Picked up my first Boxster, going to be busy

[Westwood]

I just bought my current Boxster with the remote taped together and it turned out he had assembled it wrong when putting in the new battery. If that sounds like your problem just look it up. Mine snapped together like new once it was done right. Good luck, I had fun cleaning up my 02 this summer.

[flaps10]

I laughed the first time someone told me to use toothpaste on headlights, since a friend and just shown me how to use his three step 3M kit. A few months later I went to sell my Subaru and the headlights were really bad. I had nothing to lose so I tried it.

One step with a rag. Works perfect. I'll never buy a kit to do a headlight job.

Moving on to your acquisition, I'm in the same category as you in that I didn't find a pristine example and have a PPI done. Instead I got a very good deal (not $5k, but I don't feel ripped off either), with plenty of room for me to update and learn. It may be some risk, but someone has to buy those non-pristine cars and get them road worthy. If you're a competent mechanic then an engine full of metal chips is about the only serious buzz kill waiting in the shadows.

Wayne's book is a fantastic way to get acquainted with the unique nature of the boxster. I don't find it intimidating to work on anything outside of the long block - you just have to get used to doing everything from underneath the car (when I first got the 101 projects book I wondered why the first project was how to jack your car up but now I know).

And yes, life above 4,000 rpm is indeed really fun.