Will be buying my first car, a used boxster

[AKnowles]

If you want to put on 19" wheels use search and you'll find quite a few threads. The people telling you not to buy a Boxster are just trying to look out for you. It's up to you to decide what you want to do and what risk you are willing to take.

My daughter - 16 - will be learning to drive drive in my Boxster and my Escape hybrid. Why both? Because I want her to learn about traction control using a manual transmission. Even so I plan to send her to Tire Rack Street Survival and recommend you plan on it as well.

Jsceash was spot on in regard to common money sucking issues. You may want to think about it in your budget. Any - and I mean any car that has a single row bearing is one you should seriously consider getting the IMSB replaced. Or only look at cars that already have it. The dual row bearing (early models like mine) have less than a 1% failure rate.

One thing I will say is if you choose appearance - 19" wheels - over mechanics and make a poor or unlucky choice of your first Porsche, you'll wind up with a pretty roller that will not go anywhere. That's why people suggest the P-Car is not a good idea for a first car, can be a money pit, etc. Family mechanic or not, if he hasn't worked on a P-Car before you can expect him to need to purchase some P-Car specific tools and the P-Car is not like every other car out there. It's easy to screw it up, but if you buy the appropriate manuals, tools, and use the forum/Internet you can maintain it yourself.

One tool you will need almost immediately is a Durametric or if you are fortuante enough tto find one reasonably prices a PST2 or PWIS. Otherwise just turning off the airbag light will cost you a few $200 at the dealer. Just to give you a comparission an oil cahnge at the dealer is $285 out here. Doing it yourself cost about $75-100 (depending on oil type and parts).

Speaking of the dealer, if you buy a P-Car, go to Porsche Club of America - Home and join up. One of the benefits is that most Porsche dealers will give you a 10-15% discount on parts and serice (sometimes). You get a cool magazine, the discount, and offers from your local club for various events. Inclusing DE (driver education) and autocross. Check them out. My PCA membership paid for itself with my water pump change. Plus the dealer prices have actually been less than those online. That one really surprised me.

[polkfarmboy]

Originally Posted by AKnowles

If you want to put on 19" wheels use search and you'll find quite a few threads. The people telling you not to buy a Boxster are just trying to look out for you. It's up to you to decide what you want to do and what risk you are willing to take.

My daughter - 16 - will be learning to drive drive in my Boxster and my Escape hybrid. Why both? Because I want her to learn about traction control using a manual transmission. Even so I plan to send her to Tire Rack Street Survival and recommend you plan on it as well.

Jsceash was spot on in regard to common money sucking issues. You may want to think about it in your budget. Any - and I mean any car that has a single row bearing is one you should seriously consider getting the IMSB replaced. Or only look at cars that already have it. The dual row bearing (early models like mine) have less than a 1% failure rate.

One thing I will say is if you choose appearance - 19" wheels - over mechanics and make a poor or unlucky choice of your first Porsche, you'll wind up with a pretty roller that will not go anywhere. That's why people suggest the P-Car is not a good idea for a first car, can be a money pit, etc. Family mechanic or not, if he hasn't worked on a P-Car before you can expect him to need to purchase some P-Car specific tools and the P-Car is not like every other car out there. It's easy to screw it up, but if you buy the appropriate manuals, tools, and use the forum/Internet you can maintain it yourself.

One tool you will need almost immediately is a Durametric or if you are fortuante enough tto find one reasonably prices a PST2 or PWIS. Otherwise just turning off the airbag light will cost you a few $200 at the dealer. Just to give you a comparission an oil cahnge at the dealer is $285 out here. Doing it yourself cost about $75-100 (depending on oil type and parts).

Speaking of the dealer, if you buy a P-Car, go to Porsche Club of America - Home and join up. One of the benefits is that most Porsche dealers will give you a 10-15% discount on parts and serice (sometimes). You get a cool magazine, the discount, and offers from your local club for various events. Inclusing DE (driver education) and autocross. Check them out. My PCA membership paid for itself with my water pump change. Plus the dealer prices have actually been less than those online. That one really surprised me.

Advice on the thread seems to be getting better, thanks guys

[teleski]

My advice : get off the internet and go learn how to drive in a car you can actually afford.

:troll:

All indications are that you are going have to finance the majority of a pre 2000 Boxster. If thats true, you cannot afford this car, nor any European make for that matter. Come back in a few years and we can talk. Sorry to sound harsh, but we all speak from experience and are giving you the advice any of us would give our teenage kids.

[ExRallyXer]

I agree completely with all of the advice AKnowles has given, except that I do my own work or use an independent specialist that ONLY works on Porsche. I don't use the Porsche dealer for anything.

