Buying an old 986 Boxster

[JulianPH]

Hi All

I'm thinking about buying an old Boxster as a bit of a summer toy. I bought one new when they first came out and remember it fondly as a get fan car.

However, I have never bought a 17 year old car and wonder if this could be a bad idea! Any pointers welcome.

I like the look of this one but I am concerned about the 'S' badges everywhere when it obviously isn't an 'S'.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Any thoughts or anyone know it?

Cheers

[36270k]

The S in the advert refers to the Tiptronic box rather than the Boxster S model.

Easy way to spot a 3.2 Boxster S is to look for the air intake for the centre radiator under the front numberplate.

[JulianPH]

36270k said:

The S in the advert refers to the Tiptronic box rather than the Boxster S model.

Easy way to spot a 3.2 Boxster S is to look for the air intake for the centre radiator under the front numberplate.

Sorry, I was referring to the fact he has put an Boxster S badge on the boot and got Boxster S on the wing mirrors and centre console!

[edc]

JulianPH said:

Hi All

I'm thinking about buying an old Boxster as a bit of a summer toy. I bought one new when they first came out and remember it fondly as a get fan car.

However, I have never bought a 17 year old car and wonder if this could be a bad idea! Any pointers welcome.

I like the look of this one but I am concerned about the 'S' badges everywhere when it obviously isn't an 'S'.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Any thoughts or anyone know it?

Cheers

I've had a 58k through to 75k 2000 986 S in 2012 and now a 2004 550 from 105k to 118k bought in late 2013. Both have had pretty much the same overhaul work. They are old cars now. You can run them like many other cars with imperfect parts, it may or may not annoy you, they may then sometimes fail unexpectedly. Have a look at boxa.net for various running reports wit parts replaced and costs etc. But at this sort of age if it hasn't already been done then it may well need doing, a long list of mechanical stuff; all suspension parts, waterpump, coolant tank, rads, brake lines, clutch, window regulator. It won't all hit you at once and if you only have it a short time it won't all hit you full stop. If you're ok to have you day spoilt when the car spills it's coolant then you can wait for stuff to break and fix then. Or you have to plan in your maintenance based on your own sense of risk and part failure likelihood.

[JulianPH]

edc said:

JulianPH said:

Hi All

I'm thinking about buying an old Boxster as a bit of a summer toy. I bought one new when they first came out and remember it fondly as a get fan car.

However, I have never bought a 17 year old car and wonder if this could be a bad idea! Any pointers welcome.

I like the look of this one but I am concerned about the 'S' badges everywhere when it obviously isn't an 'S'.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Any thoughts or anyone know it?

Cheers

I've had a 58k through to 75k 2000 986 S in 2012 and now a 2004 550 from 105k to 118k bought in late 2013. Both have had pretty much the same overhaul work. They are old cars now. You can run them like many other cars with imperfect parts, it may or may not annoy you, they may then sometimes fail unexpectedly. Have a look at boxa.net for various running reports wit parts replaced and costs etc. But at this sort of age if it hasn't already been done then it may well need doing, a long list of mechanical stuff; all suspension parts, waterpump, coolant tank, rads, brake lines, clutch, window regulator. It won't all hit you at once and if you only have it a short time it won't all hit you full stop. If you're ok to have you day spoilt when the car spills it's coolant then you can wait for stuff to break and fix then. Or you have to plan in your maintenance based on your own sense of risk and part failure likelihood.

Thanks, that is helpful. I don't mind chucking a couple of thousand pounds a year at it, i Just was wondering what it would cost me non top of that. Buying (and fixing) such an old car...!

[Rockster]

JulianPH said:

Hi All

I'm thinking about buying an old Boxster as a bit of a summer toy. I bought one new when they first came out and remember it fondly as a get fan car.

However, I have never bought a 17 year old car and wonder if this could be a bad idea! Any pointers welcome.

I like the look of this one but I am concerned about the 'S' badges everywhere when it obviously isn't an 'S'.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Any thoughts or anyone know it?

Cheers

Just a used car. If you think you want one go check it out. You need to spend some time with the car on the road being driven as you intend to drive it to make sure it is not manifesting any issues and afterwards a PPI finds no leaks or other issues.

