Intro to Porsche
 

Soon I'll be purchasing a Boxster on a budget that my bride limits me to, likely $7,000. Is there one item I should focus on? i.e.: Certain year models, under 100K miles, base or S, IMS already completed? Any ideas from the wisdom of this forum is greatly appreciated.

That is an open ended question that can go in many directions. If you haven't read thru this link already, it's a good place to start.

http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/14685-thinking-buying-boxster-must-read.html

There are several YouTube videos (Boxster specific) that might also help.

The common answer is to buy the car with the best documented maintenance records you can find. Then have a trained Porsche mechanic give it a thorough inspection, +/-$400.

For $7,000 in LA, you are going to get a middle of the range car that is going to need work to catch up on the maintenance probably. Parts can be very expensive and Porsche mechanics earn their keep. How much of the work can you do yourself? Consider reaching out to a local PCA chapter. They can be a great source for advice, cars and mechanics. PCA Owners tend to take decent care of their cars also.

Take your time and leave your heart at home. Welcome to the group and good luck with your search.

Good luck, prices are rising a bit and a 7k car is going to need a few extra K to get it up to snuff. Better bet is to spend more up front, get a car that has been brought to current, suspension, poss AOS, clutch if manual, excellent maint records etc. and go from there. These are awesome cars, but can get expensive VERY fast.

First get into the mindset that you buy these cars and you maintain these cars so you can drive these cars.
Any older German sports car is going to need an ebb and flow of maintenance done on them to keep them somewhat reliable on the road.
So budgeting your purchase price is fine but that is not where that train stops

As mentioned, good previous maintenance routine is very important. You don't want to buy someone's "... need to get to... " items list car

You'll be at $15k before you know it.

Have you considered an early Gen 1 or 2? Awesome cars, really fun to drive. Parts are 1/2 the cost too and I think pretty high up on the reliability chain too.

Yes but there are many examples of "weekend cars" that the 4th and 5th owner neglect maintenance and don't bother to do any repair. They just want to say they own a Porsche.

Many examples on local autotrader that don't have working parking brake or broken top, etc.

Your budget will be $7k..?

I am sorry if I may sound rude but you are going to regret it for the rest of your life..
and no, I am Not talking about the Boxter...

..I am talking about your wife (to be)

What do you mean by Gen 1 or 2? Just referring to 986 and 987? It will definitely be a weekend car driven, likely, every other. Can't fit the bride and four kids in it so it will sit but not be neglected mechanically.

Looking at the Texas market on Craigslist, I see several cars in the price range that could be good buys. 1999 models are fairly plentiful and can be a good reliable car at an affordable price, but all 986s will require a maintenance budget to keep them in good shape.
If you have tools, a little experience, and a place to work you can save a lot of money. If you don't, you will need to spend $100/hr or more for a good mechanic to keep it in shape. What you can afford to buy and what you can afford to keep and drive could be two different things.
If you are willing to spend your money on a car that will have lots of minor electrical issues, worn out suspension, and an engine that is about to fail, then don't worry about having a knowledgeable Porsche mechanic look at the car before you buy it. Otherwise plan to have a PPI (prepurchase inspection) done.

That and much more is covered in the: http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/14685-thinking-buying-boxster-must-read.html

So... what oil is the best and which replacement IMSB should you get?

LOL! Was that a preemptive strike? To the OP, these two questions always elicit a bizillion comments; it's best just to do a forum search on these topics rather than ask. Additionally many posts have asked the same question as yours "what should I buy?" Do some looking around the forum and you'll find many people who have ben in your situation and lots of good advice.

Best wishes, and let us know what you find. ;)

I owned 2. wonderful cars. But that was 10 years ago. The cars you might look at are 20 year old cars. Will your financial situation allow for the maintenance on a 20 year old car whose parts are maybe twice what you are used to and for which labor changes are high? What if I told you 10 years ago a major service cost $1k, a brake job cost another $1k and tires cost $1.2k. Doing it yourself, half that. But that will give you an idea that a Porsche is not a cheap car. Oil change for $29.95? Nope. Maybe double that. Premium gas. I'm toying with buying my third despite all that but without any funding limits. A $10-30k engine wouldn't scare me, for example.

