Shortlived Boxster engines survey

[rick3000]

Originally Posted by Sikedsyko

This is a very scary thread for someone looking to buy an older boxster. anyone have any conclusions about the 2000 model boxster and it's failure rate?

No one has a definitive conclusion or percentage of failures for any year.
But I will remind you that for every post here about an engine failure there are probably a few thousand Boxster owners that never had a problem and therefore never sought a solution on the internet, and posted here about how few problems they have.

There have been over 200,000 Boxsters sold and this entire forum maybe mentions about 100 individual engine failures. I'm not saying it can't happen, but it doesn't happen that often (knock on wood).

[Sikedsyko]

Originally Posted by rick3000

There have been over 200,000 Boxsters sold and this entire forum maybe mentions about 100 individual engine failures. I'm not saying it can't happen, but it doesn't happen that often (knock on wood).

My problem is I'm one of those people that when I try to go out on a limb and do something I probably shouldn't ie. buy a Porsche, Murphy's law kicks in and I get screwed.

[gschotland]

Originally Posted by Sikedsyko

My problem is I'm one of those people that when I try to go out on a limb and do something I probably shouldn't ie. buy a Porsche, Murphy's law kicks in and I get screwed.

If you're making such a big financial stretch just to buy the car, then you probably shouldn't buy. Spend a lot of time reading this forum. This site is also very helpful if you're in the market: http://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/mikesporscheboxsterwebpages

Take time to educate yourself and go in with your eyes wide open. I did and my ownership experience has been great. I can't think of any car I'd rather have for the $; the Boxster's a phenomenal value. The IMS bearing failure issue made me nervous too, so when my car was ready for a clutch I got the bearing retrofit at the same time. I agree the problem is totally over-hyped, but now I sleep a lot better.

If you have some basic mechanical skills and are willing to learn, you'll be amazed at how much you can do yourself - and how much of a dent that will make in your maintenance costs. Being able to work on the car and solve problems gives me a lot of satisfaction, enhancing my ownership experience. If you've got to run to a dealer or mechanic every time you have a little problem or require maintenance, it's going to get pricey. I leave only the hard jobs for the pros.

[Quickurt]

Originally Posted by gschotland

If you're making such a big financial stretch just to buy the car, then you probably shouldn't buy. Spend a lot of time reading this forum. This site is also very helpful if you're in the market: http://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/mikesporscheboxsterwebpages

Take time to educate yourself and go in with your eyes wide open. I did and my ownership experience has been great. I can't think of any car I'd rather have for the $; the Boxster's a phenomenal value. The IMS bearing failure issue made me nervous too, so when my car was ready for a clutch I got the bearing retrofit at the same time. I agree the problem is totally over-hyped, but now I sleep a lot better.

If you have some basic mechanical skills and are willing to learn, you'll be amazed at how much you can do yourself - and how much of a dent that will make in your maintenance costs. Being able to work on the car and solve problems gives me a lot of satisfaction, enhancing my ownership experience. If you've got to run to a dealer or mechanic every time you have a little problem or require maintenance, it's going to get pricey. I leave only the hard jobs for the pros.

Great advice. I spent alot of time on here and Rennsport's site, just lurking reading and studying and decided to take another friend's advice and use the cash I was going to use to buy an 03 or 04 S and used it down (55%) to buy an 06 S with certification from Porsche. It was more expensive than an extended warranty, but I have a much newer and nicer car, IMO, and no worries of an aftermarket warranty actually coming thru if really needed. I may end up being wrong (if it could only be the first time! ), but I think 987s are having fewer issues, also.

[Jake Raby]

Being able to buy a Porsche is much different than being able to afford owning the car.
if you don't have the budget to replace an engine or do preventive upgrades, this isn't the car for you.

We see people all the time who have to second mortgage their house or get a line of credit from the bank to afford our engine work and repair procedures. Those people should not have purchased the car. I hate to say that, but its the truth.

[gregwils]

Originally Posted by rick3000

No one has a definitive conclusion or percentage of failures for any year.
But I will remind you that for every post here about an engine failure there are probably a few thousand Boxster owners that never had a problem and therefore never sought a solution on the internet, and posted here about how few problems they have.

There have been over 200,000 Boxsters sold and this entire forum maybe mentions about 100 individual engine failures. I'm not saying it can't happen, but it doesn't happen that often (knock on wood).

I don't disagree that this thread makes it seem like every other person has had an IMS failure. On the other hand, I don't think you can ratio based on forum posts. I have been on lots of other forums (other makes) and it is very unusual to see this volume of engine failures. It's probably safe to agree that IMS failures are a real problem for Porsche. There was a great article in Excellence on the M96 engine listing it's strengths and weaknesses.

I would suggest to current and potential owners of M96 engine (2000+) who are concerned to just install the upgraded bearing from Raby on LN, then you're risk of an catastrophic engine failure probably isn't much greater than a Honda or Toyota. RMS can still be a problem.