason.
Is it best in an ideal world to buy a one owner low mileage.
Heard these cars are prone to being clocked.
Whats popular colours or one to avoid.
Looked at some in autotarder and top marquees a nd prices vary between a few thousand. They do not seem to be selling for some reason, is it a bad time of year.
Realise service history is vital, but what parts need replacing at certain times
Was considering buying a porsche warranty, but are they worth the £700 is alot excluded.
Sorry for long winded posting. its my partners idea about getting one i think he is going through a mid life crisis, but if i sent him to buy one he would not think logic. I much prefer my kitchen extension!! but now i know he is adamant to get one i have to go with the flow.
Its one of those cars where hardly anything comes as standard.
Any advice geatly appreciated it. Thanks
Looking to buy first sports car, yes i know its the poor mans porsche.
But its either this or the Audi TT.
Hi Looking to buy a boxster budget 16k possibly strecth to 18.5k. As this will be a early edition 97 to 2000 model. Any advice on what to look for. Read 2.5 slow so looking at 2.7 pushing it for a 3.2. Any rules i should follow. Any problems with certain years. Whats this about Coolant Tanks, problems.
Prefer a triptronic, but do they have more problems.
Know 3.2 s have climate control.
What extras should i look for apart from these, heard full leather, air con, psm are good.
Trying to get the best car for my ,money and one that will sell better if i need to sell it for some reason.
Is it best in an ideal world to buy a one owner low mileage.
Heard these cars are prone to being clocked.
Whats popular colours or one to avoid.
Looked at some in autotarder and top marquees a nd prices vary between a few thousand. They do not seem to be selling for some reason, is it a bad time of year.
Realise service history is vital, but what parts need replacing at certain times
Was considering buying a porsche warranty, but are they worth the £700 is alot excluded.
Sorry for long winded posting. its my partners idea about getting one i think he is going through a mid life crisis, but if i sent him to buy one he would not think logic. I much prefer my kitchen extension!! but now i know he is adamant to get one i have to go with the flow.
Its one of those cars where hardly anything comes as standard.
Any advice geatly appreciated it. Thanks
I'm by no means an expert but my understanding of the Porsche warranty is that if you take a privately bought car to an OPC and pay for their 111 point inspection, and it passes - you are then able to buy the Porsche warranty. I'm told their warranty is a pucker one and includes all reasonable things, inc. RMS.
I've been a Cayman owner for a month, so I'm fairly new to this but having had a couple of Porsches in the family, as a marque they are over engineered and can wear their mileages very well, so clocking must be considered. If I was buying privately, I'd discount anything with more than 3 or 4 owners, and anything without an OPC or well known specialist history. I'd then phone the OPC/Specialist and double check the stamps. Boxsters are not that expensive to service even at OPC prices so (IMHO) there is little reason to accept a car without a water tight history.
I've always subscribed to the age old theory, rough people and rough cars tend to go together. Look at plenty, drive a few.
I've been a Cayman owner for a month, so I'm fairly new to this but having had a couple of Porsches in the family, as a marque they are over engineered and can wear their mileages very well, so clocking must be considered. If I was buying privately, I'd discount anything with more than 3 or 4 owners, and anything without an OPC or well known specialist history. I'd then phone the OPC/Specialist and double check the stamps. Boxsters are not that expensive to service even at OPC prices so (IMHO) there is little reason to accept a car without a water tight history.
I've always subscribed to the age old theory, rough people and rough cars tend to go together. Look at plenty, drive a few.
troggles said:
Words of wisom needed.
Looking to buy first sports car, yes i know its the poor mans porsche.
Looking to buy a boxster
words of wisdom? first thing to do is brush that chip off your shoulder.
there is no such thing as a "poor man's porsche". every porsche has good and bad points. most, if not all, have far more good points than bad. just because the world contains a few tossers who think they HAVE to spend 100K on a sports car or it aint a sports car doesnt mean u have to buy into their particular brand of cr
p. a boxster is a great car (though get the 2.7 at least). buy it. enjoy it. you dont need the validation of the arrogant and the bigoted to do so anyway we all know the 944 is the poor mans porsche and the 968 is the "poor man pretending he's a bit richer than the 944 man"'s porsche
Boxster is a very capable and competent car.
As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. So buy the very best you can afford.
RMS, Rear Main Seal, is an issue. But the water cooled Guys here will give better info on how big a deal it is and other areas to check.
