New owner of a 1998 Boxster. Would you buy a mint 98 Boxster???

[Meat Head]

Hello, I just purchased a 1998 arena red Porsche Boxster with the 2.5 engine and 5 speed transmission. I couldn't pass it up. It has 26k miles, has always been garaged and basically in mint condition. I owned a Porsche 944 years ago so I understand a little about their ownership. Are these cars the ticking time bomb that seems everyone is saying or has their problems been over hyped due to forums (negative always gets more exposure)??? Please be honest with me.

[BoxsterSteve]

Just have the IMS bearing replaced with an LN unit and drive it like the good Doctor ordered!
Any other mechanical issues are rather like any other vehicle.
Drive it.
Enjoy it.
Smile a lot.

[particlewave]

No sense in worrying about what might happen...just enjoy it!

[Skrapmot]

Wow! I'm amazed at the frequent buyer's remorse we see on this forum!
If these cars were complete junk or lemons, you wouldn't see such a fanatical fan base that make up these forums, or see so many well cared for 15 year old Boxster zooming about (I saw 3 just on the way to work yesterday). I've owned lots of other cars, and even other Porsches, and I know this wont be my last.
So, either sell it off and get a Honda s2000 or Miata if you want a bulletproof driver, or keep the Porsche, keep it clean, drive it hard, enjoy what you got.

[Coffinhunter]

There is much more talk about the issues than there really is. Somewhere between 2-5% have the IMS issue. If you have a failure it totally sucks, it is not something I would completely dwell on.

ANY car can have a catastrophic failure, but do you worry about your others like that? Sure it is more expensive to repair a Porsche, but we all knew that going in.

Enjoy the car. The perma-grin should eliminate most concerns

[RandallNeighbour]

Just drive it like you stole it and the motor will remain fully lubricated (IMS issues aren't as prevalent in cars with cars that are driven to the limit). Take it to 6000 rpm frequently after its up to running temp.

And don't be worried. I did enough of that for the both of us the first five years of ownership!

[986_inquiry]

Originally Posted by Meat Head

Hello, I just purchased a 1998 arena red Porsche Boxster with the 2.5 engine and 5 speed transmission. I couldn't pass it up. It has 28k miles, has always been garaged and basically in mint condition. The car is beautiful but the last thing I need is a money pit! I owned a Porsche 944 years ago so I understand a little about their ownership. However, after doing a little research about the early Boxsters I'm questioning my purchase!!! Are these cars the ticking time bomb that seems everyone is saying or has their problems been over hyped due to forums (negative always gets more exposure)??? Please be honest with me. DID I MAKE A HUGE MISTAKE BUYING A 1998 BOXSTER??

this thread is nearly two months old and you haven't responded to any of the suggestions, but if I bought a 1998 with 28k miles on it first thing I would do is take it to the closest Porsche dealer or Porsche mechanic and have it thoroughly checked out. I did that with my 06, cost about $350.

My main concern is the low miles, could be it sat for years, in which case that IMS may have been dry for years and that can cause problems. I'd have it replaced just in cast by the LN one, costs $1,500 for the part and probably several hundred for the install. Then you'll be safe with no worries. If that sounds high at least have the IMS guardian installed, that's only a few hundred, but that will only warn you when you need to pay $1,500+ for the part plus installation.

and only take it to porsche dealers or ask the forum for a local porsche mechanic. NEVER TAKE IT TO A REGULAR MECHANIC. No matter what they claim, "car is a car", etc, a few hundred dollars saved is not worth losing a $8,000+ engine

otherwise congrats on your new purchase

[Meat Head]

Originally Posted by 986_inquiry

this thread is nearly two months old and you haven't responded to any of the suggestions, but if I bought a 1998 with 28k miles on it first thing I would do is take it to the closest Porsche dealer or Porsche mechanic and have it thoroughly checked out. I did that with my 06, cost about $350.

My main concern is the low miles, could be it sat for years, in which case that IMS may have been dry for years and that can cause problems. I'd have it replaced just in cast by the LN one, costs $1,500 for the part and probably several hundred for the install. Then you'll be safe with no worries. If that sounds high at least have the IMS guardian installed, that's only a few hundred, but that will only warn you when you need to pay $1,500+ for the part plus installation.

and only take it to porsche dealers or ask the forum for a local porsche mechanic. NEVER TAKE IT TO A REGULAR MECHANIC. No matter what they claim, "car is a car", etc, a few hundred dollars saved is not worth losing a $8,000+ engine

otherwise congrats on your new purchase

I haven't responded because I quickly relized this portion of the site doesn't receive much traffic so I posted similar questions in the "General Discussions".

I'm not overly worried about the seals in the car. It was never put in storage, just not driven often (1800 mile per year). My third vehicle (now my box, formerly a Solstice) never gets more than 2700-3500 miles on it per year and I drive them year round (when no chance for precip). It has alway been stored in a heated garage with a cover over it.

As for the IMS, I'm not going to give it much thought until I need the clutch replaced. Porsche released the failure rates of the double bearing motors to be less than 1%. With those kind of odds, I figure just about any engine has that amount of chance to blow lol.

Thanks for the congrats, I'm looking forward to learning all I can about the Boxster!

[More]

Originally Posted by Meat Head

Hello, I just purchased a 1998 arena red Porsche Boxster with the 2.5 engine and 5 speed transmission. I couldn't pass it up. It has 28k miles, has always been garaged and basically in mint condition. The car is beautiful but the last thing I need is a money pit! I owned a Porsche 944 years ago so I understand a little about their ownership. However, after doing a little research about the early Boxsters I'm questioning my purchase!!! Are these cars the ticking time bomb that seems everyone is saying or has their problems been over hyped due to forums (negative always gets more exposure)??? Please be honest with me. DID I MAKE A HUGE MISTAKE BUYING A 1998 BOXSTER??

Ticking time bomb?
Your car is over 15 years old and still going so it's hardly a ticking time bomb always look on the bright side of life and you could get another 15 years out of her.

You might need a new clutch on the way or a new gear box and probably a few other bits and pieces here and there.

The major worry on this forum is the IMS going on you but like another forum member mentioned before the chance of that happening to you is a very low %2 to %5.

Enjoy the ride

[Jake Raby]

Too many buyers start their research after they buy rather than before.. We get the phone calls and emails 4-5 times a week from people who have just bought an M96 powered Porsche. The interesting thing is we only get one call every 2-3 weeks from someone thinking of buying one of the cars.

I think too many are bought on a whim and when people come to forums or start looking for accessories or go cast goodies they read about the failures and get worried. Many Boxster and 996 owners are first time Porsche owners, which has not been the case with those of us that grew up with the AirCooled cars.

Today most anyone can afford to buy an M96 powered Porsche but they can't afford to own it.

[southernstar]

A good point, Jake: prices of used Boxsters are now so low that many people who purchase them are unable to maintain them. In the end result, I suspect that the number of clean, well-maintained used 986 Boxsters will diminish dramatically over the next four or five years.

Brad