should I buy this 1997 Boxster?

[dirkdiggler]

Thanks for the reply

But if I can get the car for $4400...... would that be a good enough deal to offset the leaks and other issues? I have a buddy that runs his own shop that should be able to do the RMS, IMS and clutch I assume ..... or do most shops not have the proper tools to work on Porsche??

I assume the oil leak is the rear main seal ..... sorta like oil is everywhere..... or could it be a leaky or loose oil hose?? If it was a RMS wouldnt the oil just sorta seep downward and not be everywhere?

the issues with the top dont bother me all that much, I have no problem getting out of the car and lifting the top up and down manually.

Pic attached of the leakage

[dirkdiggler]

also, maybe a stupid question but I will ask anyway.

The main leak at the tranny/enigne join seems to be coming from up above somewhere...... maybe below also but I think its leaking up top and leaking downward.

Any way something else can leak above and be miss-diagnosed as RMS/IMS??

when a RMS or IMS leaks ...... does it shoot oil out all over the surrounding area or would it just leak at the base of wear the tranny meet the engine?

Dose this make sense?

[JTP]

This may seem like a good deal but from the description it sounds like it's in rough shape and likely will turn into a money pit, quickly. What kind of maintenance has been documented? Oil leaks in the areas you described are not good signs. And the rest of the car doesn't sound like it was owned by an enthusiast. By the time you do the clutch, RMS, IMSR, tires, brakes, control module, and top you're propably close to an additional 4k into the car. Save on labor if you do most of it yourself. Not having seen the car in person, I would not recommend this car. Better to apply that 4k to a better maintained vehicle. But if you're confident you can tackle all the potential problems have fun with it and learn.

If you had the resources to turn this into a track car or buy a Jake Raby built engine, I'd say negotiate the price some more and get it.

[ekam]

People need to realize Porsches are not Hondas... if stuff breaks even if you fix it yourself, parts will cost you.

I see early model 986 as a $13-15k car... if you paid $9000 to buy it, it probably needs another $4k to fix. If it's $4k then you're probably going to spend more, a lot more to get it close to $13-15k.

Just ask our resident member RandallNeighbour...

[dirkdiggler]

I appreciate the input thus far fellas

How many hours is a RMS...IMS...and Clutch Job?? This is my main concern regarding the car of-course.

Should any competent mechanic that runs his own shop be able to tackle this repair process on a boxster? My buddy is a good mechanic but just wondering if there are things related too this repair that he may not be able to accomplish?

He is out of town right now so I am not really able to ask him questions and I am on a time crunch to buy this car if I want it. I have till today to decide if I want it for $4200 now.

Just trying to figure out what a buddy mechanic price might be for the RMS/IMS/clutch job a car should be........ someone must have had a friend do these repairs for them at one time or another?? $300 labor....$500 labor.....$1000 labor??????? He is a buddy but isnt going to do it for free if you know what I mean.

also what am I looking spending for just parts?

Sachs Clutch = $400
IMS = ??
RMS = ???
OIL change = $100
tranny fluid change = $100




when a RMS or IMS leaks ...... does it shoot oil out all over the surrounding area or would it just leak at the base of wear the tranny meet the engine?

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by ekam

People need to realize Porsches are not Hondas... if stuff breaks even if you fix it yourself, parts will cost you.

I see early model 986 as a $13-15k car... if you paid $9000 to buy it, it probably needs another $4k to fix. If it's $4k then you're probably going to spend more, a lot more to get it close to $13-15k.

Just ask our resident member RandallNeighbour...

Well, then, that makes me not feel all that bad about what I paid for my '97.

[pothole]

Personally, if I was buying this kind of car, I would want the overall cost to come in well, WELL under the price of a sound example needing no immediate work, both in terms of having a little leeway in case unexpected costs appear and also because it's a hassle, so you it it to come at a discount. It's the sort of thing that I think rarely adds up but can make sense with models that are fundamentally robust. Boxsters are fragile even when pampered - that's the worry.

If you could pick the car up for a couple of thousand, that leaves you with quite a lot of budget to work with.

[Gougoushu]

I'll take a dissenting view from the other writers here and say you should grab it -- especially if you can take the car to a good independent Porsche shop that can tell you what the source of the oil is. And especially if you really like the car. $4400 is a good deal.

I bought a car with some of the same issues [water, brake pad & rotor replacement, top manual-only], and was able to get the repairs done for reasonable cost. Via the internet, you'll learn soon where to find used parts, acceptable aftermarket parts and how to work on the car.

A car is always a pig in a poke. As we read in nearly every thread here, the IMS failure & RMS issues and risks are present in nearly every 986 & 987 that hasn't had an upgrade. So this car is no different. All used cars need regular maintenance and replacement of parts.

The water issue will recur unless you either correct the leak or keep it out of the rain. Can you store the car in a covered place? If not, pick up a car cover on ebay. Also, it's unlikely a heat gun will eliminate the water, due to the thick, heavy foam that traps it under the carpets. The carpet must be removed and dried. Sounds like the computer can be saved, but you must remove that and dry it out. Fortunately in my car the computer was dry.