Porsche Boxster S '00
Discussion
Well, I finally found five minutes to myself, so I thought I'd use this time to start a thread on my latest purchase. For anyone whos read my MR2 thread, will already know about it.
A little back story for you all. After doing nearly everything that needs sorting on the MR2, I wanted another car to spend a winter hibernating in the garage with. A project car if you will. I'd decided on something that wasn't Japanese for a change, but not through any logical thinking. After bidding on many a MK1 XR2 Fiesta and loosing out on rot boxes, the question of if spending that amount of money again on a restoration was painful.
A few weeks of loosing hope over the whole scenario, I was browsing good old ebay. What popped up was a rather nice looking, low mileage Boxster only ten miles away. I figured it was worth a look at just to see what they're all about, then changed my mind so as not to waste the guys time. At that point the seed had been planted.
Monday night came along. I phoned the guy. Two hours later I'm poking at a Porsche. 30 minutes, later I left a deposit. I didn't even want a Porsche, a convertible, a silver car or a car that isn't a project. Tuesday morning I'm wondering what the hell I'd done.
They always say not to buy the first car you see or buy a car in the dark. Well I viewed it in the dark, picked it up in the dark, drove to work in the dark and finally saw it in the day light on my dinner break. It's mint.
So for not much more money than a ropey Fiesta, with rust holes and dodgy wiring, I got a proper car. The car itself has been in the Porsche owners club since new, it has a full service history, some done at Porsche and the rest at specialists. It's done a legit 49,000 miles in its 18 year life. The previous owners spent thousands on new parts, it's got nearly new tyres and refurbished wheels. The best part is that it's the S model. Big 3.2 litre flat six lump. Nice
Just after a desposit and a joy ride
Back in the garage, with it's other mid-engined cousin.
At work next to my mates Golf R. Work mates thought it was on a private plate, not knowing it is actually 18 years old.
Bad points then. It needs a wheel bearing at the front, small oil leak between gearbox and engine. So after summer the box is coming out to replace the crank seal and the famous IMS bearing, with a new clutch while its out. Wheel bearing will get done when I get some time, but it's not going far once it's been driven for a week solid. The paint badly needs a clay bar on it, but it's in good condition otherwise.
So after doing a few miles, it's a lovely beast. Not driven enough to give a proper verdict. I'll keep this updated!
A little back story for you all. After doing nearly everything that needs sorting on the MR2, I wanted another car to spend a winter hibernating in the garage with. A project car if you will. I'd decided on something that wasn't Japanese for a change, but not through any logical thinking. After bidding on many a MK1 XR2 Fiesta and loosing out on rot boxes, the question of if spending that amount of money again on a restoration was painful.
A few weeks of loosing hope over the whole scenario, I was browsing good old ebay. What popped up was a rather nice looking, low mileage Boxster only ten miles away. I figured it was worth a look at just to see what they're all about, then changed my mind so as not to waste the guys time. At that point the seed had been planted.
Monday night came along. I phoned the guy. Two hours later I'm poking at a Porsche. 30 minutes, later I left a deposit. I didn't even want a Porsche, a convertible, a silver car or a car that isn't a project. Tuesday morning I'm wondering what the hell I'd done.
They always say not to buy the first car you see or buy a car in the dark. Well I viewed it in the dark, picked it up in the dark, drove to work in the dark and finally saw it in the day light on my dinner break. It's mint.
So for not much more money than a ropey Fiesta, with rust holes and dodgy wiring, I got a proper car. The car itself has been in the Porsche owners club since new, it has a full service history, some done at Porsche and the rest at specialists. It's done a legit 49,000 miles in its 18 year life. The previous owners spent thousands on new parts, it's got nearly new tyres and refurbished wheels. The best part is that it's the S model. Big 3.2 litre flat six lump. Nice
Just after a desposit and a joy ride
Back in the garage, with it's other mid-engined cousin.
At work next to my mates Golf R. Work mates thought it was on a private plate, not knowing it is actually 18 years old.
