Looking to do buy a 2001 Boxster S - Some questions for the experts

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Wangta

1. I am aware of the IMS issues with these cars .... With 120k miles, I'm guessing that it's fine?

There is no way to know. Yes, its made it 120K miles but the IMS could fail tomorrow or it could never fail. Everyone has a different view on the risk and what the consequences might mean to them. Learn as much as you can about the IMS issue and then you'll have to make your own decision whether to replace the bearing or just drive it as-is.

If it bothers you, spend the money to replace the bearing and sleep well at night. If not, then take your chances but be prepared in case the worst case happens. Only you can decide what path is best for you.

Originally Posted by Wangta

2. It's a tiptronic - my wife wants to drive this most of the time, and she hates stick - and we have some bad traffic around here. It seems like most Porsches are manual (and rightly so), but does that lower the sale price and/or resale value? I don't really care about resale value, but can I ask a lower price since it's auto? It doesn't seem like he's received much interest in it so far.

Yes, generally tips will sell for less than a manual, but the seller will likely claim that they have already accounted for that aspect of the car in their asking price. If you think the car is worth less than the asking price, by all means, offer what you think is a fair price and see what the seller says. Don't be afraid to walk away. Boxster's are not quite a dime a dozen but they certainly aren't rare so if you miss out on this car, another is sure to come along soon.

Originally Posted by Wangta

Also, how robust are the tiptronic transmissions? Do they break down often? I'm guessing they are expensive to fix when they do?

The tip is reasonably robust and does not break down often but can be expensive if they do.

Originally Posted by Wangta

4. Might want to replace the top with a glass version - but I understand that that requires a full replacement of the top, frame and motors? That sounds like a PITA? What does everyone mean when they have to "karate chop" the back window? My test rive had the hard top on it, so I didn't get the privilege. New tops (with the plastic) aren't too expensive it seems $300 and can DIY?. I'm not too worried about it as it doesn't rain much in LA. To perhaps bring down my overall acquisition cost, I might sell the hard top as well since the car will sit in a garage when - I believe hard tops go for $1000-$1500?

The top can be replaced with a glass version without replacing the frame and motors. Some owners fold the plastic window manually by pressing the middle of the plastic window so it folds nicely (thus called the karate chop). I never did this, i just let the top fold itself and never had a problem.

A replacement top runs $400-$800. Installation can run $400-$800. Replacing a soft top is a pretty good effort so be sure that you have the skills to do a good job before you take this on as a DIY project.

Originally Posted by Wangta

5. Paint - again, it's a little faded and there are a number of rock chips on the front hood. I thought about getting a nice respay, then realized it would have to be the fenders, bumper and hood - and thought - well hell, might as well do the rest of the car. Has anybody done this in CA and curiuos how much it costs (gotta be less than a Coupe or Sedan)!

When it comes to car paint, it all depends on what you want and your budget. You say a "nice" respray. What does that mean? Nice to you might mean something completely different to me. In my experience, most paint shops that work on Porsche's on a regular basis will interpret that to mean a $6K-$8K paint job.

On the other hand, I know paint shops that will do a quick sand, re-spray, and clear for $3K. It will look good from 20 ft but won't fool anyone up close and they're not going to do hardly any body work so all of the wrinkles, dings, dents, and misaligned panels will stay that way. And it won't last forever. But its cheap and gets the job done.

I also know paint shops that will charge $10K+ and your paint will be nicer than anything coming out of the factory, will last forever, and the color will be 2 ft deep.

Or anything in between.

Define a budget and decide on what level of quality you want and then find a shop that can provide that level of quality at the price you're willing to pay.

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by thstone

Some owners fold the plastic window manually by pressing the middle of the plastic window so it folds nicely (thus called the karate chop). I never did this, i just let the top fold itself and never had a problem.

Probably true for LA folks, who rarely deal with cold temps. For those who, like me, are in a colder climate, DO the chop. In cooler weather I've gone half way into the top-down process, then looked at the back window. Often as not it's started to fold with a sharp point somewhere in the middle which, when it's cold, has just gotta be hard on the vinyl. The "chop" eliminates this stress on the material.

[Wangta]

Originally Posted by Frodo

Probably true for LA folks, who rarely deal with cold temps. For those who, like me, are in a colder climate, DO the chop. In cooler weather I've gone half way into the top-down process, then looked at the back window. Often as not it's started to fold with a sharp point somewhere in the middle which, when it's cold, has just gotta be hard on the vinyl. The "chop" eliminates this stress on the material.

LOL, can someone send me a video of this infamous chop? I still can't visualize it.

[BirdDog]

Originally Posted by Wangta

LOL, can someone send me a video of this infamous chop? I still can't visualize it.

Here you go...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C1nh03uOzQ

[boxfix]

Words of wisdom I have heard forever:

"There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Boxster.

Buy the best Porsche you can afford."

this thread has my head spinning. Buying a car with lots known issues and then planning to put money into the car is not a good idea.

