Carpe Diem or Save for Another Day?

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

We voted and we're all OK to let you stay on the board even though you are porcheless ! ;-)

Thanks! I figured my "experience" should keep me as part of the group for a while anyway.

FYI my brother's Cayman S is near the top of the list of Porsches I'm lusting for. Yeah, love the middies.

[porsche4life]

Whats the deal: 924S


A little torture for Dougy....

[Deschodt]

That's what I'd do, the Cayman S got under my skin. I've tracked all my cars, and I much prefer the middies on track, even though I own 2 rear engined cars.... now I got my 69 912, 83 911 backdate, and a new GTI... Gotta sell 2 to get me cayman s, but which 2 ? ;-) It's torture...

I'm gonna try to send my wife back to work instead and keep them all... well, except the GTI, great car but I am finished with FWD...

[porsche4life]

Thats like my Corrado... Its fun but the torque steer sucks... You better be holding on when that blower grabs in first and second....

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Thats like my Corrado... Its fun but the torque steer sucks... You better be holding on when that blower grabs in first and second....

Not quite that bad, they've made torque steer almost a non issue on the GTI (despite my chipped 260 lb/ft of torque) - but I hear ya. I had a Corrado VR6, loved that car... I wish VW would have remade it instead of the scirroco ! anyway, didn't mean to take over poor Doug's thread...

Hey Doug, another idea... they are still cheap and IMO will double in value in the next 5 years...

[porsche4life]

I love to drive my G60.... But all the crap that breaks pisses me off... And most of the parts cost more than 944 parts and the 944 is better to drive....



Anyways.... Back to normal programing...

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Whats the deal: 924S

A little torture for Dougy....

I've actually been in touch with this gent about his car. Nice enough guy. But his car hasn't been in service for 10 years. (Very few miles, but...10 years) There were a couple of other sticking points. Nothing major, but they were there..

[porsche4life]

See we haven't been getting the whole story... It will need a belt job at least at that age....

[Schumi]

Two options:

1) drop the S. Get a 924. A $3000 924 can be had that is well serviced and will cost next to nothing for maintaining. This is not the case for a 924S, as one will all the records and belt service is going to run you more than that, unless you get lucky in your search.

This is assuming that you don't have the time/skills to pour into a cheaper car that had problems. In your situation you probably want to avoid that.

2) Save. Save up and you will be able to afford a car more suited to your needs and wants.
$5000 can get you a nice daily driver 944 or 914. $10,000 can get you a nice Turbo or even an early SC in good condition. $15,000 and you can be in a very nice, modern 986.

There are weekly ebay bargain boxsters for near the 10K$ mark. High mileage (a good thing in an early boxster IMO), and with a PPI could be nice cars... but some are surely to be money pits, and maintenance on a boxster is rapidly making that car go the way of the 944 - with nearly half of them winding up junked due to failures resulting from not being serviced on time/correctly.

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

See we haven't been getting the whole story... It will need a belt job at least at that age....

I figured any 924S I bought would need a good baseline service, so I was planning on an oil and belt change, new water pump, and something about an oil pump or something that often goes wrong? So at least another grand to $1500 on the car. So unless it was a perfect car, I was shopping in the $3k and under range.

Oh, and feel free to ramble on "my" thread. This is what off topic is all about.

[porsche4life]

I think the oil thing you are talking about is the pickup tube failing... I haven't messed with mine yet...


I didn't figure you minded the rambling given the topic.....

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by Schumi

There are weekly ebay bargain boxsters for near the 10K$ mark. High mileage (a good thing in an early boxster IMO), and with a PPI could be nice cars... but some are surely to be money pits, and maintenance on a boxster is rapidly making that car go the way of the 944 - with nearly half of them winding up junked due to failures resulting from not being serviced on time/correctly.

Interesting you bring up Boxsters because I've been a champion for the Boxster cause for some time. I just love the cars, dynamically. Unfortunately, two of the three I've owned have had motors replaced (one of them I actually had to pay for). Since Julie bought her Fozzie I've thought about trading my Subie on one and using it as an inexpensive daily driver. But that little fear of the blown motor is keeping me away. I hate it, mostly because it means I'm getting old and conservative and letting fear run my life. (..ok, just in this instance..)