Years ago I wrote up this on buying a Boxster. Read it and the other maybe 10 articles to get as honest a picture as I could convey understanding it was written with a ten year old car in mind, not a 20 year old one.

Look for a 2003-2004 986. Many nice upgrades and you can find them relativity cheap.

$7,000should buy you a very presentable Boxster. I would suggest a very early car, 97 or 98 model year, a 2.5 L model years before the troublesome intermediate shaft bearing of the later 2.7 L engines. Although parts prices from dealerships are stiff, so they are for any other make; don't buy parts from the dealership except as a last resort.
I have not found Boxsters any more difficult to maintain than any other make or model of car. Check my garage list for more background.
The 986 series represent the best value on the used car market, bar none.
Do your homework; read the forum here, the 101 Projects book, the Pelican tech series, and watch Craigslist like a hawk.
If you can't find a great value in a used 986, you just can't find a good used car!
Good luck!

Ya know, every time I hear one of y'all say this, I laugh out loud just a little bit. And then I say (to anyone who'll listen) "I think it's been too long since you've worked on anything else", haha.

Look, you think I'm wrong? Just think through what happened the first time someone asked you if they could see the motor? Or checking the air filter? Power steering fluid?

For context, this (my first porsche) is car #74 in my life. I've owned a lot of cars of various domestic, Japanese and European brands.
Nearly EVERYTHING you'd do (maintenance and repair) to this car takes longer than it would on most other cars.

But Worth it? Yup.


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I think if you are talking in terms of cost, parts etc. I would tend to agree, to a point. My Jeep is more expensive to maintain than my Boxster (so far) However, due to the electronics configuration, general German over engineering etc, these cars are not great entry level learners. Consequently, the costs go up. Overall, due to the mid engine configuration, pulling things like the alternator, PS pump etc, aren’t any more technically difficult (remove appropriate bolts etc.) However, the access is a major PITA for these items.

And, while I agree 7k can buy a decent looking car, at that age, there will be significant deferred maint costs at that price point most likely.

Brakes are damn easy. Exhaust came off easily, no rusted bolts!

Oil change... have you done one on a car with dry-sump?

Hi I am the proof you CAN buy a cracking Porsche for that money, mine cost me £5100 over 2 years ago.

Id go as far to say that although there are a few rough ones most have been look after well and ones that haven't wont be able to fake it. Rough body / interiors / sketchy service history will give it away.

At the end of the day they are just a car and due to their original build quality will probably has lasted better than most cars of that era.

Just check it like you would any other 2nd hand car.

I think there is too much emphasis put on the idea that these cars need to be looked after by specialists. Repairs and servicing I never take it to Porsche or even a Porsche specialist. I take it to my mechanic wizard who has looked after all my cars. Some of which cost me double the Porsche

Don’t buy any $7,000 Porsche......
 

......if you can’t afford another $10,000 a year in care and feeding.

Just buy a Miata.

Every car is different. Mine at 75,000 had been severely abused and required a lot of work to set right. But there are lots of Boxsters with around 100k that are just fine--the difference being that they were well kept and maintained.

$7k should buy you a pretty nice car that's 2003 or so. Maybe with a bit higher mileage, pay for a prepurchase inspection so that you'll know what you're getting into. Yes some parts are pretty spendy. But the Boxster isn't impossible to work on, sometimes a bit of a puzzle, but very approachable.

Are you being serious right now? Or did you add too many zeros? $10k a YEAR!?!?

Sorry.... I think that's silly. And I question the sanity of spending $10k a year, on a car worth.... less than $10k.

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B. S.
But there are some nice Miatas in that price range.

Here is the type of car you can expect for your money. This cost me £5100 2 years ago.

Its had 95k miles on it and the 6k Iv put on it has been a pleasure.

