I’m back in a P-car. The 986 Boxster S is a fantastic car and he’ll of a bargain.

[cantdrv55]

I sold my ‘97 Miata and picked up a 2000 Boxster S from the original owner with just 67500 miles! The IMSB has not been replaced so it’s something I’m taking a gamble on but the PO took very good care of the car and I have all maintenance records from the Porsche dealership he used. He bought it when he was 61 and was auto crossing with PCA. He’s 80 now and can no longer drive stick so he sold it to me. He is a lifelong Porsche fanatic and at one time had 5 356’s and a 944S at his spread.

Anyway, the car is fantastic fun and fast. It cost less than my 79 SC Targa too when I bought that car. If you’ve not driven a Boxster, you ought to try it.

[ian c2]

I’ve had a 986 outside the house for the last 5 or six years .
Not an s , just a lowly 2003 2.7 tip .
Unfortunately , it’s had its roof down the whole time so I have some work to do . ...

Absolutely fantastic sports car .

When Tyson worked at Hergeshiemer Motorsport we set it up for weekend fun duties .
Spec racing set-up minus the big-poundage Springs ..
Was still too much for daily use ..

Be carefull you don’t ruin it .
They’re good stock , and GREAT fun .

I’m still using it now , sold the bilstein pss and tarett stuff and now all stock with 18” wheels .

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

I sold my ‘97 Miata and picked up a 2000 Boxster S from the original owner with just 67500 miles! The IMSB has not been replaced so it’s something I’m taking a gamble on but the PO took very good care of the car and I have all maintenance records from the Porsche dealership he used. He bought it when he was 61 and was auto crossing with PCA. He’s 80 now and can no longer drive stick so he sold it to me. He is a lifelong Porsche fanatic and at one time had 5 356’s and a 944S at his spread.

Anyway, the car is fantastic fun and fast. It cost less than my 79 SC Targa too when I bought that car. If you’ve not driven a Boxster, you ought to try it.

Very cool. I had a '97 miata and then an '04 Mazdaspeed Miata, and my wife had a '99 miata. They were GREAT little cars. But they aren't Porsches. Congrats for getting back into one. I hope it serves you well and you enjoy it. My guess is that you won't have an issue with the IMSB. I've heard that when a car is driven hard, you're less likely to have that kind of issue, and if he was an autocrosser, than it was probably driven enthusiastically.

PICS or it didn't happen!

[epbrown]

Congrats. We seem to be reaching a point where, similar to the 944 a while back, even the nice, low-mileage 986s are getting affordable. They might even start to rise a bit, as the guys who were in their teens or early 20s when it debuted are getting old enough to afford them as toys.

[ian c2]

Originally Posted by masraum

My guess is that you won't have an issue with the IMSB. I've heard that when a car is driven hard, you're less likely to have that kind of issue, and if he was an autocrosser, than it was probably driven enthusiastically.

!

I’d have to go take a look , but I think mine is over 180k Miles now ...

[Jeff Higgins]

Congrats - you are going to love this car. I've had an '02 "S" for about five years now - I can't say enough about it. The best kept secret in the Porsche world.

Don't worry about the IMS. It's a vastly overblown problem. The "failure window" is supposed to be 30,000 to 50,000 miles, and you are well past that. Do it if it ever needs a clutch, since it's not much more once you get that far in, but don't go out of your way to do it.

[cantdrv55]

First thing I’m going to change are the 17” wheels. I’m hoping to find 18’s on Craigslist that’s reasonably priced. But first there’s new oil, brake fluid, gear oil, coolant and all the filters to do. I’m really looking forward to getting to know this car. My wife and I went on a top down drive last night on the winding roads of Solano and Yolo county vineyards of Northern CA. What a blast we had!

[Jeff Higgins]

Why ditch the 17's? Tire availability? Looks? I've had no issue with mine.

[cantdrv55]

Just looks. The 17's on it now are a little bland.

[Nevergrowup]

This thread needs pictures!