Encourage him to have the Boxster, who knows you may even enjoy it yourself. !
Graham
As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. So buy the very best you can afford.
RMS, Rear Main Seal, is an issue. But the water cooled Guys here will give better info on how big a deal it is and other areas to check.
Encourage him to have the Boxster, who knows you may even enjoy it yourself. !
Graham
I believe the RMS issue to be greatly hyped. I have heard of them seeping from new.
This seepage is not a problem.
If it becomes worse, it may contaminate the clutch --- but if at 30 or 40k miles, it's worth waiting until then and replacing the clutch at the ame time. I have so been advised by three Porshe specialists, and I have not heard anything contra from any of the OEM dealers I have discussed this with. But they do like replacing them within warranty --- because Porsche will pay for them and if a slight weepage is seemn as a problem, they can sometimes do it two or three times !
Porsche extended warranty is purchasable after the 111 point check of a car outside warranty and less than 10 years old (and less than 125k miles ? or 100k ?)
If within warranty, Porsche will do the check free and apply the warranty at the due time, all you need do is pay for it.
I have not bothered on the Boxster S, because the slight risk doesn't bother me, and I would rather spend the cost of the warranty on maintenance -- for example, the brake discs will need replacing --- at a cost of the one year warranty ?
On the GT3, I will purchase the extended warranty --- the engine alone is supposed to be worth £40k ? (even if they are supposed to be bonb proof ... !)
Hence --- even if we may feel that values are under pressure, this is the kind of aftersales care that in my view keeps Porshe at the top of the pile. £800 for a real Porsche extended warranty on any car in the range up to 10 years old ? That's confidence !
BMW recently increased the M series warranty to around £2k ? --- so that's why I am trying to give Porsche some good press --- so that they won't feel they have to follow suit !!
This seepage is not a problem.
If it becomes worse, it may contaminate the clutch --- but if at 30 or 40k miles, it's worth waiting until then and replacing the clutch at the ame time. I have so been advised by three Porshe specialists, and I have not heard anything contra from any of the OEM dealers I have discussed this with. But they do like replacing them within warranty --- because Porsche will pay for them and if a slight weepage is seemn as a problem, they can sometimes do it two or three times !
Porsche extended warranty is purchasable after the 111 point check of a car outside warranty and less than 10 years old (and less than 125k miles ? or 100k ?)
If within warranty, Porsche will do the check free and apply the warranty at the due time, all you need do is pay for it.
I have not bothered on the Boxster S, because the slight risk doesn't bother me, and I would rather spend the cost of the warranty on maintenance -- for example, the brake discs will need replacing --- at a cost of the one year warranty ?
On the GT3, I will purchase the extended warranty --- the engine alone is supposed to be worth £40k ? (even if they are supposed to be bonb proof ... !)
Hence --- even if we may feel that values are under pressure, this is the kind of aftersales care that in my view keeps Porshe at the top of the pile. £800 for a real Porsche extended warranty on any car in the range up to 10 years old ? That's confidence !
BMW recently increased the M series warranty to around £2k ? --- so that's why I am trying to give Porsche some good press --- so that they won't feel they have to follow suit !!
troggles said:
to be honest i will enjoy once i get one but the stress of finding the right one can be great. there are apparently alot of lemons out there. What year was the RMS rear main seal a issue. I am not at all technically minded
RMS - an issue for all the water cooled engines on the 996/997/Boxster except for Turbo and GT3.
I've probably got a skewed view of the RMS issue because i have a good mate who's been an opc tech. for 20 odd years. Every time i go to see him at the opc, he takes me around to the service bays and shows me XYZ car here for RMS, and the big trolleys full of engines to be sent back. Scares me. He will not let me buy a water cooled car of the 996/7/boxster era thats not a GT3 or Turbo.
As i said, chris is probably right, it probably affects small numbers, but seeing what i've seen scares me and i'd never buy one - or if i did, i'd get a warranty and sell it when it gets to the age when i can't get a warranty.
Just my tuppence, we're all coloured by our own experiences.
Ajit
softinthehead said:
Words of wisom needed.
Looking to buy first sports car, yes i know its the poor mans porsche.
