Looking for More Boxster Owners!!!

[Wayne 962]

Hi everyone. As with the other forums at their start, this forum is slowly building traffic. I know that PPBB is a tremendous source for Boxster owners, but I would also like to build up this forum, perhaps with more of a technical bend?

I think that this board software is very easy to use, and much more friendly than the one that PPBB uses.

How can I get more Boxster people onto this board? Any suggestions?

-Wayne

[ewr1]

You could always call yours PPBB also (Pelican Parts Boxster Board)! Just kidding!

Stay the course. It seems that there is more of a technical exchange going on here. Pete's board is more about "my new car is on the boat", "did you see the hot blonde in the movie", etc. While that is ok, there is not much else going on there.

I also heard that the Boxster racing board is down. Maybe they will come over as they are more technical minded.

Thanks for the forum!



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William Reinecke
2001 Boxster S

[Wayne 962]

How can I get people from the racing board?

-Wayne

[Brian993]

Wayne,

As they buy they will come, I am here and waiting for others myself. I'd like to see some pics of accessories and stuff.

[Wayne 962]

Trouble is, there isn't too much to be done to the Boxster. I have it set so that if anyone posts here, I get an email, so I can respond right away, and get some traffic going.

I just need people to start topics. Agreed, PPBB is a bit like the retirement home for ricers! (just kidding).

Not really a tech board, but more of a social gathering, which is ok too...

-Wayne

[Ian Cooke]

Got a minute for a Boxster _prospect_?
What's the skinny on the 98s? Coming from a 911 background (70 E and 84 coupes), I expect some systematic afflictions in my Porsches. But if shiny plastic buttons and effective a/c are the biggest drawbacks, then I'm as tempted as I thought I was on my first Boxster drive, day before yesterday. So:
What should a Boxster shopper triple-check when he's looking at a dealer-certified 98? Are they _really_ that much less expensive to maintain than , say, a 993? If it doesn't have a dirty little secret, what's it doing wearing a Porsche badge?!?

[Wayne 962]

Well, here's my take on it. The Boxsters are a new car. New cars depreciate rapidly. So the new Boxsters are going to decpreciate rapidly.

That said, you can now pick up a Boxster in the $27K range for a 1997. Book value on an excellent Boxster with 65,000 miles is $28,000.

So, let's talk 911 for a moment. Always the flagship of the Porsche line (since 1965), the 911 has always sold for a premium. So, the older cars are going to hold their value a bit more. $25K is the book value for a 1989 Carrera with 85K miles.

We will see a moment when the Boxster value drops below the older 911s values. Then it will begin to level off. The Boxster is also suffering from the advances of the 'S' and later year cars. The 1997s and 1998s are less desireable because of the smaller engines. There were also some 'bugs' with these early cars. Not that they should be avoided, but the later cars have been deemed slightly more reliable. (they fixed some engine problems, a roof/window problem, and a few other misc things).

Supposedly the cars don't need service until 100K. That sounds pretty cheap to own to me (the dealers must be disappointed). Problem is, if something goes wrong, then you're SOL for a big repair bill. My advice would be to pay the extra $$$ and get an extended warranty, especially if you're picking up a lease car from a dealer...

-Wayne

[Ian Cooke]

My dealer is offering a 1 yr unlimited mileage warranty on 2 98 Boxsters he has in stock (13k and 31k miles). I guess my question was not so much how Boxster prices got where they are, as what to pay attention to now that a 4 year old Porsche is within reach. What sort of engine probs? Any way to tell if the window/top fixes have been made? Or running changes that might make a "May 98" 986 a smarter bet than a "January 98" model? Longevity enhancers a la Carrera tensioners? Systems I should expect to replace "early"?
I'm never going to ask a car to go 100k miles without service--nor do I want to sink $1500 into service every 15k miles, the way my neighbor's doing with his 993. What can I expect in the next 3 years from a clean, lowish-mileage 98 Boxster? (Sorry so long--trying to become an educated consumer!)

[Wayne 962]

There really hasn't been too much information released on the Boxster problems - mostly word of mouth. The dealers were pulling engines for a while and sending them back to Germany for inspection. This was in 1997 or 1998.

The window/ roof problem was a small electrical intermittant problem that I don't know if they had a fix for.

I didn't mean to pan the cars, in actuality they are very reliable, and good investments. It's just that if you get a rare engine problem, then it could be expensive to fix.

1 year warranty is good, but I would also get extended if you can too.

Sorry if this isn't specific enough for you - I haven't personally taken one of these cars apart (like I have with the 911)...

-Wayne

[Brian993]

I believe the Boxster will be seen as one of porsche's best cars so far. Not so much as for performance, (which is good) as for its dependability. I think with all that porsche has learned to this point, it has been applied to the Boxster. I listen to some 911 owners put it down, but I think most have to remember that it is relative to price. A new Boxster is half the price of a new 911, but by no means half the car. In earlier years porsche has made some crappy choices, I believe this is not one of them. I own a 00, triple black, 5400 mi.I purchased for 38K. Dealer wanted 42K but I negotiated. Car is as new. I mention that for those looking to buy, so you can get an indication of what they are going for. Options will make a difference but not much. As for performance its not a 911, but I guarantee, just as much fun!!

[Wayne 962]

The HOT ticket in five years is going to be the Boxster conversion, with the 911 engine transplant. It's a natural choice, and brings this car up to a superior level of performance. Kind of like the way a 914-6 with a 3.2 and upgraded 911 suspension and brakes will kick just about any pre 1989 911 on the track...

-Wayne

[epbrown]

I agree that this is going to be the hot ticket, but I don't think it will take 5 years - I get the impression that people are champing at the bit for this, and more and more articles are popping up in the Porsche rags about throwing in superchargers, turbochargers, and 911 engines. Once someone comes up with a "standard" upgrade, a common one with all of the bugs worked out that will add another 100 bhp or so, the Boxster will seriously take off.

Emanuel

[Wayne 962]

Trouble is, the cars are too new to the off-warranty market to have anyone really play around with them. $27K is still a lot of money. Not too many people modify 911 Carreras or C2s, (well, not as many as the SCs, and earlier cars) because the chance of messing something up is far greater...

-Wayne

[Brian993]

Does the factory offer a supercharger? I would love to get my hands on one!

[Wayne 962]

No, the factory doesn't offer superchargers. Putting one on will most likely void your warranty too, if you're still on warranty.

Although that's a lame excuse not to put one on!

-Wayne

[Brian993]

Wayne, good point. I have two years of warranty left and I wont jeopordize it. Just dreaming I guess. I think the car is well balanced anyway. How much street power do you really need anyway. I look at the boxster as a kind of sport luxury car. My 911 is more of a raw sport car. Tough decision to make as far as letting the 911 go. Anyone thinking abouth the boxster, my advice would be by the newest you can afford, lower mile used are the best bet. 2003 might be worth the wait if you got the bucks to buy new. I dont know of many problems myself, some people beat there cars to the point of problems, regardless of factory flaws, so keep this in mind also.