Why should I buy a boxster

[DohertyCM]

I would like a 2002 boxster S.

But why should I buy one when I here about engine failures, sleeve slips and tons of maintenance problems.

Just when I am convinced on getting one, I read the forums and get depressed.

What is the straight story on this car and give some advice on buying one.


Currently I have a 74 911....but I dont want it as an everyday driver, I want something with a little more comfort.

Chris


Merry Christmas

[Doug&Julie]

Why should you buy a Boxster? For the love...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGTv7lMY9XA

The important thing you should note about the forums is the overall lack of participation on the Boxster forums. ..and why is that you ask? Because we're all out driving them!!!

Seriously, get a PPI on whatever your looking for and you'll be fine. (Certified from Porsche is even better.) Stop worrying. Take the time to buy well and you'll be fine.

[FrayAdjacent911]

The video is enough to make me want a Boxster! I'm looking around now, found a decent 2001 I like that was wholesaled from one dealer to another in Houston. I might think I could work out a deal trading in my current car on it... but we'll see.

[loose caboose]

Having recently driven a friend,s Boxter, I can say that they are TRUE Porsche , and handle and drive extremely well.
I am buried in a resto project with a 928S and even though many Porsche folks don't like the V8 model, it is a great car, and worthy of the badge.

Never drove a Porsche that I didn't like!...and that began with a Super 90 and 550 Spyder, many. many. years ago.

Enjoy! and Happy New year to All!

[racer]

Wait... Wait.. as the owner of a '74 911.. the car with the much maligned 2.7 liter you are worried about a Boxster?

Drive one. The handling is amazing. Yes, some have been known to have mechanical issues, just like every 911 ever made (well, perhaps not the SC's ) They are MODERN. Yes, like every other MODERN car, there is a high plastic content. That won't change. After a lifetime of Aircooled Porsches I bought my first Modern porsche. a 2000 Boxster. Love it. I am prepared for "issues" that might crop up. It's a Porsche, not an appliance and life is too short to worry!

[DohertyCM]

Well, I have never had a problem out of my 2.7.....The problems associated with it were due to heat and uneducated drivers.

I have yet to pull a stud, and I run the piss out of it on the track.
And even if I did pull a stud, I could still drive it....unlike the engine horror stories of slipped sleeves and mangled engines.

I have driven a boxster, and hated it before I drove it. I do like the car but when I hear of it being nicked named "Brakester" by Porsche mechanics, and read about engine failures, I get worried about having to put out half the cars value again on a repair that really shouldnt happen.

Thats why I have to ask the question, Why should I buy one, and what should I look for.

No smart ass comments here, Just some serious concern.
Maybe it is the same as you guys talking about the 2.7.

Chris

[racer]

I was teasing about the 2.7. My folks had a '74S that worked great. Till it broke. Then it was great again. The later 5blade fan, thermal reactor cars were much more prone to head stud failures. SC's were not immune from this. Valve guides in 3.2-3.6l motors. Like I said before, even 911 motors are not failure proof and well, we all know how $$$ 911 motors can be.

Realize that not many people post how fantastic and trouble free their cars are (well, maybe on the Honda websites they do). The problems are web exaggerated.

However, some issues do exist and shouldn't be ignored:

RMS - Seems to affect 986 and 996 alike. Some never have a problem. Some have continual problems.

Coolant tank/cap - known to fail and leak coolant everywhere. Not all have a problem. Seems to have been less a failure with the redesigned cap.

Slipped sleeves are a known issue for '98 and some '99s. Most have been replaced by now and those that haven't yet failed, are assumed "safe". Can it happen to later motors, yes, but their reports are not as widespread as the early cars.

These are the issues that get the most "press".

Knowing what I know, I searched and found a 2000 MY Boxster. Many of the early kinks had been worked out, plus the additional power of the 2.7 (217hp vs 201hp).

So far i love it. I too was on the fence. I loved my 914 and my SC but wanted a MODERN porsche. With that comes some new fangled "fragility" that the "overbuilt" aircoolers never worried about. Then again, I have clean smelling heat and effective AC, combined with remarkable handling, two trunks, top down fun. Simply wonderful!

While a motor failure would be a disappointment, at least I can get a new crate motor, with warranty, for less money than a professionally rebuilt 3.0l SC motor.

