Fake S?
 

Cars for Sale: 2001 Porsche Boxster S in Sumter, SC 29154: Convertible Details - 355629341 - AutoTrader.com

I need a better trained eye than mind. Any input?

strange. it has the dual exhaust tips, a six-speed and even has the S batwing on the dash. however, it doesn't have the opening in the front bumper for the third radiator.
don't know what to think.

Part of why i am so confused, i am having issues finding an S in my area. Most cars have under 50k miles which more investment than I want wrapped up in a car. I am confused as well by all the features being s specific, with a lack of the front vent.

It's either a well done " S clone " or it's a real S that had a front impact and bumper cover replaced. Get the VIN number from the seller that will tell the truth.

Would that cause overheating problems?

It looks like it has the S brakes too. My vote is on front bumper replacement at some point. Very odd. What did they do with the 3rd radiator that was there?

I would think so. If it has a center radiator I can't see how it would get much/any air flow. And I assume Porsche added the 3rd radiator for a reason based on real world testing. I would pass on this car.

I have contacted the seller, they are sending the vin tomorrow. My hopes are maybe that the car is not an s and I will treat it as a really clean 2.7 with exhuast added already and remove the s badge. In the case the car really is an s I will buy a new front bumper. Either way this should make the price quite negotiable.

Jake, I saw this car when I was looking for mine...good thing I didn't bother since I totally missed the front bumper nuance.

I ended up with this one: Ocean Blue Metallic S - AutoTrader

(PO never removed ad)...this one had low miles and an LNE IMS installed last year...I just remember there being a bunch of S's in the Carolinas, but that was in January. Good luck hunting buddy - if you are willing to look in Charlotte, I will keep an eye out for you.

Thank you Charlotte is actually much closer than down in the low country, looks like you found a great car. For the time being S's are hard to come by in south carolina but i have found a good many in weastern n.c. and upper Georgia. I am actually fairly interested in this S if it turns out to actually be one. Should be able to get the price down based off of the bumper discrepancy.

If the seller/previous owner were willing to cover up a center radiator ( assuming it is an S ) what else have they covered up ? What maint. nightmares are in its closet ? This car is screaming warning signs............

Get the VIN and check it here, that's what I've been doing in my search.

VIN Decode

That's a good price and color combo.

The car is actually an S. I'm going to request a better photo of the front, because I still want to believe there is just bad shadowing. If not that is clear proof of frontal impact and I will likely pass, unless I can get the car for significantly less. The car did recently have waterpump and all belts and pulleys replaces, so that is good news to an extent.

Considering the car is an 01 and a manual I will likely consider ims retrofit when it comes time for a new clutch.

Enhanced two photos of the front. Both show no cutout.
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1401120160.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1401120174.jpg

Hrmm running the car fax today, really quite curious to see what comes up.

I can't imagine anyone could or would go to the trouble to install the trunk badge, the door sill badge, the center console badge plus the 6 speed transmission, which was not available on the base model. Did you ask which engine it has in it? The whole thing looks like an S model to me, except for the front bumper cover. Definitely get the information about that. If they just had it replaced 200 miles ago, or if there is adequate airflow from the side vents, maybe it's not such a risk.

That car looks and smells like a S to me. Thinking the owner replaced the bumper for some strange reason with a base model bumper. Probably a wreck that insurance didn't fix? Thats where you should start a conversation I think.

You can always cut the third hole in the bumper cover

If the fifth letter in the vin is the letter "B", it is an S, if it is an "A" it is a base. If it is an S, I'd find out what was under the lack of a hole in the front bumper before buying it.