should I buy this 1997 Boxster? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

RandallNeighbour · 07-23-2010, 07:56 AM

THE CHEAPEST BOXSTER YOU FIND AND BUY WILL BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE CAR YOU HAVE EVER OWNED.

... and your wife or girlfriend or parents and buddies will remind you of this every freaking day.

Save more money and buy a 2003 or newer model S and you will be far happier with your decision.

dirkdiggler · 07-23-2010, 08:59 AM

Thanks

I really like the car alot but am also very nervous. Its a blast to drive.

I went to start it this morning and it would not turn over or start ....... took heat gun too the electrical box again ........... and was able to get it started and running.

It idled a little rough and the check engine light came on and was blinking/flashing for about 40 seconds and then just stayed illuminated solid.

I just took it too autozone to have them run the codes.

apparently every cylinder 1-6 has a Miss-fire now and a oxygen sensor code also.

Im assuming the electrical box may be beyond saving and is causing the miss-fires and "check engine light too flash and then stay on ........... I dont know for sure.

Im going to see if the guy will take $3k for the car considering a new electrical box will need to be bought ...... for sure I think...... dont want to be left stranded becasue the electrical box issue.

Do these car typically have a sorta high pitch "exhaust note" sound at idle??

Perfectlap · 07-23-2010, 09:37 AM

don't ever buy a Porsche as project car if you don't realize you are buying a project car.

I just spent $6K on major maintenace with a barely any upgrades on my pampered 10 year old Boxsters with 69K miles. And that was with small shop rates and I still have to do the shocks ($2K).
Driving a 10+ year old Porsche will cost you at least $10K. You can pay now or later but you will pay.

unklekraker · 07-23-2010, 10:25 AM

dirk, let me introduce myself first..my name is Gerry and I don't know much anything about car or about our Boxster except for putting the key to the ignition, drive it and bring to the indy shop that I trust to do all the maintenance work and other stuff..for short, I just drive, put gas and detail it every 6 months or when season change.

with that said...just reading thru all the things you've been finding out in the car, scares me

IMHO...I won't touch it, even for $3K but that's me.

listen to Randall and PL..they've got experience about fixing our Boxster on their own pocket.

RandallNeighbour · 07-23-2010, 10:28 AM

Dirk, it's too painful to read what I know is going to be a nightmare decision on your part. I am going to click the "submit reply" button on this thread comment and then remove myself from the comment tracking on it so I am not forced to relive the ********************-storm of repairs and problems I encountered when I bought a Boxster that was in even better running condition than the one you seem to be working overtime to justify purchasing.

I'm rarely this forward with new forum members, but I just gotta put it out there for what it's worth.

dirkdiggler · 07-23-2010, 11:00 AM

I know what you guys are saying ..... I was just hoping that any decent condition Porsche for $3k-$4k would be a killer deal that shouldnt be passed up.

Its just so fun to drive that I really really want it..... but the issues it has are abundant.

................. I would think for $3k I could part it out for more than that even if the motor blew up??

unklekraker · 07-23-2010, 11:19 AM

dirk, im saying this very nicely without bashing you or anything, ok? but it looks like you have made your decision already.

Good luck, buddy! Just remember, the forum is here when you end up buying it

dirkdiggler · 07-23-2010, 11:25 AM

If you guys were me .... would you buy for $3k??

dirkdiggler · 07-25-2010, 02:12 PM

The more replies I read, the more nervous I am becoming. :-(......

I do really love the way the car looks, drives and sounds ...... and now that I am older and too much of a sissy to drive sport-bikes any-longer ..... I really need a convertible sports car.

Anyone else ever had the check engine light flash for a little while and then stay light solid??

Is it possible that the water logged failing Computer under the seat can cause the check engine light to flash.

Im just trying to see what has caused this to happen on other peoples bosxters??

If I do get the car.....which at this point is a 50/50, I will be having the RMS, IMS and clutch replaced asap ........ Thinking that may cost $1500-ish? Buddy said he can do the labor for around $700-ish.

is the IMS bearing part itself real expensive??

JTP · 07-25-2010, 05:20 PM

Go read about IMS failures, Retrofit kits and installation instructions on LN Engineering and Flat6Innovation's websites. I don't recall exactly but I think it's around $650 for the retrofit kit.
If I was to do it over, I would not have bought my Boxster knowing what I know now even though my car has been relatively trouble free. There are just too many issues with it. I do love how the car drives and looks though.

husker boxster · 07-25-2010, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirkdiggler

I do really love the way the car looks, drives and sounds ......

Anyone else ever had the check engine light flash for a little while and then stay light solid??

Is it possible that the water logged failing Computer under the seat can cause the check engine light to flash.

There could be a myriad of reasons for the CEL. You can be certain you'll need to replace the computer (not impressive to your date when you pull out a hair dryer to start it). You could also have bad O2 sensors messing things up. Or it could be something else that will manifest itself after you've done these two replacements. The thing is, you can spend a pile of bucks chasing it.

You keep saying you love the way this box looks, drives and sounds. Other boxs will give you that same feeling without having that sucking sound of money flying out of your wallet.

