Need advice on Pre Purchase Inspection report
 

Hi all,

I just got the PPI report on a 2001 Boxster S manual I am considering buying.
Pre-inspection agreed price is $12,000 and the car has 89,000 miles.
Car is in Florida and I am in Ohio, so I don't have the opportunity to drive it.

I would really appreciate the input of experienced folks about the impact and if I should go ahead with the buy, or see if a bit of a price drop is in order.

Items 3 and 6 are the ones concerning me the most.
What about item 1? Is this something to be concerned about?
What about item 4? Can a valve cover gasket be replaced without too much acrobatics?
On item 11 - Yes, the IMS has been replaced

Thanks in advance,
Jeremy

1) EVIDENCE OF COOLANT VENTING AT THE EXPANSION TANK
CAP
2) FRONT BRAKES HAVE 15% PAD LIFE REMAINING. REARS
APPEAR TO BE NEW
3) TRANSMISSION MOUNTS HAVE PLAY
4) ACTIVE OIL LEAK ON THE RIGHT SIDE VALVE COVER WHICH
IS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST
5) SPARE TIRE, JACK, ETC MISSING
6) SOME PLAY IN SHIFTER LINKAGE
7) WHEN TOP IS RETRACTED, HARD BOOT COVER DOESN'T
SEAT FLUSH WITH THE BODY
8) FRONT BUMPER COVER LOOSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE
9) APPEARS TO HAVE HAD A COMPLETE REPAINT AT SOME
TIME IN IT'S LIFE AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE PAINT CHIPS ON
THE VEHICLE
10) RIGHT REAR AXLE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY WHAT
APPEARS TO BE A SALVAGE YARD PART
11) HAS THE ENGINE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BEARING BEEN
REPLACED?
12) BOTH FRONT AND REAR TIRES ARE OF THE INCORRECT
SIZE. CAR CURRENTLY HAS 235/40 R 18 IN FRONT AND 265/40
R18 IN THE REAR. CORRECT SIZES ARE 225/40R18 FRONT AND
265/35R18 FOR THE REAR

None of the things on the list surprise me for a 17 year old car. The oil leak and coolant leak rise to the top of my concerns. The tires are a big deal because a new set is on the order of $800.

I think the price is too high. I bought a 2003 S last year in very good condition with 87K for $9500.


:)

I sold my '01S 6 years ago with none of those problems for $1500 less. New Michelins N type were $1200 and had 50 miles. You can do much better.

Thanks so far for your feedback.

I offered an amended $11,400 post inspection, which the seller rejected and said he won't take anything less than 12K.
Haven't yet decided how to respond.

I am shopping for a car with evidence of IMS having been replaced, so that limits my search and rules out non-Porsche dealer trade ins, as none of the ones I checked out had any service history.
At this price range it also appears that some private-market cars are not necessarily being maintained well, so I'm not sure if I really can do better right now at 12K.

This car has also had the later top with glass window installed.
About the tires, they are all in good condition with a lot of tread, and I'm OK with being one size out. I don't intend to replace them. A taller sidewall is actually beneficial here in Ohio with typical road conditions.... ;)

There doesn't seem to be much on the market right now (mostly non-S, or high mileage, or no IMS evidence, or yellow/red which I don't want), and if I don't get a Boxster S in the next couple of weeks I will be buying my current BRZ at the end of its lease, and then who knows if I will ever get a Boxster, as I will probably just wait till Cayman prices go down a bit more before trading up...

It sounds like it might have been in accident given the items 7 - 10. Did the person doing the PPI drive it and say it's runs /brakes straight? On the front brakes, did the PPI mention if the rotors would need to be replaced as well? I thought Porsche indicated rotors would need to replaced every 2nd brake pad change so that may add to your expense. The dealer quoted just over $1,100 to do the front (rotors included). I just bought all the parts to do it myself and it was still almost $500 for that.

The "valve" cover doesn't have a gasket. Not a trivial job to reseal. That said the leak might be a spark plug tube seal.

With winter coming this car is way over priced.

I paid that around 5 years ago for my 2000S and only slightly higher miles. And line was in tip.top condiition with a new clutch and all maintenance up to date. I would keep looking. You'll find the right one! :cheers:

Patience will pay off. Try to buy local or try before you buy. Just saw a "pro" get bit on a 914 buying sight unseen. Good job on the ppi, wish I had done one. I think the price is too strong as well.

Run, don't walk! Look for a lower mileage one owner.

Thanks for all the extra advice!

On items 7 through 10, there's no sign of accident on Carfax or in PPI. I asked them specifically and they said there are no signs of an accident.

Item 7: The top was replaced last year with a glass screen and the guy who installed it said that this is how it's gonna be with the glass screen. Seller sent me pics and it's not that bad. I can live with it.
The seller dismantled the bumpers himself 4 years ago and had them resprayed because of the scuffing and nicks that there were, explaining items 8 and 9.
Item 10 is unexplained. A local specialist I spoke to suggested that perhaps a CV joint needed replacing and it was cheaper to get a used half shaft than have the CV replaced...?

Same local specialist did indeed say that the brake rotors will probably need changing too, and quoted $720 for it all. A nice saving compared to the dealer price you quoted.

