Buying a Boxster!!~
 

I am looking to sell my current car and get something fun like the boxster.

Would most people venture to say that this car is a money pit?
I am looking at purchasing one with 80k+ miles on it. Want to spend 10k or so and then spend 1k to have the bearing updated so there is no chance of catastrophic failure.

Let me know what you guys think about buying an aged one, also what to look out for??

you need to factor closer to 2k for the bearing if you are having someone do it. Should have no problem finding a 97-99 base for that price. 80k would be a safe mileage for it.

things that need done around that time or before normally
AOS
clutch
RMS update (with clutch normally)
water pump/thermostat
belt (with waterpump)

they are generally not money pits,we are not talking a B5 Audi S4 or anything...consumer reports actually lists the 03 Boxster as a best bet reliability wise.

Yes that's exactly why my interest was struck in this car. Consumer reports seems to love it.

Aesthetically everything on the exterior looks awesome, im kinda bummed out that there are not many fancy bells and whistles inside. Just a simple driving machine. I would end up sending a lot in custom modifications..

My other options would be a BMW or MB, however they both have a horrid standing with reliability.

1) updating the IMS bearing doesn't guarantee "no chance of catastrophic failure"'
2) expect to do pretty much everything fivepointnine pointed out in the next 20k miles or so
3) unless it's been done, probably needs brakes, tires, possibly wheel bearings and cv boots.

you will quickly forget about bells and whistles the first time you take that tach past 6k and hear that wail coming from behind your shoulder

Surprisingly, owning a boxster should cost no more than own any normal car.*

*providing you do ALL the maintenance yourself, as how I do. I've changed the filters, spark plugs, and oil, along with the brake pads.

The key is just ordering the parts online and having an afternoon in the garage.:cheers:

Yes if you wrench yourself they are not money pits. If you find one with all history like I did and it is good, likely it will stay that way...though nothing is guaranteed.

Understand it is easy to drop a ton of money on them for fun.

After having owned mine for almost a year and a half, if I was in the market for a brand knew one I would order it with NO options. I drive with the top down and it is not a daily driver. I require no bells or whistles that I thought I would. The AC is nice in the 100 degree summer for the drive to the Mountains, but once there, top down ac off...rest of year top down and heat on if needed.

Ain't that the truth, know someone who got rid of his after it literally self disintegrated every month.

The 2.5 base engine has the best sound. I was always told to avoid the '97 because the suspension is not as good as the '98 and forward.

I had. BMW 325 before the Boxster and gave up nothing. I have all the bells and whistles that I used anyway. Heated seats, a/c, power windows, power locks, leather. Then I have more/nicer sunroof, stares from others and yes that sound behind your shoulder. Then throw in the handling and feeling you get holding Porsche Keys!!!

Mine is a daily driver and love it. Sold the 325 due to lack of interest. As far as money pit, not sure how much more this will cost. I have owned Jags, Land rovers, Lincolns, bmws and I would say this is right there. Parts and labor are more but same issues as any ford, dodge, honda or toyota.

I for one will always have a Boxster in my garage or at least a spot for one.(I will be driving most of the time).

Yes the wail is the clincher for the sound department when you drive it hard. No regrets after one year of ownership of my base 2001 Boxster. Yes I have spent $2k in the past year on cv joints, ims guardian, oil change. It has not let me down at all and I drive it thru the winter. It feels way more substantial than my previous '99 Miata MX5. Mine has no psm, no remote key entry and I think it has vinyl seats but really don't miss the options. The heated seats and air cond. work really well. I would advise a PPI or take somebody that knows Boxsters well. Take your time looking. There are lots of choices out there. :)

Someone correct me if there was some exception for early base models or something, but I don't think any U.S. Boxsters could be had without leather seats. That said, they are all "Leather Seating Surfaces" only, meaning only the part your butt and back are on; the rest is vinyl. (The exception, of course, is the all-leather package cars, which have leather on all surfaces of the seats, dash, etc.)

Kinda on a personal note,

What are you guys paying in insurance?

I understand everyones rate will be different, just curious what the highest and lowest amount here is?

Yes you could be right. The seat back gave me the impression that it is vinyl because it has a scuff on it. Perhaps leather does scuff but I can't get the scuff out. Mine is a 2001 Boxster base.

