Buying 01 boxster for DD. Opinions welcome - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

M3Bonus · 10-07-2015, 10:16 AM

Hi all. New here. Did some research on the forum but want to ask this straight out. Looking to purchase an 01 boxster with 94k on the clock. Will be my daily driver and I do drive approx. 70 mi a day to and from work. Car has all the maintenance records and has been maintained fairly well. I plan on driving the car until it can't no more, but would this be a smart choice based on the mileage I drive? I know any used car can and will have issues, but I'd like to know if this is a clear read flag to purchase this car with this mileage.

Thank you

JayG · 10-07-2015, 10:22 AM

It's kind of like asking:
"How long is a piece of string"

From the limited info, no, the mileage is not a red flag ~6700/ year is not excessive and in fact may be a good thing, it was not a garage queen. Plenty of Boxsters have gone well over 100k, some 200k or more

If it was serviced regularly, check the mileage on oil changes. The 15K oil change interval as factory specified is far too long. 5K is better

No matter what the records say, you NEED to have an independent PPI done
There are several good independent service places in LA.

Here is a link to some that are listed as for Tech inspections for PCA
All I would expect are good honest shops
http://www.zone8.org/events/tech_stations.php

Asking price?
Options?
Who is selling the car? Dealer ? Enthusiast? private party?

M3Bonus · 10-07-2015, 10:36 AM

Asking price?
Options?
Who is selling the car? Dealer ? Enthusiast? private party?

Thank you for the link.

$8900
As far as I can tell, not too many options. Mostly standard. The top is replaced with a glass window. No Bose, no heated seats, no pms.
Private party selling. I have yet to see the car but will later tonight.

Gilles · 10-07-2015, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3Bonus

Will be my daily driver and I do drive approx. 70 mi a day to and from work.

These cars are amazing daily drivers and very comfortable

BTW where in LA do you drive 70 miles? I am curious because I drive about 50 every day in OC and there are places where I would refuse to drive unless you have an automatic transmission.. (which I don't personally like)

M3Bonus · 10-07-2015, 11:14 AM

From SFV to westlake village. I can't believe I do it but kinda leaves me out of leasing a car.

thstone · 10-07-2015, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3Bonus

From SFV to westlake village. I can't believe I do it but kinda leaves me out of leasing a car.

I drive daily from Pasadena to Simi Valley in my 1978 911SC. Doing your drive in any modern Porsche will be a piece of cake.

M3Bonus · 10-07-2015, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thstone

I drive daily from Pasadena to Simi Valley in my 1978 911SC. Doing your drive in any modern Porsche will be a piece of cake.

That takes cojones. I applaud you and thank you for giving me that extra bit of confidence.

thstone · 10-07-2015, 11:55 AM

The asking price of $8900 is pretty high for a 2001 base model with 94K miles. Blue Book in excellent condition is around $7500.

Of course, the seller will say that the car is in perfect condition and has a full maintenance history but the reality is that this is a 14 year old car with almost 100K miles and there are a lot of Boxster's available, so its really a buyers market.

Of course, its your choice of how much to pay. But don't get caught up thinking that this is the ONLY one and you'll never find a nicer one at a better price - because you will or someone here on the forum will find it for you. Boxster's are kind of a dime for a dozen on the used car market.

Beyond this, if you are willing to accept the $2,000 per year (on average) operating costs, then I'd hit the seller at $6800 and negotiate hard from there.

And before you do the deal, be sure to get a PPI. Yes, it can be a little awkward and takes some time, but it will be the best $300 that you ever spend and can literally save you thousands.

epapp · 10-07-2015, 12:38 PM

I DD my manual '99 @ 106K miles 60 miles a day @ 3hrs daily drive time. The only problem I have are the dam idler pulleys with the older style bearings. All other PM keeps the car perfectly happy, and you get to drive a Porsche everyday

. I am DIYer though so if anything happens I can have it replaced by the next work day (most times). As a sole car and a DD, if I couldn't do my own work, it would be a very different story.

Retroman1969 · 10-07-2015, 09:09 PM

My DD is a base '99 with 152,000mi on it so far. I put about 3,500-4,000 miles a month on it and it has never stranded me or broken down. Plenty comfortable.
Oh it needs a fair amount of regular service and maintenance but has never actually broken down.

I think the mileage on the one you're looking at is pretty typical and a good starting point. Not too much no too little.
Price should be negotiated down some.

Duezzer · 10-08-2015, 06:36 AM

I have a 99 with 135000 km and daily drive it - Paid 12,750 2 yrs ago - best price in that market at that time - Since then put abut $5000 in maintenance into it - $2250 was done at an independent shop - 1/2 of that was my out of Provence inspection other was for a diagnostic on a troublesome issue I could not solve.

Car is very comfortable and love it every day I am in it - Winter is coming here and it will not be out as much. For this I am sad.

Seadweller · 10-08-2015, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thstone

Beyond this, if you are willing to accept the $2,000 per year (on average) operating costs......

I've seen this referred to many times. What constitutes the $2K/year in operating costs?

kk2002s · 10-08-2015, 07:16 AM

It's debatable you will actually need to spend $2k/year on maintenance.
It will come in Blocks. One may go years with very little then many things need attention at once.
In my 3 years, 35k miles, I may have spent a total of $2k
That's Front suspension, Rear tires, Rear brake pads, motor mount, AOS, spark plug tubes, plugs, belt, oil (2x a year), climate control display.

BUT with these miles, I'm now looking at Clutch, IMSB, WP, rear suspension pcs. That will get me over $5k over 3 years so now we start getting near that magic $2k/year

Pdwight · 10-08-2015, 07:17 PM

How many of you guys owned early 70's MG's ??

I did and that never gave up

Fintro11 · 10-08-2015, 07:25 PM

I use mine as a daily driver Bought it 3 years ago with 38 000 km on it i am at 86 000 now and the only maintenance is oil changes tires and the cv boots

Retroman1969 · 10-09-2015, 03:06 AM

One thing you have to look out for and budget for on these cars in particular is deferred maintenance. I've rarely seen a used Boxster that didn't need a ton of it, pristine looking and smooth driving though they may be. It can really bite you at first and leave you jaded about the car. That's why PPIs are so important.
I enjoy how my cars look and drive so much I tend to forget how old they're getting.

Xpit77 · 10-09-2015, 03:55 AM

I have a 99 Tip with 148kms. I had the IMS done and recently the lca `s and sway bar links. I was aware that I would need to do some work to it due to age. It`s a DD all year round. I just put the hardtop on and the snows next month.

tonycarreon · 10-10-2015, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seadweller

I've seen this referred to many times. What constitutes the $2K/year in operating costs?

like the previous poster said, it seems to come in waves.

i have an '01, purchased in the spring of 2009. in 6.5 years i have spent (including tires, the GAHH top and oil changes) close to around $10k for 60k miles. though it has only been a DD for the past couple of years. prior to that it was only used for long road trips.

some years it was only oil changes, some years i could see smoke coming from the credit card from getting swiped so many times.