But at the same time, if I had the money, I wouldn't hessitate to find a decent old (re: cheap) Boxster and pay Flat6Innovations to rebuild the motor with all of their updates and have a sweet, reliable car for some time. In fact, I would put that right behind my brother's Cayman S on the wish list.

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I think the oil thing you are talking about is the pickup tube failing... I haven't messed with mine yet.....

That's it! Thanks.

[teenerted1]

hurry up and get your butt out here...you have been talking about it for years now...there will be plenty of p-cars here when you arrive...just have fune with the subbie in the last midwest winter of your life.

sorry foxy brown wont be avaliable when you arrive...you and scott had you turns...i'm still not tired with the car and doubt i will be by next summer either.

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by teenerted1

hurry up and get your butt out here...you have been talking about it for years now...there will be plenty of p-cars here when you arrive...just have fune with the subbie in the last midwest winter of your life.

Yeah, we're anxious as hell to move. Truly, we're making strides. One way or another, summer is D-day. ..er, M-day?

As for the Subie, I'm supposed to keep that, right? Isn't that the official car of the PNW?!?

Originally Posted by teenerted1

sorry foxy brown wont be avaliable when you arrive...you and scott had you turns...i'm still not tired with the car and doubt i will be by next summer either.

Probably the car I'm most sorry I sold. Although it's been cool watching what you and Scott have done with it. But don't worry, I'll find "my own" after we're out there!

[Schumi]

Originally Posted by Doug&Julie

Interesting you bring up Boxsters because I've been a champion for the Boxster cause for some time. I just love the cars, dynamically. Unfortunately, two of the three I've owned have had motors replaced (one of them I actually had to pay for). Since Julie bought her Fozzie I've thought about trading my Subie on one and using it as an inexpensive daily driver. But that little fear of the blown motor is keeping me away. I hate it, mostly because it means I'm getting old and conservative and letting fear run my life. (..ok, just in this instance..)

But at the same time, if I had the money, I wouldn't hessitate to find a decent old (re: cheap) Boxster and pay Flat6Innovations to rebuild the motor with all of their updates and have a sweet, reliable car for some time. In fact, I would put that right behind my brother's Cayman S on the wish list.

This is why I cited high mileage as a plus. The cars are meant to be driven. Find a boxster owned, driven, and serviced by an enthusiast at 100k miles and it will last for another 100k miles.

The '00 and on Boxsters don't have the block defects as the first generation cars do.

And I haven't heard of many failures from the S engines.. and the S is the car to have. I've seen a few recent 00-02 S's going for around 16K$ here.

[scottmandue]

FWIW a 924S has the engine and drive-train of a 944 stuffed into 924 body... very different beast than a 924.

Wish you lived closer, I would give you my 944.

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by Schumi

The '00 and on Boxsters don't have the block defects as the first generation cars do.

No, but they are just as susceptible to bearing failures. My '01 went in for a throw-out bearing and came out with a new motor. Fortunately, that was one I didn't have to pay for.

Originally Posted by Schumi

And I haven't heard of many failures from the S engines...

I've heard this as well...that they're the strongest of the Boxster motors. Then a few days after reading that I read about three '03+ S models failing on the Rennlist board.

It's a shame, really. They are such good cars. And I'm not saying I won't ever buy one again, it's just that I'm going to budget another $12k on top of the purchase price to rebuild the motor. (..or try to find one with a recent motor replacement!)

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

FWIW a 924S has the engine and drive-train of a 944 stuffed into 924 body... very different beast than a 924.

Yeah, that's why I was looking at them. I consider them reliable, if properly maintained. My '88 was running like new when I sold it with 156k miles. Sure, I spent a fair amount on upkeep, but it paid off. I figured a 924S would be a good bet for a long term runner.

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Wish you lived closer, I would give you my 944.

Dude if I lived closer I wouldn't need my Subaru and probably wouldn't be in this dilemma!

[Doug&Julie]

Maaan...I just need to stop looking...I'd trade my Subie for this

2001 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 4 BLK ON BLK LOW MILES CLEAN CARFAX LIKE NE