I bought a 1998 Boxster 2.5, did I make a huge mistake??? - Page 2 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Mark_T · 03-25-2013, 11:10 AM

Depends where in Canada, but around here that wouldn't be an unreasonable asking price. You might have to settle for 18 or 19k if you want a quick sale in the spring.

thstone · 03-25-2013, 11:49 AM

Hah! Definitely not a mistake.

My 1999 has 126,000 miles on the original engine and IMS bearing. Runs perfect. If you're worried, replace the bearing.

Enjoy the car!

Topless · 03-25-2013, 01:02 PM

98-99 are probably the most reliable of the 986 series. Dual row IMS, better chain set, few overheat or oiling problems that later years face. 2-4% IMS failure rate. A garage queen with only 28k is actually at higher risk of failure than one driven daily though. Replacement 2.5 motors are plentiful at dismantlers for $3k or you could drop in a nice 3.4L for more and have Boxster Spyder equivalent performance.

Probably time to sell it to me now for $2k and avoid all that nastiness.

Perfectlap · 03-25-2013, 05:39 PM

I'd say you got a fair price. But theres not much wiggle room for the IMS upgrade, and any of the other pricey mods if youre looking to come out even on the flip.

Mileage isnt as much a consideration for the typical buyer as much as is year, engine size, pricey options, glass rear window,etc and for some things like location (no winter miles). But most important are records and whether it can pass a purchase inspection with flying colors. If youre freaking out about reliability take it to a porsche specialist for a full top to bottom inspection then youll know if you should be happy or should be concerned. No one here can tell you that for sure. And since your repairs fund is less than two years maintenance it would be in your interest to know what you may be facing. Id order an oil analysis after the first oil change from blackstone labs as well.

P.S.
Post some pics of the car. Its a 986forum tradition

Mark_T · 03-25-2013, 06:04 PM

You seem to be copping a bit of an attitude. People are trying to help you so maybe back off on the caps lock and listen to what you're being told, know what I'm sayin'?

You asked your question and you have several answers. Pick the one you like. If you think you made a mistake, then you made a mistake. If you're going to lose sleep worrying about mechanical failures, you made a mistake. If you can't afford a couple of grand a year for maintenance, you made a mistake. Given your limited budget, if you're not the type to learn to do your own repairs and maintenance then you made a mistake. These cars aren't for everyone, and maybe they're not for you.

Meat Head · 03-25-2013, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark_T

You seem to be copping a bit of an attitude. People are trying to help you so maybe back off on the caps lock and listen to what you're being told, know what I'm sayin'?

You asked your question and you have several answers. Pick the one you like. If you think you made a mistake, then you made a mistake. If you're going to lose sleep worrying about mechanical failures, you made a mistake. If you can't afford a couple of grand a year for maintenance, you made a mistake. Given your limited budget, if you're not the type to learn to do your own repairs and maintenance then you made a mistake. These cars aren't for everyone, and maybe they're not for you.

I'm copping an attitude lol. I've expressed my gratitude to all that have given me information (good or bad). I answered the person that kept brining up how much I estimated I could get for the car. I'm just going by KBB (that is what all local dealers use). Honestly I thought it was kind of rude to hijack the thread and start talking Boxster values lol (no big deal). That's the bad thing about the internet forums, things can be taken out of context.

Perfectlap · 03-25-2013, 06:27 PM

Actually you were the first to bring up the perceived market value of the car. After that people are going to offer their take on your take. Nothing unusual or rude about it. Par for the forum course.

Meat Head · 03-25-2013, 07:12 PM

My bad, I guess......I really didn't think anything about it. Everybody has been great with all the info that they have given thus far. Attitude was not intended lol.

Hey guys, keep all the info on the 1998 2.5 Boxster coming! It is a learning experience for me. I like to get as many opinions as possible.

desert_porsche · 03-25-2013, 10:43 PM

If it makes you feel better, I will air out my dirty laundry.

I joined this forum a couple of weeks ago because that's when I bought my '01 Boxster S with 30k miles for $19,500. Why so much? I'm the third owner, and I know both of the previous owners. I have full maintenance records showing oil changes every 5,000 miles. Spotless carfax. Brand new tires. To say it was well taken care of is an understatement; it looks MINT. The 12 year old flat black paint is flawless; you have to try hard to see a single swirl mark. I know the previous owner only washed it by hand with distilled water. It also has the must-have sport touring and design packages as well as the rare factory aerokit (that the original owner paid almost 7 grand for

)

I probably should have researched more, but I don't care. It was a good value to me because I would argue there is not an '01 Boxster S in better condition within a thousand miles. It makes me happy and that's all that matters.

Now replace that IMS bearing and drive the crap out of it

Topless · 03-25-2013, 11:30 PM

Lets see,
You bought a nearly mint $40k car for $10k and you are quivering and quaking about your purchase??

Grow a pair and drive the car... or not.

