What to look for on a used Boxter?
Discussion
I would
1. Check the state of the hood, ie is the rear plaggy window scratched/creased etc. As this wont be cheap to replace.
2. Check the discs and pads front and back, especially on the inner surface (the surface you cant see) for rusting/pitting. 'Cos these cost a fortune to replace.
3. Check in the boot for any leaks under the floor mat as they sometimes leak coolant there.
I can't think of anything else at the moment but if I do I will post again.
Happy Boxster hunting.
1. Check the state of the hood, ie is the rear plaggy window scratched/creased etc. As this wont be cheap to replace.
2. Check the discs and pads front and back, especially on the inner surface (the surface you cant see) for rusting/pitting. 'Cos these cost a fortune to replace.
3. Check in the boot for any leaks under the floor mat as they sometimes leak coolant there.
I can't think of anything else at the moment but if I do I will post again.
Happy Boxster hunting.
bobfrance said:
Hi Folks,
Just in the process of checking out a 1998 2.5 manual Boxster.
Does anybody have any pointers of Boxster specific things that are worth checking before committing to buy?
Cheers!
Bob.
Check out this month's issue of 911 and Porsche World, it contains a dedicated supplement on buying a Boxster- full of fab advice.
bobfrance said:
Tried Footman James, Peart, Confused & Tesco so far. Not bad prices, but cheaper would be better.
Try "Performance Marque" - they price matched the best I got from "confused.com" AND I have FREE Porsche Club GB Track Day cover - a saving of several hundred quid. AND I have dirt cheap single-day track-day cover for ATDO members.
Bargain.
Another *very* good lot is "A Manning"
Google (and the word "insurance"
will find both of these. I would consider joining the Porsche Club (£60 pa) and reading their mag as it is *filled* with ads for Boxsters, insurers, independent specialists, Official Porsche Centres etc etc.
bobfrance said:
Yep got the Boxster suppliment, but I'm still hungry for more info! 
Best quote so far is Priviledge. £567 (with a tracker fitted).
Anyone know the best (and most cost effective) tracker package available?
Thanks again for all the help!
Bob.
I have Tracker Monitor in mine. Its a good system. It *does* "go off" and I get a phone call if the car moves without running etc etc. All the times I've had the call it has been because it was on a flatbed! (Don't ask...but no crashes.)
Costs £99 a year. If you are planning on keeping the car for a long time it might be worth paying the extra "up front" payment that makes the "subscription" free. Check them out for yourself on their website.
Don said:
Yep got the Boxster suppliment, but I'm still hungry for more info!
Best quote so far is Priviledge. £567 (with a tracker fitted).
Anyone know the best (and most cost effective) tracker package available?
Thanks again for all the help!
Bob.
I have Tracker Monitor in mine. Its a good system. It *does* "go off" and I get a phone call if the car moves without running etc etc. All the times I've had the call it has been because it was on a flatbed! (Don't ask...but no crashes.)
Costs £99 a year. If you are planning on keeping the car for a long time it might be worth paying the extra "up front" payment that makes the "subscription" free. Check them out for yourself on their website.
I will endorse what Don said regarding Tracker monitor. My 996 was on a flatbed recently and as the AA man left I got on the phone to Tracker to tell them and within 2 minutes I had a call on my mobile from Tracker to say the car was moving without keys. I was going through their phone system at the time.
One issue if you travel in Europe they only cover France & Spain. I'm off through Germany, Austria and Italy on Thursday and will not be covered once I leave France. It's not a problem as I will be in the car for most of the journey but if you leave your car outside of France & Spain it will not be on the Tracker network. I don't know if that is the same for their competitors.
All good info guys cheers!
I learnt to look for one thing in particular today - History.
Did a HPI check today and it seemst he car I had my eye on is an insurance write off and has outstanding finance on it!
The dealer denied all knowledge of anything being wrong and even (verbally) confirmed he'd checked the HPI and all was fine.
Dodgy B*stard!
I learnt to look for one thing in particular today - History.
Did a HPI check today and it seemst he car I had my eye on is an insurance write off and has outstanding finance on it!
