£5k Boxster - Any good?

£5k Boxster - Any good?

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Discussion

A900ss

Original Poster:

3,256 posts

154 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
Probably a mid life crisis but I am now seeing quite a few boxsters for £5k or less.

I have a company 5 series so can't really justify a weekend toy for more than £5k but is a £5k Boxster a basket case or can you get something reasonably sound for that price?

If so, tips most welcome.

MrC986

3,530 posts

193 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
If you can see wedges of invoices for recent replacement if brakes, suspension & radiators plus the usual servicing as well as a decent make of matching tyres, you are most of the way there. Oh, and if it has a plastic rear window check to see if it is showing signs of serious creasing....they are known to split which means really a new roof to fix the problem (ouch). It should be a good time to buy given most 2nd cars are getting wrapped up in the garages for the winter.

Ps, plastic rear windows dont like very cold weather if you put the roof down as the plastic becomes very inflexible & brittle

dibblecorse

6,905 posts

194 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
Go read the Poverty Pork thread, tonnes of info in there :-)

SalesManager

2,248 posts

242 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
This is spot on. It has to be an 'S' really. The value is off the scale at 5k. In the fun department it has few equals at that money.

Edited by SalesManager on Sunday 11th November 12:45

mollytherocker

14,366 posts

211 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
Early boxsters are great weekend funsters and stonking value. You can get a straight motor for 5k.

BUT as has been said above, take care. Most need thousands spending on them to get them up to scratch.

Get the right car and its the only Porsche you need. The lower power than today's rockets means that you can use more of the power more of the time which equals more FUN!

MTR

jamesogt

371 posts

167 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
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Replace the whole roof for broken plastic screen? There are lots of other cheaper options!

pete.g

1,527 posts

208 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
November's Classic and Sports Car has a feature on this topic.

TOENHEEL

4,501 posts

229 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
Great car for the money just make sure that you have one fully checked out there was plenty dogs at £20k when I bought my 986 years ago so be careful. If the ims bearing hasn't been updated its worth getting someone to look it at and also check front radiators aren't corroded or damaged. Loads complain of gear selection issues generally caused through the linkage sitting above the exhaust drying out a quick once over with high melting point grease does the job and makes the driving experience much more enjoyable.

Definetly 110% go for an S if you can and that's not me jumping on the bandwagon its from experience of owning 2.7's. which just aren't quick enough for a Porsche sports car IMO. If I were you find a car that's got great service history over being clean and tidy plenty bits around to tidy one up that's a bit tired.

Slobberchops

3,620 posts

203 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
Not going to get a decent S for his budget, surely?

TOENHEEL

4,501 posts

229 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
Slobberchops said:
Not going to get a decent S for his budget, surely?
Probably not but save a little more and get a much better car IMO. Although a different driving experience I can't help but think a Z4 3.0 is a better buy with this budget there's a 36k miler on the classifieds.

Edited by TOENHEEL on Sunday 11th November 16:24

mollytherocker

14,366 posts

211 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
TOENHEEL said:
Slobberchops said:
Not going to get a decent S for his budget, surely?
Probably not but save a little more and get a much better car IMO. Although a different driving experience I can't help but think a Z4 3.0 is a better buy with this budget there's a 36k miler on the classifieds.

Edited by TOENHEEL on Sunday 11th November 16:24
Ah, but thats where it starts - 'just save a little more an you can get a.......' biggrin

The next thing you know, you are drinking some nice coffee in an OPC and signing up for a bigger balloon than Richard Branson.



Edited by mollytherocker on Sunday 11th November 17:15

A900ss

Original Poster:

3,256 posts

154 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
mollytherocker said:
Ah, but thats where it starts - 'just save a little more an you can get a.......' biggrin

The next thing you know, you are drinking some nice coffee in an OPC and signing up for a bigger balloon than Richard Branson.



Edited by mollytherocker on Sunday 11th November 17:15
That's exactly it. I have a nice 2012 5 series touring as a company car so this would just be a toy. I want a 2 seater convertible. I think the slk looks too feminine and for £5k, that model looks dated.

The Z4 is an option but I just think its a bit too like my company car (as in its another bmw) which is why I'm looking at the Boxster.

Any other £5k ish cars that you can recommended most welcome. MPG is irrelevant due to annual mileage but I don't want a complete money pit on an unreliable car.

It doesn't need to be that fast even, just fun. (Please don't say mx5, I want something a bit different although I fully accept that what I am prepared to spend will be the limiting factor).
Thanks.

edc

9,260 posts

253 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
I was in a similar situation to you. Company BMW or Audi's plus a 4x4 on the drive. I wanted a 2 seater roadster and bought a Boxster S earlier this year. There are a few of us who have posted on the poverty pork thread. My budget was a fraction more than yours but I've had pretty trouble free ownership so far. I didn't want silver or lapis blue. Spec I wasn't too fussed about per se but good history I was. I keep looking at double din sat nav head units but 1) I rarely use the head unit in there and 2) the only time I use sat nav is for hoon it files. I ended up with a decent spec car with hardback sports seats and full leather.

TOENHEEL

4,501 posts

229 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
If its a toy get an S1 Elise! Much more involving for a toy. Cheap for parts and when your bored drop a Honda lump in and scare yourself silly!

jabriel

302 posts

243 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
At £5k why not consider a 944 for a weekend toy?

TOENHEEL

4,501 posts

229 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
jabriel said:
At £5k why not consider a 944 for a weekend toy?
Is it really that much of a "toy"?? Maybe with a cage and bucket seats in idea

the stigs dad

378 posts

140 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
A honda s2000 is a good alternative to the boxster; and not a moneypit. 5k will get you a decent looked after one too.

TOENHEEL

4,501 posts

229 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
the stigs dad said:
A honda s2000 is a good alternative to the boxster; and not a moneypit. 5k will get you a decent looked after one too.
Decent cars later ones with different rear suspension setup were good and option to supercharge if you want more power.

911944

186 posts

158 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
I recently bought a 98 2.5 boxster, manual, 80k mls fsh etc. Drove perfect, amazing condition for......£3700

I'm used to reasonably quick cars and the 2.5 felt great, if you take it or what it is. They're great cars for silly money, enough said!

TOENHEEL

4,501 posts

229 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
For me its an important thing to have looked at even on a high miler if I was going to keep it long term, wont cost the earth to get someone like Hartech to have a look for you and install an updated and uprated bearing to prevent a big bill for an engine should you have an issue!

Early cars I'm sure you don't have to split crankcase to get at the ims bearing case of taking gearbox out though.


Edited by TOENHEEL on Sunday 11th November 21:18