Opinions Requested

[Ray]

Hi Folks,

I'm about to be a first time Porsche owner. I've done some research on the car I want and I'd like to solicit some of your opinions about the car before I pull the trigger. I found a 99' with 11,600 miles. The price is very good. I understand that all of the mechanical warranties have ended so my reasoning in buying a 99' is to modify it mechanically to perform closer to the newer models without the $$$. I'll be doing my homework before modifying anything but have you guys done anything similar?

[denverpete]

First off, there is a general and growing concensus that Porsches that do not get driven are a risky proposition. I know that sounds strange, but these vehicles like to get driven.

Second, I think if you do a bit of searching on this board you'll find answers to most of your modification questions. From your post it seems that you are looking to add H.P. Unfortunately, this just isn't something that is easily or cheaply done with a Boxster. You can find numerous posts about exhausts, headers, power chips, and even superchargers. Most agree that an exhaust/header swap tends to add sound but not much power (despite the manufacturer claims) - at least on a $/hp basis. The jury's definately out on the power chip. There is at least one member who had a supercharger installed. I don't believe I've seen any recent posts on the outcome. But, you're still talking around $8,000 - $10,000.

Quite simply, upgrades aren't cheap and for what you'd spend on those upgrades you could probably buy an '03S with better features and alot more HP than a '99.

Lastly, never assume that a Boxster is going to be a winner just because it has low miles. Get a PPI.

P.S. - "Apparently it's true that you can't go home again, but you can shop there."

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

Everything that denverpete says and add to it the fact that as of '00 the Cars switched to the eGas engine (greater displacement, different Intake, Exhaust, Fuel system, and specs) and engine management. This essentially means different everything. Trying to upgrade a non-eGas to eGas spec is going to be extremely difficult to impossible once you factor in the $$...

Happy Motoring!... Jim '99

[Ronzi]

"First off, there is a general and growing concensus that Porsches that do not get driven are a risky proposition. I know that sounds strange, but these vehicles like to get driven."

This is exactly why, if you look at the Kelley Blue Book values for Porsches, the resale value of the car ACTUALLY GOES UP, the more miles you put on it.
Heck, I'd much rather have a '99 Box with 100,000 miles on it, wouldn't you? Preferably one that had been DE'd every other weekend, so that it had been "used as it was intended to be used."

[MikenOH]

Are you going to replace the engine with a 3.4 from the 911?

If so, then you need not be concerned about the sleeved engine fiasco that affected a number of '99' Boxsters.

However, if you intend to keep the current engine, then the build date on your car or knowledge of whether the original engine has been replaced would been an inportant consideration. The sleeved engine deal affected cars produced in the 10/98--2/99 time frame. Those dates are not precise, but fairly close.

Essentially, there was a deviation from standard motor assembly because the block supplier had breakdown in their machinery, forcing Porsche to use blocks that had previously been rejected for quality problems. The blocks were bored and manually sleeved; unfortuneately, the process was not error free and a number of the engines built this way failed as the sleeves slipped in the block.

Also, what mods were you thinking of?I know some have gone with a different intake, headers and exhaust but not sure of what the HP increase is out of those mods.
Jim??.......

[insite]

Originally Posted by MikenOH

However, if you intend to keep the current engine, then the build date on your car or knowledge of whether the original engine has been replaced would been an inportant consideration. The sleeved engine deal affected cars produced in the 10/98--2/99 time frame. Those dates are not precise, but fairly close.

spot on; this is CRITICAL. the problem with a low mile '99 is that you really don't know whether you will suffer a motor failure due to a manufacturing defect (porous block / slipped cylinder sleeve) that plagued some 1999 models. if the car had this problem, it generally failed before 30K miles. a '99 with, say, 50K on the odometer was likely safe. a '99 with only 10K on the odometer AND the original motor could be a recipe for disaster.

[Ray]

I'd like to thank you all for that information. I'm going to ask the seller for the manfacture date but from what I've read so far I seem to be better off buying an 00' or later S model.

[Perfectlap]

^ yup.

get the S and forget the power mods.

[MikenOH]

I would not pay a premium for a low mileage car since it may be a disaster waiting to happen.

The 2000-2002 base car had the 217 HP 2.7L motor with 192 ft./lb of torque vs. the 201 HP/181 ft/lb of torque for the '99'. A little more umph, but not tons more. On the other hand, there have been constant improvments to the car over the years, from the interior to the chassis.

Depending on the price that's being asked for a low mileage '99' ($22k?) I would think you would be able to get a 2000S for roughly $5-7K more or a nice base car in the $23-25K range.

A Porsche certified car might be the way to go--you'll get a 2 year warranty I think, but expect to pay more.
Best of luck with it.

[Ray]

Thanks MikenOH,

I'm truely bummed now as the manufacture date is 12/98 ... smack dab in the middle of the use of "bad" blocks. With no warranty I'm not going to risk the consequences. I found a nice 00' S with 22k miles The current owner is going to freak out.