Porker cockster advice.

[95 quid Peugeot]

Mrs 95s friend looking at a boxter 3.2

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201902255290942

Asked me to have a look

Any pointers please

Thanks in advance

[motorpunk]

It's on the wrong wheels and those sill covers and front splitter thing are non-standard. Also it seems to sit a bit high, although that might be the light in the pics. You know the usual - oil leaks, air con condensors, roof mechanism etc etc... loads of these are in rubbish shape so be picky.

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Gearboxes not the strongest either…… any issues with the changing up or down, walk away. The bills will be massive……..  

[Rusty_Rocket]

Read up on the IMS bearing failure.  If that doesn't scare you stupid, try and find one that's had the part changed, or is a twin-row bearing which is pre-2001 ish.  Some 'S' Boxsters did sneak in before this.

It's a good idea to buy something that's had plenty of maintenance work done.  In particular, clutch and DMF, rear main seal, IMS bearing as above, radiators etc etc.

Porsche parts are expensive and I'd choose a well maintained car with the odd scratch/ stone chips over something that looks immaculate but is about to empty £5k out of your wallet!

[inconsistant]

 

Porsche parts are expensive and I'd choose a well maintained car with the odd scratch/ stone chips over something that looks immaculate but is about to empty £5k out of your wallet! 924

 

 

EFA

[stonedagain]

It's on the wrong wheels and those sill covers and front splitter thing are non-standard. Also it seems to sit a bit high, although that might be the light in the pics. You know the usual - oil leaks, air con condensors, roof mechanism etc etc... loads of these are in rubbish shape so be picky.

Those wheels were an option, mine has them.

[Kiltox]

I paid six grand for a 2002 3.2 S with 135k on the clock with a SHIT LOAD of recent work including the problem areas all done. Granted it was from a trusted shiter.

 

Little leggy I suppose but service history is key.

[Kiltox]

Dunno why the spoiler is up in the photos - it should only come up above 70mph or something like that. Occasionally comes up if the battery is wanked and you try to start it.

[SiC]

Dunno why the spoiler is up in the photos - it should only come up above 70mph or something like that. Occasionally comes up if the battery is wanked and you try to start it.

Or if someone has pushed the spoiler extension switch in the drivers footwell.

[N Dentressangle]

High mileage - for one of those - and those non-standard mods would put me off that one.

 

I get the impression that these cars can be epically expensive: isn't there a long thread on PH about someone buying and running one on a budget?

[dieselassist]

Gearboxes not the strongest either…… any issues with the changing up or down, walk away. The bills will be massive……..  

 

Gearboxes on these are AFAIK based on a b5.5 Passat transaxle unit; id be more worried about engine issues with them...

 

That one looks a bit chavved up for me

[Rusty_Rocket]

I've not actually heard of much gearbox failure on these, the early 2.5 yes, but the 3.2S?

Boxsters are a bargain at the moment and well worth a gamble.  The parts are dear-ish but it's all doable for minimum expense if you're keen.  They're very well built too.

My heart lies with the 944- I had an S 'back in the day' but they're seriously expensive and potentially very rusty now.  Boxster is where it's at now IMO!

[HillmanImp]

My mate spent £5k on a Boxster last year. Good service history, everything that would normally need doing had been done etc so it seemed like a bit of a bargain.

 

Took it to Revolution Porsche and got a £4k bill to put it right.

 

He's got a well sorted one now mind you.

 

He thinks that hes paid a fair price for a good one. He could've paid £9k and still got a fucked one.

[Rusty_Rocket]

I think the problem there started when he went to a Porsche specialist ?!

[paulplom]

A crane operator mate of mine changed the clutch on his on his drive with the help of youtube. If he can do a big job like that I presume they must be pretty diy friendly.

[cort16]

I went to look at one a few years ago and couldn’t even find the engine . That engine isn’t Porsche’s finest hour what with it being their first water cooled flat 6.

 

The shitters choice is a cat d 8 grand 996 911 with 170,000 miles , tiptronic box and missing service history.

[Bren]

It would'nt be autoshite if you did'nt purchase the most miserable example available that later caused bankruptcy ....

[cort16]

Plowing double the purchase price into fixing it then selling it for what you paid for it.

[Kiltox]

High mileage - for one of those

 

Pffffftttt.

[scaryoldcortina]

Plowing double the purchase price into fixing it then raffling it for less than you paid for it.

 FIFY

[loserone]

An random please

[holdyerhandout]

I had the later shape 3.4, only costs were fuel and tyres over a couple of years and they are a brilliant car, small enough for our roads, lots of luggage space for 2 and fast and great handling.  Don't be too scared of IMS bearing, if it's OK at this age it's probably one of the 70% that doesn't fail (fingers crossed), I'd certainly want to get underneath and look for any leaks, Oil from the RMS, coolant from the long pipes.  Double check the a/c, the condensers are very prone to getting holed by stones.  Check the hood works quickly/smoothly, the tension cables can stretch (good point to negotiate on they are an easy fix).  

[barefoot]

I think the problem there started when he went to a Porsche specialist ?!

 

 

I have to disagree with this.

 

The bloke I take mine to has worked on 944's 30 years man & boy.

He barely pauses, before diagnosing the fault, because he's seen it all before - a hundred times.

And he's got a yard full of scrappers to take the relevant bits off.

 

Similarly with the Jaguar, I took it to a couple of local garages, but neither really wanted to get involved in changing cam chains.

The specialist I found had the covers off before I was in the courtesy car and pointed out all manner of things.

 

I honestly think you save a lot of money paying £70/hour to a bloke who knows exactly what he's doing

vs paying £40/hour to someone who's just willing to have a go.

[JimH]

It depends how you define specialist. If you are talking about someone who knows their arse from their elbow and actually spends a decent chunk of their day mending things with their bare hands then these people are usually worth their perfectly reasonable hourly rate. 

 

If you define a specialist (as Porsche do) as having a massive glass fronted showroom filled with new cars in the front and a workshop at the rear filled with Macans having their oil changed then you might want to try somewhere else.

[SiC]

If you define a specialist (as Porsche do) as having a massive glass fronted showroom filled with new cars in the front and a workshop at the rear filled with Macans having their oil changed then you might want to try somewhere else.

That sounds more like OPC rather than a Specialist.

[JimH]

That would seem like a fair distinction.

[cort1977]

These things are winking at me.  This thread is already more useful than any buyers guide I have found.

[95 quid Peugeot]

I'll give you a update sat

The mad woman's sent a 1000 deposit as the nice man said many people are interested. Ffs

[Rusty_Rocket]

Yikes.  Well, the MoT history shows up nothing too nasty, usual stuff like brake pipes etc.  The mileage goes up a few thou every year, suggesting long-term ownership with someone using it as an occasional/ weekend car.  That is ideal.  But I can't say I'd ever be sending a deposit on something like this without seeing it first!

Good luck/ eyes wide open.

[SiC]

Just had another look at it on the advert. How many owners has it had?! The service stamps are from completely whole different areas everytime.