He also told me that the valve cover isn't a gasket and that it could be a spark plug tube seal. $175, and less if it's the spark plug tube seal.

I think I will be taking my future Porsche to that guy for service when I finally get it.
He clearly knew everything there is to know about the car.

I've stuck with my $11400 offer. I don't think the seller will take it though.
As you all seem to be saying - there are more fish in the pond.

If this one doesn't work out, I think my best plan is to get a beater when the BRZ lease is up so that I don't have to make a purchase-under-pressure, and then bide my time through winter until the right one comes along.

Overpriced. Keep looking.

This was a good deal (below) but you should be able to find something in the $10K-ish range.

Not exactly Apples to Apples but I sold my garage kept 2000S with 134K miles in July for $7,200. Not perfect but 10 years of maintenance records, top with glass window and good tires and brakes. No leaks and everything worked.

On the other hand, as the cars slowly get retired or scrapped out, the remaining inventory is bound to increase in value. Even at 12 k a boxster is a tremendous value anyone price a new one lately.

Prices are going up... Mine books on KBB for 14k (2002S with 60k in "good" condition, I paid 12k) having said that, I wouldn't pay 12k for that car. Simply being repainted kills the overall value IMO. Though the things listed are potentially relatively minor, they can be expensive to fix. If the leak is the cam cover thats not exactly cheap unless you can DIY, most likely it is one or more spark plug tubes which are no big deal but requires getting up close and in person to really tell. The coolant situation could be a cap, or it could be the tank, or something else. Oil systems, coolant systems and electronics in these rack up FAST $$$ wise. If the guy is stuck on the 12k (doubt he ever will get that for that car) walk on this one. You will be spending much more $$$ pretty quickly.

Keep in mind though, "low mileage, full records 986's" are still 16-20 years old and will pull a premium, but still might require a significant $$ outlay for suspension parts, motor mounts, poss IMS etc and other age/wear related systems.

Thanks everyone for your feedback!
I posted a reply last night but I got some odd message about a moderator needing to check it, and I never saw it again.

I did speak to a local Porsche specialist about the PPI results, and what he said corresponded with a lot of what you guys are saying (the spark plug tubes, the brake rotors, the not-gasket for the valve cover etc).
When I do get a Boxster/Cayman I will likely get it serviced there. They were very helpful and knowledgeable.
Their prices were also less than I feared. 175 for the oil leak, 500 for transmission mounts, 720 for front brakes.

Given the repairs and the missing spare (which the seller knew about but did not disclose in all our correspondence and phone calls), I stuck with my $11,400 and the seller would not budge from his $12K, so the deal hasn't happened.
As many of you are saying - there are more fish in the sea, and possibly juicier ones.

I do agree that both early Boxsters & S's are probably near the bottom of their price curve and now is the time for me to buy.
As they get cheaper they also get less well maintained, and the stock of good ones depletes.

I won't buy my BRZ off the lease when it ends soon, because then I will probably just stay with it until Cayman prices bottom out, so I'll probably get me some old bimmer with a manual gearbox and winter tires to tide me through till I find the right Boxster. (wasn't planning to drive the Boxster in the snow - would buy a cheap fwd beater instead)

The thing i noticed when looking for mine was they come in waves. Just when it seems there are none for sale 30 more will pop up. I am in CT and Craigs List is FULL of decent looking boxsters at decent prices. I test drove/inspected 4 cars before buying mine and i had remorse after walking away from each but realized it was the right thing to do.

In the end i went with my 97' base with only 51k miles on it for half of what i was going to spend. I am happy with my decision and enjoy the car thoroughly. I never thought the base would be "enough" for me but any boxster is a hell of a lot of fun to drive. If you expand your search dont rule out the base cars as an option. In the very least you can drive it and have fun until you find the "S" of your dreams. It will scratch the itch and not lose value.

For $720 :eek::eek::eek:, I'll buy the rotors and pads and you can fly me from LA to Cleveland and I'll personally install them.

I can't wait till you find out how much a nice house costs out here :D

But seriously - Todd Mac here below was citing $1100 at a dealer, so $720 sounds reasonable compared to that.

go to cars.com and see what we have in Colorado. There are a few to chose from in the greater Denver area or Arizona. They look a LOT cleaner. repainted sounds troubling to me as well. I'd look for a different car. When I got mine I had a list of half dozen dealerships I intended to visit until I found the right one.

In the end I had them install new front tires, and they reimbursed me for the driver's seatbelt since the sensor threw a code when I got home. I replaced the brakes and rotors with a budget set all four wheels drilled and slotted for $125 parts and my own labor. Everything else was fine... mine is a 99 base model. had 58k miles on it. the engine had been replaced with Porsche factory rebuild at 38k miles. It has the Porsche factory big bearing solution so it can't be replaced without splitting the case. I paid $12,000. Car was spotless, tight, clean. Arctic Silver. Other things I've replaced the past 4 years of ownership, engine starter, shift cables since one of them broke. Starter cost me $85 new, shifter cables cost me $95 used and included the shifter assembly. I replaced the radiator cap with the new improved one early on as well.

I'm pretty set on an S only, which limits my choice and leaves most sub 10K Boxsters out of the picture.
I want that extra bit of performance, that 6th gear, and the factory brake and suspension improvements.