911Königin

2003 Boxster
65k miles
Has 996 engine
Hard top
New brakes
911 rims
Manual
Car has been tracked
New stereo system
Nav

Thanks

Macster

Hard to say unless one just throws out a number.

My general advice is to plug the car's numbers into a site like www.nada.com or www.kbb.com and see what the trade-in/wholesale numbers are.

If (big if) the car is worth owning at all it is worth from this number, or as low as the seller is wiling to go, to as high as someone is willing to pay.

With the 996 engine the car is mod'd. My 2nd hand info when done right installing a 996 engine in a Boxster can be nearly factory quality. But if done wrong...

The car has been tracked, too, which is hard on the entire car.

If you are serious about the car go look at it. Give it a serious road test. With the A/C off -- you test the A/C later -- start your check out with a cold start of the engine -- making sure all the dash warning lights come on then go off as the engine fires and runs. Let the engine idle and keep an ear tuned to it as you walk around the car checking the condition of the body, tires, brakes, etc.

The engine should never manifest any scary noises as it starts and runs and idles and as the engine warms up.

Arrange for a 15 mile test ride that gives the driver a chance to demo the car as you intend to use it, within reason of course.

After this ride back at the starting point you take the car out and drive it over the same route, drive the car the same way.

The test ride and drive are very important as you must experience the car in its natural state.

I must stress with the 996 engine you want to be sure the car behaves and in no way exhibits anything out of the ordinary. You want to avoid a Frankenstein car or one that on the driveway is a nice car but on the road is not so nice.

You want to avoid a car that except for the extra power/torque behaves like a Boxster in all respects. A problem free Boxster in all respects.

If you like the car after all this do a thorough used car check. Assume nothing works until you confirm it does. Get your hands on a 111 point check list the techs use when CPO'ing a car. While you can't do all the checks the ones you can do should leave you feeling like you know the car well enough to either continue or stop right then and there.

If you like the car after the check out then and think you can buy it for an agreeable sum of money arrange for a PPI. Among other things this gets the car in the air and allows for a close check to be made for any leaks or other trouble, like possibly off track excursion damage.

Remember: Price is not fact only an opinion. For a used car buyer there is always another car. It is ok to walk away from a car you have doubts about as you will always find another car and the right car for you.

911Königin

Engine was installed by Steinel's....guy wanted more power

Macster

996 engines get installed in Boxsters to certainly add more power but sometimes to address a sick (or dead) factory Boxster engine. Regardless of the reason the important thing is the installation should be as good as it can be and for me it would have to be as good as the stock engine's installation and integration.

The name Steinel means nothing to me. That is I have no idea who or what Steinel is. If it is a reputable engine swap shop and you have confidence the 996 installation in the Boxster is as good as it gets then that's great.

One less thing to worry about.

Byprodriver

If it is a 3.6 engine, if it has NO over revs, if the paint is in good condition,if the 5speed, trans shifts properly, around $16,k adding for +'s & subtracting for wear etc.
The 5-speed will break if the 300+ HP is fully utilized so alot depends on past & future usage. Far better to start with a "S"

zedcat

Excellence suggests 13-18k for a 03-04 base Boxster. Personally I'd be very cautious given the engine swap. I'd want to know a lot of details and would only consider if I knew the shop/ tech that did the work. Was it a used motor at the time of the swap? What if any upgrades were done with the swap? IMS? clutch? motor/trans mounts, CV jts etc. As with any 10+ year old used car, condition is very important to the value. PPI by a good shop is a good idea. Oh, also, the hardtop is probably worth about 1k depending on condition. presume the soft top is there and in good condition. Suggest check that too.

Schnell Gelb

There was a similar car on EBay recently - 3.8L yes 3.8 Nickies .An "S". Had a hard time getting above $13K.
Check EBay "Sold Listings" for actual sales prices rather than the other sources.

73911

Engine swaps are a red flag. If they're done correctly they're wonderful. The problem is very few shops can do them correctly. Dealers won't even touch a car like this.

Richard Newton

XR4Tim

Steinel's has a pretty good reputation in this area, but I don't have any personal experience with them. I would guess it would be worth around $15k +/- $1k.

mikefocke

I wouldn't pay more than $13k. A non-standard installation can create headaches for maintenance and to me it lessens the value. Imagine you are outside the area, have a problem and are forced to go to a dealer who has no clue at the engine's particulars. And that is accounting for the hardtop at +$1k and the stereo at +$200.

What kind of tracking has this engine done? In what shape is the suspension? Clutch?

OTOH, if it is exactly what you want, the installer is in your area, you talked to him or at least viewed the paperwork that came with the install ....

grrrmonster

Steinway is one of the best Porsche ships within 200-300 miles of Cleveland. the owner was lead mechanic on Porsche Factory race team for Escort endurance effort. If he did the swap I'd vouch it was done 100% right. If I was getting a PPI done in Cleveland- it would be steinels doing it.
If you're nervous about the car- tell me where it is- I'd be interested. Would love to have a boxster with that setup. Would be great car for track use

Someone who doesn't do track events can't comprehend what sweet combination that can be. Sewickley Porsche in Pittsburgh has lot of experience putting 911 engines in boxster. The owner did this for his boxster, then later upgraded to a 997 GT3 engine.

It is awesome. Would be keenly interested in the suspension setup. What was done to it?