2003 Porsche Boxster S 986
Discussion
Ever since I sold my MX-5 about a month ago, I've been thinking about a replacement. Thought about an S2000 but then I ended up spending a week in a friend's 986 S and loved it. So I changed my mind.
Saturday just gone (20/06), I found one in a fantastic spec and had to have it. I picked it up that evening and drove it home.
It has a few faults that I'll go into at the bottom, but on the whole seemed decent and more than usable. What swung it for me was an invoice for a full top end rebuild along with IMS bearing in 2015 (only 12k miles ago)
Seller's pictures:
My pictures:
It has really nice options like cruise control and xenon headlights. Condition is not perfect but not bad. The rear bumper has been badly painted at some point (looks like it might have reversed into a lamp post) so that's something to sort. Air conditioning is doing nothing and the indicators won't self cancel. Oh, driver's door mirror is also damaged. And the driver's window doesn't drop quite enough to clear the roof. That seems to be an easy and cheap fix. Still, it's a great running project to smarten up.
First job is to remove the red Porsche script on the wheels and the silver badges on the front wings. Oh, and for some reason it has been badged as a Boxster RS so I need to sort that badging out.
It appears it was supplied new in Denmark but is UK spec:
It got home fine on Saturday and disaster didn't strike until Sunday afternoon.....
Saturday just gone (20/06), I found one in a fantastic spec and had to have it. I picked it up that evening and drove it home.
It has a few faults that I'll go into at the bottom, but on the whole seemed decent and more than usable. What swung it for me was an invoice for a full top end rebuild along with IMS bearing in 2015 (only 12k miles ago)
Seller's pictures:
My pictures:
It has really nice options like cruise control and xenon headlights. Condition is not perfect but not bad. The rear bumper has been badly painted at some point (looks like it might have reversed into a lamp post) so that's something to sort. Air conditioning is doing nothing and the indicators won't self cancel. Oh, driver's door mirror is also damaged. And the driver's window doesn't drop quite enough to clear the roof. That seems to be an easy and cheap fix. Still, it's a great running project to smarten up.
First job is to remove the red Porsche script on the wheels and the silver badges on the front wings. Oh, and for some reason it has been badged as a Boxster RS so I need to sort that badging out.
It appears it was supplied new in Denmark but is UK spec:
It got home fine on Saturday and disaster didn't strike until Sunday afternoon.....
Sunday afternoon I just went out for a drive and was about five miles from home when I heard a sudden rattle and the sound of a belt letting go. Alternator warning flashed up and steering went heavy. Serpentine belt, bugger. Oh well, I could get a new one in the morning, I thought, and just hope it didn't overheat in the half mile or so it took to get to a layby. Needle didn't go into red and it didn't smell or seem hot, so fingers crossed it will be ok
I called my brother and he came out with a tow rope and we very gingerly got it home.
I opened up the hatch in the bulkhead and found the belt sitting there. Looked brand new. Not snapped, no signs of wear. Can you see what was missing?
It has had plenty of belt changes in its history but no tensioner change noted. This is what happens!
I later found the tensioner at the bottom of the engine bay:
Called my local Porsche dealership this morning. Belt is in stock, tensioner will be there Wednesday. Bugger, I was hoping to fix it this afternoon. I want to drive my car
I called my brother and he came out with a tow rope and we very gingerly got it home.
I opened up the hatch in the bulkhead and found the belt sitting there. Looked brand new. Not snapped, no signs of wear. Can you see what was missing?
It has had plenty of belt changes in its history but no tensioner change noted. This is what happens!
I later found the tensioner at the bottom of the engine bay:
Called my local Porsche dealership this morning. Belt is in stock, tensioner will be there Wednesday. Bugger, I was hoping to fix it this afternoon. I want to drive my car
Brabus Jord said:
ahhh what a shame - still could have been worse. this looks to be a lovely specimen. do you mind me asking what you paid. im looking at getting into a boxster around a 2002 - 2004 plate.
it looks like the values have dipped a little over the past few months.
I'll PM youit looks like the values have dipped a little over the past few months.
Brabus Jord said:
ahhh what a shame - still could have been worse. this looks to be a lovely specimen. do you mind me asking what you paid. im looking at getting into a boxster around a 2002 - 2004 plate.
it looks like the values have dipped a little over the past few months.
Funny you say that as looking at cars every day on eBay I would sat the opposite has happened. Any 986 under 6K and 987 under 10k seem to sell within hours.it looks like the values have dipped a little over the past few months.
Spotted this car listed this morning and a couple of hours later it was sold.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-Boxter-/2839226...
Thanks guys. You're both right - it's a cheap and easy fix and I have the peace of mind of knowing it's done. Just annoying because the weather is lovely and I want to be out in the car!
As long as it didn't overheat (I'm pretty confident it didn't!) it should be sorted by Wednesday.
Other nice bits of spec that I forgot to mention include heated seats (both working) and auto dimming mirror. It really drives very nicely. Pirelli P-Zero Rossos all round, which aren't the best performance tyre out there but I found it quite nice and playful on them, so I think I'll stick with them. Plenty of tread on them.
There's a gap in the service history so I'll get it booked into a recommended Porsche specialist soon for a service and a bit of an inspection. I'm not concerned - the oil looks and smells brand new and I have no reason to think that this is an issue to be honest.
ETA:
I've forgotten the exact numbers since this morning, but the tensioner from Porsche is about £69+VAT and the belt is £25+VAT I think. Give or take a few pounds.
