Porsche Boxster buying tips? | FerrariChat

Porsche Boxster buying tips?

Discussion in 'Porsche' started by DMaury, Jul 9, 2008.

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  1. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    My brother is looking buy a used Boxster and is coming to me for advice as I'm the family car guy. However, I don't know a thing about P-cars. He's looking at an 03 model with 20K miles. Anything special I should be looking for in these cars? Is there a 'PorscheChat' forum as well?

    Thanks!
     
  2. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Jan 20, 2004
    40,483
    Purgatory
    Full Name:
    Clifford Gunboat
    RMS.

    They leak. Get it on a lift and take a lookie.
     
  3. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    RMS= Rear main seal? Is this something like the cam variators on a 360 that HAVE to be done, or just a weakness that is prone to failure, but not something to replace preventively? Also, for routine stuff, does Boxter maintenance run anything like F-cars? Anything like engine out 355 stuff for timing belts at intervals, or are they more like Audis/BMWs?
     
  4. Tyler

    Tyler F1 Rookie

    Dec 19, 2001
    4,274
    dusty old farm town
    Full Name:
    Tyler
    Like Trashy said, RMS. I don't know if they all leak, but i can say that every boxster I've owned has had an RMS leak. Also, the coolant tank has been known to crack and leak.

    03 is a good year, values are down and you get a glove box and a rear window. Might want to have him drive an 05 as well...a different car entirely and not a major price difference. Along with the RMS issue there is the more rare(but it still happens) intermediate shaft failure(very expensive). Like any used car, provenance is key.

    There are a TON of boxsters for sale and values certainly aren't going up, so it's a buyer's market.

    Lots of good info and a good community here: www.ppbb.com
     
  5. Tyler

    Tyler F1 Rookie

    Dec 19, 2001
    4,274
    dusty old farm town
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    Tyler
    1) Price is too high IMO, especially for a TIP.
    2) It's doesn't have PSM
    3) It's missing the mesh inserts that fit in the seat hoops.
    4) It has Turbo Twist wheels which may/may not add value depending on whether you like them.
    5) No pictures of the top up, so I can't see if it has excessive wear in the usual problem areas.
     
  6. senna21

    senna21 F1 Rookie

    Jul 2, 2004
    3,334
    Los Angeles, CA
    Full Name:
    Charles W
    I was thinking about getting an 01-03 S but have decided to keep my MR2 for now. Here's what's been helpful to me:

    Mike Foche - Buying a 986 model Boxster: http://mike.focke.googlepages.com/buyingorsellinga1997-2004boxster

    Porsche Boxster Faq: http://www.986faq.com/

    Rear Main Seal Leak/Secondary shaft Leaks/Catastrophic engine failures:
    http://www.autofarm.co.uk/pdf/Total911_July06.pdf

    http://www.autofarm.co.uk/pdf/911PW_Apr06.pdf

    More chat Boards:

    WWW.Rennlist.com
    www.986forum.com (Boxster specific)
     
  7. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    PSM?

    Is the tiptronic less desirable than a stick?

    Are those rims a factory option or aftermarket add on?

    Also, you mention going with a 2006 model vs a 03. Did they have an interior/engine revison between those time periods? Sorry for all these questions, but I don't know the P-cars at all, and my brother is an impulse buyer and we're going to look at the car today! Trying to keep him from jumping into a problem.
     
  8. Devilsolsi

    Devilsolsi F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 1, 2007
    9,321
    MD
    Full Name:
    Alex
    PSM- Porsche Stability Management (traction control)

    Stick is always better in a sports car than an auto..
     
  9. Tyler

    Tyler F1 Rookie

    Dec 19, 2001
    4,274
    dusty old farm town
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    Tyler
    1. Porsche Stability Management system

    2. Blonde or brunette? What's desirable to YOU is what should matter, but yes, overall I'd say the market values the tipronics as less desirable.

    3. Not sure, but I would guess they could be a factory option given the sheer volume of available options Porsche provides.

    4. 2005 was the body style change. Yes and yes, interior/exterior and internal changes were all made.
     
  10. senna21

    senna21 F1 Rookie

    Jul 2, 2004
    3,334
    Los Angeles, CA
    Full Name:
    Charles W
    Porsche Stability Management. It does what the name implies and the car is also about a 1/2 lower (maybe a bit more) than a car without it. It's a very desirable feature as are the Xenon lights.

    For me it certainly is. The tip can be just as fast as the manual and many tip owners would never want a manual. But, I'd say the majority of buyers would prefer a manual. The six speed gearbox is quite nice.

