What stops you from buying a Cayman/Boxster ?

afterburn 549 · 10-23-2015, 06:32 AM

I drool over these Cayman cars...I really really wanted one!
I have almost pulled the trigger several times (used).
Every time something raises its ugly head.
All the computer gizmos scare me ..the IMS issue used to scare me. I have reluctantly said to myself if thats the worst thing that goes wrong i will just fix it and eat it.
Now other issues have arisen, Big ones.
It now look as of they are all coming dwn with scored cylinders !
Thats a biggy!
I guess i will hang my head and go back to the air cooled 911..Shucks!
I wanted a mid engine ship...
That is what stops me from hopping in a Cayman and wheeling off into the sunset.
You?

patz · 10-23-2015, 06:34 AM

Buy one that has tossed the engine and drop a V8 innit.

jorian · 10-23-2015, 06:35 AM

No back seat.

afterburn 549 · 06:42 AM

You know at first i was repulsed by that thought!! ( the V8 ).....However if it becomes a normalcy and not 911 type tragedy it would not be a bad idea.
If every freekin water cooled unit becomes a bastard, or a mutt, - then it is accepted and would be a fun car, not a mockery .
Too bad Porsche cant build a water cooled engine that works. Right?
To spend the money on a rebuild and then have to repeat it is lunacy ..I am not saying that is in every case..but more and more it seems so.

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

Some good info here:
Cayman S IMS Failures, Is it a legitimate Concern? - Rennlist Discussion Forums

onewhippedpuppy · 10-23-2015, 07:06 AM

Q: what keeps me from buying a Boxster/Cayman?
A: I believe everything I read on the internet.

sand_man · 10-23-2015, 07:08 AM

Subscribing to this. I have been seriously thinking a Cayman S will be in my future. Not sure I'll be able swing the 993 and the Cayman, and so it's the fear that once I leave the air/oil cooled world, I'll never be able to buy back into it, that keeps me from pulling the trigger.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Lack of $$ and garage space!

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

I saw a nice enough 2001 Boxster base for sale locally that was just 5 grand. I almost bought it as a track rat daily driver. I just don't have a good place to keep it. I would never get rid of my current cars to provide space for it. I just don't want to go back to keeping a car outside.

My wife really would be thrilled if I sold my 911 and bought a brand new Cayman S or GT4. I am just too cheap and I love my old 911. When I can trade it straight up for a new GT4 I might do it.

rammstein · 10-23-2015, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorian

No back seat.

Bingo. Otherwise, I LOVE the cayman. I think its the nicest looking modern Porsche, and sounds awesome. Haven't been able to drive one yet.

afterburn 549 · 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Q: what keeps me from buying a Boxster/Cayman?
A: I believe everything I read on the internet.

Hay! you have horses in this race...
Everything on the net is true.......! LOL
Seriously, reading Jeff Altons thread ..
Then reading about all the different kind of failures not just the IMS tragedy ..
Somewherest in there is a lot of truth.
If you sell me a Cayman ......will you warrantee it ?

http://www.planet-9.com/987-cayman-and-boxster-problems-and-complaints/81432-what-causes-cylinder-scoring.html

There is acres and acres written up on this problem, i would NOT dwn play it too much.

Laneco · 10-23-2015, 07:21 AM

Money.

I think the Cayman is absolutely brilliant.

angela

GothingNC · 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sand_man

Subscribing to this. I have been seriously thinking a Cayman S will be in my future. Not sure I'll be able swing the 993 and the Cayman, and so it's the fear that once I leave the air/oil cooled world, I'll never be able to buy back into it, that keeps me from pulling the trigger.

I have the same excuse, once the air-cooled 911 is gone, it will be out of reach if I want another one.

It is nice not having to deal with water-pumps, AOS, coolant tanks, piston scoring,expensive tires, depreciation...

Plus my property tax and classic insurance is cheap

Quite a few Porsche owners in my PCA region have made the switch from a Cayman/Boxster to the air-cooled 911.

Maybe a few years down the road I may pick up an 09 and later Cayman as a second Porsche once the kids are out of college.

onewhippedpuppy · 10-23-2015, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

Hay! you have horses in this race...
Everything on the net is true.......! LOL
Seriously, reading Jeff Altons thread ..
Then reading about all the different kind of failures not just the IMS tragedy ..
Somewherest in there is a lot of truth.
If you sell me a Cayman ......will you warrantee it ?

No Boxsters or Caymans for sale at the moment, so no vested interest. And I don't warranty anything I sell. That's not a very good business model if you are selling 10 year old Porsches.

Internet forums are a funny thing, because how often does someone post "my car ran perfect today"? You see all of the bad, but that doesn't mean everything is bad. Jeff's situation is similar, nobody stops by his shop because the car is running perfect. Scored cylinders, IMS failure, DFI injector carbon build-up, leaky RMS, they are all real issues but they are also RARE in the grand scheme of things. On the high end of 996 IMS failure it is estimated at 8%, and the preventative fix is a little over $1000. In the grand scheme of European sports car ownership that is pocket change. Furthermore, how quickly we forget all of the potentially fatal issues that plagued the "bulletproof" air cooled cars.

I've owned multiple 986s and 987s, they are my favorite modern Porsche. Honestly, from a driving perspective they are my favorite Porsche. They are well built, easy to work on, very reliable, and superb to drive. The issues are at this point well known, and generally speaking can be inspected for. Just like any Porsche do your due diligence, find a good one, and it will be a fantastic experience.

recycled sixtie · recycled sixtie's Garage

Caymans are in the high risk category if not under warranty. I would wait until they have depreciated enough to old Boxster levels ie $5-10k then if the engine blows it is not the end of my financial world. However it will be several years before they are down to that level.

Conversely get a new one or close to new with Porsche warranty. As an aside why would the Cayman have any more or less problems than the equivalent year Boxster? Same engines, different body.

onewhippedpuppy · 10-23-2015, 07:55 AM

The Cayman and Boxster have the same issues. Generally speaking so do the comparable 911s. They all share the same engine and transaxle architecture.

creaturecat · 10-23-2015, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Caymans are in the high risk category if not under warranty. I would wait until they have depreciated enough to old Boxster levels ie $5-10k then if the engine blows it is not the end of my financial world. However it will be several years before they are down to that level.

Conversely get a new one or close to new with Porsche warranty. As an aside why would the Cayman have any more or less problems than the equivalent year Boxster? Same engines, different body.

yessir. they certainly seem to depreciate rather quickly. i like your strategy.
patience, grasshopper. : )

Seahawk · 10-23-2015, 08:27 AM

Size. I am 6'4.

I followed a Boxster for over 60 miles Wednesday driving back from North Carolina. There was a little convoy of like minded speed limit plus 7 folks on I85 out of Durham. I had a long time to ponder the possibilities.

What is not to like about the car? I am going to find a local owner and drive with the top down. I may look like goofy, but I am a convertible/Targa man, it is out of my hands.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

The eight cars and trucks I already have are what stops me. I'm out of storage space.

aigel · aigel's Garage

I have tried for a while but never found one of those often quoted $8k boxsters. Or $12k boxster S.

Closest I got was cash in hand buying a 97. Hooked up my OBD reader and it returned variable valve timing solenoid issues. Read up on that, and even DIY, looked like major PITA >1500 repair.

One S had been driven into ground - leaking radiator fluid, or whatever you call that stuff.

One S was nice but high miles and overpriced

One S was in an accident and overpriced

So, I stopped looking and focused on replacing the family vehicle and adding a camper. Maybe some other time.

Edit: I also started looking at 6 speed C5 corvettes. They are very close in price and would be a lot less scary to own to me.

G