Bad points then. It needs a wheel bearing at the front, small oil leak between gearbox and engine. So after summer the box is coming out to replace the crank seal and the famous IMS bearing, with a new clutch while its out. Wheel bearing will get done when I get some time, but it's not going far once it's been driven for a week solid. The paint badly needs a clay bar on it, but it's in good condition otherwise.
So after doing a few miles, it's a lovely beast. Not driven enough to give a proper verdict. I'll keep this updated!
Seems like it has been wrapped in cotton wool. The last owner was able to tell me that the guy before him was a Porsche mentalist. He travelled to Cardiff to get it from him and this was his 5th Porsche on the drive. Everyone before him had it as a 3rd or 4th car. I'm yet to properly dive in to the history file but, it's been on a road trip to Monti Carlo at least once in its life. Also being in the Porsche Club, it's been to Silverstone for some track action with the club.
The best thing about buying it was the guys moustache. A 4 inch long twisted and waxed stash
The best thing about buying it was the guys moustache. A 4 inch long twisted and waxed stash
Alright, I've had the Boxster a month or so now. What I thought was quite a characterless car is quickly becoming my favourite of the lot. It's characterless as it doesn't shout about its capabilities. It's up to the driver to find them out, but once you do, you find out it's the quiet kid in the corner that can play a bad-ass guitar solo. When required, they can some beautiful melodies.
It can really get up and go, even so, it is never bothered about it. Doing anything lacks drama, as though it is no trouble for it. In the corners the handling is totally neutral, with even an off square tyre stance. Without knowing what the weight balance is, I'd say its very close to 50/50. You never need to fight understeer unless your pushing it to dance on its face.
What lets the Boxster down is its lack of chassis rigidity. A predictable fall down for a car with no roof. It's a bit of a wet sausage in that respect. The solution is a frozen sausage, the Caymen. On these hot sunny days the convertible is the winner hands down. On the other 364 days without blazing sunshine, the better chassis stiffness of the Caymen would be more appreciated. I think that could be next on the list...
So some work got done almost immediately after buying the car. I was hammering the seller that his offside front wheel bearing was utterly shagged. It was as loud as the engine on song. Yet even so they claimed it was fine. So he's been driving it probably like that since he got it
A new bearing from the local parts supplier. £29 later and a new one secured. Here's the old outer race, it's the worst I've seen.
Nothing different about working on a Porsche. Built just like any other car.
Yes there was an axle stand under the car. I like to leave the jack in place too.
The biggest problem was getting the bearing out of the hub. I don't have a press at home. There is some scrap steel and a welder..
This on the hub with some threaded bar and a giant washer I made for doing the MR2 wheel bearings. It worked a treat.
The other sides wheel bearing doesn't need doing, even though I have one for it. It'll get done when the IMS bearing is getting replaced, along with the clutch and crank end seal. Which is already in the stock pile to be fitted.
Other than a big polish and waxing, I've been trying to enjoy the car with all the rain the UK has been having. Yesterday was superb, much like today is turning out. A touch hungover today so driving will have to wait.
Thanks
It can really get up and go, even so, it is never bothered about it. Doing anything lacks drama, as though it is no trouble for it. In the corners the handling is totally neutral, with even an off square tyre stance. Without knowing what the weight balance is, I'd say its very close to 50/50. You never need to fight understeer unless your pushing it to dance on its face.
What lets the Boxster down is its lack of chassis rigidity. A predictable fall down for a car with no roof. It's a bit of a wet sausage in that respect. The solution is a frozen sausage, the Caymen. On these hot sunny days the convertible is the winner hands down. On the other 364 days without blazing sunshine, the better chassis stiffness of the Caymen would be more appreciated. I think that could be next on the list...
So some work got done almost immediately after buying the car. I was hammering the seller that his offside front wheel bearing was utterly shagged. It was as loud as the engine on song. Yet even so they claimed it was fine. So he's been driving it probably like that since he got it
A new bearing from the local parts supplier. £29 later and a new one secured. Here's the old outer race, it's the worst I've seen.
