Thinking of buying a Boxster ? - MUST READ !

[986judy]

My 2000 Boxster 2.7L has run beautifully for 14yrs. Normal wear and tear but at 95,000 miles, all I had to do this year was replace the AOS ($114 part) which I did myself.

In the past SIX years, I've only had to replace the brakes, battery, tires, oil and the water pump and do the normal 90,000 Service. She runs like a champ!

[mcdandc]

Originally Posted by dagdisco03

not 100% sure what i'm seeing in the pic but to me it looks like a bunch of bondo under the paint. A cheap repair gone bad. If it is bondo like i'm thinking a body shop will say it needs a quarter panel and you will be looking at a whole lot of money for that type of repair. The body does not support the top so don't worry about that. You could do the same as the owner and sand it down smooth some bondo and spray can paint it. That's cheap and easy and will look that way but on the color you could get away with a lot and from 5 feet away no one will know.

wow, nimby

[deeksha]

i like your information based on boxster it is really amazing thanks for providing information

[bramwell]

That articles are very timely since I'm thinking to buy boxster.

[myboxsters]

Jumping in this weekend. 2008 yellow boxster S. 44k miles. 1 owner.

offer made today pending PPI from an independent. could be carving up the curves Sunday

[traceylee1]

I've had my 99' Boxster for about 7 years! it has 160,000 miles on it. I change the oil and tune it up regularly. I've only had to replace the water pump. No problems with MY Boxster!!!

[jdlmodelt]

Originally Posted by traceylee1

I've had my 99' Boxster for about 7 years! it has 160,000 miles on it. I change the oil and tune it up regularly. I've only had to replace the water pump. No problems with MY Boxster!!!

You're my hero. I have a 1999 as well and that is what I hope to see mine trending towards.
90,xxx and climbing.

[Porsche9five1]

Hello board. I am looking into a 2005 Boxster Base with 40,000K miles on it. It is a 1 owner car with the following options.

2005 Porsche Boxster
Exterior:
Arctic Silver Metallic
Interior:
Black Standard Leather
Warranty Start:
June 22, 2005
Additional Equipment
342
Heated Front Seats
446
Wheel Caps with Colored Crest
680
Bose Surround Sound System
AN
Black Standard Leather
M6Z
Floor Mats Interior Color
P12
Self-Dim Mirrors & Rain Sensor
P74
Bi-Xenon Headlamp Package
PPB
Preferred Package Plus
V9
Black Top
X1
Arctic Silver Metallic

How many have replaced thier IMS vs. just routine maint?

If you have replaced your IMS, cost?

TIA

[rick3000]

jdlmodelt, do you know if it was in fact an IMS failure on your '99?

I ask because the '99 has a different IMS design than the years commonly associated with IMS failure. An RMS or slipped sleeve failure would be more likely.

[davismorris717]

I am need to know about boxster..because i m buying it.!

[arthrodriver]

Wanted to say how good this thread is. I will copy #111 as a procurement aid. It is interesting to me that while the Italians are usually credited with sensuous and striking design,the main reason I want a Boxster is the attraction to the body shape. When I park beside one it beakons strongly. Female curves? I guess so. Having owned Corvair, TR-4, original Lotus Elan, on and on ,the Boxster reliability is a revelation. I was considered marathon man to street the Elan for 58K commuter miles. Do I have any business looking at a low slung roadster at my age....yep. The wife drives the C 63 AMG and I drive ( wait for it) an 85 Fiero and 91 Nissan 2000 (the low end car Porsche could not build?). A used Boxster would be perfect, especially the light 1999 model. Kudos to great people here.

[arthrodriver]

After sleeping on my mebership acceptance here I would like to make a suggestion to those asking about Boxster qualities. There is a widely read thread in DIY here which will take some reading , but worth it. The comments made by flaps10, the author( great job) and other responders do reflect on Boxster engine and maintenance .
For what it's worth here are some observations.

