Looking for a Boxster, what to buy with my budget?

[JayG]

Originally Posted by ByteSaidFred

I understand the 09-11 are nicer, but the 2007 is nice enough for me :-) The conversation will go a lot easier with 'the boss' if I keep it under $30K. You have to love those psychological barriers. I drove a local 2007 S from an independent dealer yesterday. I loved it, but the dealer was not flexible at all on price. He wanted $37K for a 2007 S with 67K miles.

If the consensus is that the IMS is low risk on the 2007, I'll be looking to pick up a <40K mile 2007 for ~$30K. 2009-2010's are around $40K.

IMHO the IMS is a low risk in older 986's as well. Don't lose sleep over it.
Yes, there are some that are all doom and gloom, but the vast majority of M96 engines had had no IMS issue. They are probably more with over 100K without any IMS issue than the total that have had IMS issues.

Can there be a problem, sure. Will it happen on all engines, NO, even a large percentage, probably not.

You can always have it replaced when the clutch is done and then it is a much lower cost as you have to pull the tranny to replace the IMS, same as doing the clutch.

I have an 04 with 60k and will I replace the IMS, most likely when I do the clutch. I drive the car, it is not a garage queen and I drive some back roads at least once a week giving it some high revs. As my DD, I keep it below 3k until its warmed up and then it gets higher revs as well. Its a lot of fun doing freeway ramps and shifting at 6-7k. Top of the ramp in 3rd near triple digits.

Find a car you like and enjoy it. If you are going to worry about what could/might happen and servicing the car and maybe spending a few $$ annually, buy a S2000 or 370z