I couldn't agree more! My Boxster is the lowliest of the low, a 97 2.5 Tiptronic. The cheap entry price makes it easier to start modifying it. Mine is a sort of JPS homage. I fitted a Momo Prototipo steering wheel, and added paddle shifters from AMG and modified the Momo hob so that I could retain the clock spring. A whole lot better feeling when shifting manually (even if it takes the same amount of time)

I sold my '81 SC three years ago, but I rarely miss it. Open top motoring, with quite modern comfort is perfect for me.










I have Magnus Walker's signature on it as well (I know not all of you are fans, but I am)

[Baz]

Love mine as well....it's one of the early models!

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by Baz

Love mine as well....it's one of the early models!

That's the really early model

[cantdrv55]

Originally Posted by Nevergrowup

This thread needs pictures!

I couldn't agree more! My Boxster is the lowliest of the low, a 97 2.5 Tiptronic. The cheap entry price makes it easier to start modifying it. Mine is a sort of JPS homage. I fitted a Momo Prototipo steering wheel, and added paddle shifters from AMG and modified the Momo hob so that I could retain the clock spring. A whole lot better feeling when shifting manually (even if it takes the same amount of time)

I sold my '81 SC three years ago, but I rarely miss it. Open top motoring, with quite modern comfort is perfect for me.










I have Magnus Walker's signature on it as well (I know not all of you are fans, but I am)

That's a beauty!

[cantdrv55]

Originally Posted by Baz

Love mine as well....it's one of the early models!

Love it!

[ian c2]

I tempted fate with this ...

[racer]

Here's a pic of my old one.. a 2000 2.7. Loved the 18" wheels on it. These are actually, my favorite Porsche 18" wheels.

To the OP, just be mindful of colder weather as the plastic rear window can crack if you are not careful.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by ian c2

I’ve had a 986 outside the house for the last 5 or six years .
Not an s , just a lowly 2003 2.7 tip .
Unfortunately , it’s had its roof down the whole time so I have some work to do . ...

Absolutely fantastic sports car .

When Tyson worked at Hergeshiemer Motorsport we set it up for weekend fun duties .
Spec racing set-up minus the big-poundage Springs ..
Was still too much for daily use ..

Be carefull you don’t ruin it .
They’re good stock , and GREAT fun .

I’m still using it now , sold the bilstein pss and tarett stuff and now all stock with 18” wheels .

Evey review, on TV or magazines I have ever read about the Boxster has only good things to say about it. The only complaint is lack of power in the earlier models, and that is from guys used to 911s or high powered cars.

I am often tempted to buy an old Boxster because they are so cheap. My 3 car garage is full, and it would have to sit outside, and I would just hate that. So that is my excuse to not get one.

[Mike Andrew]

Bought a 2000 from a terminally ill buddy who had splurged on a Cayman S as a going away present to himself. 38,000 miles, burgundy and grey. Not sure how many of this combo were made. The SC was in for a bare metal repaint which took a year due to the shop getting swamped.
Damn fun car to drive on nice days with the lid down. Loved the handling and the power was ok but wish it had been an S. Had to sell it when my 911 came back from repaint (finally). Only a 2 car garage and couldn't stand the idea of the car sitting outside. Drove it a couple thousand miles, enjoyed it and sold at a small profit.
I would buy another in a heartbeat if I had the garage space some of you guys have.

[cantdrv55]

Originally Posted by racer

Here's a pic of my old one.. a 2000 2.7. Loved the 18" wheels on it. These are actually, my favorite Porsche 18" wheels.

To the OP, just be mindful of colder weather as the plastic rear window can crack if you are not careful.

Those are really nice wheels but spendy!

[cantdrv55]

I test drove a 99 non S first then jumped in the 2000 S the next day so they were pretty much back to back driving comparisons. My old SC felt as fast as the non S but the Boxster was hands down the better handling sports car. The S was the first car that ever scared me. Crazy fast with superb handling to boot. I was doing close to 80 on 3rd gear and hadn’t hit red line yet. I had three gears left to go!