First Boxster 3.2 S, first 72 miles where good!

First Boxster 3.2 S, first 72 miles where good!

Author
Discussion

Neil - YVM

Original Poster:

1,310 posts

200 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Hi, after some time Researching and looking, I picked up my first boxster yesterday. A lovely all black 2004 3.2 S, with gt3 wheels, with 47k miles.

Seemed to be a lovely car, so agreed to buy, set off for the 140 mile journey home, then after just 72 miles of driving at 60-70 on dual carriage way there was an almighty banging and crashing and the car lost drive and we coasted to a halt in the inside lane of the A14. The AA were great in recovering us off the A14 and dropping us at nearest services.

Upon inspecting the car, it would appear that the ns drive shaft has come loose at the gearbox flange, and then the Shaft has flailed around, destroying the UJ, but hopefully only scuffing any thing else.
AA then recovered us back to my local garage, who kindly opened up at 8.0pm on a sat evening to get the car inside. Now we wait for a detailed inspection to see what damage has been done.

Not quite the welcome to Porsche ownership I had hoped for. I'm sure the wife will start talking to me again eventually!

Neil - YVM

Original Poster:

1,310 posts

200 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
ianwayne said:
Has someone changed the driveshaft rubber gaiters and then forgot to tighten the bolts?
Yes, think that's what's happened. Last owner changed the cv boots about 2000 miles previous.

Neil - YVM

Original Poster:

1,310 posts

200 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
andymc said:
Where did you buy it?
Bought privately from Newark-onTrent. So no legal come back, just hoping he's a good guy and helps with the repair cost.

Neil - YVM

Original Poster:

1,310 posts

200 months

Monday 28th April 2014
quotequote all
Well this isn't going to turn out well.

The car was inspected properly today, and it's not good.
The driveshaft has smashed the gearbox housing in 3 - 4 places. It has also broken off the boss that the exhaust bracket connects to. Plus the exhaust headers have been bent, and the exhaust is now slightly twisted.

To repair will require replacement gearbox, driveshaft, possibly exhaust header, tray under gearbox. I will be looking to get a few quote from local Porsche specialists over the next few days. So if anyone can recommend one in the Essex area that would be good..

Neil - YVM

Original Poster:

1,310 posts

200 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
quotequote all
Ok, for me there is a satisfactory conclusion to this, after some frank discussions with the previous owner, he has agreed to take the car back and refund my money in full.
And today I have spent the day trailer it back up to him.
I'm still disappointed, as I thought I has bought a great car. But for me it's the best possible outcome, yes I'm a few hundred quid out of pocket, but now I can look for something else.

Neil - YVM

Original Poster:

1,310 posts

200 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
quotequote all
Indeed the seller did not need to do this from a contract of sale point of view. I know in this respect I didn't have a leg to stand on.

There where no threats on my part, just appealed to his better nature. The reason for the failure, was the bolts not being tightened correctly. Therefore his workmanship or lack of caused the problem.

I had taken leagal advice, and although there was no recourse via the contract of sale, there was the possibility to pursue a claim for negligence on his part, especially as he repairs helicopters for a living.

But it must be said, that after a long discussion going through the options, the seller called me, and offered to take it back. So although a pain for him, he is a top guy, with a good moral compass.

Neil - YVM

Original Poster:

1,310 posts

200 months

Friday 2nd May 2014
quotequote all
andymc said:
I'd be buying the fella a case of wine!! what would the bill have been? £4kish, would an inspection have highlighted this?
From first estimates the bill would have been £3-4k, plus I would have wanted the rms, ims and clutch changed whilst the gearbox was out.

The car went through an mot approx 50 miles before I bought it, so unless the bolts where loose, rather than inadiquantly torqued, then I doubt an inspection would have found anything amiss. No inspection or MOT checks that all the nuts are correctly torqued.

And yes a 'thank you' has been sent.