Used Boxster Future

[Tennessee911]

I'm looking at a private sale 2001 Boxster S locally with only 25k miles for $19,000.

I'd like to start a discussion about the future value of the Porsche Boxster. Porsche built a lot of them and the engine long-term viability is not up to normal Porsche standards. Will a Boxster retain much more of it's value in the future, or will it continue to depreciate?

Tn911

[Rot 911]

I see Boxsters as the new 944. It will eventually depreciate down to $0. Don't get me wrong, I think they are great cars, but for what ever reason, they are not seen as a collectible Porsche. Same with the water cooled 911's.

[Brother]

The first people to buy them were consumers. Now the enthusiasts are getting to them.

Ditto on the 944 comment.

[Sunroof]

I owned a 1985.5 944 for twelve years and sold it with 345, 000 miles on the engine to my mechanic for $1,000.00! I see dozens of 944 going cheap, really cheap, because they are just as costly to maintain and fix as the 911. The 944 today can be had for peanuts. I concur that the Boxster may follow that pathway overtime.

In my opinion, the Boxster came out of the starting gate with great popularity as the 944. Suddenly the issues of the rear main seal (RMS) came up and engine cost replacement was a small fortune and still is. The Boxster is a great drivers car, well balanced, quick and steady much like the 944 in its day. Many Pelican owners adore their Boxsters. Unfortunately, they are rapidly depreciating and can be had in the low to mid-teens now for a decent model. Its a tough car to work on for the home mechanic.

The car you are looking at though seems like a tremendous buy. Only look at the car as an investment in fun and driving excitement. THe Boxster will not dissappoint. If your viewing this purchase as, "will I get my money back in five years", the answer is going to be no! If you buy it and wrap it up and keep it in a climate controlled environment for thirty years you might do well, but so would a Ford Focus!

Spend the money to get a pre-purchase inspection with a good review of the RMS at a reputable Porsche shop who knows Boxsters. If it comes out with a score of "A", buy it take it on a Tennessee back road and all your cares will just melt away.

[racer]

Do not buy a Boxster if you want an "investment".. It will be another 20 years until there returns some "collectibilty" to this model.. so if the first ones were built in 1997, you get to wait till at least 2017.. maybe more. (assuming we are allowed to have cars in the US by then blah blah ..

in the future, the "S" will be worth more than a Normal, conditions being equal. Look at 356s today.. or 911s from the ealry 70's.. in either case it took DECADES for them to become collectibles. As a kid in the late '70s and 80s, you couldnt GIVE AWAY a long hood 911. Who wanted such a small displacement motor... and bad HVAC etc etc. That's when enthusiasts bought them and built RS clones and starting having fun.. So much so that the amount of unmolested examples became scarce, people were full of "easy money" and wanted to relive their youth.. so the prices shot up. (I know, simplified)

I think, actually, that the 944 Market is now beginning to turn. Much like the 914 market that turned about 3 years ago, 944s are becoming scarce, especially low mileage, umolested versions. They are the car of "another generation" that is hitting its middle age and wanting to relive its youth. And 944's are 20-25 years old.

If you were 15 and male when the Boxster first arrived, well... when you are 40ish and have some disposable income, it may be a car you might want to finally have to relive your youth..

[Tennessee911]

Thanks for the ideas so far. I'm not concerned with investment future, just afraid of what my "$19,000" might be worth in the near future if the engine makes it 40 or 50k. I think there is a chance the engine work being done by Jake Raby and others may be the answer to the throw-away engine in the future.

Don't you think there are too many of these cars in existence for the future parts and repair vendors to not support them? I would hope that some of today's repair and parts costs will fall after 3rd party firms get the numbers up and continue to find ways of improving on the factory's oversight in engine design.

Probably wouldn't buy the Boxster S if I thought it would have the future resale (not investment) value of a 944. I do agree that good 944s are getting harder to find. I have until Sunday to decide on purchase, so keep the ideas/opinions rolling--and thanks!

[WilsonTC]

Originally Posted by Kurt V

I see Boxsters as the new 944.

I see Boxsters as the new Miata.

[Brother]

[QUOTE=Tennessee911;4864434]Thanks for the ideas so far. I'm not concerned with investment future, just afraid of what my "$19,000" might be worth in the near future if the engine makes it 40 or 50k. I think there is a chance the engine work being done by Jake Raby and others may be the answer to the throw-away engine in the future.

Don't you think there are too many of these cars in existence for the future parts and repair vendors to not support them? QUOTE]

Go ask 5 people that aren't gearheads and ask them if it is possible to rebuild an engine. I bet most of them won't think that you can.

I think Raby will definitely help. Check out RUF as well. I think they are key players in the future interest of the boxster.

[techweenie]

There are plenty of Boxsters still running strong at 120-130K miles around here. The old wives tales about engine longevity get dusted off every time there's a new engine. I hear the 356 people mocked the earliest 911s as being "un Porsche-like" and "too complex."

[Tennessee911]

Bought it.

[techweenie]

As they say in Tennessee: Mazeltov.

[onboost]

What future?

Buy'em and drive'em!

[Sunroof]

Beautiful car................you never see many in white these days.

[dmcummins]

Great looking car, I have a white one also. Ours is driven dailey. It has over 80,000 on it and all its needed, other than scheduled maintenance, is the Air/Oil seperator valve. I replaced it myself for around $150.

I forgot the big thing, the top was replaced. Don't lower the top when its cold.

[techweenie]

When I had Boxsters, guys in Carreras & SCs would say "chick car." I would say, 'yes, chicks always want to ride with me. By the way: do you want to race (timed track run) for pink slips?' Wisely, they all said no.

[Tennessee911]

Techweenie:

I drove it to work yesterday, and every good looking woman (most of them 1/2 my age) wanted a ride. Of course, I had to comply.

The S engine feels a lot like my early 911. I'm reading now about the Intermediate bearing update.

[GothingNC]

Originally Posted by onboost

What future?

Buy'em and drive'em!

x2

Never know what's going to happen nowadays

Looks great in white, enjoy the ride

[gmiz]

Interesting thread.

I began my search for a Porsche last fall, originally looking at Boxters - living in SoCal, I wanted a top down weekend toy that I could have some fun in.

As I looked, I say some late 80's 911"s in the same price range - so I started considering those, and when I asked the question on a Porsche forum about the two cars, I got a lot of "Boxters are chick cars" type of comments.

I may consider going back to looking at Boxters - I am not looking for a collectors car so the long term future is not my main concern anyway.

Only one other issue - I am 6'2", and it is a snug fit!

[SandyI]

Boxster and 996 prices will continue to drop like stones but that doesn't mean they aren't fun to own and drive. So in 3 years, your $19,000 car will be worth $13K. And continue to depreciate. But your Smiles/Miles ratio will increase daily.

[Paul Stewart]

Look at this way you can buy a Boxster for the price of a 15,000 service for a Carrera GT.