What should I look out for?

[Road Racer]

I am looking to buy a used 2002 Boxster S with 133,000 miles on it, What should I look out for?

[dad911]

It's a good idea to get an independent mechanic, with boxster experience, to look at it.

I'd probably want to hook it up to a computer(durametric or equiv) and check for codes and camshaft deviation, and obviously check for accident damage.

[newlife]

Originally Posted by Road Racer

I am looking to buy a used 2002 Boxster S with 133,000 miles on it, What should I look out for?

And, maybe if you have a friend who already has a boxter. Have him drive it and inspect. Whats the price and what state.

Rod

[randy_k]

Originally Posted by Road Racer

I am looking to buy a used 2002 Boxster S with 133,000 miles on it, What should I look out for?

Dad has it right. Also, get any and all maintenance records. Last oil change and previous ones. All and anything that has been done is important. These things have a pretty rigid maintenance schedule.
Run it till it gets hot and shut it off for a awhile and make sure it restarts as normal. This is something a PPI is may not find. Just because they don't find any codes that would indicate this a problem. That doesn't mean this problem doesn't exist. The shop is not going to drive it as you would normally. They are just going to poke around and go through a list of things to check.
Not trying to scare you off. It's just I have been down this road. I have a thread on here called, "Diary of a high mileage 1999 Boxster"
But I have had fun resurrecting it from something that otherwise would have been given up for dead. But hey. That's just me.

Oh and we love pictures of these things. Get some when you have a chance. The best of luck with your new car.
Randy

[newlife]

Originally Posted by Road Racer

I am looking to buy a used 2002 Boxster S with 133,000 miles on it, What should I look out for?

If it makes you feel any better.... I didn't know anything about Porsches until I bought my Boxter a year ago. It has been a great experience. I am a better person because of it. I hope to keep it for ever. A real pleasure and always turns heads...

Rod

[BerneseMtnDog]

Having the service records would be very valuable. At that mileage much of the suspension will be at the end of its useful life so you'd really want to know what if anything had be replaced. It's also possible that the clutch would be going out at that mileage (depends a great deal on the driving habits of the owner). In my view anything after about 80K miles and you're looking at a list of "things to do".

Steve

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by Road Racer

I am looking to buy a used 2002 Boxster S with 133,000 miles on it, What should I look out for?

What you should look out for? Deer in the road.

Seriously, a Box with 133k that has been meticulously maintained would be a fine car. One that has been driven more and serviced less will cost you $$$. A thorough service history and a PPI will sort it out.

[Alphaboy1]

I have one in near Showroom condition... 2002 Boxster S with no leaks at all or issues. 48,000 miles in perfect physical and mechanical condition... If the price was right I might be swayed.

[mikefocke]

Buying any 10 year old car with 100k+ miles I'd look to be in a position where, if it needed major work, I had the finances to be able to pay.

Bought one at 22k and one at 42k or so and both were great cars and dead on reliable. But to get the 42k car into shape for the next 6 years cost a bunch in terms of the little things like brakes, belts, alignment, etc. Once it was in good shape, really never had a serious $ problem with it.

But, at the 10 years 100k+ point, things do wear out and so knowing what maintenance has been done to things like the suspension, water pump, brakes, CV-joint boots, etc would be the difference between buying the car or running away quickly...unless the price was so right I knew I could afford to have those sorts of things done (or do em myself).

I'd want a Pre-Purchase Inspection on a car like this even more than I would on one with 1/3 the miles and half the age (it was amazing what someone who really really knew Porsches could point out to me about the condition of a car...and I had owned 2 Porsches and one Boxster before this one).