981 S Boxster Private Purchase----tips please
Discussion
I would like to get a 981 S Boxster , in a bright colour ---- lime green metallic/yellow/red-----and my current thinking on essential options would be :
-PDK
-Chrono
-Sports Exhaust
-Heated seats
I would like to buy the car privately , and would do my due diligence by getting an inspection done at an OPC or at a reputable Porsche specialist
1)what other options should I be considering?
2)what should I be looking out for on an initial inspection (beyond checking the service receipts carefully ,and checking the bodywork ) , before proceeding to get a professional inspection
3)where best to look for / advertise for a car that is being sold privately ?
There seem to be few cars advertised privately (be it 986/987/981 ), and I feel that there is a distinct advantage in dealing directly with the person (particularly with a one owner car ) who has been driving the car , rather than through an intermediary
Answers to these questions , and any other relevant points , would be gratefully received
-PDK
-Chrono
-Sports Exhaust
-Heated seats
I would like to buy the car privately , and would do my due diligence by getting an inspection done at an OPC or at a reputable Porsche specialist
1)what other options should I be considering?
2)what should I be looking out for on an initial inspection (beyond checking the service receipts carefully ,and checking the bodywork ) , before proceeding to get a professional inspection
3)where best to look for / advertise for a car that is being sold privately ?
There seem to be few cars advertised privately (be it 986/987/981 ), and I feel that there is a distinct advantage in dealing directly with the person (particularly with a one owner car ) who has been driving the car , rather than through an intermediary
Answers to these questions , and any other relevant points , would be gratefully received
carspath said:
I would like to get a 981 S Boxster , in a bright colour ---- lime green metallic/yellow/red-----and my current thinking on essential options would be :
1)what other options should I be considering?
Manual1)what other options should I be considering?
x73
PDSL
Buckets
it is a sports car after all !
it's a daft question as every one wants the options they want, to ask on a forum what options is never going to end well.
carspath said:
I would like to get a 981 S Boxster , in a bright colour ---- lime green metallic/yellow/red-----and my current thinking on essential options would be :
-PDK
-Chrono
-Sports Exhaust
-Heated seats
Climate control - only comes with air con otherwise which means you have to manually adjust the temp-PDK
-Chrono
-Sports Exhaust
-Heated seats
PASM - gives the car a nice dual character, plus I had a standard 981 loan car on regular suspension on 19s and the ride was noticeably busier than on my PASMed GTS
Sport Design steering wheel - unless you're a fan of the buttons for PDK.
If you're looking at that total spec then a GTS might better suit your needs and will likely have better residuals
Nice to have options:
Front/rear parking sensors (if you live in town)
Auto folding mirrors (if you live in town)
PDLS+ (if you livein the countryside)
Auto dimming mirrors
PCM
Sports bucket seats (I rate these as essential but for most it's not a big deal)
Edited by Mario149 on Tuesday 17th May 12:53
I'd add a warning about sports buckets. They don't height adjust and make access more difficult - especially in confined spaces. May not be an issue to you if you and your OH are tall, but may be a problem if you are short.
And - as you have seen PSE is highly controversial - so definitely a try before you buy item. Some find the drone (either mode) with PSE annoying at motorway speeds, so also something to consider.
And - as you have seen PSE is highly controversial - so definitely a try before you buy item. Some find the drone (either mode) with PSE annoying at motorway speeds, so also something to consider.
Things I have that would want again.
PASM
PSE
Heated seats
Dual zone
Sports seats
Wind deflector
Satin Carreras
Leather dash
Telephone prep
Rear parkers
Things I have that not bothered about
PDK (take or leave)
Sport Chrono (I don't see the point. Makes the gear change too aggressive)
Things I don't have but would like.
A different colour to black.
A better sound system.
PASM
PSE
Heated seats
Dual zone
Sports seats
Wind deflector
Satin Carreras
Leather dash
Telephone prep
Rear parkers
Things I have that not bothered about
PDK (take or leave)
Sport Chrono (I don't see the point. Makes the gear change too aggressive)
Things I don't have but would like.
A different colour to black.
A better sound system.
Carspath - as you can see everyone here has differing views on options. When buying used you can't be too picky or you will never find a car - make a wish list with a few 'essentials' at the top and then rank other options below in order of preference. Then you can weigh up a car based on the usual things (condition, mileage, service history, etc) and what options are on it against your list. Bear in mind some things can be retro fitted too, so (for example) if PSE isn't fitted you can get it done afterwards.