If it blew up tomorrow I sell it for £1000 as a breaker and have no regrets. Then go and buy another.

As you can see its more or less out of the box condition wise. Find one an enthusiast has owned and it will have lived on a bed of ostrich feathers.

Beware of very low mileage ones... they dont like sitting about.

My advice would be.... only and only listen to people who own them not the pub bores who's uncles sisters brothers cousins mate had one and the IMS bearing went first turn of the key.



Put away £1000 a year for maintenance and repairs then what you dont spend out of that spend on improving it how you see fit.

Realistically mine has only cost about £400 a year for maintenance and small repairs. Some years may be less that 1000 some maybe more.

Dont waste money by replacing things that dont need replacing, Tell your mechanic (and he DOESNT need to be Porsche specialist) to keep you informed when he services the car of jobs that he thinks will need doing in the future and budget for them, then get them done. There will usually always be something but it will be consumable things like tyres, brakes, exhaust, CV boots etc that any older car would need

bottom line if you want one and can afford it....do it! Life's to short to have regrets later on
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1532706944.jpg

I think this is sound, sage advice. I'd have said exactly the same thing.
Like ANY used car: find the best example your budget allows.... and then enjoy the heck out of it.
And +2 on the "they don't need to be porsche trained". This is, after all, a car. When it comes to maintenance and repairs, there's a "purist" way, and then there's the way the factory assumed would occur when they designed it.

I've just completed two projects on mine this morning, in about an hour, that are making me eat my words from another post; on nearly any other car i'd have have spent closer to 3 hours. Initial access notwithstanding, these cars are pretty easy to work on.

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I am with maytag on this, no way $10K a year in maintenance. I have had my car going on 3 years. Total maint. Cost minus tires, $1000 including new battery another $1K on a set of tires. Everything else was things I did as modification so does not count as maintenance. Tires needed changing when I purchased the car otherwise was nice and tidy 2 previous owners enthusiast.

miles, years, repairs
 

So, I purchased mine with 58k on the car and 25k on a factory Porsche replacement engine, 1999 with 5 speed manual, I replaced the brakes/rotors ($125), rear tires ($350), starter (making squawking noise $125), driver's seat belt ($125), Headlight bulbs ($50 each), shifter cable and shift assembly used ($125). I purchased 4 years ago, I currently have 120k miles on the car. Still tight, quiet, and super fun to drive. I even have to drive 1 mile on a gravel road to my house. So, just under $1k in 4 years of regular driving.

I think that 10/10's was saying that a $7K Boxster will cost you $17K by the time that you do all of the deferred repairs and maintenance.

At least I hope that is what he meant. :cool:

In any case, that is what the PPI is meant to uncover. Don't buy a Boxster without a PPI!

takes a little extra knowledge and some tool trickery for some of the repairs but, not a heck of a lot worse than anything else I've owned. The headlight bulbs are probably the easiest I've ever changed in a car before. :)

I know you can get a nice Boxster for ~$7k. I sold my garage kept 2000S, with 134K miles for $7,200 the beginning of July. Recent top with glass window, all maintenance current with correct fluids, excellent tires and brakes. Cold AC, no leaks or funny noises and 10 years worth of receipts.

No, I had not done the IMS or RMS (the horror!!).

When I sold the car, I told one of my boys that I don't think there is a bigger bargain on CL than a nice Boxster for the $.

If I were in the market now, I'd be buying this one: 2002 Porsche Boxster S http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/4922621

Maintenance history includes IMS replaced.

The seller is a crabby woman, who yesterday told me to "************************ go ahead and f myself off" when I suggested she should advertise the car on this forum. So beware, haha. But the car looks like the right bargain for someone.

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Yes, focus on a new bride :)

I got a smoking deal on my base 01 a year and a half ago. Newer top with glass window, mint interior, fantastic original paint. 17Xk miles on it and runs like a champ. In that one and a half year all I've had to do is change the brakes and oil. This has bizarrely been the cheapest car I've ever owned and maintained. The previous owner had done a lot of maintenance to it I suspect.