I bought my 2000 Boxster 2.7 ( 63k mile, garage kept, same owner 12 years, local California car) in March 2013 and here is a quick breakdown of the cost of ownership for the last 7 months (13k miles) not including suspension/safety modifications:

2x Oil and filter changes Motul 8100 5W40 (done by me) $190

IMS Bearing Retrofit (done by indy) $1798

6x New Spark Plug Tubes (done by indy) $66

New Motor Mount (done by indy) $153

New Serpentine Belt $45

4x ATE Brake Rotors and Pagid Pads (done by me) $590

4x Hankook V12Evo Tires 17 (mounted and balanced) $480

Total $3322

Keep in mind, this is all preventative maintenance except the motor mount, which was discovered during the IMS retrofit. I personally think these costs are pretty reasonable for a 13 y/o car that is regularly tracked, but you'll have to judge for yourself.

I highly recommend a pre-purchase inspection as well, so that you know what you're getting into... Take your time and you'll find the right car.

[haz]

Buy a VTEC


(I know I am speaking to deaf ears but..)

[trimer]

Buy whatever you want. Great car. Treat it good and you wont have too many problems. Finance, dont finance it...it is really none of anyones business how you pay for the car. As far as a first time car goes...if you work hard and have saved for your dream car and this is it, then GO FOR IT. I work my ass off to have what I want.

If the car breaks and you cant afford to fix it...then just remember the thread. If you are not concerned...then get the thing, post a bunch of pics and let us enjoy your enjoyment. Good luck! Hope you get what YOU WANT...

[Trey T]

Doesn't the boxster have "VTEC", too?

Originally Posted by haz

Buy a VTEC


(I know I am speaking to deaf ears but..)

[AKnowles]

Originally Posted by ExRallyXer

I agree completely with all of the advice AKnowles has given, except that I do my own work or use an independent specialist that ONLY works on Porsche. I don't use the Porsche dealer for anything.

FWIW, I do my own work as well now. I just took it in to the Porsche dealer for the first oil change and a "once over" look by the mechanic. Not that it helped much since a short time later I had to replace the water pump.

But if you do not use a Porsche dealer for parts, who do you use? Pelican Parts or someone else?

Truthfully, my local dealer was actually cheaper than both Pelican Parts and Suncoast Parts with my PCA discount. Only time they are not - that I have checked - is when I use a third party alternative - like my last MAF from Pelican Parts.

Also, if I could find a good Porsche independent out here, I'd use one. But I can't seem to find a single one in the Coachella Valley. Outside of it sure, but I really don't want to drive 60-90 minutes away unless I absolutely have too.

[ExRallyXer]

Originally Posted by AKnowles

FWIW, I do my own work as well now. I just took it in to the Porsche dealer for the first oil change and a "once over" look by the mechanic. Not that it helped much since a short time later I had to replace the water pump.

But if you do not use a Porsche dealer for parts, who do you use? Pelican Parts or someone else?

Truthfully, my local dealer was actually cheaper than both Pelican Parts and Suncoast Parts with my PCA discount. Only time they are not - that I have checked - is when I use a third party alternative - like my last MAF from Pelican Parts.

Also, if I could find a good Porsche independent out here, I'd use one. But I can't seem to find a single one in the Coachella Valley. Outside of it sure, but I really don't want to drive 60-90 minutes away unless I absolutely have too.

I use FCP Euro and PartsGeek.com. Both are websites that are very reasonable for regular maintenance items. I would probably use Pelican as well.

I am a POC member, so I'm not sure if we have the same discount situation with the dealer, will look into that though. Currently, I use EuroSpec in Escondido. I know its 100+miles from you , but I highly recommend Tom if you do the LN Engineering upgrade..

[HAUSIDMT]

Originally Posted by ExRallyXer

I agree completely with all of the advice AKnowles has given, except that I do my own work or use an independent specialist that ONLY works on Porsche. I don't use the Porsche dealer for anything.

I bought my 2000 Boxster 2.7 ( 63k mile, garage kept, same owner 12 years, local California car) in March 2013 and here is a quick breakdown of the cost of ownership for the last 7 months (13k miles) not including suspension/safety modifications:

2x Oil and filter changes Motul 8100 5W40 (done by me) $190

IMS Bearing Retrofit (done by indy) $1798

6x New Spark Plug Tubes (done by indy) $66

New Motor Mount (done by indy) $153

New Serpentine Belt $45

4x ATE Brake Rotors and Pagid Pads (done by me) $590

4x Hankook V12Evo Tires 17 (mounted and balanced) $480

Total $3322

Keep in mind, this is all preventative maintenance except the motor mount, which was discovered during the IMS retrofit. I personally think these costs are pretty reasonable for a 13 y/o car that is regularly tracked, but you'll have to judge for yourself.

I highly recommend a pre-purchase inspection as well, so that you know what you're getting into... Take your time and you'll find the right car.

+1 on this don't forget the water pump as both examples were 60K cars. For me doing the labor myself it took 1 week of fiddling with it after work and $500+ for the pump thermostat and coolant.

Read the sticky backward and forward, and my advice still go with something different. there are plenty of fun cars out there, speed isn't the only factor.