hi Gorsch,
I absolutely take on board your comments about the reality of not being able to spec a 2nd hand car to the same extent that one could if buying new
this however is a very big purchase for me , and I have form in taking a very long time to find what I would ideally like------and if you wait around long enough , that thing usually turns up
Espcially on this occasion , I do not need another convertible immediately for this summer , so I can afford to wait for my non -negotiables-----bright colour , S , pdk , chrono , heated seats
PSE can indeed be retrofitted for about 2.5k , and according to boxanet , there are people who have negotiated this price down to 1.8k at their OPC
the other question is whether I would get almost as much pleasure from a £6-7k 986 ,or a £10-11k 987
one thing that I know for certain , is that the actual fun you get from DRIVING a car is inversely proportional to its monetary value---at least for me
I totally adore my £1.5k mx5 series 1 ,and respect it in exactly the same way as my other cars , but as well as being a hoot to drive , I know that I can afford to fix it , and can find replacement panels and parts easily , and this adds immensely to the ease and therefore joy of ownership
if not for the IMS and bore-scoring issues , I think that I would have gone for a manual 986/7by now
I absolutely take on board your comments about the reality of not being able to spec a 2nd hand car to the same extent that one could if buying new
this however is a very big purchase for me , and I have form in taking a very long time to find what I would ideally like------and if you wait around long enough , that thing usually turns up
Espcially on this occasion , I do not need another convertible immediately for this summer , so I can afford to wait for my non -negotiables-----bright colour , S , pdk , chrono , heated seats
PSE can indeed be retrofitted for about 2.5k , and according to boxanet , there are people who have negotiated this price down to 1.8k at their OPC
the other question is whether I would get almost as much pleasure from a £6-7k 986 ,or a £10-11k 987
one thing that I know for certain , is that the actual fun you get from DRIVING a car is inversely proportional to its monetary value---at least for me
I totally adore my £1.5k mx5 series 1 ,and respect it in exactly the same way as my other cars , but as well as being a hoot to drive , I know that I can afford to fix it , and can find replacement panels and parts easily , and this adds immensely to the ease and therefore joy of ownership
if not for the IMS and bore-scoring issues , I think that I would have gone for a manual 986/7by now
Have you considered 978 Boxster Spyders? That's what I'd go for if I had to sell my BGTS tomorrow. Saw one at Dunsfold today and it looked lush. Similar-ish price to a 981S but a better financial prospect and maybe an "easier" purchase as there don't seem to be too many options you could spec on the original car!
hi everyone ,
thanks for all the responses
I,ve just committed to a 981 S which is in almost gts spec
I ve copied my latest posting from another ph section below , just so as to round off this thread
I'm just about to start a new thread asking for tips on collection from the OPC and running in the car ---do please share your knowledge with me
'' Hi Eric Twinge----i'm marshalling at the Bournemouth Festival of Wheeels , supercar section , this coming week-end
Do come in and say hello if you are around
the Gallardo idea has been obliterated by one of the last 5 unregistered Boxster 981 S 's left in the uk
my wife insisted on a new, useable , practical car ,and one from a main dealer , bearing in mind our recent Lambo purchasing experiences
we were in London , so went into the OPC in town , and were offered a substantial discount on a white 981S on the condition that the deal was completed by month end
I had already had an extensive (4hour) back to back drive in a 981S and a 718S a couple of weeks previously out in the country , but took up the offer for another test drive
this was much more limited in time and distance , but confirmed almost immediately that my heart was with the older 6 cylinder normally aspirated car , rather than the new turbo 4 cylinder cars
we both then sat on a bench in Berkeley square , and over a 2hour period rang up EVERY opc sales dept in the uk, and found 2 blacks , 1 blue and 1 grey unregisterd 981 S still available
none of these colours appealed at all , so we went back into the OPC somewhat disappointed , only to find that the sales representative had got Porsche GB to release what they had been hiding away , which is almost certainly the last uk 981 S in racing yellow (we too had rung Porsche Reading-----but were not informed of this car )
the gild on this particular Lily was that the car was essentially in GTS spec (both cosmetically and mechanically )-------and with this died the prospect of a Gallardo
the professionalism of the people within the Porsche network was a refreshing breath of fresh -air (we were driven up to Porsche GB in Reading , where the car was beautifully presented , and there was no hard-sell over a 3 hour inspection period ) -----it was good to be back with Porsche after a 22 year hiatus
we dealt with David Delgado at Porsche Mayfair , and we can certainly recommend him ''
thanks for all the responses
I,ve just committed to a 981 S which is in almost gts spec
I ve copied my latest posting from another ph section below , just so as to round off this thread
I'm just about to start a new thread asking for tips on collection from the OPC and running in the car ---do please share your knowledge with me
'' Hi Eric Twinge----i'm marshalling at the Bournemouth Festival of Wheeels , supercar section , this coming week-end
Do come in and say hello if you are around
the Gallardo idea has been obliterated by one of the last 5 unregistered Boxster 981 S 's left in the uk
my wife insisted on a new, useable , practical car ,and one from a main dealer , bearing in mind our recent Lambo purchasing experiences
we were in London , so went into the OPC in town , and were offered a substantial discount on a white 981S on the condition that the deal was completed by month end
I had already had an extensive (4hour) back to back drive in a 981S and a 718S a couple of weeks previously out in the country , but took up the offer for another test drive
this was much more limited in time and distance , but confirmed almost immediately that my heart was with the older 6 cylinder normally aspirated car , rather than the new turbo 4 cylinder cars
we both then sat on a bench in Berkeley square , and over a 2hour period rang up EVERY opc sales dept in the uk, and found 2 blacks , 1 blue and 1 grey unregisterd 981 S still available
none of these colours appealed at all , so we went back into the OPC somewhat disappointed , only to find that the sales representative had got Porsche GB to release what they had been hiding away , which is almost certainly the last uk 981 S in racing yellow (we too had rung Porsche Reading-----but were not informed of this car )
the gild on this particular Lily was that the car was essentially in GTS spec (both cosmetically and mechanically )-------and with this died the prospect of a Gallardo
the professionalism of the people within the Porsche network was a refreshing breath of fresh -air (we were driven up to Porsche GB in Reading , where the car was beautifully presented , and there was no hard-sell over a 3 hour inspection period ) -----it was good to be back with Porsche after a 22 year hiatus
we dealt with David Delgado at Porsche Mayfair , and we can certainly recommend him ''
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