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A few weeks ago I posted about looking for a 986 daily, this weekend I drove 5+ hours to Kentucky to pick up my new Boxster:
It's a 1998 5 speed with just shy of 140K. It's got an upgraded top with a glass window and has a blue top & interior, which I like. PPI showed a clean car with "good bones" (shop's words) but a few needs:
All 4 O2 sensors need replaced (currently showing a P1121, but the other codes are evidently pending)
Suspension is "loud" over bumps (no diagnosis as to why)
Brakes and calipers need overhauled (not sure what this means, it seems to brake just fine - no grinding, pulsing, pulling. Rotors are clean and smooth. I plan on just keeping an eye on it.)
Oil separator & hose need replaced
Small oil leak at front of engine, maybe "console o-ring for oil pump", they said
Battery is weak.
Clutch friction point is high, the shop thought the clutch's life is likely short. I've also read here and other places that some Boxsters just have a high friction point. No slippage at this point. My plan there is to simply drive it until it does start to slip, and then do the clutch. I've got a truck as a backup vehicle, so if it goes down for a while so I can replace the clutch, so be it. I can DIY the clutch, when and if I need to.
It also came with an uninstalled Circuit Werks exhaust, a Durametric scan tool and 10 years of records, mostly from 2 owners ago. (Guy I bought it from only had it for 5 months and he evidently fell into a deal on a Z06 he couldn't pass up, so the Boxster had to go.) He had spent $14K in maintenance over 10 years and 30K miles. That's more than double what I spent on the car.
I've put maybe 12 miles on it so for, but I'm pretty excited about it.
Looks to be in great condition for 140K. Bought my first Boxster this year too! Debating DIY or to shop for a maintenance/age related list of items. Mine is a 1998 5 speed. Need the weather to break here in eastern Ohio. Have fun...I hope to.
We're not far from each other, I'm on the west side of Columbus.
I drove almost 11 hours round trip to get her. The condition, confirmed by the PPI, made it worth the trip. I wasn't interested in paying top dollar for a low mileage cream puff. Higher mileage but well cared for and a lower price are the sweet spot for me.
This is the 4th in a string of "cheap but interesting" cars that I've owned. I decided I wanted to have as many unique driving experiences as possible without breaking the bank. So back in 2016 I bought a $500 1996 318ti with 239K on it and dallied it for 2 years and 24K and sold it for $1,400. Next was a 2002 Acura RSX Type S, also with 239K, that I bought for $1,200 with a bad timing chain. Black ice claimed it and it went to a local Fiat shop as an engine donor for an X1/9 for $1,000. I then bought a $3,600 2002 BMW 325Ci with 150K that I drove for 3 years and 38K and I just sold it for $4,650. This continues the tradition of roughly 2-3X the price of the last one at $6,700, but that seems pretty cheap for a Boxster this clean, even knowing that it is going to need some things soon.
I've got an old truck (2001 Tundra with 296K) as a backup and for the salt and snow, but otherwise I plan to drive the Boxster daily.
03-13-2022, 07:39 PM
My New Boxster
