Is A Boxster Too Big Of A Risk

[Brucelee]

One issue with risk is to understand the consequences of an adverse event. If the event can take you out of the game, you look at it one way.

If it is only annoying, you look at it another.


This is tied to your financial circumstances. If a blown engine will devastate you, you might want to reconsider.

Either way, owning a used Box is not like owning a used Honda.

You decide and good luck.

[Mauiboxster]

I have to say i feel good about owning one with so many miles on it. I feel like it is already past the breaking point. Thanks everyone. I will be on here everyday posting and learning about my new toy. thanks John

[vath2001]

Originally Posted by Mauiboxster

I have to say i feel good about owning one with so many miles on it. I feel like it is already past the breaking point. Thanks everyone. I will be on here everyday posting and learning about my new toy. thanks John

Naw, its not past the breaking point. Something going to break. Starter, water pump, alternator, micro switch in the top..... something. These aren't Honda's. Porsche makes a nice car, but the long term durability of the components is not world class. Having said that, I still enjoy it more than my last Honda.

[rick3000]

^ What are you basing that on? Every car made requires that you replace the parts you listed at some point. A Porsche will definitely cost more to maintain, and it may need replacements a bit sooner, but it's not like you will be replacing things 2-3 times more than on another car. The maintenance schedule is roughly the same for most cars. (with the exception of the Boxster eating rear tires)

There a people driving Boxsters with well over 150k-200k miles on the original engine, and all they have had to deal with is routine maintenance.

[stephen wilson]

The 986 has some proven "weak spots" that may in fact need to be changed 2-3 times more frequently than other cars, the water pump is one of them.

[Perfectlap]

If you've got the cash and don't like to worry at night just upgrade the IMS bearing unit with the one sold by the forum sponsor flat 6 innovations.
I wouldn't wait for the clutch to wear out if you are a worrier. Take it to your local Porsche specialist and git er done. You'll have a new nicely working clutch good for another 10 years and you'll have reduced the possibility of having to cough up $15K for a new egine job. Avoiding that possibility is worth more to me than trying to squeeze some more life out of the ageing clutch. Doing just the RMS (no clutch) I think is about a $1200 job. Maybe less if they've done a few and are efficient.
They say its rare for the IMS to wreck the engine but just on this board I can count four that have occurred (two by the same forum member) to existing forum members, meaning they were posting before the catastrophe and not because of it.

[rick3000]

The original plastic fin water pumps tended to break, but once you replace it with the metal fin water pump they last just as long as any other car. The Boxster has its problem areas but a $400 water pump is hardly a reason not to buy such a fun car.

If you want to worry, go ahead and worry. I'll be out enjoying my Boxster while you do.

I think this sums it up nicely:
http://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/problemareas

[vath2001]

I base my statements on a Civic that had 190 on it before the front tires started to fall off. No starter, no water pump, no switches, most of the light bulb were still factory.
My Acura went 150, but it needed more "stuff"... motor mount, calipers, etc.

Porsche durability is well noted in the transcripts of this forum. Its a great car... but expect more maintenance and replacement. Not sure who said it, but one of our members suggested to put away $100 a month for Boxster maintenance. A very good idea, which I susbscibe too.

[RandallNeighbour]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

The 986 has some proven "weak spots" that may in fact need to be changed 2-3 times more frequently than other cars, the water pump is one of them.

...don't forget lower front control arms. Those seem to go out all too quickly.

(while we're piling on)