What happens when other things happen to a 120,000 mile Boxster. things like a window operators failing [very common] $300 plus $250 labor. Or a fuel leak in the fuel gauge cover.....another $300 [also common]. Or a set of O2 sensors ..... $400 and $300 for installation. Tires easy $1000.

New top $1600 easy.

Vacuum leaks are very common and will stop you from passing smog. Vacuum canisters fail, rubber vacuum lines fail .....all expensive to find and fix.

At 120,000 miles you have lots of rubber cooling hoses ready to fail. A/C leaks are likely at this mileage.

Then there is paint to fix the failed clearcoat. I have done lots of painting and there are HOURS of labor in doing a good job. Cleaning up that failed clearcoat is $5000+ in prep and painting.

So a $7500 Boxster becomes $13,000 Boxster for the things that are bad, or fail soon and making the paint decent.

I know I have been there on several cars.

[Wangta]

Originally Posted by boxfix

Words of wisdom I have heard forever:

"There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Boxster.

Buy the best Porsche you can afford."

this thread has my head spinning. Buying a car with lots known issues and then planning to put money into the car is not a good idea.

What happens when other things happen to a 120,000 mile Boxster. things like a window operators failing [very common] $300 plus $250 labor. Or a fuel leak in the fuel gauge cover.....another $300 [also common]. Or a set of O2 sensors ..... $400 and $300 for installation. Tires easy $1000.

New top $1600 easy.

Vacuum leaks are very common and will stop you from passing smog. Vacuum canisters fail, rubber vacuum lines fail .....all expensive to find and fix.

At 120,000 miles you have lots of rubber cooling hoses ready to fail. A/C leaks are likely at this mileage.

Then there is paint to fix the failed clearcoat. I have done lots of painting and there are HOURS of labor in doing a good job. Cleaning up that failed clearcoat is $5000+ in prep and painting.

So a $7500 Boxster becomes $13,000 Boxster for the things that are bad, or fail soon and making the paint decent.

I know I have been there on several cars.

Thanks for your perspective boxfix. I completely agree with you - but I’m a little puzzled - why you think this car has “lots of known issues”? The major ones I’ve been worried about - RMS and IMS are currently not a problem. I paid $600 to one of the better shops in the area to get inspected and it came back with minor stuff back (like needs new rear tires).

The paint is not bubbling anywhere - I just said it looked a bit faded. The shop said that it would bounce back with a good polish.

The top got vandalized in front of the owners house - it happens.

The shop that did the PPI even said it was “a whole lot of car for the price”.

Not sure where you’re getting “a lot of know issues”? I agree with your statement - but I think I’m really getting this at a good deal not due to “problems” with the car - rather, no one looking for a Porsche wants it in automatic! The seller even asked me when I first met him “why are you looking at this - it’s auto” (I told him it’s for my parents). When he put it up for sale he didn’t include “tiptronic” or “auto” in the title and everyone was calling then passing once they found out it’s not a 5 or 6 Speed.



Maybe you are right. I just don’t see as much wrong with this as you? And I haven’t yet seen one of these selling that has had the IMS solution installed - the only permanent fix available to us and as a result, the only one I’m interested in doing!


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[Geof3]

Originally Posted by Wangta

Thanks for your perspective boxfix. I completely agree with you - but I’m a little puzzled - why you think this car has “lots of known issues”? The major ones I’ve been worried about - RMS and IMS are currently not a problem. I paid $600 to one of the better shops in the area to get inspected and it came back with minor stuff back (like needs new rear tires).

The paint is not bubbling anywhere - I just said it looked a bit faded. The shop said that it would bounce back with a good polish.

The top got vandalized in front of the owners house - it happens.

The shop that did the PPI even said it was “a whole lot of car for the price”.

Not sure where you’re getting “a lot of know issues”? I agree with your statement - but I think I’m really getting this at a good deal not due to “problems” with the car - rather, no one looking for a Porsche wants it in automatic! The seller even asked me when I first met him “why are you looking at this - it’s auto” (I told him it’s for my parents). When he put it up for sale he didn’t include “tiptronic” or “auto” in the title and everyone was calling then passing once they found out it’s not a 5 or 6 Speed.



Maybe you are right. I just don’t see as much wrong with this as you? And I haven’t yet seen one of these selling that has had the IMS solution installed - the only permanent fix available to us and as a result, the only one I’m interested in doing!


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It sounds like it would be fine for a fun car to drive. The "issues" are ALL maintenance issues that arise on any car of the age/mileage and the costs would be comparable. It's a 17 year old car. Yes, it is true, buy the best one you can. But, for the $ this one sounds pretty decent, with a few relatively minor issues. You could probably have the top repaired reasonably, and decide later if you want to do the whole top. If rain is not an issue, then the repair probably wouldn't be. Porsche's can be expensive to fix, but if you shop around there are plenty of alternatives, one just needs to know what they are looking for.

