Boxster 2002 Looking to purchase

Boxster 2002 Looking to purchase

Author
Discussion

Rachel Coles

Original Poster:

8 posts

72 months

Friday 13th April 2018
quotequote all
Hiya All,

I did post a while back about a Cayman but my friend/financial guru convinced me to rather put some of my money back into bricks and mortar....So I'm left with +-5k to spend and I've now set my sights on a Porsche boxster.
I've done some looking and I'm keen to look/test drive the following and I was wondering if the price is good, what I need to ask and look for when viewing the car. They will MOT the vehicle and repair if there are any failures on the MOT and also service the car.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Looked at the buyers guide but if there is anything else I need to know. Is this a good price for this age etc.

Rachel

roboxm3

2,414 posts

194 months

Friday 13th April 2018
quotequote all
I'm in a similar position myself and the best thing I can advise is to sign up on Boxa.net and have a read through a few buying guides and advise offered to other forum members looking to buy at that price point.

I don't want to say much more, mainly because I'll miss some potentially important points but generally, buy on condition and history / evidence of being looked after. Get to know the differences between the three engines and facelift changes.

From what I've learned over the past week or so reading up and browsing the classifieds, for £5k I'd aim for the latest, well cared for 2.7 you can find and don't be too put off by mileage i.e. A 85k car with lots of history and receipts will likely be better than the 45k without, as it'll likely not throw £1-2k of bills at you within the first 12 months (brakes, coffin arms, tyres, water pump, brake lines, air con condensers, rads etc. etc.)

My dad's on his second 2.7 now and neither have really cost him anything bar the usual wear and tear bits, so they're not necessarily money pits...but they can be (from what I've read).

This one looks decent: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by roboxm3 on Friday 13th April 22:53

Rachel Coles

Original Poster:

8 posts

72 months

Saturday 14th April 2018
quotequote all
Hiya,

Thank you for the information and the AD of the car (a little far from me....)
I've registered on boxa so I'll have a read on there.

Rachel

tracydeedance

786 posts

178 months

Saturday 14th April 2018
quotequote all
Any potential purchase .
My only advice is to get it checked at OPC or a good Porsche specialist a couple of hundred quid can save you lots of heartache and expense.
Any problems that come up you walk away if major ones or small items can be negotiated on the purchase price.

Bullet-Proof_Biscuit

1,058 posts

76 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
That is a very nice example in the ad.
Though I would suggest you plump for a 3.2S facelift (2002-on), if you intend to keep it, these will undoubtably hold their value more and appreciate quicker. And have better specification.

Regards, Biscuit ( fellow c£5.5k 986 shopper)

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
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Probably just internet fear stories, but isn't the S more prone to IMS and other issues?

Rosewood Red

857 posts

152 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
LordGrover said:
Probably just internet fear stories, but isn't the S more prone to IMS and other issues?
Providing they're not overheated, 3.2 doesn't suffer from bore score as they have ferrous coated pistons.

And go see view that burgundy 986.2 in St Albans wink

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
One me way... well - Saturday anyway. wink

Rosewood Red

857 posts

152 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
And Re: IMS, really early 3.2 / 2.7 ('99 or early '00) will have the dual row bearing. My Jan '00 2.7 has. Some later registered cars also have them as it depends on when the engine was built as opposed to the car.

IMSB failures are low, even on the single row cars and I'm not aware of single row bearings failing more on a 3.2 versus 2.7.

Chris Type R

8,018 posts

248 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
Rosewood Red said:
Providing they're not overheated, 3.2 doesn't suffer from bore score as they have ferrous coated pistons.

And go see view that burgundy 986.2 in St Albans wink
I was curious and checked out the ad - it's actually quite a nice colour.

Rachel Coles

Original Poster:

8 posts

72 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
Hiya,

Went and test drove this Porsche today, in excellent condition, FSH and last service at 102k
Is it a lot for a 1998 model?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Rachel

roboxm3

2,414 posts

194 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
Pretty strong money I'd say but it depends on a lot of things...has it had a clutch in it's life? brake pipes? when were the discs / pads last done? Suspension arms / linkages (bushes)? Air-con condensers, pipes etc. etc.

Rachel Coles

Original Poster:

8 posts

72 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
Hasn't had clutch done, but brakes done etc

Chris Type R

8,018 posts

248 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
Rachel Coles said:
Hiya,

Went and test drove this Porsche today, in excellent condition, FSH and last service at 102k
Is it a lot for a 1998 model?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Rachel
Unless I'm mistaken (and unless it's been changed) that'll have a plastic rear screen... which takes a fair amount of looking after to be usable all year round.

Rachel Coles

Original Poster:

8 posts

72 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
Hiya,

Yes, it has the plastic screen, it comes with a car cover which has kept the car in good condition
Looks like I'll keep on looking

Rachel

R8Steve

4,150 posts

174 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
Chris Type R said:
Rachel Coles said:
Hiya,

Went and test drove this Porsche today, in excellent condition, FSH and last service at 102k
Is it a lot for a 1998 model?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Rachel
Unless I'm mistaken (and unless it's been changed) that'll have a plastic rear screen... which takes a fair amount of looking after to be usable all year round.
I think all pre 04 ones have a plastic screen?

Chris Type R

8,018 posts

248 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
R8Steve said:
I think all pre 04 ones have a plastic screen?
They can be upgraded to glass - given the car's age it might have been done in the past.

ooid

4,049 posts

99 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
My suggestion would be to look for a very-low mile 986 (2.7 or 2.5) less than 50k. Check the history, and see if the car did not have any accident, it should be trouble-free. Many people might disagree with me but I would prefer to own a car from this period, with low-miles ideally, as they might bring less problems in the future. If you are not worry about the tiny performance difference, I would go for 2.5.

Rosewood Red

857 posts

152 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
Thing is, even at low (say 50 - 60k) miles, you may need a clutch. They'll soldier on a lot longer - mine was on over 110k and I didn't know better, but it had a really heavy clutch, that made my Polo TDI feel like it had a light clutch. Massive difference with a new one - light as a feather. Also, may need suspension arms at that mileage and also, there are things that wear out with age, not necessarily mileage like radiators, condensers, fan resistors, brake pipes.

So, do you buy a car that's at 50k that's all original, or one with twice the miles that has all the problem areas addressed in the last 20k miles? And good luck finding a good sub 50k miles car for £5k. Cheapish low mileage cars are out there, but you'll need to find them and be aware that you still may need to spend.

Condition + history > miles.

EDIT: OP, are you based in the North West (based upon the Manchester car you viewed)? There are several enthusiasts on boxa.net, myself included, that may be happy to cast our eye on any potential purchases depending on loacation.

Edited by Rosewood Red on Thursday 19th April 20:32

ooid

4,049 posts

99 months

Thursday 19th April 2018
quotequote all
Rosewood Red said:
So, do you buy a car that's at 50k that's all original, or one with twice the miles that has all the problem areas addressed in the last 20k miles? And good luck finding a good sub 50k miles car for £5k. Cheapish low mileage cars are out there, but you'll need to find them and be aware that you still may need to spend.

Edited by Rosewood Red on Thursday 19th April 20:32
its tip but not too bad...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

more than 5k but lovely condition! (and clutch replaced) wink

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...