Considering 2001 boxster
 

Hi all,

I'm hoping to be a new boxster owner in the very near future. I spoke to a seller, and he mentioned that he drove his car once a week on Sundays only. He said, there is a little bit of oil underneath the car, but he still drives it and it drives well. Is this a sign that I should stay away? Or do you think it's still worth taking it to a mechanic to check it out?

Thanks,
Mike.

A little oil under the car should not be a deal killer by itself. It might be something minor like a Rear Main Seal (RMS) leak or old spark plug tubes/o-rings which are quite common and not a big deal unless its losing a lot of oil.

On the other hand, it could be something more serious so having a good PPI (pre-purchase inspection) is key to knowing exactly what you're getting into.

A good PPI is the best $300 that you'll ever spend.

Thanks for the response! There's a '99 that is clean underneath for the same price. Do you think the '99 would be a better buy? I read that the 2.5 and 2.7 really isn't THAT much different.

Personally the first 3 years I would stay away from...look at 2000 and up. Drive and S model and you will never want a base.:cheers:

I did drive a 2002 S, and it's really quick. For Toronto traffic, you'll almost never make use of that power. It's hard for me to justify the cost difference.

Nothing inherrently wrong with an early base model but the 2000's and up did have a few minor upgrades. The difference in HP between a 2.5 and a 2.7 isn't huge but its still noticable.

I'd suggest that you drive a 2.5, a 2.7, and an S model so you can make a decision based on your own preferences.

Thanks again for the response.

I've made contact with a couple other sellers, and it's amazing how all the boxster owners that I've talked to have never heard of the IMS issues before. Leads me to believe this issue is completely overblown.

You may find an S that doesn't cost more than a comparable base. Lots of Boxsters out there. I got an S for what I think was a minimal premium if any over comparable bases. Very happy that I got the S.

I agree with you, certainly does not appear to be an issue over here, with the fellow Coxster owners I mix with. (however I might just touch wood as I type this)