Starting Over: App Suggestions?

[craigkeen]

I am having serious doubts about the seller I've been working with and unless he pretty quickly answers my questions about his credibility, I'm starting my search over. I don't plan to name names here, but right now I feel conned.

So, my question here is pretty simple. Are there apps that are particularly helpful in locating an early Boxster for sale, one that looks well beyond dealerships? I've Googled for what I have in mind, with no luck yet, and I've tried to search here, also with no luck.

[911monty]

Well I can vouch for this listing, Mine. I have all receipts from when I bought at 79k miles.

One sweet 98 for sale

[78F350]

1) Check out Monty's car. He has been a helpful and credible member of the forum and I expect his car is as described or better.

2) Did you see the post I made in your "Paint or not" thread? Craigslist and Facebook market are popular for selling cars in your area. Finding a seller with integrity may not be easy, but that's where the for sale by owner cars seem to be.

Originally Posted by 78F350

San Diego and Southern California are a much bigger market than Northeast Oklahoma. I'm lucky to find more than two running 986s within 100 miles of my area. Here's a quick look at some searches that take only a minute or two. Pick a color:

It looks like Craigslist is still active for selling cars in the San Diego area. https://sandiego.craigslist.org/search/cta?auto_make_model=porsche%20boxster&max_auto_year=2009&min_auto_year=1997#search=1~gallery~0~34


Facebook Marketplace is awkward to search and terrible to use, but in my area, it's where the for sale by owner cars are. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/sandiego/search?query=boxster%20porsche


Used car dealers like to feed their inventory to places like Autotrader: https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/all-cars/porsche/boxster/san-diego-ca-92107?0=vehicledetails.xhtml&listingId=673051436&requestId=BOXSTE&searchRadius=100&marketExtension=off&startYear=1997&endYear=2004&isNewSearch=true&showAccelerateBanner=false&sortBy=relevance&numRecords=25


I think Ive bought over 20 now. Never had yellow and not sure if Rick (Redtele58) has a yellow one either. Next time I get rid of a black one, I should do a fly-n-drive to San Diego to get a yellow one.

[911monty]

[QUOTE=78F350;652252]1) Check out Monty's car. He has been a helpful and credible member of the forum and I expect his car is as described or better.

Thank You for the kind words!

[Starter986]

I've been a member here since ~2017, and have seen 911's handle and many posts. If I purchase another Porsche... it'll be from this forum and a name I recognize.

If I were in the market for a well sorted Boxster, I'd be looking at 911's. His price isn't extraordinary. And... it's a stick.

[craigkeen]

Here is where I am right now:

I'm a 73-year-old man. I am in reasonably good health and come from long-lived ancestors. I expect to be able to operate a sports car for another ten years. The Boxster I buy will be my first and last Porsche. I am trying with all my might to decide what I really want.

I prefer the aesthetics of the 987. What is most important, however, is to locate a Boxster that has all the marks of a car that will last, that will not be frequently in the shop, and will not be a money pit. I know there are no guarantees, but there are worse and better odds. So, I have to decide if I would always wish I had waited for the perfect 987, if I instead went with a 986, even one as nice as 911's.

Add to all of that the fact that I came much closer than I thought I would to buying a Boxster from a well respected Boxster expert (highly recommended by someone on this forum) who told me the story of his car that I late found was flatly and unequivocally contradicted by the CARFAX report I ran on it. When I wrote him to tell him that, he suddenly went silent.

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by craigkeen

Here is where I am right now:

I'm a 73-year-old man. I am in reasonably good health and come from long-lived ancestors. I expect to be able to operate a sports car for another ten years. The Boxster I buy will be my first and last Porsche. I am trying with all my might to decide what I really want.

I prefer the aesthetics of the 987. What is most important, however, is to locate a Boxster that has all the marks of a car that will last, that will not be frequently in the shop, and will not be a money pit. I know there are no guarantees, but there are worse and better odds. So, I have to decide if I would always wish I had waited for the perfect 987, if I instead went with a 986, even one as nice as 911's.

