Thinking of buying a used Boxster, which one is the wiser choice?
 

Which one is the wiser choice? and why? Thx!

1) 2001 Base, manual, 61k miles = $10,500

2) 2002 S, auto, 37k miles = $14,000

3) 2003 Base, auto, 77k miles = $12,000

4) 2005 Base, manual, 101k miles = $15,000

5) 2004 S, manual, 36k miles = $18,000

6) 2006 S, auto, 50k miles = $24,500 (hardtop, HID, rear parking sensor & BOSE)

IMO wait for a Boxster S, manual but if you are picking from one above then my pick is # 2) 2002 S, auto, 37k miles = $14,000

# 2 if you had to pick from the above list. I have a 2003 S with a Tiptronic and it is great. 2003 is the first year with the glass window in the soft top. Something to consider.

You want the S.

Thinking of buying a used Boxster, which one is the wiser choice?
 

I'd stay clear of the 100k on unless the price is cheaper. There's no way I'd buy an automatic unless you need to eat your breakfast or put makeup on in your car. I'd get the base model out of those options, but make sure it's mechanically sound. If you don't know how to drive stick or like to fuss with your hair in the mirror, get low mileage S.
More importantly, find a model first that is your favorite color ....my biggest regret is not buying a silver with red interior, or maybe that light seal green... My black is a POS to keep clean, and heats up to 200 degrees in the sun, making washing it a challenge. Keep shopping until you find the one. It's worth the wait and maybe a little extra cash if need be.
Second, make sure it's mechanically sound, documented, and well cared for. A lot of posers buy them and drive them like an appliance, without taking the time to are for them properly. I'm always shocked by the number of new Porsche going through auto care washes. Don't buy some else's problems.

05 Base has as many horsepower as the 02 S. It all depends on what other options it has.

1) You're wrong, but I'll grant you they're getting close.

2) It's not all about HP. I'm certain if you super imposed the torque curve of the 2.7 over that of the 3.2 on a graph, it'd be pretty clear which car would be more fun to drive...

Also, I respectfully say that all stock Boxsters are under powered, it's just that the S's from year to year are less so...

Choose wisely which might mean being patient. Find one that is well cared for meaning routine maintenance has been done. Then once you find one in that has been maintained and is in the color you want, go get a PPI(pre-purchase inspection) from a shop that knows Porsche's. There are lots of good Boxsters out there but there are also a lot that are not so good. There are no "cheap" Boxsters.

I would go for the 01 manual, the mileage is not bad and the price is decent. If you are looking for performance the 01 base would out perform the auto 3.2 and be a lot more fun to drive. The 05 base would out perform them all but the price and mileage is the downside.

Thanks for the replies so far, and found the 5th option;

5) 2004 S, manual, 36k miles = $18,000

Go see if you can negotiate it down. My 2001 S was listed at $18,500. Final price was $13,750. Again though, decide on the color/options that you want, find a good example, get a PPI and then negotiate. Just my .02 cents.

One more

6) 2006 S, auto, 50k miles = $24,500 (hardtop, HID, rear parking sensor & BOSE)

Make sure you get one with the options you want - auto trans/tiptronic vs. manual.
Try both. Heated seats? I like lower mileage cars. Try several cars and of course a PPI(prepurchase in inspection) before you commit or walk. Do not be in a hurry. It is a buyer's market.Receipts for work done helps.Accident damage?

My biggest regret was not saving up the extra cash for the Boxster S as recommended in the Video below.

Porsche boxter fifth gear - YouTube

That one had the dreaded broken "B" on the rear badging.

Just make sure that it's speed yellow !

Well spotted Bruce.

for 18k, get Paul's 3.6 Boxster

I'm sensitive to that since mine had it too, but not anymore:D I just fixed it a couple of weeks ago!

Mine needs replacing as well.
Did you do it yourself?

Just get the right color and enjoy...believe it or not, depending on how the car was maintained, a well maintained base can feel/be stronger than an S that was neglected.

Again, mileage is not necessarily a nemesis if the car has good documentation and maintenance.

Yes. Pretty simple, lay down some painters tape to mark the current position. Use dental floss to gently saw it off. Put the car in the sun first to loosen up the glue. Once off, clean up with some spirits. Then peel and stick! You are done:cheers:

For the relative newbies, please explain what the Broken "B" is, and why it is dreaded.

DBear

04 S would be the one to get.. What color?

Here is a picture of my broken "B", sorry, I don't have an updated picture of the fix.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1364312696.jpg

You can see how the bottom of the B is broken.

I think it is impossible to tell without actually seeing the cars and, if they pass your visual inspection and test-drive, a good PPI. Only a close inspection can tell you about prior body damage; heck, even a number of small door/fender dings and paint scratches can detract significantly from the appearance and value of the car. You also need to look at prior maintenance records: oil changes at intervals shorter than recommended by the factory are not only a good sign, but something which most believe will result in reduced risk of IMS bearing falirure, etc. Furthermore, especially as one approaches around 60,000 miles, a number of components can need replacement - e.g., the water pump, serpentine belt, control arms, water reservoir, clutch, MAF sensor, etc., etc. Have these already been replaced?

How hard was the car driven? A dealer can tell if it has been over-revved at some point and other visual clues can also help - are the rear tires showing excessive wear consistent with burn-out starts, how does the clutch/shifter/transmission feel/ is there a history of early clutch replacement? What about the rims - do they show excessive scuffs and scrapes, consistent with careless operation? How does the owner present? Is he/she a knowledgeable Porsche fan, or some young kid who knows nothing about them but bought one because it was a chick magnet? And where has the car been serviced and with what type of parts? Has it been serviced at a recognized Porsche shop, or by some unkown mechanic who has muddled his way through?

On the debate concerning years and the 2.7 versus the 3.2, I would pay much less attention to this than the condition and maintenance history. Yes the S has more horse power, torque and another gear in their manual transmissions. However, my 2000 2.7 has plenty enough power and torque for my purposes. I am still able to exceed our legal speed limit in second gear and have no interest in engaging in stoplight grand prix behavior. Of course, in the past I owned sports cars that were clearly underpowered (including a couple of Fiat x/19's), but loved them nonethless because of the handling and precision. In that regard, it is worth noting that while the glass window of the 2003 and later Boxsters was more practical, it also added a significant amount of weight precisely where you don't want it - high up! Remember, even in Formula 1 cars, the small amount of fuel burned per lap reduces weight sufficiently to reduce lap times by about 1/10th of a second - and that is weight that is carried very low in the car!

My suggestion is that you purchase the car in the best condition with the best maintenance history and which has a colour scheme/options that you can not only live with, but enjoy over the period of ownership.

Good luck!

Brad

Thanks guys for all the inputs... I'll take my time to find the "one" but it seems like most of them are above the Edmunds.com price :cool:



Silver and was sold today before I can go take a look this weekend (2 hrs drive)

Would it be a good idea to go with a 1999 Carrera 4 coupe with 110k miles for $15.5k instead of a 2003 Boxster base 77k miles for $10.5k? Both happened to be auto.