Buying Advice

[mike914]

Thanks Old911DOC



Any issue with the 123,00 miles?

Are struts 1000. for just the parts?

Thanks

Mike

[PLP]

Originally Posted by mike914

Are struts 1000. for just the parts?

Thanks

Mike

Mike,

one strut is 250 (front) rear 160.
that's just the "inserts".
Add all rubbers, bushings, bearings... and it easily becomes over 1000.

But I can tell you - I feel mine are weak at 110k miles and I will have to do them. Ride is rough now. Especially with the 19's...

[old911doc]

I would have no issue at all with a 100,000+ mile Porsche.
I’ve seen lots of 200,000+mile Porsches, quite a few 300,000+ mile Porsches, but I have never seen a 100,000+ mile Ferrari.
A set of shocks will usually cost over $900, but the Pelican has Konis on sale.
Since you have to take the struts apart to reuse the springs you would do well to replace the strut mounts, steering bearings, dust boots, bump stops etc so it will add a few hundred bucks, even without replacing the roll bar down links, , the various suspension arms, wheel bearings, brake discs and pads, etc. Lots of creeping incrementalism to this project!

The most cost-effective thing you can do for your Boxster, after joining this forum, would be to join the Porsche Club of America; visit pca dot org. The club newsletter, Porsche Panorama, is the best-edited, best- produced publication in motor sports. The next thing to do, after joining the PCA, would be to subscribe to Excellence; it rivals Pano in production values. Yes, I belong to PCA; no, I don’t get any kickbacks...
...but I should.

[por356c]

I think that most guys on the forum would recommend a PPI. It's about $300 and will help to take some guess work out. This won't help with the IMSB decision, but it sure will provide knowledge/confidence in other areas of the car. Good luck.

[maytag]

Originally Posted by old911doc

I’ve seen lots of 200,000+mile Porsches, quite a few 300,000+ mile Porsches, but I have never seen a 100,000+ mile Ferrari.

Check back with me in 24 months.

In the meantime, to the OP:
Do you DIY? If you do, then none of this is scary and you can forgo the fear some would put in your heart about needing a PPI, or the drivel spouted by some numbskulls about "...a cheap porsche will be the most expensive car you ever own..." .

It's.
Just.
a Car.
and it's a 23-yr-old car at that.

I'll admit that I don't understand the current market on the 986 Boxsters. What was a $4500 car 18 months ago, is now an $8500 car. What was a $12k car 24 months ago, is now a $20k car. I don't get it. It's untenable, from a market-value perspective, yet the age-old addage is that the value of something is exactly whatever someone is willing to pay for it.

If the car you're looking at seems like it's the car you want to drive, then it's probably the right one; knowing up front that you're going to spend money on it in the first 18 months, because it's a 23-yr-old car.

Now, if you DON'T DIY.... then my position remains that you shouldn't be buying a 23-yr-old car, unless it has some intrinsic emotional or collectible value to it. IF it does, then be sure your pockets are deep enough to pay someone else to read all of the advice you'll find here. :dance:

[mike914]

Thanks Maytag

Sound advice regarding one needs to be comfortable DIY.

I have restored (Not complete) a few Porsche 914 but they were simple and straight forward cars.

The 986 are more modern but with that comes some complexity.

I look forward to the DIY part and appreciate the reply.

Mike914

[old911doc]

Think of that $8900 car as a $6900 car that comes with a $2000 hardtop, and it will be a better deal.
Yes, first and foremost it’s a 23-year-old used car, from a marque which motivates parts bandits, oops, aftermarket suppliers to demand far higher prices than they demand for similar parts for other Marques. Example: Boxster shocks, $900 ; Saturn SL2 shocks, same year, $115. Is there$785 difference in the parts?
So there is a ‘prestige tax’ applied to Porsche parts: also to Mercedes, BMW, Audi, etc.

And if you think Porsche parts are overpriced, try Cessna, Beechcraft, Mooney, don’t even ask about Learjet, Boeing, Airbus, much less military stuff! I wonder what’s the price for a set of brake pads for an F35?

Life’s too short to be driving a Chevy, buy the Box!

[78F350]

Originally Posted by mike914

Thanks Maytag

Sound advice regarding one needs to be comfortable DIY.

I have restored (Not complete) a few Porsche 914 but they were simple and straight forward cars.

The 986 are more modern but with that comes some complexity.

I look forward to the DIY part and appreciate the reply.

Mike914

I have bought over a dozen 986s, taken all of them apart, and put more than half of them back together. I have three 914s and so far have only figured out the 'apart'. 986s aren't that hard to work on.

[itsnotanova]

With a hardtop and current pricing, I think that's a fair price. I'd ditch those 19's asap though. They might look nice but they're boat anchors

[jimmybionic]

Originally Posted by maytag

I'll admit that I don't understand the current market on the 986 Boxsters. What was a $4500 car 18 months ago, is now an $8500 car. What was a $12k car 24 months ago, is now a $20k car. I don't get it. It's untenable, from a market-value perspective, yet the age-old addage is that the value of something is exactly whatever someone is willing to pay for it.

As someone that recently purchased a Boxster - if you are searching for an affordable, fun, two-seater, convertible you have very, very few choices. Add to it that the Boxster is a well-balanced mid-engine car without too many electrical nanny systems and I think that drives up prices....also because all car prices are insane right now.

[old911doc]

Have you bought a Boxster yet? If not, consider: you’re now 9 days older, 9 days of life without a Boxster, 9 days that you’ll never , ever , get back. Tick, tick; just sayin’…

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by mike914

Thanks Old911DOC



Any issue with the 123,00 miles?

Are struts 1000. for just the parts?

Thanks

Mike

Yes a 1998 with 123,000 miles is not worth $9,000. There is a old saying, a cheap Porsche
will be the most expensive car you ever own.