Advice on buying my first boxster - 2001 for $19,500

[husker boxster]

Because of its age, not mileage, you should find out if the following have been replaced:

antifreeze
brake fluid

If these items haven't been changed, they will need to be. Brake pads don't need to be changed because of age but chances are if they have 30K mi on them they will need changing too. CAUTION on antifreeze - don't put any old antifreeze in a Porsche. Be sure it's the proper antifreeze for Porsches or you could cause tremedous damage to your engine. There are past threads on this topic and you can find them by using the search feature.

As far a price goes, $19 - $19.5 might be a good price but it's hard to say. What options does it have? If it's loaded with options, then it could be a bargain. Conv prices dip during the winter and rebound in spring. Maybe people are starting to bump up their prices now that spring is approaching. The lower prices of Jan may be gone.

You say you've been looking for 4 months - good for you. If that's the case, you should have a feel whether it's a fair price or not. Besides, if it's the color and options you've been searching diligently for, then what difference does it make if you pay a little extra for it? The satisfaction of getting what you want vs living with a bargain are obvious.

Good luck with your pursuit of a Porsche.

[gmboxster]

Only two small pictures but it looks like a beautiful car ! If the PPI comes back clean, go for it. Have fun and let us know what you decide.

[racer_d]

Its a seven year old car. Even if the 30K was done, I would consider a serpentine belt replacement. When was the 30K service done? If she only drives a few K miles/year, then its been 3 years? Might be time to "re-baseline" some of this stuff again. Nearing 40K miles brake pads may be of concern. My clutch started to feel "questionable" around 45K miles.

To me, the car looks really nice.. Does it have the options you want?

I would take a minute and check under the front trunk lid for the build code sticker to really see what it has for options.

Also plug what you know into KBB, NADA or EDMUNDS. They seem to be realistic. Remember, housing crunch, debt issues, rising gas prices.. it is a buyers market in the world of un-necessary goods and a Boxster isn't quite a necessity . Also, I've started to see some higher mileage "S"s in that price range and around here, everyone says its worth getting an S

[icedude]

I agree with you. A few thousand miles per year means it's been a few years since the 30k maintenance. I was also concerned about brakes. How much is the serpentine belt and can I do it myself? Also, how much realistically is it for a good PPI?

[tboyer]

Nice looking 01, blue is a great Boxster color. Outside of the normal tips for purchasing (PPI, maintenance records, etc....etc....) think about whether a base Boxster with standard gear will make you happy over the long term. Modifying from the standard headlamps to litronics (for example) is expensive. Thinking about the extra HP from an "S" after you purchase your 2.7 liter sucks, trust me, I purchased a base and sold it for an S three months into ownership. It's all about preference, personally, I look for those expensive mods before instead of later.

Price is reasonable for mileage, spring's on the way, you'll soon know what the term "perma-grin" means

[racer_d]

I'd budget $300 for a PPI. Perhaps more if you were having specialized tests done, such as an engine leakdown or compression checks. Some shops may even have a flat rate for a PPI since it is a popular thing for buyers to do, and all it ties up is about 1 hour for a tech to do.

The serpentine belt is rather inexpensive. Shops kill you with their "book rate labor". Despite its mid-engine location, the motor is pretty easy to access. Plus, you don't need to access it all that often. If you are willing to get a little dirty and have some time to read a manual (Bentley manuals are great) you could do it yourself.

Brake pads are another Do It Yourself job, especially if you buy a motive power bleeder. I'd be curious how long that brake fluid has been in the car. If more than 2 years, it needs to be flushed out. Brake fluid attracts moisture, and moisture ruins the fluid's properties, plus causes corrosion within the brake system.

I am not sure what Porsche charges for a 30K miles service, but $1500-$2K, depending on what else they "find wrong" wouldn't suprise me.

[hjkim550]

Originally Posted by racer_d

I am not sure what Porsche charges for a 30K miles service, but $1500-$2K, depending on what else they "find wrong" wouldn't suprise me.

Make sure you read the various references in Nickcats thread for new buyers. PPI is a must. Just chiming in on how much 30K service costs. The three local Chicago Porsche dealers quoted a base of $800 - $1,200 as long as they did not have to replace anything. I got a good deal from a Porsche Specialist in the area for much cheaper - $375.

You can find a dependable Porsche mechanic in your area by looking at the long thread at the top of the general discussion.