Boxster for the Wife: Is this a Good Buy

[Rot 911]

Well I posted this to the Boxster board last night and so far have a total of 5 views and no responses. So let me post it here where the real experts are anyway.
Still looking for different car for my wife. Right now she has a 2000 MR2. Local dealer (not a Porsche dealer) has a 1997 Boxster, white, black leather interior, 47,000 miles, all service records, good PPI, with the following options: Heated seats, sport package with 5 speed, CD shelf center console, painted wheel caps and hard top. Asking $25,000. What do you guys think? If I bought it could I get some kind of warranty through Porsche?

[clay1g]

Sheesh, talk about a slow forum. I went to check out your post there at Boxter Haven and I was the only member browsing!

No wonder you haven't gotten any replies.

[Jdub]

What, she can't just drive the MGB and use the mandatory defrost towel?

I think you should go for it. The MR2 is ho-hum to me and the B-car gives you a chance to report to all of us on the validity of this model.

John

[carnut169]

From a wholesale perspective the Boxster is worth about $21,000. In today's market (it is a buyer's market) you should be able to pick up a 97 Boxster for $22ish. That said, the miles are good (for a 97) and the hardtop is a rare option.
Here are some numbers for you. According to the Black Book (the dealer's bible):
Black Book Wholesale

Extra Clean Clean Average Rough
Base $24,600 $23,600 $20,600 $17,000
Options $ 0 $0 $0 $ 0
Mileage Adj. $450 $550 $700 $0
Total $25,050 $24,150 $21,300 $17,000

Black Book Retail

Extra Clean Clean Average Rough
Base $28,425 $27,225 $23,800 $19,800
Options $0 $0 $0 $0
Mileage Adj. $450 $550 $700 $0
Total $28,875 $27,775 $24,500 $19,800

Black Book Trade-In

Clean Average Rough
Base $23,750 $21,050 $15,980
Options $0 $0 $0
Mileage Adj. $550 $700 $0
Total $24,300 $21,750 $15,980

Actual auction sales come in a bit less, this you can understand with the market as no one is paying extra clean or really even clean book value at this time of the year. For instance in the last 30 days the following sales took place:
1 @ $24,000 (most expensive nationwide) only 15,000 miles.
4 @ $22,000 w/ an average of 36,000 miles
5 @ $20,000 w/ an average of 22,000 miles (?)
National average last 30 days is $20,556 w/ 37,00 average miles (15 sales)
Hope this helps.

[nostatic]

The lore is that the '97 cars had some issues especially with the engine (it was the first year after all). As such I'd avoid them...it's a buyer's market and there are a ton of used Boxsters out there, at least here in SoCal. I'd stick with '98 and newer, and if you can, go with '00 as I believe that's when the engine was upgraded.

[Randy W]

Agree with Nostatic, but '99 Boxsters had problems too. The '00 Boxster is the perfect wife's car (my wife's as well), plus you get to sample the latest top down offering from Porsche from time to time - it ain't an early 911 but it's not that bad.

[elbean]

Kurt, try going to Porsche Pete's Boxster Board. It is the best BB with the most information on Boxster's.It's been around for 5-6 years.
As far as the price, my friend paid $30K about 3-4 months ago for a 97 with 26kmiles on it.
Main issues were problems with the tops.check to see if it has been fixed. I think 99's had more problems with the engines than the 97's but not sure?? I had 14Kmiles on my 99 without any problems. It was one of the best cars I have had or driven(38 and counting).
Mark

[boyo]

Actually, the lore is wrong - the '97 engines had few problems. The '98s had casting porosity problems, when they really cranked up production when the Valmet plant was opened.

So in that case, earlier is better, but there are a few nagging oil leaks that are common. The problems cleared up by '99.

BTW, the definitive Boxster board is: http://www.986board.com

Unlike this here 911 board...

-Boyo

[Rot 911]

Damn you guys are great. That is why it is so hard to go elsewhere with non 911 questions!

[paintinmotion]

i'd only touch an S version because you my friend might have to drive it sometime ....

[Rot 911]

Let's see in 3 hours over 200 viewers here and 9 replies. On the Boxster Haven board in 11 hours 10 viewers and 0 replies. By the way Porsche Pete's Boxster Board is definitely THE Boxster board! Those guys jumped right in with some much needed advice. Sorry Wayne but Boxster Haven is lame.

[surflvr911sc]

My wife test-drove an “S” a few weeks ago. It was definitely nice, I would almost say the perfect wife sports car. The only problem with it was that it really isn’t versatile enough for her (us). We have three two-seater cars right now, you can’t count the rear seats in the 911 or the back seat in my extended cab truck.

So we started to look at BMWs. She test-drove the 325ci convertible on Sunday and we both decided that we found her car. It’s plenty sporty for her and it has four seats w/ trunk space.

Now all we need to do is sell her truck. Anyone interested in a ’96 S-10 pickup?

[widebody911]

Sounds like a fair trade

[Planter91C2]

hard question, i'd have to see a picture of the wife.

[joehahn]

....I still have that 77 bmw 530i for cheap. St. Louis doesn't get hot right....she wont mind that the A/C is broken....


joe 68 L

Kurt, I have an email for you.... email me at monish@ix.netcom.com so I can send it to you outside PP!

[redducati750]

i have a friend who is a sophmore at NC State, unfortunatlly he somehow got brain cancer, its nto life threating but anytine they need to crack open your skull its not cool, i guess to make it up to him his parents are buying him a sports car, hes been loking at S2000s, New Zs, and Boxters, in his price range (around 25K) i initally sugested the boxter but at that price you can get a nice 964 or even a 993 in this market. What do you guys think.

[pwd72s]

993. Since when is brain cancer not life threatening? This is serious stuff! The kid (anybody under 30 is a kid to me) deserves some happiness. Which leads me to Boxters...The Portland Yellow Pages (aka OREGONIAN) classifieds advertise them every day. BoxSters easily fill 1/3 of the "used Porsches" column. Pick your year, pick your price. But for a fun car for a young man suffering from brain cancer who can still drive? 993...all the way. Much more "cool". And that's what he needs right now. All the good times he can get...