In the market for a 987.1 Boxster..
11-17-2023, 03:58 AM
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In the market for a 987.1 Boxster..
Hi All,
This my first post
I am in the market for a 987.1 Porsche Boxster but need some help. I am currently 19 years old and have been driving since I was 17. I'm not looking to buy one just yet, at least another year and a half from now, so I will be about 21 when I get round to purchasing one. I have done all insurance quotes for roughly around the time I would be able to buy one and they all show very affordable which I do not understand. Before this I was looking at a Vauxhall Corsa VXR and it was £300-£400 more expensive to insure than the Boxster, all while having 40 less bhp, front wheel drive and well, being a Vauxhall, which made no sense to me. I've always loved the Boxster and have always wanted to own one some day and for quite some time now I've come to realise how affordable they actually are. I currently have a decently paying office job not far from where I live and I'm passionate about it and always wanting to move up the ladder so in a year and a half's time I'm not concerned about not being able to afford one.
Bit of backstory now. I have been in a 2006 Boxster S 3.2 before a few times and I absolutely loved it. I am 6ft 1 and fit in it perfectly so space isn't an issue. I find the seats comfortable, the ride comfortable, being young, and it just is a perfect car for me to own. Over the past few weeks I have done extensive research into these cars, when I'm passionate about something I want to know everything haha, and am willing to spend the money for joy.
Regarding maintenance, I would be taking it to a Porsche specialist not far from me for all the major work/services/MOT, and I would take it to a local garage, which I have used since I've started driving, for Tyres, AC re-gassing, easy stuff that I don't have the gear to do to save money, etc. I would however do the more minor work to save money including headlights, taillights, radio (If I upgrade it) and brake discs/calipers, as I know how to do that stuff. Is that a good idea?..
I know about the IMS issues, RMS issues, suspension problems, Radiator/AC pipes clogging up etc. I recently learned that the 987.2 doesn't have the IMS bearing but they are currently out of my willing price range - max I would pay for a 987 of any age would be £11k if one was perfect inside and out and the spec I would like it. Though something I read made me turn my head - it read something along the lines of "Do not buy any early ones (2005) as the IMS bearing is more likely to fail on them. We recommend late 2006 to 2008 Boxsters because they have the newer IMS bearing type and its a much lower risk for it to fail." Is this true?
My questions to you people are:
1. From your experience, is this true about the 2006-2008 models regarding the IMS bearing issue?
2. Would you recommend the 3.2 S instead of the 2.7 base model? Some people I've watched videos of are saying the 2.7 is slow but I do a decent amount of motorway miles a month. But comparing it to my current car (2008 Vauxhall Corsa) with 70bhp, I reckon it will be a large difference lol.
3. Would you recommend buying a higher mileage one (70k - 90k or even higher)? Once again I've read a lot of articles saying that buying a high mileage version can usually be in a better driving condition than lower mileage examples because they have been used more often.
4. Do you recommend daily driving / can you daily drive these cars? In my opinion I reckon you can due to the 2.7 not being too bad on fuel and the car having a frunk and a boot, as well as heated seats (which is a must for me).
5. Lastly, is it relatively easy/cheap to install Bluetooth to these cars? (It is highly needed for me lol). As i know they are going 15-18 years old they don't have Bluetooth as standard. I've seen them equipped with the standard radio system but also the PCCM with the screen and Sat Nav built in too.
Thankyou for your time, I look forward to reading your replies. Any questions I am happy to answer.
This my first post
I am in the market for a 987.1 Porsche Boxster but need some help. I am currently 19 years old and have been driving since I was 17. I'm not looking to buy one just yet, at least another year and a half from now, so I will be about 21 when I get round to purchasing one. I have done all insurance quotes for roughly around the time I would be able to buy one and they all show very affordable which I do not understand. Before this I was looking at a Vauxhall Corsa VXR and it was £300-£400 more expensive to insure than the Boxster, all while having 40 less bhp, front wheel drive and well, being a Vauxhall, which made no sense to me. I've always loved the Boxster and have always wanted to own one some day and for quite some time now I've come to realise how affordable they actually are. I currently have a decently paying office job not far from where I live and I'm passionate about it and always wanting to move up the ladder so in a year and a half's time I'm not concerned about not being able to afford one.
