$6k sounds pretty good. Any pics? I am hoping to do the same in the not too distant future. Just need a bigger garage. Wife has that "I don't want this house looking like a redneck house with 4-5 cars all over the property" thing going on. Good luck with the purchase.

Thanks DMC - I'd buy that from you if you were local. But if I factor in a flight and a drive for 3 days, it makes more sense to keep looking here in the Porsche Mecca.

I still would prefer an S - even though I need more power like a hole in my head.

G

I posted the CL ad with pics earlier. Here it is again:
1997 Porsche Boxster Cabriolet***Great Cond***

I know what you mean with too many cars. It would be my 4th car with 2 drivers. But it would help get some miles off the SUV at 13 mpg city, which will certainly not pay for the car, but help offset things and keep miles off the others.

G

So, the silver / red boxster has the approval of the spousal unit. I am seriously thinking about picking it up. Any PPI thoughts - meaning my DIY?

I checked for leaks - not completely dry under body but nothing dripping or hitting the ground and the car has been there for 2 months at the dealer.

Checked the oil - looks clean, so does the filler cap, no moisture or milkshake. No smells on the coolant side either.

Checked cold start for smoke - nothing. Nothing at hot idle or when WOT / off throttle.

Drove it for 20 minutes in town and on the interstate up to 80 mph. Rowed all gears up and down. Cruise control works, lights, blinkers, power doors, top etc. Radio is asking for a code - I hope the dealer has the code, otherwise that's probably not good?

Brakes have all lots of meat, tires look new, checked front trunk for accident damage. Still would have to look at rear trunk before buying.

So, what else to check, if I really walk in there this week?

Thanks!

G

I forget: The dealer is a one man show Iranian guy. He knows nothing about Porsches or he is a good actor. He has every type of car in his lot that you may imagine. From minivan over SUV to commuter car. He bought it at auction from a BMW dealer. I think he'll be ready to wheel and deal early this week, especially if I show up with cash.

And I forgot to mention, yes, the shift into 2nd is far from harsh - just noticeably different from the other gears. The interior is still pretty decent, considering it is an open top car with that many miles. I would guess the top was closed a lot or the car was garaged or both ...

G

The car is beautiful. Love the silver/red combo. You'll want to try to stain the carpet red or replace it. The rear window looks like bad shape, is there a way to clean it up and remove the cloudiness?

For $6k hard to go wrong. Even if it'll require some work down the road, looks like you are starting with a nice car. Have you checked all the gaps for accident damage? Any apparent water damage (mildew/mold smells)? How about seems in the metal under the hood, in the trunk?

The radio I wouldn't worry too much. You can probably get the code from a dealer or thru Porsche USA. Had the same problem with my audi of same vintage. You might want to just replace the radio, after 20 years, you'll want bluetooth and other technology and replacing a radio is a piece of cake. Both my Audi radios died so assuming it is the same maker, it is probably ready for a change anyway.

Holy crap, I just realized Im just a few blocks from there right now! I am in Mountain View now on business.

Oh, btw, glad you are considering the 2 seat option. I try to drive with my kids with the top down and they complain about the wind and the sun when in the back so usually, the top is up anyway.

Hi Need Space,

I like the Boxster in silver. There are a lot of ugly color combos out for the late 90s. I.e. blue with grey interior! I still don't think a Boxster will ever win a beauty contest, but in silver it falls better in line with other speedster cars of the marque. Yes, you can always dye the carpets, but I am not going to worry about it. If I buy this car, I will drive the wheels off of it. Maintain it and keep it safe, but not much will go into cosmetic upgrades. I will also leave the intermediate shaft bearing alone, unless I have the transmission out anyway. So, no money spent on things that aren't essential. But my kids will wash and wax it nicely. :D

Not sure about the rear window. Some may polish out, others don't. I am not worried about it. It will be a fair weather car. I am serious about motoring top down. If I take this car, it will be top down.

The car is essentially a one owner car. All panels align well and all the paint looks the same, with the same amount of rock chips, minor door dings and scratches. I don't think it has been hit.

As I said before, the 4 seat idea was that of my wife. We always take the SUV when we are all going somewhere all together, so I talked her out of it. She'll enjoy the car by herself as well on her short commute or for errands.

G

You can get the code from the dealership, you may have to show them proof of ownership so they know you didn't steal it. It may be written on the options tag inside the frunk or somewhere in the owner's manual, so check there first. If the radio has been swapped at some point (mine had been) you will need to pull the radio and get the SN directly off of it. As mentioned, a head unit swap is cheap and easy, the base stereo is pretty mediocre.

My plastic rear window was pretty hazy, I was able to polish out probably half of the haze using Meguiars Plastic Cleaner and Plastic Polish. Two bottles of stuff, more effective than the "all in one" products. If necessary you can get just the rear window replaced by a convertible top shop for a few hundred, they just sew in.

Make sure the top fits tightly when closed around the window bows. When they get worn the edge of the top no longer fits inside the plastic bow, you'll see a canvas pucker around the window. Mine had this issue but was still weather tight, I suspect it added a little wind noise.

Otherwise it's just normal car stuff, sounds like you did a thorough inspection already.

Went back to the 6k boxster to buy it. Before doing so, pulled the codes: pending: p1539.

A quick check online shows this as a variable cam timing actuator issue. I haven't read much as I am "mobile" but the few posts I found look to replace an actuator in the bowels of the valvetrain. Any input?

The owner wasn't there at the dealer. Only an assistant showing the car. I think I all pass, unless I find this to be an easy thing to fix. One could probably drive it as is but if that code goes full, it will likely throw the cel and smogging it will be a nightmare.

