986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners - View Single Post - True cost to own

23109VC · 06-22-2008, 01:10 PM

I've been lurking here a while, done a few posts - and have been collecting lots of info. I've spent quite a bit of time on autotrader.com reviewing prices on used boxsters as well.

No need to "sell" me on the boxster. I have driven them and absolutely LOVE the car. I am in the market for a small two seat roadster as a third car / toy. I plan to drive it to from work and on weekends. I might track it once a year for fun - nothign hardcore, just those one day "fun" track events where you run around on the track with other novices.

The car will primarily be for top down / fun driving - either to/from work and on weekends with my wife or I can take my 6 year old son - provided there are no airbag problems on the passenger side...

I am looking at cars in the 15-20k price range. Given my budget, that is about what I am comfortable spending on a used car. I feel I have gained quite a bit of knowledge abou the car - the ONE thing that is a BIG unknown is the cost of repairs / maintenance.

I know this is a HUGE unknown and can vary tremendously from car to car. Which is why ANY car I buy would get a PPI at a dealer.

so assuming I get a 2000-2002 model, that has 50-75k on the odometer - which is probaby what I would end up getting for the price range I'm looking at - maybe something with slightly less miles, but I doubt I'd be able to afford one much newer.

Aside from obvious costs like tires, brakes, and other consumables - I'm thinking of unknowns like water pumps, suspension parts (shocks/ bushings) and other random mechanical stuff that goes wrong on cars of this age/mileage - the big question is:

WHAT KIND OF ANNUAL BUDGET SHOULD I REALISTICALLY EXPECT FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND UNEXPECTED MAINTENANCE ON A 2000-2002 CAR WITH ASAY 75K MILES ON IT??

I plan to drive 10-12k / year. I'm thinking at least $1500-2000/year would cover me for the next three years or from 75000 - 110k range... or is that way high or way low?

Here is why I ask - the one other car which I am considering is the Honda S2k. I honestly don't like it as much, but I have driven it, and in terms of driving dynamics - it's "similar" two seater, roadster, tight, and fun to drive. they are very different in power delivery, sound, looks - and if money were no object i'd buy the boxster and never look back.

given my budget constraints however - I am attracted to the s2k. i could lease a new 08 for about what I'd be paying per month on the boxster...if you factor in reapairs/upkeep the NEW s2k might actually be cheaper on a total cost of ownershp comparison than the boxster. right now, a new 08 s2k can be leased for absolutely ZERO down, and around $400/month total including taxes.

granted, at the end of the lease I own nothing - but over the life of the lease, the actual total costs are goin to be known and fixed. the new car won't break, it won't be in/out of the shop,, and all i'll be on the hook for is the payment, gas, tires, and some brakes. if someting does go wrong, it's on Honda to fix it.

if I get a used 2000 boxster or boxster S, and were to 100% finance 20k, over say 60 months, I'm looking at slighly over $400/month. over the first three years - who knows how much I'll pay in repairs. i'll still have to buy tires/ brakes/ etc..that's a wash car vs car - but if the boxster i buy has 75k on it - i could easily be looking at several thousand in repairs if anyting remotely $$ broke.

if I kept the boxste the full 5 years - at the end, i'd have an asset, albeit it's depreciated..but it will have SOME net worth in 5 years. say 8-10k? i dunno. the s2k lease is up and turned in in 3 years... very hard to compare apples to oranges..

given my budget, my urge is to get the boxster b/c I'd like it more, but being on a fixed budget for a toy car - the s2k might get me 90% of the fun, on a price tag I can budget for and not be suprised with.

can anyone give me a realistic ESTIMATE as to what they have had to spend on repairs on their used boxster? or give me the ranges of what I may or could get hit with on a used boxster? assuming I bought one current on maintanenance and that was not a total wreck??

thanks.

06-22-2008, 01:10 PM	#1
23109VC Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: CA Posts: 726	True cost to own - used Boxster?? I've been lurking here a while, done a few posts - and have been collecting lots of info. I've spent quite a bit of time on autotrader.com reviewing prices on used boxsters as well. No need to "sell" me on the boxster. I have driven them and absolutely LOVE the car. I am in the market for a small two seat roadster as a third car / toy. I plan to drive it to from work and on weekends. I might track it once a year for fun - nothign hardcore, just those one day "fun" track events where you run around on the track with other novices. The car will primarily be for top down / fun driving - either to/from work and on weekends with my wife or I can take my 6 year old son - provided there are no airbag problems on the passenger side... I am looking at cars in the 15-20k price range. Given my budget, that is about what I am comfortable spending on a used car. I feel I have gained quite a bit of knowledge abou the car - the ONE thing that is a BIG unknown is the cost of repairs / maintenance. I know this is a HUGE unknown and can vary tremendously from car to car. Which is why ANY car I buy would get a PPI at a dealer. so assuming I get a 2000-2002 model, that has 50-75k on the odometer - which is probaby what I would end up getting for the price range I'm looking at - maybe something with slightly less miles, but I doubt I'd be able to afford one much newer. Aside from obvious costs like tires, brakes, and other consumables - I'm thinking of unknowns like water pumps, suspension parts (shocks/ bushings) and other random mechanical stuff that goes wrong on cars of this age/mileage - the big question is: WHAT KIND OF ANNUAL BUDGET SHOULD I REALISTICALLY EXPECT FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND UNEXPECTED MAINTENANCE ON A 2000-2002 CAR WITH ASAY 75K MILES ON IT?? I plan to drive 10-12k / year. I'm thinking at least $1500-2000/year would cover me for the next three years or from 75000 - 110k range... or is that way high or way low? Here is why I ask - the one other car which I am considering is the Honda S2k. I honestly don't like it as much, but I have driven it, and in terms of driving dynamics - it's "similar" two seater, roadster, tight, and fun to drive. they are very different in power delivery, sound, looks - and if money were no object i'd buy the boxster and never look back. given my budget constraints however - I am attracted to the s2k. i could lease a new 08 for about what I'd be paying per month on the boxster...if you factor in reapairs/upkeep the NEW s2k might actually be cheaper on a total cost of ownershp comparison than the boxster. right now, a new 08 s2k can be leased for absolutely ZERO down, and around $400/month total including taxes. granted, at the end of the lease I own nothing - but over the life of the lease, the actual total costs are goin to be known and fixed. the new car won't break, it won't be in/out of the shop,, and all i'll be on the hook for is the payment, gas, tires, and some brakes. if someting does go wrong, it's on Honda to fix it. if I get a used 2000 boxster or boxster S, and were to 100% finance 20k, over say 60 months, I'm looking at slighly over $400/month. over the first three years - who knows how much I'll pay in repairs. i'll still have to buy tires/ brakes/ etc..that's a wash car vs car - but if the boxster i buy has 75k on it - i could easily be looking at several thousand in repairs if anyting remotely $$ broke. if I kept the boxste the full 5 years - at the end, i'd have an asset, albeit it's depreciated..but it will have SOME net worth in 5 years. say 8-10k? i dunno. the s2k lease is up and turned in in 3 years... very hard to compare apples to oranges.. given my budget, my urge is to get the boxster b/c I'd like it more, but being on a fixed budget for a toy car - the s2k might get me 90% of the fun, on a price tag I can budget for and not be suprised with. can anyone give me a realistic ESTIMATE as to what they have had to spend on repairs on their used boxster? or give me the ranges of what I may or could get hit with on a used boxster? assuming I bought one current on maintanenance and that was not a total wreck?? thanks.