Buying used Boxster question...

[Bob986]

I am a first time poster looking to attain a long time dream of owning a Porsche. I'm looking at a 2003 Boxster S with just 21,000 miles for $22,500 at a dealer. According to the car fax it was regularly serviced by the original owner up to 15,000 miles who averaged about 2,400 miles a year. It also was driven from New York to Florida in the last year by the second owner. I have read somewhere to avoid low mileage Boxsters but I would like to hear some opinions from some experienced Boxster owners before I take a test drive and risk falling in love...

[harryrcb]

I bought my 04 S with 29k on the clock and never had a problem with the IMS. If you like the car go for it BUT you should be able to do better on the price.

[Rot 911]

Buying any older Boxster is a crap shoot. While there is no question that these motors have an IMS bearing defect, the actual numbers vary. For every one that has the problem, there are 20 that don't. There is no way to inspect the IMS bearing in a PPI. Respected Porsche independent service garage in St. Louis charges $1400.00 to replace with the LN Engineering bearing.

The fact that the car got driven a long distance in the last year is helpful. I would go ahead and test drive the car. If you like it and it passes your inspection, buy it. Then save up the money for the IMS replacement.

[mikefocke]

Good model, good year, good history. Negotiate hard...it is winter and new models have been out for a year making the one you describe 3 models old and almost 10 years old.

[Bob986]

Thanks for the good advice. If the test drive goes well I plan on paying for an oil change so I can see the filter. Any sign of the dreaded IMS failure I will use it as a bargaining tool.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by Bob986

Thanks for the good advice. If the test drive goes well I plan on paying for an oil change so I can see the filter. Any sign of the dreaded IMS failure I will use it as a bargaining tool.

No need to change the oil, just remove the filter housing, inspect the filter & interior of the housing then reinstall & top off oil. (approximately 1/3 qt.)

[Phillip Jones]

If there is any sign of IMS problems I would not use that as a bargaining chip. I would use that as a sign to run the other way fast. Way too risky.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by Phillip Jones

If there is any sign of IMS problems I would not use that as a bargaining chip. I would use that as a sign to run the other way fast. Way too risky.

That I would agree with!

[Bob986]

....I see your point. According to Car Fax the oil & filter were changed less than a thousand miles ago so I don't know what I would see. But I plan on upgrading the IMS bearing as soon as possible after purchase of any Boxster I get for peace of mind. So if I saw a little tiny bit of metal in the filter I wasn't going to run for the door. Thoughts?

[dghii]

Run for the door.
If you saw metal, especially after an oil change 1K ago, you either have a very lucky scenario that the IMS just started to fail or it wasn't even caught at the last change.

Why bother? There are lots of low mileage 986's still around. You are paying a premium for a low mileage car,, not a low mileage car with a huge issue. Even if you negotiate $ off the price, you are no longer getting a nice, low mileage car, just another car with an issue.

[racer]

How long have you been looking for a Boxster? Do you want a 986 based or 987 based version? Do you want an S? is this one optioned a way you want? Is it the color you like?

I ask these questions because at $23K, you can find the newer 987 models at or near that price, and to me, they are quite different cars. It also seems to me that there were hundreds of options available which means, if you really want litronics and heated seats, find one with those options.