I remember when pegging the tach was my main objective while driving and it is still good sometimes. But flaps10 found "spun" rod bearings. This should not happen. Someone suggested oil starvation, as in max cornering with WOT. I do not recall any pics of an oil pressure gauge on the dash. It is not so hard to put in a warning buzzer linked to the oil pressure sender. Maybe racers will respond.

Next, flalps10 commented on the rod bolts used. The pictures are really shocking. The removed bolts are totally threaded . In most hipo engines rodbolts resemble the ARP ones. So, yes, corner cutting at Porsche did occur. The better to produce the car at its price point and make it available to many. Another shocker is the piston wrist pin retainers. Wire??? Wire??? The last time I saw this was on a JC Whitney VW replacement. Why not circlips?

Flaps10 found a foil seal, as in "your coolant jug has not been opened," in a cooland passage. Yikes. Well ya gotta trust, I guess.

Finally, I do not know the piston material, but probably cast, making sense for this stock engine, but a risk for those considering turbo or supercharging. Flaps10 did not mention any crack detection done at his engine shop. It would be good to know if any of the parts underwent magnaflux or "zyglo" (aluminum) testing.

These comments are meant to coax readers to look around this form and push their knowledge. Lots of good stuff. None of this blather has diminished my great interest in the Boxster. I hope to own one someday.

[Bdrude]

I am about to roll over 160K Miles in my 98 Boxster. Other than the occasional airbag light I have had no major issues. Drive it hard and often!

[Abettinger]

Good morning,
I am brand new here and have been searching for a Boxter S...I've found 2 of them and could use insight...

Boxter 1 is an '05 with 32,500 miles on it. It has all the options on it - including the Chrono, PASM and 19" wheels. It is a manual transmission. It is advertised as always garaged, has all the service records and in excellent condition. The pictures look it as well and the price is reasonable. The question I have is regarding the use of the car...the first owner had it for 5,000 miles (1 year) and second owner for the balance of the time. The carfax that I ran shows a flywheel replacement at both 7,000 miles AND at 14,000 miles and it has had two sets of tires mounted according to records. it seems very strange to have the flywheel replaced twice so early... What advice would you give me regarding this car? Run, ask for more info - what? I will do a PPI on any car, but don't want to invest the extra unless it is a sound car in person and on paper first.

Car #2 is an '06 with 62,000 miles on it. It has the automatic w/ triptonic and is very nice looking inside & out. Not many options on it and it has 18" wheels. Drove it twice and enjoyed it, but the second time it had a system fault - return to workshop light show up in the dash...the carfax on this one shows multiple owners and the part about this one that is concerning is that the last 2 owners had it for 7 months to a year and it has ended up at local car dealerships and most recently was traded in at a Porsche dealer and then sent out to auction. I was all ready to send this one in for PPI, but something about it was not adding up.

[ravirv]

Just a thinking of i have a boxster it si so nice moment.It is for using the race.I will become a excellent racer.

[MISTER24HOURS]

love my boxster more than my acura nsx

[mikefocke]

Mike's web site is http://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/mikesporscheboxsterwebpages

[chooch]

Hi All, I'm new to the Boxster world. I am currently looking at a 2001 Boxster with 68,000 miles, one owner. Seems to be in perfect shape, what should I be looking for in terms of problems and can they be seen before I purchase ie IMS ?

[kjc2050]

Originally Posted by chooch

Hi All, I'm new to the Boxster world. I am currently looking at a 2001 Boxster with 68,000 miles, one owner. Seems to be in perfect shape, what should I be looking for in terms of problems and can they be seen before I purchase ie IMS ?

Did you read this thread? In any event, get a PPI done on any car you're considering.

[tonythetiger]

Originally Posted by kjc2050

Did you read this thread? In any event, get a PPI done on any car you're considering.

how much should a good PPI cost...is it recommended a dealer performs this?

Thanks