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Old 07-24-2013, 03:15 PM   #1
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Boxster stationary for 2 years!! HELP!!

Hi Everyone!
Im new to the Porsche world. I am planning on buying a 1999 2.5 car that i have found with around 60k miles on it. It has been stationary for the past 2 years though! What should i watch out for and what should i do
Thanks!

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Old 07-24-2013, 03:18 PM   #2
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are you getting an amazingly low price on it?
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Old 07-24-2013, 03:20 PM   #3
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yup, they sell for around 9-10k euros, im getting it for 4k, what do u think?
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Old 07-24-2013, 03:23 PM   #4
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oh and it comes with a few extras that i would have changed anyway like 19' turbo twists, S steering wheel, 987 gear knob..
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Old 07-24-2013, 03:24 PM   #5
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Car could be perfect or plagued with problems. Parts are expensive.

Best advice: get a complete pre-purchase inspection (PPI) by someone who is knowledgeable about Boxsters and has a diagnostic computer capable for reading all possible trouble codes. If the car has a clean PPI, buy it.
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Old 07-24-2013, 03:31 PM   #6
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How mechanically inclined are you?
Do you have an OPC (official Porsche Centre) or independant Porsche garage in Nicosia?
How was the car stored - under cover or in the hot Cyprus sun and wind?
How much money are you willing to spend...?

Being stood stationary for 2 years is possibly not the problem, but why it's been stationary could be. If you have no experience in resurrecting cars like the Boxster, I would start looking for a Porsche specialist on the island and see what advise they can give you.

Personally I wouldn't buy the car untill I had a good idea why its been stationary for such a long time - it could be an easy fix, but it could also be a money pit.....
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Old 07-24-2013, 03:39 PM   #7
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Thats great advice, ill make sure to do that. The owner claims that it is in great mechanical condition. He says that it has been stationary because the road tax is too expensive to own(road tax, insurance,service, etc.) which should be right because he hasn't payed the road tax for two years!
Do you suggest i go to the dealer or can my mechanic check it out? i dont think he has had much experience with the boxster, he is the main dealer for APR though and a friend.
Should i trust him or am i better off asking the Porsche dealer to check it out for me.
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Old 07-24-2013, 03:54 PM   #8
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We have an official Porsche center, ill have to see if we have an independant specialist too, the car has been sitting in an apartment building's covered parking space, the owner says that it has been there because of high costs and due to the fact that he visits CY occasionally and doesnt live here anymore, which is about right since he hasn't payed any of the road taxes for the past two years. So i guess first step: talk to specialist

Thanks a lot!
BTW Steve, like ur taste! Used to have the exact same Agusta as ur SIG in red/silver with gold wheels!
That thing really satands out!!
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Old 07-24-2013, 04:07 PM   #9
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needs a compression AND leak down test for sure.

These cars are worth shockingly little without the engine. All the money is in the engine.
And replacing that will cost you more than 4K Euro.

Evertyhing else can be addressed. Before I began major maintenance at 70K on my car the mechanic said he thought my car looked pretty good but would need a new clutch and shocks soon. Well not long after that about $8K in things let go withnout warning. So even if you get a good result from the pre purchase inspection, you must factor in the cost of things that typically go on these cars that may not always show sympotms of failing. The AOS, water pump and coolant tank are two very common ones. And depending on how rough the roads are where you are, those 60K can mean new shocks are needed soon. My shocks were toast by 70K miles. Meanwhile people who live near nice flat, smooth roads where the weather is always nice have no problem going over 100K miles on the original suspension and original everything else...only routine maintenance was needed.

but get the leak down test. if that looks bad there's not much else to talk about.
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Last edited by Perfectlap; 07-24-2013 at 04:10 PM.
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Old 07-24-2013, 08:44 PM   #10
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Garage
Unless the engine at one point experiences something MAJOR, even the engine on these cars CAN be rebuilt. Actually not that hard to tear it down completely. Do not ask me how I know that...

CR
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Old 07-25-2013, 05:26 AM   #11
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compression and leak test will definately be done!
Thanks guys, help much appreciated!
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Old 07-25-2013, 10:12 AM   #12
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At that price you are getting it almost as a rolling chassis. If it checks out, seems like a risk worth taking....if money is important to you that is....
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Old 07-25-2013, 03:37 PM   #13
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of coarse money is important, ill have more left over for mods Unfortunately i have to wait until Mon since im on holiday now, damn holiday

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