Living with a Boxster 3.2s? Mpg, maintenance etc?

Living with a Boxster 3.2s? Mpg, maintenance etc?

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hantsph

Original Poster:

40 posts

109 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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As title really.

Current car search has lead me to early Boxter 3.2s and I found one for sale in blue, with Porsche turbo alloys and tan leather for £6000 with 88k miles.

The history seems quite extensive and includes a clutch replacement at 70k including the crank seal (that I understand is prone to leak), these apparently can suffer from engine failure from a balance shaft? Or something to that effect and I guess that’s the risk you take with buying one.

But I wondered if any owners can let me in on what they are like to live with.

Have they aged well? What is the MPG you can expect and are parts ridiculously expensive for the basic consumables?

I am looking for a car that I can come home from work and take out for a fun drive, or use at the weekend for a spirited drive. But also have the ability to comfortably do some miles in and longer journeys if I want to take it away.

Thanks for any help or experience you can share.

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

190 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Rightly or wrongly, the engine reliability perception has put me off ever owning a Boxster...

ajh38

871 posts

149 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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I love mine although it is not used every day. It certainly does a long journey in perfect comfort, I took it from Calais to Spain in a day a couple of years ago.

They require a service once a year and I guess I see about 25 mpg on average (town/ b roads). The only thing I regret not having is heated seats as I'm sure that it would recieve a little more winter action if I had them!

hantsph

Original Poster:

40 posts

109 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
I think, that’s where I find myself currently James. I’m just sceptical it’s not a case of “you only hear about the failures” they must of sold thousands of these things and they are all a bit long in the tooth now are they still failing to this day?

It’s between the Boxster and the 350z.

robbieduncan

1,979 posts

235 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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I had one. It never went near a main dealer: only a back-street specialist. Regardless it never seemed to cost much less than £750 each time it went in. Which was more than once a year normally. Still it was a nice car!

Big Rumbly

973 posts

283 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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Bought a 2000 3.2 S last october with 88000 miles. only using it once a week at mo. Lots of history, and plenty of money spent before I bought it. Yes, you can read of the horror stories of IMS, but the vast majority don't have these issues. OK I spent what you're considering of spending, but my take on it is, put the horror stories out of your mind, it probably wont happen. If it does then its not the end of the world, sometimes you have to take a chance, this is always a gamble if you buy an originally expensive older car.
I love it, and cant wait for the good weather. Uses no oil and water, get about 26 mpg mixed.

aka_kerrly

12,415 posts

209 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
james_gt3rs said:
Rightly or wrongly, the engine reliability perception has put me off ever owning a Boxster...
I know what you mean , too much talk of Intermediary Main Shaft (IMS) bearing and Rear Main Seal (RMS) .

As far as I know the IMS is circa £1500+ for standard at OPC or you can fit an upgraded part from LN enginering at around £1,000 so it's quite pricey job but should only need doing once.

The RMS on the other hand is one of those classic £10 seal but when it fails it wrecks the clutch and requires the gearbox to be removed. Thus I'd argue it's better to live with it and replace the clutch once it's contaminated/ruined which should cost around £500

Aside from those two issues since the majority of Porsche parts can be supplied an fitted by independents or a handy spanner man which can help keep running costs down.

Don

28,377 posts

283 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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Mine is now 13 years old and owned since new.

It was a fifty grand car, when new, and has maintenance costs to suit. Going to a good independent will save on that - a bit.

I've done 38K miles. Engine has always been flawless. Mine's been garaged so it's got no rust. I don't have kids so the interior is still in decent nick. Still on the original clutch - they tell me that it should last another year or two yet.

Stuff that's gone wrong:
Disks and pads. A number of times. £750 or so.
CV boots needed replacement.
Handbrake now needs attention.
Headlight washers packed up - didn't bother fixing them for a few years...it's a summer car, really.

It's been serviced properly and niggles fixed. When servicing got over a grand a time I went to an independent.

A 986S is getting on a bit now. It's why mine is worth about £10K not £50K it was new. Stuff will go wrong and if you get the bill you won't like it....

Don

28,377 posts

283 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
I get high 20s mpg on average - say 27. 30mpg on the motorway at 70mph like I was driving Miss Daisy and I can't get it down to single figures on track - always better than 13mpg.

Oh... the float has stuck occasionally when I have let it get low and then filled it. That's always sorted itself out overnight.

chris7676

2,685 posts

219 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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26mpg.

Nothing major went wrong, but things that needed replacing are more expensive than with other cars.

Check insurance as it may be steep.

Don't get 18 inch wheels, they drive better on 17s and look 'manly' enough.

