My Boxster Story
 

I'm a new member to the 986 Forum and here is the story of my newly purchased
1999 Boxster.

Was looking for a cheap Boxster and spotted one on ebay. Was only 15 miles
from home so I placed the highest bid I felt comfortable with. Ended up the
winning bidder at $6,800. Long story short..I broke the golden rule and bought
a car sight unseen. Really didn't think I would be the winning bidder. It's a
1999 Boxster, Silver over black, 5 speed, 124,400 miles, one owner. Was at a
Mom/Pop local dealership.

Well, when I went to pick er up I was pleasntly surprised. Was in decent shape! i
did sense the guy was glad to get rid of it. And he did fill the tank! After talking
to several Porsche people including my nephew who has had 9 porsches I found a great
Porsche tech and took it to him for an After-purchase inspection as I call it. I was
able to look over his shoulder and learn quite a bit during his check..

Only needed rear struts and shock mounts and had slight oil seepage around the
spark plug tubes. Other stuff was minor. On my own I replaced the RR tail light,
head unit and front speakers, used a scosche adapter to retain the sub in the doors.
The pesky CEL light was on but after reading the code with my reader (large vacumn leak)
I replaced the gas cap with a genuine Porsche cap and after two cycles CEL light went away.

My Porsche tech did the spark plug tubes and seals, replaced the rear struts with
Bilsteins and new shock mounts, rear sway bar bushings, oil and filter change,
checked a couple of spark plugs, saw the code in storage and noted the water pump
was replaced and recommended the IMS/RMS update. Has a magnetic oil drain plug and
saw there was nothing abnormal on the drain plug. The gas cap door was making an awful
sound when unlocking the doors but that has gone away. I changed the air filter myself.
Purchased some Novus to clean and polish the rear window. Stuff works well.

I still need a new shifter boot, very worn. Seats are decent. Running almost new Conti-
DWS front and rear. Need new center caps. I debadged the rear trunk recently.

Car runs and drives fantastic. I previously owned 2 miatas 99 and an 06 and a 2008 328i
6 speed. Boxter blows them both away. This is a true sports car.

So I'm going to hold off on the IMS/RMS (rear seal does not leak) Clutch is perfect.
Maybe in the Spring I will consider replacing all..Or not..I drive this like it should be
driven. Wind up the revs and take it to work every few days (20 miles one way, highway).
This car really performs better the more I drive it!

Only other major concern: Due for inspection soon and the horns don't work. Bought both
horns from pelican (heard they often go bad). might have to change the air bag bushings
also. And with the bumper off I can easily service/clean the radiators.

See attached picture.]http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1417637812.jpg

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you are off to a great start with your Box & great intro post. :cool:

Welcome; car looks great!

welcome to the forum and welcome to Porsche ownership

I think you did well, congrats!
Beautiful Boxster, and I'm not just saying that because it's a twin to one of mine. ;)
More and more you're going to look for excuses to get it out and drive it! Have fun!

For such a low price, and since you have a dual-row IMSB, I'd skip the LN upgrade until you absolutely had to replace the clutch. Odds are low you'll have an issue. Just watch the oil filter and drive it. I like the turbo-twist rims, have them on my S.

Great looking car! Welcome to the forum.

Great find!
Did you check the horn fuse? If the airbag bushings went out and the horn blew continuously, the fuse could have blown. I went through the same fiasco a year ago.

One owner? pretty cool. I would send in an oil sample to Blackstone Labs to see if the car was well looked after (it's not just about the oil changes). That it has a magnetic drain plug tells me someone was looking after the car to some degree. You might want to update the coolant cap if that wasn't already done. Don't flush the coolant without a new one, air will get in and split the tank.

99's make for good project cars if the engine is solid and you've got some spare cash.
Some low weight mods (exhaust, headers, wheels, battery, etc.) and you can get the car down to ~2,600 lbs. and make for a quick car.

Thanks for all the replies! I will look into all the ideas thrown out there. I have been bitten by the Porsche bug. When I have everything sorted I might be selling this to my son who is serving in the Navy. I really have my sights set on a 2009 boxster.

Wow, one owner for $6,800. What a steal!
Have fun with it and most importantly ''drive it like you stole it.'' (safely of course). :D

Welcome to the forum! Car looks clean.:cheers:

Congrats and enjoy. I remember the first time I drove a Boxster, I knew Id'd buy one some day. I bought my current 2000S in 2008 and its as much fun today as it was six years ago.

Have a blast!