Thinking of getting another Boxster or?... - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

SeaNile31 · 10-30-2010, 02:09 PM

New to the forum but not to Boxster cars. I've had 4 of them and am thinking of getting another. Years ago had a 99 Boxster, put 40K miles on it with no issues, then bought an 01 S, put 30K miles on it with no issues, then an 03 S...same story and just last winter bought an 05 S, never registered it, sold it in 3 weeks and bought a Ferrari 360 Modena. Now I've sold the Fcar and think I want another Boxster S but am much more budget minded and am even thinking of an 07 350Z convert.

My budget is under $30K and I am looking for a nice well taken care of S. I'd like an 05+. The KBB and Edmunds has an 05 S with 20K miles pegged at about $25K. When I search on cars.com, etc it seems that an 05 S has an asking price of $33-36K. That's a big difference compared to the books. I really don't think I want a pre 05 S but wouldn't rule it out. Here is what I have found....2007 350Z convert with 11K miles for I think $20K. That seems like a lot of car for the price. Now I could drop to an 02/03 S for 20Kish but am not sure how an 07 Z would compare to an older 02/03 S. I know I have had the S cars before and they are awesome but am I looking something in technology and a Z with only 11K miles.

Maybe I wait till the dead of winter and see if the S prices come down?

Thanks!

JK

jbs986 · 10-30-2010, 06:47 PM

KBB is way off when it comes to the price of a Porsche. Here In Michigan the price of P cars are much higher then KBB.

As for getting a 350Z you need to go test drive one first. the two cars are like night and day. The Boxster is 10X better, then the Z.

Good luck

SeaNile31 · 10-30-2010, 06:49 PM

Thanks. My gut (and wife) is telling me to go the Boxster S way. Now comes the decision as to go 2005+ or older.

fatmike · 10-30-2010, 07:18 PM

definitely get the Z

/

husker boxster · 10-30-2010, 07:27 PM

definitely get the Boxster S.

My sister has a 350Z and JBS is right, they're two entirely different cars. The Box just feels more refined.

eightsandaces · 10-31-2010, 02:19 AM

Ferrari to Z sounds like moving from a mansion to a trailer, sure it's cheaper but....

JTP · 10-31-2010, 05:57 AM

I drove a 350Z and didn't like it much. I'm very happy with my '00 986S. Seven years older than the 350 but a better car in everyway.
The only Z-car I would consider is a '74 240Z or a '78 280Z.

SeaNile31 · 10-31-2010, 06:01 AM

I'm essentially looking for the best bang for the buck. The Z is out, I don't think I would ever be happy with that as a purchase. My biggest decision now is 03/04 986 S for hopefully $20K or spend closer to $30K (asking prices are actually 33-35K) for an 05 S 987. I tend to over to over think everything and now am concerned about the IMS failure in an 05 987 S.

extanker · 10-31-2010, 06:38 AM

[QUOTE=fatmike]definitely get the Z

as in Z06 AND then you will fear no one

hersheyboy · 10-31-2010, 06:57 AM

Go for the Boxster, just voted best handling car in america , under $100k, by Car & Driver. I drove a boxster for 4 years, no real issues, sold it for a CLK55 and then kicked myself after the newness wore off. Took me a year and a Saab and and an S2000 later to go back to a boxster S. Paradise again

SeaNile31 · 10-31-2010, 06:59 AM

All of a sudden I am scared to death of a Boxster, despite my great person experiences with these cars. I'm researching the Boxster and all I can find is the very common IMS failure and the associated repair bill. Some suggest the IMS failure is as high as 20% of all these cars. Now I am really stumped.....

clickman · 10-31-2010, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaNile31

New to the forum but not to Boxster cars. I've had 4 of them and am thinking of getting another. Years ago had a 99 Boxster, put 40K miles on it with no issues, then bought an 01 S, put 30K miles on it with no issues, then an 03 S...same story

And now you're scared to death about the IMS? IMHO I think anywhere near 20% failure rate is ridiculous.

You can get up to MY05 with the ability to retrofit the IMS without disassembling the engine, so include in your purchase calcs $3500 to replace it and the RMS and your clutch, then don't worry and just DRIVE!

eightsandaces · 10-31-2010, 10:24 AM

Sea, If you wait till it's snowing hard and the dealerships are dead AND January coming = everything is a year older, you should be able to score...