    Probably factory. You can check the paperwork. I said you should as I'm assuming there's plenty of paperwork to go with the car. Namely repair reciepts and anything else that's been done to the car. If it doesn't have extensive history (paperwork) I'd say walk.

    Yes they did. The 987 model (current Boxster) is different in body, interior and also engine refinements to the 986 (early boxster).

    I'll agree that the price is way to high for that car. For that price he could get a nice S model with some more miles. Low mileage is not always a good thing with Boxsters. When I was looking I'd decided that 40k was as little mileage that I'd want. Why? With more miles comes the opportunity for more defects to rear their ugly little head and allow the previous owner to deal with.

    These can be very reliable cars but if they're not they can be VERY expensive.
     
  11. JoeyM

    JoeyM Formula Junior

    Jan 29, 2007
    295
    RI
    Full Name:
    Joey M
    the 987 came out in 2005. you should be able to get a base 987 from 2005 for 35k or less.

    the 987 interior is way better and feels more solid. that being said, i still like the 986/996 platform and thats a great car. (i have two 996's currently, and have had a 986 and a 987 in our household).



    here's an example of a 987 for not much more dough:

    http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp;?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=22&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=descending&sortfield=PRICE+descending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-%7cE-ANY%7cM-_41_%7cH-%7cD-_391_%7cN-N%7cR-250%7cI-1%7cP-PRICE+descending%7cQ-descending%7cY-_2005-2006-2007_%7cX-popular%7cZ-70454&aff=national&paId=274446916&recnum=7&leadExists=true
     
  12. Mark(study)

    Mark(study) F1 Veteran

    Oct 13, 2001
    6,082
    Clearwater, FL
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #14 Mark(study), Jul 9, 2008
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2008
    Looks like Porsche is going to change the engine to solve the RMS leak problem... for 2009

    What causes the leak-

    The rear main seal problem does seem more common with manual transmission cars, which makes sense when you take a closer look at the design of the engine. On all 986 and 987 engines, the tail of the crankshaft suffers from a lack of support - instead of resting on a bearing at the tail, the crankshaft is fitted with a chain drive for the intermediate shaft. On manual transmission cars, the crankshaft tail also bears the weight of the flywheel and clutch assembly. Over time, the motion of the unsupported cranskshaft tail can distort and fatigue the RMS. In certain cases, the entire crankshaft cradle can shift down-ward, putting more stress on the seal. If the flywheel and clutch are out of balance, the strain on the RMS can increase even more.


    The new fix for 2009 due in March...(might be called a 2010 because of timing of reslease date)


    No worries. The chain drive on the tail end of the crankshaft will be gone on the new engine with DFI

    Weight down, stability up – the engine block
    Despite their more sophisticated and complex technology, the new power units are approximately six kilos lighter than before. A two-piece crankcase with integrated crankshaft bearings is perhaps the most significant change in technology, replacing the former four-piece block with its separate crankshaft bearing housing. The advantage is not only a reduction of weight, but also a smaller number of individual components. At the same time Porsche’s engineers have enhanced the thermal and mechanical stability of the engine, making it even more robust by converting the design and configuration of the cylinders from open- to a closed-deck layout.
    This means that the cylinder liners so far freely exposed around the cylinder gaskets are now connected with the housing by a top plate comprising the coolant sleeves. In particular, this helps to give the cylinders even greater stability in their shape and design, always remaining perfectly round. Two further advantages are the reduction of oil consumption and, thanks to less friction, even greater fuel economy.

    Fewer moving parts – new timing chain drive
    The new engines no longer require the former intermediate shaft serving to drive the timing chains. Originally this shaft had the task to reduce the loads acting on the camshaft drive.
    Now, through the use of new, highly resistant timing chains, there is no longer a need for such an intermediate shaft, moving masses and the weight of the engine being reduced accordingly.

    The Cayman/Boxster/911 have been using the same engine design since 1997. The exception being the Turbo, GT3, GT3 RS and GT2.

    Porsche has re-designed the engine for MY09 on the 911. The new engine is not supposed to suffer from RMS, as they specifically handled this problem. I don't think Porsche will keep producing two different engine types for the 911/Cayman/Boxster, most likely these new engines will find their way into the Cayman/Boxster.
     
  13. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Jan 20, 2004
    40,483
    Purgatory
    Full Name:
    Clifford Gunboat
  14. 62 250 GTO

    62 250 GTO F1 Veteran

    Jan 9, 2004
    7,765
    Nova Scotia Canada
    Full Name:
    Neil
    Sometimes even a sports car commands a premium for auto.

    Also I wouldn't pay more than $24,000 for this car.
     

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