POLL - Who is ON a warranty and who is OFF Warranty (risking it all)

[Samson]

I have a 2001 base 5-speed with 17k miles. No warranty. If the engine kills itself, we'll see how my finances are doing and how nice Porsche wants to be and go from there.

[Nineteen89]

This thread & thinking about IMS/RMS is really making me feel like I need to take a step back before purchasing a boxster... however I don't want to believe it 'cause this is the car I've been wanting forever now.

[stephen wilson]

I know how you feel, I'm in the same boat. I've decided to wait a year or so until I can afford an '06 (base) with an apparently stronger IMS design.
Steve

[Nineteen89]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

I know how you feel, I'm in the same boat. I've decided to wait a year or so until I can afford an '06 (base) with an apparently stronger IMS design.
Steve

I'm doing the same, right now a 333hp M3 is looking real good, especially because it doesn't carry as much of an exotic look as compared to the Porsche, I don't really need to extra attention given my current neighborhood, as much as I want a Porsche I'm trying to bring myself back down to reality since I'm a college student and don't really want the possibility of my motor blowing up on me, at 19 (almost 20) I see myself as having plenty of time to save up and buy a Porsche later on down the road either brand new or with a certified warranty in the future.

But in my eyes, BMW's styling is not timeless, it looks great now but won't look as good in 10 years. I can keep a Porsche for 20 and it'll look just as classic, in my opinion.

Sorry for getting off topic.

[johnsimion]

Originally Posted by Samson

I have a 2001 base 5-speed with 17k miles. No warranty. If the engine kills itself, we'll see how my finances are doing and how nice Porsche wants to be and go from there.

Mine is a 1999 base 5-speed with 15K miles and no warranty. Almost ditto to Samson. I was offered a warranty but it was almost $3000 for 3 years, so I declined. For that bet to pay off, there has to be a 20% chance of the engine blowing in the next three years ($15K x 20% = $3000). I figure the odds are much, much lower than that, and anyway the $3000 saved now can go towards a new engine -- if need be.

There have been hundreds of thousands of Boxsters produced, and yet I've only seen reports of a couple of hundred engines blowing up. I even checked the NHTSA and they only have 11 such reports. Porsche has NO such reports on the Better Business Bureau. Consumer Reports mostly rates the Boxster "Better Than Average" for major engine problems. My mechanic knows of "a couple" of engines that blew (in greater KC metro area, that's not many). I know if my engine blew up, EVERYBODY would be getting my complaints, and I can't be that much different from other people.

What I think is happening is this: a couple of hundred engines blowing up IS above average compared to, say, Toyota or Honda. If it is 1% of the total Boxster production, that actually is very BAD but statistically it's still a 99% chance of NO problems. So, I'm going to take my chances.

[thenavarro]

I have a 2001 Base Boxster, used to be a 2.7, now it's a 3.2 after my 2.7 spun a rod bearing. I'm going without a warranty right now. I did have an extended warranty with Warranty Direct that cost me about $3,100 or so. It ended up paying out about $17,000 over the life of the warranty, although the last $12,970 something took about 14 months and arbitration for me to get.

Mike

[944boy]

2005 Base Bought in June
63,000 miles

No Warranty

I do all my work myself, If I get bored after my 944 is up and running I may even build a spare flat-6 just for the hell of it.

[coreseller]

2002 Boxster S , 35k miles, no warranty. If it blew, I'd likely part it out or leave it in the garage to look at while parked next to the C6 ZO6. She's pretty fun and all, my practical side says I could never bring myself to drop $20k into it, just wouldn't make sense to me.

[cvhs18472]

98 Tip with 65K. Bought it with 22K on the clock and turned down a 3 year or 36K warantee for $3600. I am beyond the covered period and ahead $3600. That translates to more HP on the new engine which I would put in. Ed

[Topless]

98, 2.5, 5spd, 78k miles, no payments, no warranty, no fear. Very few unscheduled repairs in 3 1/2 yrs of ownership. I do my own diagnosis and some regular maintenance. My local Econolube does my oil changes now for 20 bux if I supply the oil, filter, crush ring. Not worth my trouble anymore. I also found a good local indy for wrenching stuff I don't care to do. Good to have another set of experienced eyes under the car once a year or so. I just can't stand dealer service.

My car is a weekend toy, joyride, track tool. If I had a serious engine failure there would be no time pressure to fix it so I will weigh my options if and when the time comes. I am over my lust for big horsepower so I may just do a Raby 2.5 spec rebuild and keep it stock. I must admit to taking a little twisted pleasure in driving around GT3s, TTs, 997s, and Vettes in my old, underpowered, POS 2.5L chick car. It is my fatal flaw.

[heyjae]

2000 Boxster S. 87,000 miles, probably 4,000+ in track miles since the warranty expired and no extended warranty. RMS 3 times and replaced the tranny while under warranty at about 45,000 miles and both have been solid ever since (knock on wood). I drive the car very hard and don't do any special maintenance other than more frequent brake bleeding, checking wheel bolts for tightness, etc. I worry more about safety failures and keeping it on the track sunny side up but ahead of the GT3's But if the engine fails, 3.4/3.6 conversion here I come.