As an example, I own a Jeep and have replaced pretty much the entire front end, shocks, springs, upper and lower control arms, ball joints, etc, etc... I did the work myself with the exception of the alignment. I'm in for 3200.00 in parts alone. Point is, the $$$ required to maintain these older cars well isn't TOO out of whack compared to most. My wife's 2010 Infiniti FRONT struts (I did the work) $700.00. Struts and mounts, no springs. It's part of the game. Nothing of value is cheap anymore. The REAL question is how much $$$ for maintenance is one willing to absorb for a car that is currently valued at X amount. Maintenance is maintenance. Has to be done. The ratio is individual.

Having said ALL of that, frankly a Boxster isn't the best option IMO for noodling around the neighborhood. That will kill that engine faster than fast. These engines (really most engines) need to be driven, get hot and do it some more. Porsche engines of all iterations don't generally respond well to fluffing around for short little trips.

[boxfix]

Originally Posted by Wangta

Thanks for your perspective boxfix. I completely agree with you - but I’m a little puzzled - why you think this car has “lots of known issues”? The major ones I’ve been worried about - RMS and IMS are currently not a problem. I paid $600 to one of the better shops in the area to get inspected and it came back with minor stuff back (like needs new rear tires).

The paint is not bubbling anywhere - I just said it looked a bit faded. The shop said that it would bounce back with a good polish.

The top got vandalized in front of the owners house - it happens.

The shop that did the PPI even said it was “a whole lot of car for the price”.

Not sure where you’re getting “a lot of know issues”? I agree with your statement - but I think I’m really getting this at a good deal not due to “problems” with the car - rather, no one looking for a Porsche wants it in automatic! The seller even asked me when I first met him “why are you looking at this - it’s auto” (I told him it’s for my parents). When he put it up for sale he didn’t include “tiptronic” or “auto” in the title and everyone was calling then passing once they found out it’s not a 5 or 6 Speed.



Maybe you are right. I just don’t see as much wrong with this as you? And I haven’t yet seen one of these selling that has had the IMS solution installed - the only permanent fix available to us and as a result, the only one I’m interested in doing!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I should have said the Boxsters of that age have plenty of known issues. My point is from my personal history with Boxsters.......and the experiences of people on this forum.

If you have records that the vacuum hoses and reservoir have been checked and refreshed, and the O2 sensors are OK etc... and the cats are OK. And the window operators are good etc,,,,,,,

I did not realize that the paint is sort of OK. I got the impression it needed a repaint

I am happy I don't have to worry about IMS in that i have a new high end one.

My Tiptronic is actually quite good. It shifts pro actively and you can down shift it at any time while in D. It shifts fast when you are using the switches. Very impressive. And I am a stick guy. My 911 if of course a stick and my wagon is a stick.

The Tip is and excellent transmission.

I have a friend who is and ex-racer and he took a boxster stick on a 3 day road rally and came back a believer.

I was going to comment on the 5 miles a day, but geof3 said it more eloquently than I could "Having said ALL of that, frankly a Boxster isn't the best option IMO for noodling around the neighborhood. That will kill that engine faster than fast. These engines (really most engines) need to be driven, get hot and do it some more. Porsche engines of all iterations don't generally respond well to fluffing around for short little trips."

I worked on a friend's boxster that was driven 7 miles a day.....lots of problems from not ever being warmed up and "put away wet"!!!

[Wangta]

Originally Posted by boxfix

I should have said the Boxsters of that age have plenty of known issues. My point is from my personal history with Boxsters.......and the experiences of people on this forum.

If you have records that the vacuum hoses and reservoir have been checked and refreshed, and the O2 sensors are OK etc... and the cats are OK. And the window operators are good etc,,,,,,,

I did not realize that the paint is sort of OK. I got the impression it needed a repaint

I am happy I don't have to worry about IMS in that i have a new high end one.

My Tiptronic is actually quite good. It shifts pro actively and you can down shift it at any time while in D. It shifts fast when you are using the switches. Very impressive. And I am a stick guy. My 911 if of course a stick and my wagon is a stick.

The Tip is and excellent transmission.

I have a friend who is and ex-racer and he took a boxster stick on a 3 day road rally and came back a believer.

I was going to comment on the 5 miles a day, but geof3 said it more eloquently than I could "Having said ALL of that, frankly a Boxster isn't the best option IMO for noodling around the neighborhood. That will kill that engine faster than fast. These engines (really most engines) need to be driven, get hot and do it some more. Porsche engines of all iterations don't generally respond well to fluffing around for short little trips."

I worked on a friend's boxster that was driven 7 miles a day.....lots of problems from not ever being warmed up and "put away wet"!!!

All valid points and yeah - something I should think about. Ok so maybe I'll tell them to drive it MOAR than 7 miles a day. hah.

Thanks for all your thoughts - they are all good points and things to take into account.

One thing I forgot to mention - I like working on cars. We have a number of cars in the family so nothing is ever a rush when we work on something - it can be up on lift jacks for weeks if needed. I like learning how things work and ever thinking ahead about preventative maintenance.