Add to all of that the fact that I came much closer than I thought I would to buying a Boxster from a well respected Boxster expert (highly recommended by someone on this forum) who told me the story of his car that I late found was flatly and unequivocally contradicted by the CARFAX report I ran on it. When I wrote him to tell him that, he suddenly went silent.

Well... you are a latecomer to the game. Hang around a few years... read posts... get to know the guys and you won't have to rely on a recommendation.

Good luck on your search. Welcome to the forum.

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by craigkeen

Here is where I am right now:

I'm a 73-year-old man. I am in reasonably good health and come from long-lived ancestors. I expect to be able to operate a sports car for another ten years. The Boxster I buy will be my first and last Porsche. I am trying with all my might to decide what I really want.

I prefer the aesthetics of the 987. What is most important, however, is to locate a Boxster that has all the marks of a car that will last, that will not be frequently in the shop, and will not be a money pit. I know there are no guarantees, but there are worse and better odds. So, I have to decide if I would always wish I had waited for the perfect 987, if I instead went with a 986, even one as nice as 911's.

Add to all of that the fact that I came much closer than I thought I would to buying a Boxster from a well respected Boxster expert (highly recommended by someone on this forum) who told me the story of his car that I late found was flatly and unequivocally contradicted by the CARFAX report I ran on it. When I wrote him to tell him that, he suddenly went silent.

Well... you are a latecomer to the game. Hang around a few years... read posts... get to know the guys and you won't have to rely on a recommendation.

Good luck on your search. Welcome to the forum.

[ike84]

Craig, this may sound silly, but buying any used car is somewhat of a gamble. Apps and forums do nothing to change that. Reputable or not, cars can be in perfect running condition the next day and 1 ton paperweight the next.

If you want to buy a boxster that you can have faith in, there are plenty of threads about how to do ppi's and what to look for. If you can't do it yourself, find an Indy in your area who can. Keep in mind though that the 986 is a NOT a maintenance free vehicle and quite frankly your barking up the wrong tree if that's what you're looking for. Further, unless you're doing the maintenance, you can count on paying $200+ per hour for anyone to turn a wrench on her.

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[craigkeen]

I'm arranging a PPI of a locally and privately owned 2000 Boxster S for next week. We'll see what happens.

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by craigkeen

I'm arranging a PPI of a locally and privately owned 2000 Boxster S for next week. We'll see what happens.

Be sure to have that single row checked out...

[Sandy G]

I'd suggest looking at PCA (https://mart.pca.org) for a good site with reliable postings. These folks are real Porsche fans, and I expect most of them take care of their cars and keep good records.

At the other end of the spectrum, there's craigslist.

In any case, ask for whatever records are available, a CarFax, and most importantly, a PPI. Even an honest seller may not be aware of everything about their own car.

Good luck!

[craigkeen]

Thanks, y'all! Any advice on where to take it in San Diego for a PPI? I've not yet found a recent recommendation through the search function here.

Also, the car is nearly spotless. I spent quite a lot of time with the owner on Friday. He drove it while a listened and talked and then I drove it. I was a delight—to drive, to hear, to feel. I've also written to the previous owner. He did tons of updates on the car, among them replacing the single row IMSB with a double row one.

[Frodo]

You may or may not have stumbled onto it, but there's a thread, "Find your local mechanic/porsche specialist", that talks about this subject. I went through it, found 4 hits/recommendations for the San Diego area. Two are no longer around, two are still hangin' in there:

Black Forest Automotive https://www.blackforestautomotiveca.com/

Dieter's https://www.dietersmotorsports.com/

I can't personally say anything one way or the other about these two shops—I live at the other end of the country. But someone here on the forum thought well enough of them to make the recommendation.

[craigkeen]

Thanks! I've made an appointment for tomorrow at Black Forest for a PPI. Wish me luck!