[Doug&Julie]

If you're looking at post 2000 cars, you're already ahead of the game on "safer" motors. The problem is there is no "sign" for a major motor failure. So the best you can do is get a good PPI on a model you like. You can still find certified cars in the '01 / '02 years, but they're becoming scarce. (My base model was purchased certified in late summer.)

Check for RMS leaks, but keep in mind they are usually just leaks, and not worth "fixing" until clutch time. Speaking of clutches, I've read about a lot of "S" clutches going early, but many of those could have been abused. But something to have looked at during the PPI.

Check the top operation...it should go up or down in about 13 seconds. Some of the early cars had problems with their cables, but I've not heard this about the later cars.

Have the PPI look at the cooling system.

The only other thing I can suggest is talk to more current (and long time) Boxster owners to feel better about your purchase. I think racer's comparison to the 2.7 911s is accurate...there are some noted problems with the cars, but they're blown out of proportion and shouldn't discourage a potential owner from buying such a terrific car just because of them. Take your time to find a good one (bad ones really stick out as such) and you'll be happy.

Good luck!

[Doug&Julie]

Some other boards that might be a little more active to help:

http://forums.rennlist.com/

http://www.986forum.com/

http://www.ppbb.com/board/main.htm

http://boxcar-racing.com/forum/

[7th gear]

i really have to speak up on this one.

when i got enough $aved for a down payment, i searched, test drove, read articles, mags & books, quizzed sellers, joined consumer reports.org etc...for years. i too was dissappointed w/ reading the bad reviews on porsche. i even switched continents to pursue a nissan 350z and did the same searching i did before but i realized one thing in the middle of it.....the 350z had a few bad reviews too if you seek a bad review on any car, you will find it. you'll need to determine in your mind what you view is 'bad' but you'll find a negative review.

after that, i went back to what made my blood boil, porsche, and thought i'd be ok if i got a decent '87-'89 911. the catalyst came when i was going to ship one from the east coast and had a 45 min conversation w/ the mechanic i was going ppi with. he advised me into the boxster as the 911, although a good car, has more fixes than the boxster. that did it for me.

at that point, i was off to a most excellent adventure and was blessed to buy my '01 s. even the search & sale was a great experience but that's another longer post.

i've had mine for about 2 months & 3k miles and the only problems i've had were oil change, new rear tires, a steering noise and driving it too much. i think that noise is power steering fluid. i also safety netted things and bought a warranty. mine isn't daily driven, never seen rain & is garaged. one other problem i found is the stereo sucks when the top's down. i just turn it off and do the 'vulcan mind-meld' at 100+mph.

'nuff said

[Grant Lenahan]

Maybe I just hope they are, but I do belieev that there is a self-selection bias in people reporting catastrophic failures. very few of us get up one moring and post "my car did nothing unusual today". but if she blows, we scream from the mountaintops.

Yes,, ther were problems with some '97-99 model year cars with slipped sleeves.

Later cars have intermediate shaft failurs nad occasionally a timing belt failure. The RMS is generally over-blown.

However, I also watch darn-near fights on PPBB where people belittle the practice of driving easy while the car is cold. Or changing the oil more often than the 15k recomended intervval. I suspect they get what they deserve.

My 2004, currenyl 20 months old (dont do the math, it sat new on a lot for 22 months) has been one of the only cars I have ever heard of that after 1.5 years and 10k miles has had NOTHING go wrong. Nothing. Not a misadjusted washer nozzle.

Wonderful handling. Great tactile feel. very practical (2 trunks, comfortable, 22 mpg city actual).

The 986s VW tranny is famously tough, and the lokasil coating on the cylinders means that, for the 99.???% that dont blow up, 200k without engine work is very realistic. There are quite a few hard driven 100-150k cars reported on PPBB.

I think it comes down to:

- expert pre-inspection
- a history of careful treatment and maint by original owner
- going forward care when cold; good maint
- and a little luck, like anything

If you scour the consumer ratings guides, there are no major engine problems reported. Some years are lwoer-than-average for reliability, but its nickel-dime-half*a*grand stuff :-) Not blown up motors.

Grant
Merry Christmas!

[FrayAdjacent911]

I'm glad to hear some positive reinforcement. It IS daunting to see and hear about problems with the car I'm potentially going to be buying. It REALLY worries me, but then I realize that the VAST majority of these cars will be perfectly FINE and will never encounter serious issues. (I will be getting a warranty, tho!)