Also I would look to spend a bit less if it's an early one.

BRMMA

1,845 posts

171 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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Mine gave me an average of about 25mpg and never had anything major go wrong (as in it didn't blow up) but it did need money spending on it frequently and it was rarely cheap.

The standard sound system is crap but easily upgraded, the interior is dated but reasonably solid. i really liked the car but the it needs much lower gearing

Patrick Bateman

12,143 posts

173 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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Can't imagine many 986's going into dealers now.

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

190 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
aka_kerrly said:
I know what you mean , too much talk of Intermediary Main Shaft (IMS) bearing and Rear Main Seal (RMS) .

As far as I know the IMS is circa £1500+ for standard at OPC or you can fit an upgraded part from LN enginering at around £1,000 so it's quite pricey job but should only need doing once.

The RMS on the other hand is one of those classic £10 seal but when it fails it wrecks the clutch and requires the gearbox to be removed. Thus I'd argue it's better to live with it and replace the clutch once it's contaminated/ruined which should cost around £500

Aside from those two issues since the majority of Porsche parts can be supplied an fitted by independents or a handy spanner man which can help keep running costs down.
I think there's bore scoring as well. It's a shame because they are so cheap for the engine (and everything else) you get!

Patrick Bateman

12,143 posts

173 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Is bore scoring not much more of an issue for the 987?

Joe5y

1,501 posts

182 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
I had one. Great little car but for me it wasn't focused enough.

It sounded fabulous and looked great in the only colour I think it should be, Silver. Itg got a fair amount of attention even being 12 years old. (Turned into a focal point at a wedding last year - weird)



I loved it so much I sold it for a S2000 but that doesn't really answer your question does it?!

Will it be better and nicer than a 350Z - Yes. Will it cost more to run - Yes. Are you trying to run it on a budget - not the car for you I'm afraid.


full_chat

285 posts

275 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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Patrick Bateman said:
Can't imagine many 986's going into dealers now.
Their fixed price servicing is very competitive, but they then get you on the £100/hour for any remedial work!

DavidJG

3,507 posts

131 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Yes, you can have engine issues. But, with an early (pre -2005) car, you can take steps to prevent this. After buying the car, take it to a good Porsche indy for new IMS bearing, RMS (rear main seal) and have a clutch while you're there. This isn't cheap, but shouldn't break the bank.

This won't stop bore scoring, but that's much less of an issue with the 3.2 than the later 3.4.


J4CKO

41,284 posts

199 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
hantsph said:
I think, that’s where I find myself currently James. I’m just sceptical it’s not a case of “you only hear about the failures” they must of sold thousands of these things and they are all a bit long in the tooth now are they still failing to this day?

It’s between the Boxster and the 350z.
I have a 350Z and have briefly driven a Boxster, totally different, the Boxster (2.7 I think) was more engaging, the 350Z is a shouty, uncouth, unsubtle yobbo of a car in comparison.

I do like the way I go to my 350Z and get in it, give it some stick and then dont worry about it in the slightest, the Boxster would have me fretting, engine woes aside, for the same money you get a much newer, lower mileage 350Z that has an engine that has proven fairly indestructible.

I had done aging and unreliable old Porsche so the 350Z has been a revelation, if you want a quiet (but noisy) life, get a 350Z, but I think a Boxster, to be fair would have been easier to live with than my 944 in that respect, they don't seem to rust.

The non S ones aren't that quick, but what a package, I think early, well looked after ones are now a classic, they just need people to forget the "cheap Porsche" thing. oh and not try to make them look new, revel int he 16 inch wheels and gingercators !

I think that with the Boxster, to sum up, for more risk, you get a greater reward.




s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Joe5y said:
I had one. Great little car but for me it wasn't focused enough.

It sounded fabulous and looked great in the only colour I think it should be, Silver. Itg got a fair amount of attention even being 12 years old. (Turned into a focal point at a wedding last year - weird)

That's a great photo or effect - looks very 50's smile

derin100

5,214 posts

242 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Big Rumbly said:
Bought a 2000 3.2 S last october with 88000 miles. only using it once a week at mo. Lots of history, and plenty of money spent before I bought it. Yes, you can read of the horror stories of IMS, but the vast majority don't have these issues. OK I spent what you're considering of spending, but my take on it is, put the horror stories out of your mind, it probably wont happen. If it does then its not the end of the world, sometimes you have to take a chance, this is always a gamble if you buy an originally expensive older car.
I love it, and cant wait for the good weather. Uses no oil and water, get about 26 mpg mixed.
That statement can be read and then interpreted in one of two ways. One of those ways may not be entirely reassuring to the OP....?