As long as it didn't overheat (I'm pretty confident it didn't!) it should be sorted by Wednesday.
Other nice bits of spec that I forgot to mention include heated seats (both working) and auto dimming mirror. It really drives very nicely. Pirelli P-Zero Rossos all round, which aren't the best performance tyre out there but I found it quite nice and playful on them, so I think I'll stick with them. Plenty of tread on them.
There's a gap in the service history so I'll get it booked into a recommended Porsche specialist soon for a service and a bit of an inspection. I'm not concerned - the oil looks and smells brand new and I have no reason to think that this is an issue to be honest.
ETA:
I've forgotten the exact numbers since this morning, but the tensioner from Porsche is about £69+VAT and the belt is £25+VAT I think. Give or take a few pounds.
Edited by Jimmy Recard on Monday 22 June 16:18
Edited by Jimmy Recard on Thursday 25th June 23:02
Joey Deacon said:
Funny you say that as looking at cars every day on eBay I would sat the opposite has happened. Any 986 under 6K and 987 under 10k seem to sell within hours.
Spotted this car listed this morning and a couple of hours later it was sold.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-Boxter-/2839226...
I'd say the same. This is the third one I've tried to buy - each time the seller arranged a time with me but sold it before I was due to turn up. I was between a 996 and 986, but in the end I think the 986 was the right car for me. I'm single and childless so don't need the extra seats and have a Mercedes ML for when I do.Spotted this car listed this morning and a couple of hours later it was sold.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-Boxter-/2839226...
Nice ride OP - wishing you many miles, and smiles with it.
ContiTech drive belts are available for around £20, not sure if this is significantly cheaper than OPC.
There are some gems that are cheaper (£5k or below), and some utter dogs even at the £6k mark. The market's a bit of a minefield.
ContiTech drive belts are available for around £20, not sure if this is significantly cheaper than OPC.
Joey Deacon said:
Spotted this car listed this morning and a couple of hours later it was sold.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-Boxter-/2839226...
Out of pure curiousity, what sort of figure was the above listed at?https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-Boxter-/2839226...
There are some gems that are cheaper (£5k or below), and some utter dogs even at the £6k mark. The market's a bit of a minefield.
I’ve always liked these and this one is no different. I’ve nearly bought one many times, from early 2.5s to later 3.2s, it’s just a matter of time until I give in and get one.
That is a right bummer on the tensioner pulley, especially so early on in your ownership.
Fantastic colour combo as well, my personal choice would have been what you’ve got, guards red or that lovely yellow they did, speed yellow is it?
All the best with the bot Porsche and let’s hope you have many happy miles with it.
That is a right bummer on the tensioner pulley, especially so early on in your ownership.
Fantastic colour combo as well, my personal choice would have been what you’ve got, guards red or that lovely yellow they did, speed yellow is it?
All the best with the bot Porsche and let’s hope you have many happy miles with it.
Absolutely love this.
Have had my 986s since 2014 and its well specced like yours. It now has 70k on it and has only been used as a summer car.
My air con has never worked either. Has had new condensers and a regass still no joy. Never really looked into it.
Good luck, these are undervalued imho for Porsche ownership. I sold a very nice 996 for mine and never regretted it.
Have had my 986s since 2014 and its well specced like yours. It now has 70k on it and has only been used as a summer car.
My air con has never worked either. Has had new condensers and a regass still no joy. Never really looked into it.
Good luck, these are undervalued imho for Porsche ownership. I sold a very nice 996 for mine and never regretted it.
Thanks again, all. Just been out for the evening and had a decent run back on one of my favourite roads and my enthusiasm for the car is returning - it really is a lovely thing. Very brakey smell after not much work so I think it has rubbish pads - I'll investigate soon. They're nearly new judging by the depth of the material but no idea what they are
romeodelta said:
Nice, looks in good shape.
Those wheel stickers are questionable, but easily rectified.
Enjoy.
Luckily a couple of them are already starting to fall off Those wheel stickers are questionable, but easily rectified.
Enjoy.
With a bit of rain and runnning around this weekend, they might do the job for me.
I hate them but I've had really limited time this week to do stuff to the car, and obviously belt&tensioner had to take priority along with removing the RS badge
Well, I've only found this out since the dry weather packed up, but this car seems to have quite a leak. It's the point where the driver's window, windscreen and roof meet.
Really, really annoying. I found no signs of water ingress when I checked it out (it had been dry and sunny for weeks, I suppose) and there's an invoice for a hood rebuild just a month ago, so I've emailed the garage that did that. Maybe it's an adjustment or God knows what. I don't know anything about this and I'm really regretting the car at the moment.
I have fixed the window regulator though and replaced the door membrane (seemingly) properly, so that's something good, I suppose.
Really, really annoying. I found no signs of water ingress when I checked it out (it had been dry and sunny for weeks, I suppose) and there's an invoice for a hood rebuild just a month ago, so I've emailed the garage that did that. Maybe it's an adjustment or God knows what. I don't know anything about this and I'm really regretting the car at the moment.
I have fixed the window regulator though and replaced the door membrane (seemingly) properly, so that's something good, I suppose.
geraintthomas said:
Properly jealous of your red interior and those alloys! Gorgeous!
Thanks Geraint. It is a nice car, I've just seen yours and perhaps not as good condition! You've got a very nice one there.I think I'm just coming across bits of deferred maintenance and bodges and that's what's causing me problems. Fingers crossed I've solved the leak now and will be able to enjoy it when I put the door back together on Friday
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