The dealer denied all knowledge of anything being wrong and even (verbally) confirmed he'd checked the HPI and all was fine.
Dodgy B*stard!
Another question!
There appears to be one or two good value Boxsters around which don't have aircon.
Apart from the issue of lack of goodies affecting the resale value, are they the kind of car which really needs Air-Con?
I'm particularly wondering if it gets extra warm because of the location of the engine? And do they suffer from steaming up in damp weather? I know aircon to be a big help with such issues.
Cheers,
Bob.
There appears to be one or two good value Boxsters around which don't have aircon.
Apart from the issue of lack of goodies affecting the resale value, are they the kind of car which really needs Air-Con?
I'm particularly wondering if it gets extra warm because of the location of the engine? And do they suffer from steaming up in damp weather? I know aircon to be a big help with such issues.
Cheers,
Bob.
Not having aircon is bad.
1) Car steams up.
2) Car gets hot.
3) On humid, warm, wet days you can't get the roof off to cool down - you need a/c
4) Travelling into the hotter European countries becomes unpleasant as its too hot to have the roof down (YES - in Spain this can be true!) and roof up is just awful
5) The engine is just behind your back - yes the area does become warm
I would *always* choose a car with a/c. The retrofit isn't a practical thing to do.
>> Edited by Don on Monday 8th May 16:39
1) Car steams up.
2) Car gets hot.
3) On humid, warm, wet days you can't get the roof off to cool down - you need a/c
4) Travelling into the hotter European countries becomes unpleasant as its too hot to have the roof down (YES - in Spain this can be true!) and roof up is just awful
5) The engine is just behind your back - yes the area does become warm
I would *always* choose a car with a/c. The retrofit isn't a practical thing to do.
>> Edited by Don on Monday 8th May 16:39
Hi Bob, you definitely want aircon, even in the winter it stops you misting up - plus as you have seen, non aircon cars take AGES to sell. There's plenty out there, when I was looking I found that if they seemed to0 cheap, there's always a reason...
>> Edited by thornettj on Monday 8th May 17:11
>> Edited by thornettj on Monday 8th May 17:11
Bob France
air con is essential, i am like you looking for a boxster.
I even turned down a 53 plate 2.7 a 2004 model. for £19,000 it had psm, heated seats but no air con. it was so tempting.
Sellers will say why have air con when you have a soft top to a newbie like me but the guys who know there cars say its essential
air con is essential, i am like you looking for a boxster.
I even turned down a 53 plate 2.7 a 2004 model. for £19,000 it had psm, heated seats but no air con. it was so tempting.
Sellers will say why have air con when you have a soft top to a newbie like me but the guys who know there cars say its essential
I hear what you're saying. 
Here's what I'm planning to take a look at next.
1997 PORSCHE Boxster 2.5, 83500 miles, 2.5, FPSH, Private Plate, LUX pack, Metallic Silver, Elec Black Leather Seats, MOT Oct 06, Tracker, ABS, CD,Air Con. HPI Clear.
Apparently it's in fair condition all round.
Anyone care to give me an estimate on the value (private seller)?
Here's what I'm planning to take a look at next.
1997 PORSCHE Boxster 2.5, 83500 miles, 2.5, FPSH, Private Plate, LUX pack, Metallic Silver, Elec Black Leather Seats, MOT Oct 06, Tracker, ABS, CD,Air Con. HPI Clear.
Apparently it's in fair condition all round.
Anyone care to give me an estimate on the value (private seller)?
bob france no good on values, i sometimes look at parkers guide for at least something. but with me being in same position as youself i would try and go for a later model and buy the porche warranty for £725, the car has to go through an inspection first. can take take out a warranty on a car up until its ninth birtday and providing it has no more than 125k miles.
It has to have a fsh, but again all boxsters should have that.
personally i do not thing i would be interested as something classed as fair. There are some cars out there well looked after and some abused, and you do not want the expense of one that has not been looked after, i am totally new to this but its my opinion anyway
It has to have a fsh, but again all boxsters should have that.
personally i do not thing i would be interested as something classed as fair. There are some cars out there well looked after and some abused, and you do not want the expense of one that has not been looked after, i am totally new to this but its my opinion anyway
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