Originally Posted by ReallyDirtyThirty (Post 492405)

If you're in South Florida you should consider taking it to Pedro for a PPI. He is in the Ft. Lauderdale area and is an expert on the 986 chassis.

Originally Posted by dijinn (Post 492424)

I REALLY need to find some 986 owners in the Tampa area that like to work on their own cars. Everyone I've met has been a 911-snob or doesn't touch their cars. I'm amazed everytime I hear someone has never performed an oil change.

Originally Posted by batshapedheart (Post 492418)

GT! Where in South Florida are you? I'm close to Coral Gables and me and ChrisZenithBlue get together and work in our cars! We should link up!

Originally Posted by rick3000 (Post 492412)

The top could be just the cables, unless they tried to run it with bad cables and bent something. Also, I have never heard of paint bubbling on a 986, my guess is that it is from a bad repair job. My general advice is, if a 986 costs less than $10k you are going to spend double what you paid repairing it. That said, I hope you don't encounter too many issues. No SE should be neglected like that, and it's great you plan to restore it.

To source parts, you will want to download the 986_Kataloge.pdf available from Porsche's website.

Originally Posted by mipstien (Post 492416)

Well, pics or it isn't real???? jk

I am curious to see the paint of all things but pictures would help.

Originally Posted by GTsilber (Post 492449)

What if I used this car as a track car, cosmetics don't have any significance if I plan on tracking it...just a thought :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by husker boxster (Post 492388)

Not sure if I should congratulate you or not. On your test drive, you fell in love with Boxsters but I'm not sure you should fall in love with this one. Kind of like dating a hooker and falling in love with women.

That said, are you mechanical? You may be able to do a lot of the minor jobs and find info via search. But if this is your first German car, you'll find part prices 4x normal American or Japanese parts. There could be lots of worn out parts on a 12 yr old neglected car.

You don't say where you live but you make it sound like it's near the middle of nowhere. Do you have a good upholsterer in your area?

If the PPI comes back with issues, you would be much better off walking from this one and expand your search and get a better one. As mentioned earlier, Porsches do not have paint peeling issues, so the guy is fibbing about that. What else is he fibbing about or not telling you?

It has been said here many times, so please keep this in mind: the cheapest Porsche you buy can become the most expensive one you'll own.

Originally Posted by Smallblock454 (Post 492756)

Hi,

will not be easy to get an original seat from this edition car in gray. This is not the standard leather.

This is how it should look like in the color cocoa:
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1461294709.jpg

Clear coat can shurely be fixed.

Hope the overall mechanical state is better than on the photos and you don't have to throw tons of money in.

Regards, Markus

Originally Posted by tada (Post 492757)

Here's a link to the wiring diagram for your car. You can start there with trying to fix the top. Also look at the repair guide on Pelican Parts website.

http://www.wolfetone.com/carstuff/boxster/986%20Group%209%20Circuit%20Diagrams%20From%2000.p df

Originally Posted by Retroman1969 (Post 492770)

Congrats, it's a great version of the Boxster and one worth restoring.
Honestly, I've seen many high mileage and dogged out 986s before but I've never seen peeling paint or clear coat on one before. I'd almost guarantee that there has been some damage repair on that car. The seat looks like it has been severely water damaged at some point judging by the pattern of disintegration of the leather. (Also notice the wrinkling-shrinkage around the edges)
The top issue could easily be the micro switch in the parking brake handle. It's a very common failure, and it will act like the whole system is dead. (But the parking brake light will still come on like normal).
I can say fairly confidently that you are going to have the same or more invested in this car as the price of a low mileage super clean example before it's over, but you will have the confidence that every possible issue has been addressed and that it will be solid car at that point.