97 base boxster buying advice

[soundguy]

Hi All,

New to the forum, and I hope I've posted this question in the right place.

Looking at a 97 base Boxster, 99K, Tip. Very nice cosmetically, new top with glass window, seats a little worn. Not a lot of service records, but seems to be well taken care of. I can get it for around $7K.

The IMS has not been done. Do you think I need to have the IMS done at this point with no evidence of trouble ? Oil checks indicate no issues.

Any other red flags I should be aware of ? This would be my first Porsche...Finally!

Thank you.

[PLP]

My experience... if you can drive there to inspect the car in person before the purchase, do so. Or ask for many detailed pictures.

If it is nice cosmetically, check front and rear - inspect from the bottom and under the front carpet (frunk area) for any accident damage.
Expect suspension needed some work. If it shifts OK, clutch grabs fine, electrical works - go for it.

Windows drop when opening doors with roof up.
Roof operates.

some will say - do full PPI, but you can go away with a cold start test (see for smoke on initial start - first seconds OK, but if stays - could be a problem). Have someone rev to 3k rpm or so and let off, repeat 2 seconds later. Any smoke?

Same on hot, better to see when driving. Exhaust smell - same thing. Coolant leaks or oil leaks can be smelled from the exhaust.

Coolant smell in the trunk - cracked coolant reservoir.
And some other stuff.

If you can, rent Durametric (eBay) to see if the engine was stressed (over revved).

[soundguy]

Thanks PLP. All valuable suggestions. I drove the car this past weekend, and performed just about all of your suggested checks, with everything passing muster. Small amount of smoke on startup for a second, then disappears. It is a Tiptronic, and the shifting seemed very smooth both in "auto" mode, and when using buttons on the wheel. I'd rather a manual S, but at this price I'm willing to compromise. Slight vibration in rear around 75mph, which then smoothed out past 80. I think maybe a rear tire? I will look into the Durametric. Thanks very much for your help.

[old911doc]

Early-production car, MY97, should have a double-row bearing instead of the problematic single-row bearing fitted later. That’s why I have three 97’s instead of later years. Never had any problem .
If your car will be subject to rain exposure, first thing you do when you get it home, clean out the water drains in the front compartment next to the battery, and the drains in the top bay near the convertible top gearboxes. That reduces the chance that you’ll get water in the floorboards, shorting out the immobilizer box under the driver’s seat.
More Boxsters are immobilized by rain than by theft attempts, and that circuit box defeats more owners than thieves.
I would recommend, at the very least, take out the driver’s seat and drill holes through the bottom of the car under the immobilizer box. Water flow in, water flow out.
Better yet, fit the waterproof aftermarket circuit box from ecudoctorsdotcom.
Lastly, spring for a Durametric . Get the professional version with unlimited VIN’s rather than the enthusiast version limited to 3 VIN’s : better resale value, when you’re finally too old to drive and your kids are arguing over which one gets your Boxster.

[soundguy]

Great info regarding the potential water issues and solutions, which I was unaware of. This forum is fantastic. 2nd vote on the Durametric, so I have to follow up on that.

I must admit to still being a little worried about the IMS. The damn internet!

Thanks everyone.

[Stl-986]

It has a 100k miles on it. If it was going to be an issue it would have happened already. Keep you oil level good and change your oil regularly and it will be fine. It is a tiptronic also so it will most likely never been driven hard cutting down on the chance.

I have had many 986 and haven't done the IMS in any of them and dont plan on doing it for any either.