1998 boxster S?

[saaber]

The clamshell on that car does not fit right. It has probably been in an accident or they had some major issues with the top. If you look close at every gap between body panels I bet some will not look right. This is a sure sign of bad bodywork.

I would not even consider this car based on the dealer deception. If you do consider it please get a pre purchase inspection and have them look for any signs of damage especially in the back. I would run away from this car.

[Tool Pants]

I found it. VIN is WPOCA2982WU620509, so it is a 1998 2.5 made in Finland. As others said the 3.2 liter S model did not come out until 2000.

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp;?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=21&pageNumber=1&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=ascending&sortfield=YEAR+ascending%2CYEAR+descending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-%7CE-%7CM-_41_%7CD-_391_%7CN-N%7CR-10000%7CI-1%7CP-YEAR+ascending%2CYEAR+descending%7CQ-ascending%7CZ-95121&aff=national&paId=135139281&recnum=76&leadExists=true

http://www.autotrader.com/dealers/dda/inventory.jsp?dealership_view_name=staffordautosal esva&dealer_id=100010628&advanced=&result_car_id=null&make=POR&make2=&model=BOXSTE&start_year=1981&end_year=2008&min_price=&max_price=&search_type=both&transmission=&engine=&drive=&doors=&fuel=&max_mileage=&color=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&keywords_display=&sort_type=priceDESC&suppressStyle=null&x=88&y=7

Check out the burnt headlights.

[tboyer]

Originally Posted by Tool Pants

VIN = WPOCA2982WU620509

Carfax returns clean (4 what it's worth), you'd be the 4th owner, appears to have been owned in NJ and MD, only 1 service record reported.

1998 PORSCHE BOXSTER
WP0CA2982WU620509
CONVERTIBLE
2.5L H6 FI DOHC 24V / REAR WHEEL DRIVE

[j.fro]

that burn in the headlight is from someone switching to a bulb that's too hot...most likely trying to get the Litronics look with out actually spending the money to switch. Replacement for that light, whether to Litronics or to halogens, won't be cheap.
13.5 isn't a bad price, but you should be able to negotiate a better price. A plus for that car is that it's one of the lightest Boxsters built. Nice track candidate

I can see the condensation in the corner triangles, I love my Boxster but that one piece is really poorly executed and conceived. I bought brand new ones that leaked, I finally sealed them myself with a thin silicone barrier.

[Jeph]

If a friend showed me this car, I would advise against them buying it, regardless of price (unless it was like $5k or something). No reason to do a PPO, just move on to another car.

Good call on the clam shell not fitting properly.
Same for the hood lining up to the front bumper.
The headlights will also need replacing.
It even looks like there is some rust just of the left of the driver side head light.
I noticed some curb rash too.

CarFax is good for knowing if/where a car has been registered or inspected. That's about it. Its ability to determine whether or not a car has been in an accident is IFFY at best.

I see a previous owner upgraded the shifter though in addition to the poser "S" badge. Mod your car all you want to look newer... but the second you put deceptive inscription on a car, you're posing.

And honestly, I bet the dealership has no idea that it's not an "S." They'll just read what's on the car. I find at least 90% of the car salesmen I've ever talked to know very little about cars.

[Dr. Kill]

Ditto on the avoidance of this one. These cars are by no means rare, and clean less shady examples can be found at a good price if you look around.

[ppbon]

Originally Posted by j.fro

that burn in the headlight is from someone switching to a bulb that's too hot...most likely trying to get the Litronics look with out actually spending the money to switch. Replacement for that light, whether to Litronics or to halogens, won't be cheap.

Not necessarily.
I have a '98 and a '99 none of which have had other than the factory H7 55 W bulbs installed and they both have yellowed (burnt).
The early ('97-'99) headlights had a plastic material that was susceptible to yellowing.
I bought a set of used (almost new) headlights from someone who upgraded to lits for $150 at the auction site.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro