Opinions on a 1999 Boxster w 180k miles

[vince986]

Hey guys,

I am looking to buy my first Boxster, and was looking at this 1999 w 184k miles on CL. It looks to be well maintained, the color combo I wanted, manual, and at a good price. I'm just worried about the high mileage, and whether the 2.5l's will hold up another 50k or not. Any opinions on this car? Should I look for something more in the 100k mile range.

https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/cto/d/east-falmouth-1999-porsche-boxster/7035429781.html

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[rexcramer]

Subtract $$ for the cam chain tensioners. What is your purchase budget? and maintenance budget? $5,500 sounds high to me. Get a quote for the work and or a proper PPI. Will it make another 50K? Sure it can, how much work/money are you willing to spend to maintain it?

When the motor gets to the end of it's useful life, can you afford to replace it? If that happens in the next year are you ready for another +/- $5,000.00 to X/O the motor?

I have seen it stated here several times, "after a PPI (by a Porsche mechanic) buy the nicest, lowest mileage you can afford."

Good luck and safe travels.

[Quadcammer]

4k vehicle

[Retroman1969]

$5,500 is high for that mileage.
I’d say more in the $3,500-4,000 range.
I sold a 99 with 176,000 miles for a bad auto tranny but the motor was still healthy.
I drove a 97 once with 225,000 miles on it and it ran and drove strong.
There is a video out there of a guy who bought a cheap 1999 911 with 243,000 miles on it and took it on a cross country trip with no issues (but he blew the motor on the track 5,000 miles later)
So they can go the distance, but it’s not guaranteed, and you’re pushing it when you’re teasing 200,000 miles on them.
Maintenance will be expensive until you get everything worked out that is worn or neglected on it.
Typically a rebuilt or replacement motor when it’s needed will be 5,000-8,000 bucks.

[JohnH123]

If it was me I would pass on a car nearing 200k. There are plenty of cars out there in the $6-7k range that have half those miles. My friend just bought a clean, well maintained 2000 Base w 95k miles for $6000. Just my 2cents. Cheers.

[Qingdao]

Giant rust hole in the car; "not driven in the winter". I'd pass on this one; especially with the chain noises.

[TeamOxford]

I'd give this one a pass. 180K miles is a LOT of miles for a starting baseline. The self-diagnosed "Camchain tensioners may need to be replaced" is not an easy or inexpensive job.

IMHO, you will easily touch the $10,000 mark when you finish with the most basic repairs and maintenance. And then, how may more miles do you expect to get out of the car?

If you get another 20K miles in 2 years, then it cost you $5000.00 per year just to own the car, not counting fuel and future maintenance. If you get another 40K miles in four years, then it cost you $2500.00, etc.

It's up to you, but while owning and driving Porches are an emotional experience, buying them should not be one.

Just sayin'...........

TO

[Starter986]

Get the PPI. If it looks golden... offer $4500. Not more than $5500.

Look at that list of repairs and maintenance. That's all the **************** you'd do if you bought any Boxster for $5500... and then you'd be up in the $10,000 range.

The rust concerns me a bit because, well, I don't like rust. However, that laundry list of repairs and maintenance adds up to a petty penny.

I don't know how the **************** the 986 is to improve in value if all the naysayers want to price a running ride like it's a roller.

Pfffffffft.

[husker boxster]

Look for one that's had all the maintenance this one has had but with fewer miles and no rust.

[chrise66]

I'm with Starter986, that car has had a ton of work done including the IMS, clutch, suspension, brakes tires, ect. Thats a lot of $$. There are plenty of examples that go over 200k if well maintained. Bring the car in for a PPI, and adjust the price according. If I recall, the cam chain tensioners were about $600-700 parts and labor. The rust doesn't look that bad but you never know what lies underneath that. If the engine blows down the road, buy a used 2.5l engine. I see them on ebay all the time for $1,500-2,000.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Quadcammer

4k vehicle

^^ What Quad said. ^^

A well maintained 2.5L motor will typically last 175K-210K miles. Yes, some go well over 200K miles but those are the exceptions.

Thus, I'd only pay $4K and I would immediately buy a spare 2.5L motor and have it ready to swap in when (not if) you need it. Replacement engines run $2K-$3K and a shop will charge around $2K for parts/labor to do the swap. If you can do the swap yourself, then its a much better situation.

Thus, very quickly you're likely to into this car for at least $8K. This ($8K) is the price that you need to use when comparing to other cars.

[Retroman1969]

I agree that it has had a lot of work done to it, and that’s great, but the bugaboo is the miles. 180,000 range puts one of these squarely in the sunset of its years. Now, if it was me, and I could get it for say four grand, and budget for a lower mileage used replacement engine down the road, I might do it, but that’s me personally, and I’m often out of my frickin’ mind.

[78F350]

I have bought a lot of depreciated Boxsters including Retroman's high mileage car. The 184K miles doesn't scare me as a problem if the car has been maintained and passes a thorough inspection. I do think the price is too high for what it is though. The ad lists a lot of good, appropriate maintenance that has been done, but even with that work; much of the value has been 'used'.

How is the market in your area? Is it hard to find what you are looking for? If you haven't already checked out and driven some others, do. Locally, the $5,500 may be decent, but in a lot of markets you can find several 986 Boxsters for $4,000 or less with significantly less miles. Some worth buying, some not. One plus for that car is that it seems like the seller is an enthusiast who cared about it.

[Brian in Tucson]

For me, the body cancer would be the deal breaker. If there's rust on the body, there's corrosion on the components--make it a mess to try to do work on. I live in the Sonora Desert, rust doesn't happen here. And prices aren't much higher than cars in the rust belt. Plan a vacay and get a car from S. California, the desert Southwest, or western Texas. It all can be done by phone, just be sure to get a PPI on whatever you buy.

https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/d/tucson-porsche-boxster/7042533838.html

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/mesa-1998-porsche-boxter/7041974566.html

[vince986]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the advice. I've decided to pass, and look for one with lower mileage. I budgeted around $7k, so I should be able to find something better here in the NE in that range.

[Rob175]

My 98 Boxster (84,000 miles in near mint condition) isn't for sale BUT if it were, the book value is only about $10M........my point is you should be able to find a very nice boxster for the $7M you have budgeted. Keep looking.

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by Rob175

My 98 Boxster (84,000 miles in near mint condition) isn't for sale BUT if it were, the book value is only about $10M........my point is you should be able to find a very nice boxster for the $7M you have budgeted. Keep looking.

$10,000,000? Now you're pressing it. Even at $7,000,000 it's still overpriced.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by Starter986

$10,000,000? Now you're pressing it. Even at $7,000,000 it's still overpriced.

5 mil. Final offer!

[Qingdao]

I think he means roman numerals... M=1000

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by Qingdao

I think he means roman numerals... M=1000

LOL. Screw the new math.

K = Thousand $7K

MM = Million $10MM

I thought one of you smart guys may have called me on the use of a singular "M". Nope.