Let me ask you - what are you able to afford? Is your budget only $4K so you think you can afford this box on a budget? Check out past posts about maintenance and you'll find wise owners of older boxs annually put $1500 into a maintenance fund. Spending your entire allotment for a problem child box is really going to send you upside down. If you can't afford a $9K box, you better wait or become friendly with a banker. If you think this $3K box is going to be cheap, you're in for a surprise. By the time you get done fixing everything, you'll have at least $7K invested. If you repair as you can afford it, you'll be driving this box in a couple of yrs but by then nice boxs will be worth $7K.

Pat · 07-23-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

don't ever buy a Porsche as project car if you don't realize you are buying a project car.

I just spent $6K on major maintenace with a barely any upgrades on my pampered 10 year old Boxsters with 69K miles. And that was with small shop rates and I still have to do the shocks ($2K).
Driving a 10+ year old Porsche will cost you at least $10K. You can pay now or later but you will pay.

How does "doing shocks" equate to $2,000? Buying OEM units and paying to have them installed?
The whole RoW kit can be had for $1,100 at your door.

husker boxster · 07-23-2010, 12:27 PM

Where in the USA do you live? This can't be the only Box in a 500 mi radius. You'll like a well maintained, clean Box just as much as this one (I was going to say POS, but that wouldn't be nice). There are plenty for sale. Do some research before you toss $4K right out the window. There can't be a lot of buyers lining up for this one so there shouldn't be a need to act quickly. Calm down and look around.

Don't fall in love with the first one you see / drive. Randall and LB are trying to let you in on their experience. You were wise to come here and ask questions before buying. Now be doubley smart and listen to them.

This car has the makings of a good track car, that's all. Look for something else that is nice. You'll enjoy it more.

Good luck with your decision. Choose wisely, grasshoppa.

ekam · 07-23-2010, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat

How does "doing shocks" equate to $2,000? Buying OEM units and paying to have them installed?
The whole RoW kit can be had for $1,100 at your door.

$1100 plus installation and 4 wheel alignment? Maybe he's going for PSS9? Perhaps he also needs new drop links as well?

Pat · 07-23-2010, 12:55 PM

He just said shocks. Doesn't make much sense to me, but I suppose with really nice shocks and labor it could be that much.

backman_z · 07-23-2010, 01:22 PM

My 2 cents.

The question you need to ask yourself is "Am I a gear head?" Do you fix, repair and do your own maintenance on your current cars? Do you like getting your hands dirty and greasy? Do you like scraped knuckles? If not, run, because paying someone else to fix this will be far more expensive then the price you paid for the car.

I can and like to work on my own cars, but with young kids and a wife, I choose not to work on them (when the kids are old enough to lean, I will re-start). I waited until I got a good Boxster, and it was checked out at a Porsche dealer before I bought it. I am very happy that I did. I have not had any problems, except for a recent problem with the ignition switch (the dealer I got it from is going to pay for the repair).

Fluellen · 07-26-2010, 05:38 PM

Dirk,

My opinion on this car: view it as a roller parts car. 3K seems to be a good deal for a roller. Drive it until the engine pops. Then sell it for parts. You'll probably break even, and if you are lucky you get several months, perhaps a year, of driving enjoyment out of it. View that as a bonus.

DO NOT put money into it, trying to restore it... you will not get that money back. There is too much wrong with this car to justify fixing things. Don't fix the RMS. Don't install new shocks. Don't retrofit the IMS. Make sure the brakes and seat belts work

Remember, it's a parts car that also happens to run and drive.

Of course, just my opinion.

Perfectlap · 07-26-2010, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fluellen

Dirk,

Make sure the brakes and seat belts work

that just made me laugh out loud.

dirkdiggler · 07-26-2010, 06:40 PM

I am not 100% sure if it is even the RMS leaking becasue it appears to be coming from the upper part of the motor and leaking down and getting on alot of stuff..... I assume if the RMS or IMS is leaking it would only leak from the lower area where the tranny meets the motor .... correct?

I looked in my area and 200 mile radius and all the boxsters i find are $9500 and up and have way more miles and dont mention anything about having the IMS updated......which means more money to put in.

The Body on this car is not perfect by any means but to be honest I almost prefer it that way ............ if I get door dings and scratches I will not care as much becasue it wasnt perfect to begin with.

Budget:

buy car for $3k-$4k

RMS = $45
IMS = $550
Clutch = $400
- Labor = $800

Security computer thing under seat = $500 .... assuming I cant dry it out real good and save it.

2 used tires = $150 on craigslist
or
set of 17 inch rims with tires = can most likely find pretty cheap

Brake pads i can do myself for not too much $$

Just buying it and figuring out the computer situation so it will start consistently and driving it as is doesn't sound like a bad idea at this point either.

HDManny · 07-26-2010, 07:18 PM

It does look like the gap between the hood and bumper are not even but it's hard to tell from that angle. I thought there was a goose egg size dent in the right rear fender on top also. I guess you could just clean it, make sure it's safe to drive and go for it without spending any money for it you did not need to. I would wait and save so that I could buy one in better shape, but that's just me.