What do you look for in a Spec Boxster candidate?
 

What do you look for when buying a Boxster to turn into a Spec (or anything) racer? High or low mileage? Mint solid cars or trashed cars that will be fully rebuilt?

There's a manual Boxster that was traded in at the dealer that I work at. Only 12K miles, pulls hard (limited parking lot test drive), no strange noises, straight body. Convertible top and rear spoiler aren't working but I'm guessing that's a good thing since they're coming off anyway. Not sure of year (I'll find out tomorrow) but I think it's pre '00. If it's a good candidate I'd rather see it go to someone who appreciates it rather than a buy-here-pay-here lot where it'll fall in the wrong hands eventually.

The perfect donor would have a rock-solid engine, transmission, cooling system, chassis and steering, good enough body, but with worn out shocks, failed cats, bald tires, and a crappy convertible top, rear window, and interior to lower the price.

12K miles is very odd. I would wonder what the story is. Has it sat for years unmaintained, and what does that mean? The transmission alone is worth good money since it has basically no miles on it! (Junkyard transmissions with lots of miles go for $500 and up.) The engine with basically 1 year of driving on it is very appealing but then it also means if it has a serious problem it may be too soon to know.

The key thing is the engine, chassis, and steering. You would always refresh the engine (IMS RMS fixes) but everything else you want to be good to go. Things in the wheel wells (calipers, hubs, uprights) are not a big deal to replace but you'd prefer them to be OK to begin with.

x2........