Bit of backstory now. I have been in a 2006 Boxster S 3.2 before a few times and I absolutely loved it. I am 6ft 1 and fit in it perfectly so space isn't an issue. I find the seats comfortable, the ride comfortable, being young, and it just is a perfect car for me to own. Over the past few weeks I have done extensive research into these cars, when I'm passionate about something I want to know everything haha, and am willing to spend the money for joy.
Regarding maintenance, I would be taking it to a Porsche specialist not far from me for all the major work/services/MOT, and I would take it to a local garage, which I have used since I've started driving, for Tyres, AC re-gassing, easy stuff that I don't have the gear to do to save money, etc. I would however do the more minor work to save money including headlights, taillights, radio (If I upgrade it) and brake discs/calipers, as I know how to do that stuff. Is that a good idea?..
I know about the IMS issues, RMS issues, suspension problems, Radiator/AC pipes clogging up etc. I recently learned that the 987.2 doesn't have the IMS bearing but they are currently out of my willing price range - max I would pay for a 987 of any age would be £11k if one was perfect inside and out and the spec I would like it. Though something I read made me turn my head - it read something along the lines of "Do not buy any early ones (2005) as the IMS bearing is more likely to fail on them. We recommend late 2006 to 2008 Boxsters because they have the newer IMS bearing type and its a much lower risk for it to fail." Is this true?
My questions to you people are:
1. From your experience, is this true about the 2006-2008 models regarding the IMS bearing issue?
2. Would you recommend the 3.2 S instead of the 2.7 base model? Some people I've watched videos of are saying the 2.7 is slow but I do a decent amount of motorway miles a month. But comparing it to my current car (2008 Vauxhall Corsa) with 70bhp, I reckon it will be a large difference lol.
3. Would you recommend buying a higher mileage one (70k - 90k or even higher)? Once again I've read a lot of articles saying that buying a high mileage version can usually be in a better driving condition than lower mileage examples because they have been used more often.
4. Do you recommend daily driving / can you daily drive these cars? In my opinion I reckon you can due to the 2.7 not being too bad on fuel and the car having a frunk and a boot, as well as heated seats (which is a must for me).
5. Lastly, is it relatively easy/cheap to install Bluetooth to these cars? (It is highly needed for me lol). As i know they are going 15-18 years old they don't have Bluetooth as standard. I've seen them equipped with the standard radio system but also the PCCM with the screen and Sat Nav built in too.
Thankyou for your time, I look forward to reading your replies. Any questions I am happy to answer.
11-20-2023, 11:47 AM
#2
Wow, a Boxster would be an amazing first second car! I'm not sure about a 987.1 on this budget though, for two main reasons.
First is the purchase price. The equivalent of £11k where I am (Canada) doesn't get you much in the way of a 987. In fact, the cheapest 2005 models with around 100,000 km on the odometer are around £14k, and this is for non-S models, at a time (late Fall - early winter) when the "convertible tax" is at its lowest as owners try to sell before they store it for the winter.
However, there are some decent-looking 986 models in your price range. Have you considered a 986? Keep in mind that these are all also non-S models. S models typically sell at a marginal premium above those. I'm not sure what the Boxster market is like in the UK, but I'm not sure your dream of a 987.1 Boxster S is realistic in that budget.
My second concern is the cost of ownership. It's not a Toyota. In short, the Boxster is going to need repairs and preventative maintenance much more frequently than "normal" cars, and both parts and labour will cost more as well. The mid-engine layout is great for handling dynamics but a pain in the **** for accessing engine components. To add insult to injury, even when driven like a grandma, the Boxster gets the same gas mileage as my 2007 Acura MDX, despite weighing 700 kg less. When driving it the way it's meant to be driven, much worse gas mileage, and it takes a recommended 93 octane (91 works in a pinch). Whatever your budget for purchasing the car, do ensure that you have funds to pay for operation and maintenance of it, or it may spend more time parked than being driven.
With that out of the way, my answers to your questions are:
1. Yes, the 05-06 has a larger IMS bearing and is generally considered more reliable. However, I wouldn't let that dissuade you from an earlier Boxster, even a 986, at the right price with the "inferior" IMS bearing, as those ones can be upgraded to the IMS solution to make them more reliable than even the large IMS bearings. I say at the right price since the IMS surgery is expensive (several thousand) for parts and labour.
2. As a 3.2L owner myself, I would definitely recommend one, since it's significantly more powerful and upgrading the 2.7L for more power if you change your mind is not particularly easy or cheap. The 3.2L is the sweet spot IMO for power to reliability, since it has more power than a 2.7 or a 2.9, but not as much of the bore scoring worries as with the 3.4L.