Someone said it right, people don't come to forums like this to say 'My car is running great! That is all!'... so we don't usually hear about all of the cars that are running strong and problem free. We DO hear about the problems, because that's a major part of what this forum is for - finding help and information.

[thomschoon]

I use my Boxster as a daily driver and would get another in a second, it handles better as well as more power then my '81 SC. I have put up with the usual abuse from "real" p-car owners (ignorant 911 owners), but in the end I just turn up my working radio, adjust the working A/C, and drive away in comfort. I have been thinking of selling my many modded SC and buying a second Boxster as a toy, but then again what else other then a bigger motor could you really do to perfection, and lastly, if rear engines are so much better how come all the pure racing Porsches are mid-engine? Sorry about the last part I forgot to turn off my rant button.

[umfan866]

I've been searching for an older 911 for the past several years to use as a daily driver. Recently, one individual had 3 Porsches for sale - an 85 911, an 86 911, and a Boxster. I drove all 3 for kicks. I ended my Boxster test drive early, because i knew if I continued I'd be tempted. I could tell this was everything a newer 911 should be - ie modern, comfortable, handles great. I havent driven a 996 or 997 yet so I don't know how to compare that, but.. I have read many magazine articles and it seems like the Cayman / Boxster is THE place to be. One guy even went so far as to say that Porsche is killing off their own 911 market by making the Caymen handle better than the 911. There is even a company now making a hardtop to transform your Boxster into a Cayman. I have 2 small kids so I really need to go with a 911 since it has those kid-size seats in the back, but based on one short test drive, the Boxster rocks. I wish I could have the looks of a 'classic 911' but inside have it be the Boxster,
and handle like a Boxster.

[HardDrive]

As stated above, it was a short run of the 2.5 engines that had sleeve failures.

Worried about RMS problems, get a warranty. More to the point, what IS the problem with the RMS.....it leaks oil!!! Ummmm.....not the first Porsche to leak oil.....

[DohertyCM]

Well I think I found one that I can afford and use as a daily driver.
I found a 2000 Boxster S. Any issues....?

Manual transmission. Everything works and it looks great.
No issues with the top and the back window is not yellow.

If all goes well then i will get it this coming weekend.

[koya1893]

Let me share with you my boyhood dream. The first time I saw a porsche not knowing anything about cars I wanted one. It was a 1983 twine turbo 911 with the big whale tail. I did a lot of research after that day, how the big wheels had to be special installed on the car to give it gripe on the road.

That was 20 years ago, but in 1997 when the boxster was first introduce I knew sooner or later porsche will bring out a model that will out perform the 911 I fell in love with. That they did I collected every issue of Panorama in 2000 to track the evolution of the Boxster S. During my travel with the Navy all over the world those who knew what can do had one. So my wish list was changed, now I knew I had to have one test drove one of the first 200 S sold in San Diego it was a clear choice that this car is a race car and easy access to the general public. To make this long story short the moment my pocket was deep enough I started the search.
I didn't not want a new one I wanted one from the first year it was made public a 2000 S. After a three months of searching one popped up in a local dealer the moment I drove it the feeling I had experieced six ago was like yesterday. My car, 2000 S six speed manual is not a daily drive when I got it I did my usually maintenance protocol when I buy a use car. Start a baseline with every schedule maintenance done on the car. The biggest problem so far was the boot on the short shaft. but with the help of some great guys from other forum it was easy fix.

The weather over the week end in southern maryland was perfect weather, "a boxster day" top down on the back road with tight corners. Well you can imagine and by the way I know increasing the HP on this cars is abit on the expensive side but once you do one and get another 15- 30 horses you better get glued to your seat. Buy one and live life with the top down in a Boxster.

Ben

[DohertyCM]

Well, I bought this one. I pick it up saturday after they put the GT nose on the front. 2000 S model.

I am sure that I will enjoy it.

[umfan866]

That car looks awesome! Congrats! Hey what is a GT nose and did you have it installed? Are those wheels stock or a Porsche or aftermarket upgrade? Enjoy!

[Doug&Julie]

Beautiful! One of my favorite color combos.

FWIW I had those wheels but sold them because they're a pain to clean! But they are nice looking! (..and yes, they're factory wheels.)

Would also like to see the new nose you put on.

Enjoy that car!