Meat Head · 03-26-2013, 04:02 AM

You are right. I need to quit worrying and just drive the car

! I just wanted as many opinions as possible about the IMS and other issues. The more input the better the statistical accuracy.

Thanks for all your expertise everyone. For the most part I feel pretty safe that my car isn't a ticking time bomb. I'm going to have the oil analyzed in the very near future.

I think I will wait for about a year before I do the IMSB replacement. This will allow the initial shock to my finances subside from the purchase of the car.

Thanks again everyone!

patssle · 03-26-2013, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desert_porsche

I joined this forum a couple of weeks ago because that's when I bought my '01 Boxster S with 30k miles for $19,500. Why so much? I'm the third owner, and I know both of the previous owners. I have full maintenance records showing oil changes every 5,000 miles. Spotless carfax. Brand new tires. To say it was well taken care of is an understatement; it looks MINT.

Same thing here. I bought a 01 S too for 18k. A bit more than I was planning (had some leads around 14k for similar cars). But this thing was PERFECT condition by an owner that probably cleaned the tire treads with a q-tip after every drive. I could probably search for months and not find one as well taken care of.

I basically got a new car with 48k miles. Doesn't get much better than that. Money isn't everything.

Steve Tinker · 03-25-2013, 09:24 PM

You've received about 30 replies to your initial question(s) - I don't think you are going to receive anything drastically different to what you've already read.....

paintboy · 03-26-2013, 04:39 AM

I would think you would be worried more about the seals on the engine and trans. A car of that age with that low miles tends to have issues with seal shrinkage from dry seals from lack of use. You might be one 5000 rpm rev from a main seal failing. This is more of a possibility on a 98 than the IMS failure. And if one seal goes, it would be foolish not to redo them all. You usually don't buy a 15 years old Porsche with out a $5000.00 war chest. HAVE A NICE DAY.

CoBeerToad · 03-26-2013, 05:13 AM

From what part of Indiana do you hail?

Meat Head · 03-26-2013, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoBeerToad

From what part of Indiana do you hail?

Small town in Southern Indiana about 20 miles north of Louisville Kentucky. We just won the 1A basketball state championship (Borden).

paintboy · 03-26-2013, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meat Head

Small town in Southern Indiana about 20 miles north of Louisville Kentucky. We just won the 1A basketball state championship (Borden).

This explains a lot....

CoBeerToad · 03-26-2013, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meat Head

Small town in Southern Indiana about 20 miles north of Louisville Kentucky. We just won the 1A basketball state championship (Borden).

That is south. Got some relatives that live on the other side of I-65 near Hanover right on the river. I always thought in my head that they were as far south as you could go in Indiana. I was a bit off.

Enjoy the ride. I just bought my '97 a year and a half ago. First P-car and first car that cost over $1000. Got to enjoy it through last "winter", if that's what you want to call it, the year before last. Now I just get to look at it in the garage for a couple more weeks.

Nimbus117 · 03-26-2013, 06:03 AM

I know the IMS discussion has been done to death but this was the best thread I have read:

Who has done an IMS change (New Oil Fed Design Idea) - Pelican Parts Technical BBS

Had my 2003 Boxster 2 years and (touch wood) had no issues with anything. I may get the IMS done when the clutch needs replacing but it certainly doesn't bother me driving it.

What is of more concern is the endless threads about the IMS, any potential new owners will be scared off as soon as they do some research on these forums. Still, far worse unsaleable cars out there to be stuck with.

Perfectlap · 03-26-2013, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nimbus117

Had my 2003 Boxster 2 years and (touch wood) had no issues with anything. I may get the IMS done when the clutch needs replacing but it certainly doesn't bother me driving it.

What is of more concern is the endless threads about the IMS, any potential new owners will be scared off as soon as they do some research on these forums. Still, far worse unsaleable cars out there to be stuck with.

disagree.

1. if they find out about the IMS issue online, they'll find out that it's just a simple parts swamp. I can't think of a single thread ever that didn't include a suggestion to simply do the LNE retrofit.

2. If your IMSB is wobbly, you have no real way of knowing if it will make it to the next clutch change. You might find large bits in the oil filter but at that point you're momments away from calamity. So it's a lottery that the oil change and IMS failure will coincinde at the exact same time. Putting off the IMS retrofit on a 2001-2005 Boxster until the clutch finishes wearing out seems like an attempt to save a few hundred bucks at the risk of losing much much more. If you're of the opinion that the threat is real there's nothing to be gained by putting it off. On the contrary if you do the IMS/clutch ahead of schedule you get all of the utility of a new clutch while crossing off one of the culprits of engine failure from your list.

That's really the irony of the IMS problem on these early m96 cars. It's actually good to know that you can address the issue without having to 1) remove the engine, 2) split open the engine, 3) spend a huge sum on parts and you can actually multi-task (clutch). With the newer m97 cars you don't have all these benefits while you still have ball bearings where good engineering says they shouldn't have been used in the first place.