3. As with any car, service history is more important than mileage. For a 20 year old car, 100k is only 5000 km / year, which isn't even full-time usage during the summer months (assuming most drivers put on 15-20k per year). I would say somewhere between 50-100k is the sweet spot, assuming it's been well-maintained.
4. I daily drive mine in the summer. Despite being somewhat expensive to maintain, it's quite dependable when maintained well. I now have a "winter beater" and a garage for storage, so I've never driven my Boxster in the winter, but I daily-drove a Miata year-round with no major issues. Good winter tires are a must and a hardtop is nice to have, mostly to keep snow from putting too much weight on the roof.
Good luck! My only other bit of unsolicited advice is that if the cost to buy and cost of ownership give you cold sweats, I'd consider an NC Miata if you can fit in one.
First is the purchase price. The equivalent of £11k where I am (Canada) doesn't get you much in the way of a 987. In fact, the cheapest 2005 models with around 100,000 km on the odometer are around £14k, and this is for non-S models, at a time (late Fall - early winter) when the "convertible tax" is at its lowest as owners try to sell before they store it for the winter.
However, there are some decent-looking 986 models in your price range. Have you considered a 986? Keep in mind that these are all also non-S models. S models typically sell at a marginal premium above those. I'm not sure what the Boxster market is like in the UK, but I'm not sure your dream of a 987.1 Boxster S is realistic in that budget.
My second concern is the cost of ownership. It's not a Toyota. In short, the Boxster is going to need repairs and preventative maintenance much more frequently than "normal" cars, and both parts and labour will cost more as well. The mid-engine layout is great for handling dynamics but a pain in the **** for accessing engine components. To add insult to injury, even when driven like a grandma, the Boxster gets the same gas mileage as my 2007 Acura MDX, despite weighing 700 kg less. When driving it the way it's meant to be driven, much worse gas mileage, and it takes a recommended 93 octane (91 works in a pinch). Whatever your budget for purchasing the car, do ensure that you have funds to pay for operation and maintenance of it, or it may spend more time parked than being driven.
With that out of the way, my answers to your questions are:
1. Yes, the 05-06 has a larger IMS bearing and is generally considered more reliable. However, I wouldn't let that dissuade you from an earlier Boxster, even a 986, at the right price with the "inferior" IMS bearing, as those ones can be upgraded to the IMS solution to make them more reliable than even the large IMS bearings. I say at the right price since the IMS surgery is expensive (several thousand) for parts and labour.
2. As a 3.2L owner myself, I would definitely recommend one, since it's significantly more powerful and upgrading the 2.7L for more power if you change your mind is not particularly easy or cheap. The 3.2L is the sweet spot IMO for power to reliability, since it has more power than a 2.7 or a 2.9, but not as much of the bore scoring worries as with the 3.4L.
3. As with any car, service history is more important than mileage. For a 20 year old car, 100k is only 5000 km / year, which isn't even full-time usage during the summer months (assuming most drivers put on 15-20k per year). I would say somewhere between 50-100k is the sweet spot, assuming it's been well-maintained.
4. I daily drive mine in the summer. Despite being somewhat expensive to maintain, it's quite dependable when maintained well. I now have a "winter beater" and a garage for storage, so I've never driven my Boxster in the winter, but I daily-drove a Miata year-round with no major issues. Good winter tires are a must and a hardtop is nice to have, mostly to keep snow from putting too much weight on the roof.
Good luck! My only other bit of unsolicited advice is that if the cost to buy and cost of ownership give you cold sweats, I'd consider an NC Miata if you can fit in one.
Last edited by bredward; 11-20-2023 at 02:02 PM.
11-20-2023, 03:48 PM
#3
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Thankyou for your reply, I really appreciate and validate what you have said!
In the UK, you can pick a 2.7 Boxster with around 70-80k miles for anywhere between £8k - £10k in good condition. The 3.2 S for the same mileage is around £9.5k - £11k and actually only about £80 more expensive on insurance a year, which in my opinion is really quite good. I'm not put off with having one with around 90k miles because it usually means a lower chance of the IMS bearing failing on you as it has been driven, even though im no longer worried about that as I have watched lots of videos on it. So really its a very affordable sports car over here in the UK.
