The end of the road for the daily driver.
 

19 months and 60,000 hard earned miles later, my experiment is over. The old 986 now has 175,000 miles on it and has been completely reliable. I've replaced worn out suspension parts and accessories, but it has never actually broken down. It was only towed twice: once when it had a coolant leak, and only then because I was afraid of damaging something by driving it to the shop, and once when it was in a fender-bender, and it was still drivable, but I couldn't latch the trunk.
However, the tiptronic transmission has begun to slip and it has been determined it's on the way out. Because of the high miles, I've decided it's not a worthwhile idea to try to keep it on a job that puts close to 40,000 miles a year on a car. It by far outlasted any other used vehicle I've put on this job that requires so much traveling, often in challenging conditions.
Soon I'll try to sell it as a parts car or track project for someone.
I appreciate everyone following my exploits and commenting on them. It has been a blast! :)
(Note: I'm not out of the Boxster game, I'm still keeping my weekender which is like new... I love these cars).
I guess the below will be the equivalent of a movie montage!
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...pseviwol9l.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...pscx2oohpy.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...pszsklb6zo.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...pspbzy9bzk.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psunroghjg.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7vgw25fl.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...pso411eqec.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psvozaomhe.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psi0odb8gi.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3hqzulwl.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psantvvpwo.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...pskhphcfqa.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psuqf2hdlk.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1dzz4pjo.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psaiwegrje.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psmreew37j.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psvvl8amrf.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psfmv7hgcx.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...ps80jdqp0t.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4qvyn8f4.jpg

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psu414vq2r.jpg

RIP DD you had a great run :cheers:

There was a Wheeler Dealers episode that featured a Boxster with a problem tiptronic transmission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS_yKQRcln0

If you haven't checked for this problem already, it may be worth a shot.

Sad to see the car and the DD posts go. Glad you're still here with another Box though!

Mine sees very few miles lately. Lots of work and that needs the truck.

Say it ain't so. I will miss the travelogue photos. Love the back road shots the most.

Noooooooo!!!! All it needs is a simple power train transplant! If your box goes, so go all the great pictures of your travels. What is needed to keep you on the road? Anybody out there for a "Keep Retroman1969 in a Boxster" drive? Send him parts? Encouragement? What?

You definitely have a talent for photo shoots and locations. Thank you for taking us along on your adventures with her.

She deserves a good home :cheers:

1) Put another transmission in there and run it to 300,000 miles.

or

2) I've got (maybe just enough) room for one more out here in the Cherokee lands. I have a Tiptronic ZF 5HP19FL transmission from a Passat gathering dust and I'm curious if it will work in a box. If you think it can still make the drive down I-40 East, I'll make an offer to get you some cash towards another daily driver 986.

I agree with Kevin. Check the fluid. It might be low.

When I saw the orig post, the Wheeler Dealer episode was the first thing I thought of.

Agreed....check the fluid
 

We cant have you leaving our group....your posts are too good :cheers:

Thank you guys for the great comments! And 78F350, I'll talk to you about that here in the next few days, thanks! I know it would go to a good home within the "community". :)
I bet it would make the trip. On the highway it's fine.

The be fair, it has only been analyzed, and not torn into yet. I had an appointment with the Porsche shop tomorrow for a general checkup as I was planning a 4 day trip through the Ozark Mountains on 4th of July weekend. I'm keeping the appointment, but now to have it thoroughly checked and tested for the tranny condition. It would be great if a simple service or computer reset would fix it (or even something unrelated like a MAF sensor), but I'm not getting my hopes up too high.
I will say that, although it had a full tranny service done not long after I got it, that was nearly 50,000 miles ago now that I think of it.

The slipping and stuttering is getting pretty bad and getting worse rapidly. It's only at speeds below 45mph or under 3,000rpm on town cruising and gentle acceleration. Give it some beans or cruise at highway speeds and it kicks down and goes like a banshee, the flat 6 howling happily even at its advanced age.
Like I say, ill be giving it one last thorough going through to be absolutely sure. ;)
I'll let you know what the verdict is.

Thanks again for your encouragement and support!

Nooooooooooo......

Here... this will work.... it's a 2000 for $975!!

00 Boxster s rwd Porsche 986 Automatic Transmission A8620 120 103 403 | eBay

OH NOOOOOOO
at least you still have another Boxster

Sad to see this lovely box go! I'm sure someone with your same interior color has been looking for parts for a while.

Assuming you can't wheelers dealers it! Would love this car to be a high mileage test mule for all of us.

You can't. We won't let you. Its that simple.

Really, I've enjoyed all of the posts and the entire experiment. Keep 'em coming even if its only on the weekends!

You and 'der box' are true road warriors. Sad to see it needs to retire, or maybe a rest and rehab . . . .

Remember Red Green's man prayer:

I'm a man,
But I can change,
If I have to,
I guess.

So
It's a Porsche,
It can be fixed,
And you must,
I'm sure.

Keep your stick on the ice Retroman!

I really appreciate it guys! :D
I'll let you know what the status is. I really have enjoyed sharing the exploration trips and mis-adventures, seeing how far you can go with a used Porsche. I'd like to continue if possible, so we'll see. You all have made it fun. Even if it turns out to be fixable (reasonably... Last year bought and furnished a new house and am just now beginning to recover, but this summer had to replace my computer, camera body, brakes and AC on the other Boxster, plus putting a new engine in the Jeep, is really stretching it again), I'm going to at least put it into semi-retirement. Breaking up the miles with the Jeep, so neither wears out too quickly. ;)

Wow, those are some great pictures!


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