My 2002 2.7l 5-speed is 15 years old and has over 313K miles. Problems due to age have been rare. All the problems the car has manifested have been due to the miles. And exposure. The orignal top develped a leak and had to be replaced. This in spite of the fact I never put the top down. But the car sits out in the elements and over time that I guess took its toll on the top. The top looked good and the top shop tech commented that the top didn't appear to be in bad shape -- like I said I never lowered the top.

All you can do is make sure ot the best of your ability the car has no current issues and has been given reasonably good care/servicing. If you buy it then continue with that and if any issues come up, and they will, address any issues promptly.

[anonymous-user]

Julian PH - I'm sure I've read a lot of sensible stuff from you on the Finance forum.

In a nutshell, I think you need to spend more on purchase of the sportscar and less on the fettling. A £6k used Porsche can hit you with a £2k service before you get out of bed in the morning. And then it's still worth precisely £6k.

[JulianPH]

rockin said:

Julian PH - I'm sure I've read a lot of sensible stuff from you on the Finance forum.

In a nutshell, I think you need to spend more on purchase of the sportscar and less on the fettling. A £6k used Porsche can hit you with a £2k service before you get out of bed in the morning. And then it's still worth precisely £6k.

Thanks Steve. It is my sector (though I am not an adviser) so I try and help out whenever I can - there is often a lot of confusion and people sprouting rubbish!

I think I will give the Boxster a rethink. Basically I woke up yesterday having had a dream about my old Boxster in the late '90's and what fun it was. I thought they must be going for a song now and I might get one as a summer toy.

Given I currently own an Aston Martin DB9 and a Bentley Continental GT (and actually don't do much driving anyway!) I can't really justify a third car, but have managed to get the wife's nod at this price point if she can drive it too!

I know it is stupid and frivolous, but I had to explore the idea and seek the collective PH wisdom here!

[anonymous-user]

There's clearly something about a smaller sportscar that's caught your imagination so why not lose one of the other cars and buy a nice Boxster 981? Then you'll have a completely different type of car and I'll be surprised if you don't both get a lot of fun out of the Porsche convertible. Zingy 6-pot, nice manual 6-speed, great chassis, a roof that goes up and down in 9 seconds and plenty of space for the practicalities of real life.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 18th July 15:51

[mikal83]

By mine its cheaper lower miles and deffo an S!

[edh]

I think it's a great idea.... fantastic value cars, lovely to drive.

What's the mist it can cost You? A few months depreciation on your other cars..?

[BertBert]

Lovely to drive if it is lovely to drive. My cheapo boxster wasn't very good to drive as it needed new shocks and I was too tight to shell out for new ones!
I drove it for 12 months and then sold it on.

edh said:

I think it's a great idea.... fantastic value cars, lovely to drive.

What's the mist it can cost You? A few months depreciation on your other cars..?

[edc]

BertBert said:

Lovely to drive if it is lovely to drive. My cheapo boxster wasn't very good to drive as it needed new shocks and I was too tight to shell out for new ones!
I drove it for 12 months and then sold it on.

edh said:

I think it's a great idea.... fantastic value cars, lovely to drive.

What's the mist it can cost You? A few months depreciation on your other cars..?

Regardless of the price, if it's worn out or tired or have squiffy geo then it will not drive particularly great. A nicely waxed and photographed car is no sign of the real condition that really matters.

[edh]

BertBert said:

Lovely to drive if it is lovely to drive. My cheapo boxster wasn't very good to drive as it needed new shocks and I was too tight to shell out for new ones!
I drove it for 12 months and then sold it on.

edh said:

I think it's a great idea.... fantastic value cars, lovely to drive.

What's the mist it can cost You? A few months depreciation on your other cars..?

sure - so buy carefully and drive before you buy... there are plenty out there that are enthusiast owned & have been well maintained.

My 3.2 needed new front shocks when I bought it, ~£500 for a full m030 kit later + £400 ish for fitting (I think) & I was very happy... Did the rear coffin arms & links a couple of years later myself when they got noisy.

Sold it for just over £5k last year when I bought my 996..