How many miles makes a "high mileage" Boxster?

Doug&Julie · 01-01-2011, 11:51 AM

Just curious on your thoughts on what makes a Boxster a "high mileage" car. In other words, at what mileage would you be concerned about buying a specific car just based on mileage? I'm seeing a few attractive looking '01 / '02 aged cars with 80k - 90k miles. By average standards (12k - 15k miles / year), that's well within range. And normally I wouldn't hesitate to consider any Porsche under 100k miles (if it's been well cared for, etc.). Any different concerns for Boxsters?

Thanks.

thstone · 01-01-2011, 12:24 PM

You can't judge a Porsche by standard metrics. 12K-15K miles per year for a Porsche is lot. A typical Porsche will see less than 10K miles per year. Of course, by now most 01's and 02's will easily be in the 70K-90K range.

Anything over 75K miles is usually considered to be "high mileage". This is based on how the Blue Book value will really start to take a hit as the total miles exceed this number.

smshirk · smshirk's Garage

I sold my 97 with 112k miles I think. IT was still running and driving as always, though the clutch was stiff, but still original, unless the original owner replaced it at low mileage. As with most cars if a Boxster is well maintained I would not consider the mileage to be an automatic no. It never leaked anything other than coolant a few times as I had a bad water pump,and overflow tank. Those and normal wear items were the only issues I had.

nosnow4pc · 01-02-2011, 09:26 AM

Mine has 140K and the original clutch. No major issues, knock on wook.

Doug&Julie · 01-02-2011, 10:24 AM

What year is your car nosnow? 140k on a clutch is quite good. I wonder how long most last? Need to do a poll..

I'm hearing more and more of similar stories...Boxsters over 100k miles with little or no trouble. Not sure I'd buy a 100k+ mile car, but it tells me an 80k-90k car can give me miles of joy before major pain.

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

I think you're right - anything over 100K will start to have other items break on it and need replacement. Then again, low mileage cars seem to have the IMS issues as well, so who knows. I have a 30K 996 with a *ton* of problems, and I have seen 150K Boxsters where everything is pretty solid.

-Wayne

kx9862002 · kx9862002's Garage

50k miles, considering high?

mikefocke · 01-02-2011, 05:04 PM

I'd rather have a fanatically maintained higher mileage car than a low mileage one where preventative maintenance was ignored.

I'd say 120k miles starts to be high miles but there are some that go to 200k+.

nosnow4pc · 01-02-2011, 06:41 PM

It is a 99 Boxster, to be fair they are mostly highway miles. The car use to do a 300 mile round trip a few times a week for several years. I'm going to break down and replace the clutch, IMS bearing, and all the rest of the bits shortly. I figure I've pushed it pretty far no need to be stuck on the side of the road.

Amazingly the Rear Main Seal doesn't even leak!

racer · 02:01 PM

I think the 10-15K/year would be considered high mileage for a Porsche. As mentioned, many are 2nd/3rd cars and get more in the 4-8K miles a year build up.

Then again, many will say a "higher mileage" boxster is one that you want since all the issues are kept at bay by frequent use... and by contrast, my friends stock boxster S engine let go at 106K miles

Doug.. just be careful.. you've been down the boxster road before. Sounds like you would really rather have my low miles '87 944

Doug&Julie · 01-03-2011, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer

Doug.. just be careful.. you've been down the boxster road before. Sounds like you would really rather have my low miles '87 944

I really love the Boxster and keep coming back to it. It probably doesn't help that my brother drives a Cayman S and I get a ride / drive in that every once in a while. And I've got some ideas on how to "personalize" one to my tastes.

I'm actually considering a 944 again, or even a 924S. I think my next Pcar needs to be a three-season daily driver...so A/C is a must. Plus it would be fun to turn a 924S / 944 into a Carrera GT look-alike.

But then I'm also thinking about a G50 3.2 911...

...or maybe a 928S4...

...then I just saw a 914 on the tele and forgot how much I've wanted to own one of those...

...I need help.

cowfly911 · cowfly911's Garage

Don't purchase the Feb issue of Excellence Magazine then, they rate the late eighties 911 3.2 Carrera the best buy for a $16,000 Porsche and the 2000-2002 Boxster S as a second choice. Then there are the pictures of the hot project 914 with the 993 engine. That issue maybe more than you can take...LOL

FYI: I have owned a few earlier 911s in my day, but I enjoy driving my more modern Porsche the most...

racer · 01-03-2011, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowfly911

FYI: I have owned a few earlier 911s in my day, but I enjoy driving my more modern Porsche the most...

you mean the one not listed in your signature

cowfly911 · cowfly911's Garage

Actually, three are missing...LOL

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by nosnow4pc

Amazingly the Rear Main Seal doesn't even leak!

These were mostly fixed by the improved rear seal, which was either typically replaced under warranty, or replaced during a clutch job. The issue with the rear main seal was not so much a performance one, but the fact that the owners paid all of this money for a car, and they expected it not to leak (understandably so). I have a leak on my wife's minivan, that I am planning to take in (under extended warranty) to get fixed.

-Wayne

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowfly911

FYI: I have owned a few earlier 911s in my day, but I enjoy driving my more modern Porsche the most...

For the new year's day run, I chose to take my wife's Tiptronic Boxster - mainly because I knew it would be the lowest stress car for me that day, and wouldn't break down. I love my '72 RS clone, but it hasn't been driven regularly, and I was looking for no-brainer reliability new year's day.

-Wayne

Doug&Julie · 01-04-2011, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowfly911

Don't purchase the Feb issue of Excellence Magazine then, they rate the late eighties 911 3.2 Carrera the best buy for a $16,000 Porsche and the 2000-2002 Boxster S as a second choice...

...and a Cayenne as well! I have a subscription...hard to argue with them. Of course, they did pick a Boxster as the number one choice in the "best buy for a $12k Porsche".

For me I think it's truly going to come down to the right car at the right time. Could be a Boxster. Could be a 3.2 Carrera. Could be something else!

BTW do you know how hard it is to find a good used Boxster with TC / PSM and heated seats?!?

smshirk · smshirk's Garage

It seems like a lot more basic cars were sold after the S came out. My 97 was loaded with just about every option, and many of them were. My 2001 S doesn't have one of the options you mentioned. I looked around for an S for about 6 months and finally bought for rare color instead of equipment. I just couldn't find one with PSM and heated seats, which were the two I wanted most. Tips do seem to be better equipped but I wouldn't buy a Boxster Tip. I had a 996 tip as my DD, and I really enjoyed driving it in traffic back and forth to work but the miles racked up too fast. I wish I hadn't sold it though. I never drive the M3 I replaced it with. In fact it hasn't moved since Thanksgiving.

cowfly911 · cowfly911's Garage

I never saw the need for heated seats here in NC, until I purchased a Boxster. This option does extend the convertible season well into the winter months...

smshirk · smshirk's Garage

Exactly. I have a porsche seat cover with heating elements. it will burn you up but it's a hassle. It was made to fit older seats as in 78-89 I think but it goes on OK. It has the Porsche script in sideways lines like some of the cloth seats from the 80s and I modified it to plug into the wiring under the ashtray. I would rather have heated seats tho.