Nothing different about working on a Porsche. Built just like any other car.
Yes there was an axle stand under the car. I like to leave the jack in place too.
The biggest problem was getting the bearing out of the hub. I don't have a press at home. There is some scrap steel and a welder..
This on the hub with some threaded bar and a giant washer I made for doing the MR2 wheel bearings. It worked a treat.
The other sides wheel bearing doesn't need doing, even though I have one for it. It'll get done when the IMS bearing is getting replaced, along with the clutch and crank end seal. Which is already in the stock pile to be fitted.
Other than a big polish and waxing, I've been trying to enjoy the car with all the rain the UK has been having. Yesterday was superb, much like today is turning out. A touch hungover today so driving will have to wait.
Thanks
Just need an Evo now, you'll have the same 3 as me!
Well done on the Porsche, looks like a great car. You might find that once the IMS is exposed there's nothing wrong with it, in which case you have to make your mind up whether or not it's worth disturbing something for no apparent reason. I suspect if I had it that far apart though, I'd find it hard to leave the original in there and put it all back together.
Well done on the Porsche, looks like a great car. You might find that once the IMS is exposed there's nothing wrong with it, in which case you have to make your mind up whether or not it's worth disturbing something for no apparent reason. I suspect if I had it that far apart though, I'd find it hard to leave the original in there and put it all back together.
Exactly, the bearing will probably be fine. I have a problem with cars though, I can't stand not tinkering. Any half ass excuse to pull the gearbox out of a Porsche and I'm sold. It could do with a new clutch though, it's a touch stiff, I know they're fairly heavy anyway.
I'd love to try an evo. Any generation of them. That would clear out my mortgage deposit that I should really grow up and get on with. I justify it saying that I can afford to keep all the cars.
You can sleep in your car, but you can't race your house and all that
I'd love to try an evo. Any generation of them. That would clear out my mortgage deposit that I should really grow up and get on with. I justify it saying that I can afford to keep all the cars.
You can sleep in your car, but you can't race your house and all that
Sillyhatday said:
Exactly, the bearing will probably be fine. I have a problem with cars though, I can't stand not tinkering. Any half ass excuse to pull the gearbox out of a Porsche and I'm sold. It could do with a new clutch though, it's a touch stiff, I know they're fairly heavy anyway.
I'd love to try an evo. Any generation of them. That would clear out my mortgage deposit that I should really grow up and get on with. I justify it saying that I can afford to keep all the cars.
You can sleep in your car, but you can't race your house and all that
If the stars align, and we both end up somewhere with me in the Evo, you're welcome to a passenger ride in it. I'd love to try an evo. Any generation of them. That would clear out my mortgage deposit that I should really grow up and get on with. I justify it saying that I can afford to keep all the cars.
You can sleep in your car, but you can't race your house and all that
Yes, the clutch is on the heavy side on the Porsche compared to Jap stuff, seems to be the way it is. If you intend to pull the box out anyway, then at least having a look at the IMS would be common sense. Very interested to see what you find when you do it. I'd certainly change the rear main seal, no big deal when it's that far apart, still supposedly a bit of a faff even at that stage to do the IMS though. From memory there are special tools required.
You do need special tools. Watching videos of people doing the replacement, the tools aren't too special. I've sort of got access to people who can make some of the tools. Also a pet mechanic :P We will see what happens.
The rear main seal is slightly leaking, I forgot to mention that is why I was pulling the box out. None of this will happen until after the summer. The cars needs enjoying.
I'm over in east midlands. Which is nowhere near anything really. So we will need more than planet alignment.
The rear main seal is slightly leaking, I forgot to mention that is why I was pulling the box out. None of this will happen until after the summer. The cars needs enjoying.
I'm over in east midlands. Which is nowhere near anything really. So we will need more than planet alignment.
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