If you get a Boxster, I'd check the front motor mount also if it hasn't been replaced :P

I pay $93 a month, but that is full coverage on my boxster and truck.

For just the Boxster liability and comprehension -no collision I pay about $45 a month.

125 a month for full coverage on the 02 Boxster S,a 04 BMW X3 and a 01 Saab 9-3SE convertible

Personally, I wouldn't go near a Boxster unless I was in love with the thing.

In my view, you'd be far better off with something like a Z4 3.0. Most of the parts are dirt cheap generic 3 Series bits and the engine won't go pop if properly maintained. You'll still have a great looking (if very different looking) roadster with a lovely six cylinder engine.

Yes, the Box drives better. But you have to be pretty anal to care significantly about the differences. I am pretty anal and prefer the Boxster and am willing to put up with much higher parts and specialist labour prices and the greater risk of something really expensive breaking - read the engine.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not harshing on the Box. They are absolutely superb cars which is why I own one. But there are downsides that easily outweigh that if you just want something fun rather than have your heart set on a Boxster.

That's my view. You need to be in love with the Box, otherwise don't bother.

I think ive decided to save up and possibly get the 05' boxster, It seems to have a better body style anyway. And hopefully won't be high mileage.

Thanks for the help guys!

In my case. I am 22. Don't make much money. Saved up 5 years to get $5k. Bought an 00 Boxster for less than $10k. Took a loan on the other $5k.

After 1.5 years of ownership, I spent $900 total on oil change, air filter replacement, water pump replacement, 2 bottles of new coolant, and inner tie rod replacement. That is not bad at all. That is about $50 per month for me on maintenance and repairs.

Thumbs up there, ProjectM96. Looks like you have yourself a decent car, all right.

I have to agree with Pothole to a point. There are many more cost effective cars out there than the Boxster, so it would really come down to how much you have your heart set on a Boxster than having your heart set on just getting a fun roadster. There are Miatas, Z3s, Z4s, SLKs, S2000s, or even the Solstice/Sky, all of which will fit the bill and be enjoyable to you if you find one that appeals to you (both in appearance and how it drives).

Now if you're set on a Boxster, go for it, and as you'll hear from advice given here time and again, get the youngest one you can afford, and get a pre-purchase inspection no matter what. You won't be disappointed, and if you can wrench it yourself or have a good buddy willing to dive in there with/for you, you won't be dumping money into it like you could.

My cost of ownership was even less
 

Once I had brought everything in the Boxster up to my standards on a car that had only 42k. But I was in a completely different economic situation than the OP, an engine failure would have been a relatively minor annoyance to my net worth. I could afford to employ experts to solve any problem I couldn't. And I came out ahead in $ totaling my first Boxster.

I recall college days (where I was making money) the angst of a used car and the difficulty finding a good mechanic and affording one. Never did find a good one for my Volvo and had to dump it, only found one great one for my Alfa and, when I got to where there was none, had an engine failure that cost me the car that I wouldn't have had had I access to a good brand-specific mechanic ... and I was a college grad with income.

Now if he told me he had wrenched on a fill-in-the-blank...maybe.

The question to me is can he afford to take the risk however slight? Because to me he is too vulnerable to anything that could happen. Plus I'd rather have date money.

My 2 cents here...it's a crap shoot on any used car with 80K, but, there are guys who decided to drive them until the wheels fall off. A lot of them have over 120K and still going strong. I remember one guy that had over 200K with just normal maintenance being done on a regular basis...he drove it daily. I have 70K on my 3.2 and the only real issue was an AOS going bad...anything else I've done was just pure maintenance. Good luck...don't worry, be happy.

bought my 02 s with 88,000, now I have 100,000 little less than a year. However spent 4800 to get it perfect I.E... R.M.S, bearings, c.v.joints, control arms, clutch ,window regulator,water pump belt. Normal wear items just do a ppi and get someone who knows the car but I personally love the car. No more maintenance than the Ford, Chevy, Boat, Minibikes house, camper lawntools. The forum has been very helpfull however can cause a little stress like the ims issue.My indy continually says "DRIVE IT " so I do alot