What to look for when buying ?

[prebordao]

Having sold my 911S 4yrs ago, i'm looking to return to the fold...
I'm looking at several 1st gen Boxsters - 2.5, 2.7, 3.2

What are the pitfalls to avoid ? What should I be careful with ?
Is there a link to such a guide ?

Finally, 2.5 - 2.7 - 3.2 which one ? in terms of reliability and driveability, etc.

Thanks

[recycled sixtie]

That is a very broad question Prebordao. The 986 forum would likely cover everything you need to know about researching the Boxster if you don't get enough info here.

As an ex owner of a 2001 Boxster base here are my thoughts. If you find a Boxster you like I would recommend getting a prepurchase inspection done by a Porsche specialist.

2009 Boxsters and on had no intermediate shaft which could be an issue for some Boxsters prior to that year.

I would get the newest Boxster you can afford. I had manual transmission which I prefer over auto trans. I would check for CEL light on or off and also check the oil filter for metal(the latter if you are serious about buying it and have it done with the ppi).

Don't rush buying. Take your time looking. These are fun cars but not cheap to run unless you do your own maintenance. The S models have the bigger engine and more power. Try different models and engines. I believe the 2003 and after had the glass rear window.

Cheers, Guy

[prebordao]

I'm tempted but a bit afraid of taking the plunge on a 15-20yr Boxster...
Many years ago when I bought my 911, I was "reckless" and payed for it over time.

Now, I'm more experienced and I'm in no rush, It also helps that around here (Portugal) there are a lot more Boxsters for sale than old air cooled 911's. There's a good choice, although always in black or silver

But apart from engine issues (IMS, liners...) are there any more notorious weak points ?
I'm restricting myself to cars up to 2004/5.

[ASD]

I think the reliability is about the same
For the engines. I suggest you find a year model you like. I wanted an S of the first year 2000. Took some time but worth the wait.its 3 .2 and loads of fun.I did the snorkle delete and enjoy the sound by my left ear..The car is all Porsche, tight, solid, and strong.

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using Tapatalk

[mikefocke]

The first thing to look for is a good Porsche mechanic to do the PPI (Pre-Purchase Inspection). You may have owned a flat-6 before but mechanics with years of experience will know so much more. Best couple of hours of mechanic's time I ever paid for. Knew what it needed and had a plan to address the issues. And that car (my third Porsche) was a third as old as what you are looking at and probably lower mileage.

https://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/mikesporscheboxsterwebpages has things like a list of model year changes and, while written years ago, may help.

[jluetjen]

With a little bit of searching on Youtube to separate the wheat from the chaff, and you can learn a lot. I just came across this one yesterday which was pretty good.

I agree that they are fairly similar in terms of what to look for. You can read threads regarding the merits of the 2.7 and 3.2's versus the 2.5's here too. This is a good time of year to be looking since a lot of sellers will be motivated to sell before they have to pay for another winter's worth of storage. Take one of each for a test drive and see how the performance lines up with the market pricing. Please let us know what you think after you have done so!

[avale]

I agree with everyone about the PPI and it seems you are aware of the IMS issue. Here are a few things that I missed when we got our Boxster...

• Make sure the key fobs work and lock and unlock the car properly
• Make sure the windows drop and go back up when opening/closing the doors
• Make sure the windows drop when you unlatch the convertible top
• Make sure you can put the windows back up after you shut the convertible top
• Make sure there are no horn beeps (single or double) when you set the alarm
• Make sure the center console door hinge isn't broken
• Make sure the plastic around the side view mirrors and interior door handles are in good shape (a lot of people didn't go to Porsche for maintenance and a lot of the plastic clips can be broken)

We bought a mechanically sound car but needed to replace door latches, etc. to get the micro switches working (which added up to a lot of money). Good luck!