Getting Started
 

I have come to the conclusion that it is the time in my life to execute my life long desire of Porsche ownership. I have owned many sports cars including Triumpth, MGB, Corvette, supercharged miata and currently a 76 280 Z. I have attended Panoz driving school three times in Atlanta. There are a few decisions I have to make before purchase. Number one is budget. I am able to afford currently around $11,000 for purchase but am considering selling my Cabin Cruiser and being able to afford around $15,000. I assume I should by the latest lowest mileage car my budget will allow. I assume I should budget around $2000 per year for maintenance. My understanding is that the S is much more desirable but am unsure if I really need the S as my days of high speed performance driving is at an end. If I have more power available I fear I will not have the self control not to use it. Is there a dependability difference between manual and tiptronic. What is the best route to finding a 986? Dealer, private owner, craigslist, e-bay, owner forums. How much is the top replacement to glass window. I know I am asking a lot but I really want to go into the journey as informed as possible.

How about this one for $17000.
http://986forum.com/forums/boxsters-sale-wanted/50004-2003-boxster-sale.html

How about this one.

http://986forum.com/forums/boxsters-sale-wanted/50004-2003-boxster-sale.html

Like everything buying a used Porsche or any car is a gamble. A lot of sports cars have been driven hard and not maintained properly for a number of reasons. I am not sure that buying from any source is better than the other. My father always said, " the more beautiful the girl, the higher maintenance she is" This is also true about cars, buy the car that your gut tells you is the right one and hang on for the ride. Porsches are great fun, but again like the trophy girl can cause a lot of pain and tears! Good luck and remember opening the throttle can put a smile on your face that only one thing can compare to! I think we all know what that is!

Narrow questions
 

1. Tiptronic v manual. which requires more maintenance.

2. What is the cost to upgrade top to hard glass.

3. I have found a 2001 with 50,000 dealer owned for $12000. Ballpark?

go 's'. if nothing else, I would expect it to be more reliable (more brakes, more water cooling, more oil cooling, stronger internals).

maintenance budget depends on how much you can do yourself - off to the mechanic for every sneeze, or search out the issue on forums like these, source good used parts online, and put them in yourself.

mileage isn't an issue so much as year of purchase. some might actually say higher mileage is better, as the car will have been run past the standard ims failure point with no ill affects or failure addressed. do some research on this forum to find the 'good' years for this car with respect to dual vs single row ims (2001 to 2005 have the highest failure rates; 2000 and earlier and the 987 series have stronger bearings).

can't speak to auto trannys but the 6-speed (which comes in the 's' model) is a strong unit. the 5-speed is weaker, but is paired to the weaker engines so should be ok.

can't say about glass windows - i'm a 'get the car as light as possible guy' and live with the plastic.

me, i say get an early 2000 S; first year of the S, they made lots of them, there are lots for sale around your price point, and the early ones have the good ims.

The standard rule of thumb with Porsche's is purchase the best/cleanest you can find/afford. And I would NEVER purchase a Porsche or any high end car without a PPI being performed by someone that knows the car make/model you are looking at. I've had the pleasure of owning four Porsche's and I'm getting my fifth in February. I followed my own advice on all except one..........it bit me in the butt :mad: Make the purchase decision with your head/facts not just pure emotion :D Plenty of good ones out there you don't have to buy the first one. Good luck in your search. :cheers:

Looked at my first 986 Saturday. At a private dealership who specializes in European cars. The 2001 had 50k on the clock a few minor dings and chips in the paint, interior was ok condition with the exception of a lever on the side of the driver's seat that did not seem to function properly well did not function at all. Not really sure what is did. There was a odd noise when I started which the owner said was a starter that he would replace prior to purchase. He said they serviced the car with oil and plugs at the shop. He told me that they did service Porsche and that he would clean radiator, put in cooler thermostat and replace IMS for around $1500. He seemed to know his stuff. I guess the big thing holding me back is not wanting to buy the first one I come across. he has it listed at $12900 but I think I may be able to bid him down a bit. I am still pretty sure that I would get an independent PPI.

Any thoughts?

I ordered a PPI on an 01 with 50,000 miles for Friday. It has the tiptronic. The car is in the condition one would expect from a 50k car. If the PPI turns out I am going to offer. Hope it works out

But a manual is sooooo much more fun! Either way, good luck on the ppi and negotiations :)

Don't sell the boat...

Nope not selling the Sea Ray. Thinking how much fun it will be to drive to the lake in the Boxster.

I know manuals are more fun but I want my wife to be able to drive it and a shoulder problem can be aggrevated by rowing gears.

1. Tiptronic v manual. which requires more maintenance.

When I was looking, my mechanic suggested the manual is easier/cheaper to work on. It sounds like you might be better off with a TIP though.

2. What is the cost to upgrade top to hard glass.

I replaced mine with a ATD(same as GAHH) for $1060 installed, worth every penny.

3. I have found a 2001 with 50,000 dealer owned for $12000. Ballpark?

Yes it is ballpark, but really depends on condition, and service. The S model gives you a little more robustness such as bigger breaks besides the extra power and the price premium can be next to nothing, but that is coming from an S owner. I looked for an S model since I knew I would always wonder what I was missing if I didn't. In my opinion, I did not pay any extra for it when I compare what I got to the base models that I looked at. If you are patient, you will find the "right" one.

Thank You!!! And thank you 986 forum. The things I learned on here have already paid off. The primary one being always get a PPI. Just heard from Eurohaus in Knoxville who has a very good reputation from what I have been able to learn. After what sound like a full check up they came back with an estimate of $4300 to get car up to snuff. IMS is going out. metal flakes in the new filter. Was told that the independent dealer who had the car had changed the oil and he said nothing about metal flakes. Oil separator die cracked and hose busted. Rear axel shaft leaking. Brake petal hard smoke tested and found to busted break part. I had talked with the place who has the car and they said they would do IMS as preventative measure and service tranny, replace with lower temp thermostat and clean radiator for $1800.

Now power is knowledge!

Thanks for your input. I may still bid on the car but going to be way lower!

Thank You!!! And thank you 986 forum. The things I learned on here have already paid off. The primary one being always get a PPI. Just heard from Eurohaus in Knoxville who has a very good reputation from what I have been able to learn. After what sound like a full check up they came back with an estimate of $4300 to get car up to snuff. IMS is going out. Metal flakes in the new filter. Was told that the independent dealer who had the car had changed the oil and he said nothing about metal flakes. Oil separator die cracked and hose busted. Rear axel shaft leaking. Brake petal hard, smoke tested and found busted break part. I had talked with the place who has the car and they said they would do IMS as preventative measure and service tranny, replace with lower temp thermostat and clean radiator for $1800.

Now power is knowledge!

Thanks for your input. I may still bid on the car but going to be way lower!

What would you bid?

Hmmmm...with metal flakes in the filter, I would pass completely. I guess that's a judgement call based on your level of comfort, but there is the possibility that the cylinders are scored from the debris

Did the mechanic doing the ppi check the cylinder walls with a boroscope after finding the metal flakes? Were the flakes ferrous or nonferrous?

Nothing. Don't bid. Walk..............

TO

Run, don't walk!

ppi proved good to do because it failed inspection, find one that passes inspection

Yep, I had a PPI on one that I really liked but it failed, my mechanic told me to pass and I did, that is what I paid him for. Found another one a month later and have been a happy owner for 19 months now.