2001 Boxster S
Discussion
So here she is. My new purchase. Had a nice train ride over to York to collect it. Bought via auction on eBay so needed to give it a quick once over when I arrived. Took me 5 seconds to say I want it. Car looks brand new. Previous owner kept it garaged and never used it. He also had it fully repainted. He claims previous owners to him always garaged.the car too and never drove it. Hence the low mileage. I got a quick snap - when safe to do so your honour - of the odo as it clikced round to 23000 miles. I'm not normally excited by low mileage and car never been out in the rain but this one caught my eye. I've been looking for an original Boxster for a few years now but it needed to be in an interesting colour. Red wasn't my first choice but this one looks great.
Jimmy No Hands said:
I was fairly confident I sold this in 2017 when I worked for a used Porsche specialist very near to the area you collected this from, but a quick glance at the MOT history reveals it may have sat dormant for 8 years and we would've definitely had it tested prior to sale. I sold a similar Guards Red 986 with less than 20,000 on the clock! Do you happen to know the original registration? (PM me if you want.)
My seller claims he did 800 miles in 2 years so possibly over 20k when he bought it. Car came to me with this plate so I don't know the previous sorry.Been out driving most of the day. Did a good 5 or 6 hours. Initial impressions are -
It's a bit slower than my other cars which I'm used to. Went for a couple of over takes today in 3rd and then decided to brake and pull back in. It goes well if you ring the revs round over 5000. But below that it's quite lethargic. So I need to be grabbing 2nd for the over take instead of leaving it in 3rd.
The seat or seating position or both are really not working for me. Constant pain from my lower back. I had to stop a few times to just walk it off. Now I have been out of the car over an hour and I still have back pain. Oh dear. This must be priority number 1.
Brakes are very good and progressive and will really stop the car well if you stamp on them.
Air conditioning does not work. Been hot and bothered all day. Hard Top is still on as I will need an assistant to help me get it off.
Steering feel is not as good as I'd expect. I'm hoping this is related to the 9 year old tyres
Sporty back box has a bit too much boom for my liking.
Otherwise car is working well.
It's a bit slower than my other cars which I'm used to. Went for a couple of over takes today in 3rd and then decided to brake and pull back in. It goes well if you ring the revs round over 5000. But below that it's quite lethargic. So I need to be grabbing 2nd for the over take instead of leaving it in 3rd.
The seat or seating position or both are really not working for me. Constant pain from my lower back. I had to stop a few times to just walk it off. Now I have been out of the car over an hour and I still have back pain. Oh dear. This must be priority number 1.
Brakes are very good and progressive and will really stop the car well if you stamp on them.
Air conditioning does not work. Been hot and bothered all day. Hard Top is still on as I will need an assistant to help me get it off.
Steering feel is not as good as I'd expect. I'm hoping this is related to the 9 year old tyres
Sporty back box has a bit too much boom for my liking.
Otherwise car is working well.
So I've added a few pics. Not sure if this helps explain. Hopefully you can see my legs are up and off the cushion. In most of the pics my left foot was on the foot rest. The one from above shows my knee touching the wheel as I put my foot on the clutch pedal. Hopefully you can also see the seat has no way of going further back as it is hard up on the bulkhead. So the base only goes up and down. It is on its lowest setting. Ideally I think my hips need to be an inch further back. Its not much. I might try to measure the distance from seat to pedals in the 996 and compare. Also in the 996 the seat is a bit more worn. I'm not sure if the fresher seat has firmer cushions which push me a bit further towards the wheel. Also the lumber part of the seat in the Boxster is much more pronounced. And this just digs into my back.
I think the first thing I'll try is a 997 / 987 seat. These newer seats apparently work well in these older boxsters. If I am to keep the car it needs to be comfy.
The seat in my 981 is so much better and I can sit in comfort just fine. Out of the 3 Porsches I own the 981 wins hands down for comfort and seat / driving position.
I think the first thing I'll try is a 997 / 987 seat. These newer seats apparently work well in these older boxsters. If I am to keep the car it needs to be comfy.
The seat in my 981 is so much better and I can sit in comfort just fine. Out of the 3 Porsches I own the 981 wins hands down for comfort and seat / driving position.
So I've been driving this around now for almost a week. Put Tesco 99 in a couple of times so hopefully it's all reasonably recent petrol in the tank now. My driving is mainly just pootling around town so no chance for much WOT.
I did get stopped by some Police after a questionable overtake. They just had a quick chat and sent me on my way.
The car definitely seems to attract a lot more attention than I'm used to. I've never had a red car before so I am putting it down to the colour.
Other thoughts are the roof. I'm not loving the whole Boxster chop drama. So I guess I want the newer roof with glass window too.
I did get stopped by some Police after a questionable overtake. They just had a quick chat and sent me on my way.
The car definitely seems to attract a lot more attention than I'm used to. I've never had a red car before so I am putting it down to the colour.
Other thoughts are the roof. I'm not loving the whole Boxster chop drama. So I guess I want the newer roof with glass window too.
Loving this car.
Not its not perfect - I cant fit in, the exhaust is a bit asbo and the wheels / tyres need changing.
Otherwise I just love it. Cant quite put my finger on why. Perhaps its the glorious weather. Perhaps its the lovely smooth clutch action. Perhaps its the lovely brakes which just feel so right. Perhaps its the cars balance when throwing it around. Perhaps its not too fast so I can ring it out a bit without seriously braking the law. Perhaps its because it reminds me of my first Porsche.
Really pleased with the purchase. Not even interested in driving the other cars.
Not its not perfect - I cant fit in, the exhaust is a bit asbo and the wheels / tyres need changing.
Otherwise I just love it. Cant quite put my finger on why. Perhaps its the glorious weather. Perhaps its the lovely smooth clutch action. Perhaps its the lovely brakes which just feel so right. Perhaps its the cars balance when throwing it around. Perhaps its not too fast so I can ring it out a bit without seriously braking the law. Perhaps its because it reminds me of my first Porsche.
Really pleased with the purchase. Not even interested in driving the other cars.
snotrag said:
Personally rather than anything 'fancy' I'd go for a set of the regular 17" Boxster S wheels -
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324718983269?hash=item4...
Refurbed in nice bright shiny OEM silver, coloured centres, and some good quality road biased tyres.
I experiemented with going from 205 to a 225 on mine to quell understeer on track and it ruined the steeering feel. Stick with 205 on the front, and maybe even go down to 235 on the back.
(Of all the 986/996/987/997 wheel and tyre combos, the early 17" Boxsters have the most pronounced stagger front to rear!).
Yeshttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324718983269?hash=item4...
Refurbed in nice bright shiny OEM silver, coloured centres, and some good quality road biased tyres.
I experiemented with going from 205 to a 225 on mine to quell understeer on track and it ruined the steeering feel. Stick with 205 on the front, and maybe even go down to 235 on the back.
(Of all the 986/996/987/997 wheel and tyre combos, the early 17" Boxsters have the most pronounced stagger front to rear!).
The wider the front tyre the less steering feel. I changed from 225 18 to 205 17 on my 996 and it transformed the steering for the better. But this was without spacers. Recently I have added 15mm spacers to the 996 and its dramatically changed the steering feel again but not necessarily improved it. I think I preferred without spacers.
Like these 2 designs, first is simpler
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224371663167
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324709712967
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224371663167
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324709712967
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