I will keep you posted - for now it is 993 with the sunroof open and the windows down! :)

G

How about a Nissan Murano convertible? Satisfies all your above criteria, save the manual tranny/RWD bullet point. We can substitute a rarity factor in its place, instead. C'mon, you'll be the only guy any of us know who actually owns one! Do it! you can't fit 4 adults in a Boxster.

George, I've heard of the Varioram actuators going bad but it seems rare. No idea how much they cost but for some reason I thought they were external. I may be 100% wrong in this case, that's an area I've never had to tinker with.

If your research shows that it sucks to replace, passing might be the right decision. Especially considering that you can find a pretty nice 986 for $8k.

I drove a 98 version of this exact car yesterday, 70K miles. Older owner, 80, had his fun he says. It is a nice color combination. Had a short shift kit, highly recommended.

He was asking $10K but I think $8500 would have bought it. Great little car though I don't think I could live with the 2.5.

Yes, all I read is cam cover off and re-timing cam, parts in the $700+ range and shop costs totaling almost 2k to do. Don't want to fuzz with this. There are literally half a dozen cars of this type for sale at any given time in a 20 mile radius from my house. I'll keep looking.

On that note, and also in response to Shaun - I am stepping it up a little in price to see what else is out there. Looking at a couple 2001 S today. I am thinking the S should hold the value a little better and if it isn't a bottom of the barrel car, it will be worth tinkering with and spending money on more than a $6k beater.

G

Volvo C70?

If mentioned before, my bad.

I drove my SL560 yesterday. I understand the jones.

Just got back from a spirited ride in my new to me 2002 Boxster S it is a phenominal car ! Quick, fast, handles great, shifts great and oh yeah some creature comforts like AC . Can't wait for the weather to be a little warmer so I can drop the top. Good luck in your search.

Glad to hear it George and completely agree.

I got an email from my fellow earlier today, we both rowed in college so have struck up a conversation, and he said he'll take $8K for it. This car was by no means a beater, rather well cared for and very nice; I am simply amazed at how much car you get for an $8K Boxster, so we'll see.

Here my adventures for the day.

First was a 118k speed yellow 2001 S overall nicely optioned, second owner, garaged, well cared for with a new Boxster in the driveway waiting for the garage spot. All good, except for the 14k asking and the fact that it has NO CRUISE CONTROL! WTF? The car had every other option on the planet, including litronic headlamps etc. I also could not get over how yellow it was. I'll pass as I cannot live without cruise control. I run and exercise and sometimes my legs are crampy and if I have to hold the pedal down for hours on a long road trip, it really aggravates me.

Other interesting bits about the car was a fixed installed radar / laser detector that looks like it required some creative cutting and wiring. It was installed in the front bottom grille of the car. I don't like that kind of stuff. They always cut and splice.

Here the car in question:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1395613417.jpg

And its replacement, yes, the guy really likes speed yellow! :D What amazed me was how HUGE the new boxster is. The 01 dwarfed my 993, but the 2013 looked like a MINIVAN next to both.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1395613457.jpg

So, next one was a silver one. My preferred color, as you know by now. This thing was pretty rough around the edges. Apparently not garaged. Had a ticking noise I could not make out at idle. O2 sensor code on the OBDII and last but not least a slow coolant leak in the front left. Asking 12500.
What really killed me on the car was the convex dents on the back bonnet, apparently someone slammed it closed on the same sharp object about 50 times. WTF? It can happen, but wouldn't you realize you are doing this after 2 or 3 times with the same object?

Anyway, I don't think I want this car. Mileage is 89k. It'd be a good fixer upper - the water leak is probably doable and the O2 sensor would have to be fixed by the seller to pass smog for selling, but ticking noises from the engine make me nervous and those dents on the bonnet would have to be fixed (I'd buy a used bonnet from another silver car).

Water leak:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1395613819.jpg

Ass-end as owner pulls away. Far enough to not see the pockmarks. ;)
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1395613846.jpg

So, back home I went - 993 - cruise control ON - sunroof open - straight bonnet and no coolant leaks! :D I think I will give this a rest, unless I can find a very low mileage base car for under 10k. 100k S cars aren't going to cut it. There are so many for sale her you could make this a full time job to find one.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1395613945.jpg

Cheers,
SmileWavy
G

Oh - looky here - Wayne has it covered (cruise control is easy to retrofit 2000 up!) :)

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/92-ELEC-Cruise_Control/92-ELEC-Cruise_Control.htm

But speed yellow? And the price?

Maybe it will still be there in a week and go down in price ...

G

Just coming up to the third year of ownership of my 2001 Box base. Just love it. My car has as the only option heated seats. It has no cruise control and I really don't miss it. But it sounds like a must for you.

The first Box I looked at was a base 2000 and it was yellow. I could not handle that.
Only thing wrong with the car I bought was the spoiler was not working. Not a big deal.

I am sure there are perfect Boxster S models out there. Oh yes mine had only 30k miles on it when I bought it which really makes it reliable for me. I would keep looking. Consider the 2.7 base as well as the S. There must be some immaculate ones out there (or slightly less so). I think it is worth the search.Guy.:)

Beat me to it, cruise is an easy addition. I also looked at a 986S without cruise control, amazing that they don't include economy car options as standard. Porsche has the high profit a-la-cart option thing down. That car sounds good, but $14k seems pretty hefty for the miles.

My Boxster was speed yellow. I didn't care for the color at first but it really grew on me. Surprisingly it didn't seem to hurt resale either, I had plenty of interest but ended up selling it to a coworker that LOVES yellow.