Funny you mention about a 986 gen, I was considering one earlier today at work haha. They do look really nice on the outside i must admit, but for me, interior is very important and the 986 interior doesnt do it for me. About the only thing i like about the 986 interior is the steering wheel and dials. ITs because it doesnt have heated seats (as I will be using it all year round) or a Bose sound system or even upgradeability for a aftermarket head unit screen. Plus they look a bit dated and in my opinion the 987 interior is one of the nicest, if not the nicest interiors porsche have made. But i will keep an open eye for one.
Regarding running and maintenance costs, yes its a bit of a jump from a vauxhall, or opel over in Canada lol but I am willing to pay it, as its kind of a dream to own one for me. I would only get one once I know I have enough money to be able to afford a lot of maintenance costs after purchase, tax and insurance if the car needs it. I have done rough estimates of how much I would have saved up over the time it takes me to get one and I will be more than adequate for any of this. I will admit I do put my foot down quite a bit in my corsa but thats because they arent bad on fuel. I would be driving more sensibly because obviously i dont want to crash something Ive worked hard to get but also im aware of fuel consumption. That is why i was looking at a 2.7 because they have slightly better mpg than a 3.2 S and a lot of the driving I do is on motorways and fast roads, which also makes me want to get a 3.2 S for the 6speed manual, god i cant win haha.
Im going to be putting around 7-8k miles on it a year as weekdays im working and dont go out really afterwards, main use would be weekends or if i book some holiday time off. So im open to the 987s having 70-90k miles and would be fine with it.
I do love a good miata its just the fact of its insulation isnt very good and I wouldnt want to daily drive it that much. Im not a fan of NC miatas at all, only the NA's so thats why haha.
Last thing I will ask is: Is the 3.2S really that much better? The front bumper does look better with that extra intake at the bottom but also the extra power, the sports exhaust and sports steering wheel, but also the bragging rights haha. The 2.9 and 3.4 are both wayy out of my price range, unless I look for one with like 120k miles, which is a no. But thankyou, I hope I have touched on everything you have said
In the UK, you can pick a 2.7 Boxster with around 70-80k miles for anywhere between £8k - £10k in good condition. The 3.2 S for the same mileage is around £9.5k - £11k and actually only about £80 more expensive on insurance a year, which in my opinion is really quite good. I'm not put off with having one with around 90k miles because it usually means a lower chance of the IMS bearing failing on you as it has been driven, even though im no longer worried about that as I have watched lots of videos on it. So really its a very affordable sports car over here in the UK.
Funny you mention about a 986 gen, I was considering one earlier today at work haha. They do look really nice on the outside i must admit, but for me, interior is very important and the 986 interior doesnt do it for me. About the only thing i like about the 986 interior is the steering wheel and dials. ITs because it doesnt have heated seats (as I will be using it all year round) or a Bose sound system or even upgradeability for a aftermarket head unit screen. Plus they look a bit dated and in my opinion the 987 interior is one of the nicest, if not the nicest interiors porsche have made. But i will keep an open eye for one.
Regarding running and maintenance costs, yes its a bit of a jump from a vauxhall, or opel over in Canada lol but I am willing to pay it, as its kind of a dream to own one for me. I would only get one once I know I have enough money to be able to afford a lot of maintenance costs after purchase, tax and insurance if the car needs it. I have done rough estimates of how much I would have saved up over the time it takes me to get one and I will be more than adequate for any of this. I will admit I do put my foot down quite a bit in my corsa but thats because they arent bad on fuel. I would be driving more sensibly because obviously i dont want to crash something Ive worked hard to get but also im aware of fuel consumption. That is why i was looking at a 2.7 because they have slightly better mpg than a 3.2 S and a lot of the driving I do is on motorways and fast roads, which also makes me want to get a 3.2 S for the 6speed manual, god i cant win haha.
Im going to be putting around 7-8k miles on it a year as weekdays im working and dont go out really afterwards, main use would be weekends or if i book some holiday time off. So im open to the 987s having 70-90k miles and would be fine with it.
I do love a good miata its just the fact of its insulation isnt very good and I wouldnt want to daily drive it that much. Im not a fan of NC miatas at all, only the NA's so thats why haha.
Last thing I will ask is: Is the 3.2S really that much better? The front bumper does look better with that extra intake at the bottom but also the extra power, the sports exhaust and sports steering wheel, but also the bragging rights haha. The 2.9 and 3.4 are both wayy out of my price range, unless I look for one with like 120k miles, which is a no. But thankyou, I hope I have touched on everything you have said