Wow, guys.....
 

....I was exaggerating to make a point.

The most expensive car is a cheap car.

All I'm saying is, if you cannot afford to spend a lot of money on care and feeding for a 20 year old Porsche, and you are a young guy starting a family, just buy a Miata.

:cheers::cheers:

I'm not sure your point landed. Here's what you said:
That doesn't sound ANYTHING like the point you're trying to convey above.

I'm afraid that to me, it reads as more of this elitist crap that drives newcomers away.


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Really?!?!?
 

"Elitist crap"?

Come on, man.

I'm just a working slob who never had two nickels to rub together and put 325,000 miles on my 1993 Miata because it was my ONLY car for over twenty years.

Now, at age 50, I have a new career and I have enough coin left over to buy a 2004 Boxster and keep her on the road.

You folks need to lighten up out here in internet land.

There is zero tone on the screen, so forgive me for trying to make a point and it falling flat. Jeeze, "Elitist crap"? Seriously?

You got a new young guy who is getting married and asked for advice, my advice is don't buy a Boxster, buy a Miata.

Elitist?

How is trying to explain to the guy that buying a 20 year old Porsche is one thing, and keeping her running is another?

Lighten up. We are talking about toys here, not the fate of global nuclear proliferation or displaced refugees. Wow.

There's no need for name calling.



http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1534109485.jpg

Hmmm.... I may be guilty of being too uptight then. Because that's what I thought I read reading from YOU? haha, funny thing here, 10, is that you and I have done this before, haha.

Sorry. I read your comment as trying to dissuade another enthusiast from what is, truly, a more exciting car than a miata, in the name of an unrealistic maintenance requirement ($10k/yr).

I see too many people trying to suck the fun out of ownership, and trying to make it serious, with talk of porsche engineers knowing best, only one way (the most expensive) to do a repair or maintenance, etc. Etc. As if porsche ownership should be reserved for only the most capable. I don't know what else to call that, if not elitist. And perhaps I've misread your post in that spirit.

So let me be more clear what I was trying to say:
B.S. on $10k/yr in maintenance. If you buy a $7k porsche 986, be prepared for some hefty bills, just like you'd have if you buy a $2k miata. Nowhere near $10k, but maybe close to $3k. But if you buy a $10k 986, you're gonna be just fine on a couple hundred bucks a year maintenance budget.

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Fair enough...
 

....sounds reasonable to me.

:cheers::cheers:

As I mentioned in my earlier post if you want a 986 get a 2003-2004. I've owned both a 1999 & 2003. 2003 is a way better car in every way with a larger motor.

I had my IMS changed on the 2003 at 75,000 miles when I replaced the clutch and it was perfect.

Don't buy an older car because your worried about a problem that's 90% it won't happen!

People are blowing this single row IMS way out of proportion. My Indy shop works on a lot of Porsches and he said he's never seen a bad IMS yet!

The new wife said 7k budget she did not say beyond that.Once again there is no such thing as a cheap porsche, they will get you in the end.
okay maybe not 10k first year but at least 2k a year. Get the car, any car, as long as she gives you a maintenance budget of 2k a year.If you dont spend it great but you will go over sometime. PPI is a must. Alot of people dont understand performance car maintenance cost.For the sake of happiness tell your wife it is going to cost more than a oil change like the toyota! It sucks trying to ask for money in a marriage for your car that is not too practical.The first bill I had I said to the mechanic what am I going to tell my wife?
He said DONT TELL HER! LOL Hard to do when I dont handle the money. One thing for sure...There is no substitute. For me worth every penny and all the aggravation.Good Luck

I guess this is for guys that can't work on their own cars.

I've owned mine for almost 8 years, and excluding tires and oil changes, I haven't broken $2k total for the entire 8 years, never mind every year. :D

I was thinking the SAME THING.
My case aside ('cuz all bets are off when you start tracking it, haha) I think most items that come up regularly could be handled DIY with standard tools, a meager budget and a modicum of bad words.