Looking to buy a boxster
words of wisdom? first thing to do is brush that chip off your shoulder.
there is no such thing as a "poor man's porsche". every porsche has good and bad points. most, if not all, have far more good points than bad. just because the world contains a few tossers who think they HAVE to spend 100K on a sports car or it aint a sports car doesnt mean u have to buy into their particular brand of cr
anyway we all know the 944 is the poor mans porsche and the 968 is the "poor man pretending he's a bit richer than the 944 man"'s porsche
if you got a chip about driving a boxster, get a sorted 964 instead..... like this one
[shamelessplugger]
Similar issues to 996s really.
Buy the best you can afford, and make sure you get one with the Porsche warranty. I've had a few minor issues with mine (header tank and RMS) both fixed without a cough.
Remember these are very expensive cars new, and to run the properly means you need to budget. I reckon on £1500 a year for a service and the warranty renewal.
Other than that, if you buy right the depreciation should be less than you are used to with other marques, which should go some way to making up for the extra costs of running it.
Care needed though - save up a bit more and buy a better one - such a thing as a "cheap" Porsche is a very rare thing indeed, when you take condition and stored up issues into account.
Good luck with it
Buy the best you can afford, and make sure you get one with the Porsche warranty. I've had a few minor issues with mine (header tank and RMS) both fixed without a cough.
Remember these are very expensive cars new, and to run the properly means you need to budget. I reckon on £1500 a year for a service and the warranty renewal.
Other than that, if you buy right the depreciation should be less than you are used to with other marques, which should go some way to making up for the extra costs of running it.
Care needed though - save up a bit more and buy a better one - such a thing as a "cheap" Porsche is a very rare thing indeed, when you take condition and stored up issues into account.
Good luck with it
buy one from an OPC with a warranty.
I have an early 2.5 Boxster, have covered +220.000 miles with it. No breakdowns. But it has had a full service at the OPC
Depending on your style the car is underpowered. Mind you, keep her above the 4000 revs and she sings and moves ok.
If I had the choice now I would go for the late model S.
Bu whichever model you buy, just enjoy it
Vandereydt
I have an early 2.5 Boxster, have covered +220.000 miles with it. No breakdowns. But it has had a full service at the OPC
Depending on your style the car is underpowered. Mind you, keep her above the 4000 revs and she sings and moves ok.
If I had the choice now I would go for the late model S.
Bu whichever model you buy, just enjoy it
Vandereydt
Seriously, in that case buy one privately, but make SURE that you get the 111 point inspection and the OPC warranty.
Trust me, friend, these are MAGIC cars, but a new engine is £7k as is a new gearbox, and I would HATE you to buy one and then have a problem which is not within your means to cure.
I am in the same boat. I have a £35k 996, bought at top whack from OPC, trust me when I say that there is no way I could afford to fix a mjor problem such as an engine blow up BUT I can just about stretch to £15 a week to insure myself against a major problem.
Blunt though this may be, if you are going to do this, you NEED to hedge the risk of a big problem.
£15 a week is CHEAP for peace of mind, in my view.
will definetly get a porsche warranty for £725 is piece of mind, . been reading stories of engines blowing up on a 02 model it frightens me.
You know when i find the car will take it to porsche for the 111 check, would it also be advisable to get an additional inspection as well or would the 111 check suffice.
Seen a 2001 with just under 20k miles, on the other side of the coin do you think that can have more harm sitting in garage. little use. Its had all services yearly.
Saying that my budget is over i would need to find a n extra 2 grand.
You know when i find the car will take it to porsche for the 111 check, would it also be advisable to get an additional inspection as well or would the 111 check suffice.
Seen a 2001 with just under 20k miles, on the other side of the coin do you think that can have more harm sitting in garage. little use. Its had all services yearly.
Saying that my budget is over i would need to find a n extra 2 grand.
Ah well if your original budget was £18.5K and now you are thinking of adding another £2K you could just about have a 996 (see other thread on £20K 996s....)
...and that's the thing with Porsches.... once you've got one you just want more...
So go shopping for your Porker now!
One final thought - buy one for £13-14K (yes, there are plenty of RHD ones out there at that price) and stick a few £thousand in the bank. If it needs anything doing you've got the money (reconditioned engines are cheaper than new and often have the newer more robust RMS already fitted) and if it doesn't your £££ in.
Welcome!
...and that's the thing with Porsches.... once you've got one you just want more...
So go shopping for your Porker now!
One final thought - buy one for £13-14K (yes, there are plenty of RHD ones out there at that price) and stick a few £thousand in the bank. If it needs anything doing you've got the money (reconditioned engines are cheaper than new and often have the newer more robust RMS already fitted) and if it doesn't your £££ in.
Welcome!
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