wyldejackyl

Actually, I'm not getting one, a friend is considering it. He wants to be sure of at least two main things before he goes ahead and makes a purchase:
1) are there any known problems with that model, in that year?
and
2) is there some kind of manufacturer recommended maintenance that has to be performed yearly, and to what extent does this car require maintenance? Is it something someone with some tools and know-how can tackle in a weekend, or something only the dealer can do?
Please give me all the info you have - I want a porsche eventually too, and as a fellow German car enthusiast, I can appreciate them even tho I don't own one.
<img border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" title="" src="graemlins/drink.gif" />

Blue S2

Things all new Porsche owners should know when they buy a car, new or used!

1. Your insurance agent has waited their whole career to hear you say the word "Porsche" over the phone.

2. You will have maintenance bills. Expect them and love them, as they become frequent!

3. DONT GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR WORK, do what you must to find a private mechanic that knows his stuff and is trusted by enough clients.

4. You need lift access. (see #3)

5. Anything Porsche related takes longer than you think.

Honestly though, if its a good one and you take care of them, they arent that expensive to keep up. If its a weekend car, budget around $1000 / year for maintenace. I dont own a Boxster though. I do expect them to be the funnest track car when they drop to 944 cost in a couple years! Just felt like chiming in! Good luck on a car! They are great!

axhoaxho

A 00 Boxster/S should still be under its 4yr/50K factory warranty, so not much problems to worry. Just make sure the previous owner(s) did all the maintenance, and got dealer stamped on the warranty book. If the car is over 50K miles, avoid it and shop for one that's under 50K miles.

Also bring the car to the dealer for a Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI), it will cost around $200, but it is well worth it to know any hidden problems in the car.

The rear main seal leaking (that's the seal between the engine and the transmission) is a common problem, so don't worry too much about it. The dealers are familiar with this problem and will fix it under warranty.

Maintenance is relatively easy for Porsche -- if I remember correctly, oil change every $15K miles (better do it by a dealer or authorized shop, so to honor the warranty), and tune up at 15K, 30K, 45K, etc. The price is not cheap (e.g. $400 for 15K service) but cost is part of the deal of owning a Porsche. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Beside of that, not much to worry -- just get a car without previous accidents, clean title, and make sure it's still under new car warranty. Other than that, just enjoy the car and have fun.

Best Regards,

Ray S

I disagree w/Blue S2. I happen to own a 2000 Boxster and in three years with the car I have done nothing more than change the oil/filter, replace tires, and brake pads.

The oil only needs to be changed every 15,000 miles (or once a year). That cost about $85.00.

The 30,000 mile check should run around $500.00

All in all the maintenance cost of the 986 is not at all excessively expensive. <img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/RayS/BoxGemRear_001.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

Plus it's simply beautiful!!!

fpena944

Ray S,

Are those Porsche rims or aftermarket? They are beautiful! What are they? Where did you get them?

condo bob

was this planned? what part of the car is that red thing in front of car?

phatning

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Ray S:
<strong>The oil only needs to be changed every 15,000 miles (or once a year). That cost about $85.00.

The 30,000 mile check should run around $500.00

All in all the maintenance cost of the 986 is not at all excessively expensive. <img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/RayS/BoxGemRear_001.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

Plus it's simply beautiful!!!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Hi, I'm new as well...

Boxster only requires oil change every 15,000 miles (or once a year)? We are talking about engine oil, right?

thanks,

Tony

cmoss

Yes, once a year (or every 15K miles). The wonders of synth oil...

After the car comes out of warranty the bills WILL get bigger. P-cars are expensive to work on. The dealer gets $125 per hour. Independents are $75 - 90 per hour. So yes, P-cars can get expensive.

If a person is into asking how much things cost, and pinching pennies... Buy a Honda

Chris

Ray S

All,

The wheels are 18" Gemballa Competition's from Wheel Enhancement (www.wheelenhancement.com). These guys are very knowledgeable about Porsches and Wheels.

The red thing in front of the car is a fire hydrant.

The engine oil interval for the Boxster is 1 year or 15,000 miles (whichever come first).

(My image hosting site is down....I'll post a few more pics when it comes back up)

Dan87951

Geez.. What kind of oil do the Boxster use that require changes every 15,000 miles??? I run synthetic in my 951 and still change every 3k because even at that mileage its dirty.

craigg

Since the Porsche engineers recommend 15,000 miles or a year between changes, I have to figure they know what they are doing. After all, it's their design. My MY01 Boxster S has 40,000 miles and is going strong with NO problems!

Also, the recommended change frequency on my MY84 911 is 12,000 miles or one year and is still going strong too, so they haven't really made a radical adjustment to their approach as far as I can see.

Frequent oil changes may give you piece of mind but can be expensive and unnecessary - especially when A/C 911 takes 11 quarts of Mobile 1!!

cmoss

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica"> Geez.. What kind of oil do the Boxster use that require changes every 15,000 miles??? I run synthetic in my 951 and still change every 3k because even at that mileage its dirty. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Modern engine oil contains detergents that help keep the insides clean. Because of this it turns darki almost immediately. Just because the oil looks dirty after 3K miles does not mean it needs to be changed.

But hey, if it feels good go for it.

Ray S

Here is a list of the service requirements for the Boxster;

The oil change interval is 15,000 miles (about $85)

There is a roughly $500.00 service at 30,000 miles (spark plugs, oil/filter, air filter, and multi item check list).

At 60,000 miles the poly rib belt that drives the alternator, power steering pump, and A/C must be replaced.

At 90,000 miles the transmission oil is replaced.

Finally, every 2 years the brake fluid is replaced.

That's it! The Boxster is not at all maintenance intensive, and my 2000 model has been the most trouble free vehicle I have ever owned (not one single problem). The cams are chain driven, it has maintenance free ignition, and automatic hydraulic valve adjustment. It really is a much less maintenance intensive vehicle than most other Porsche's (the 996 has a similar schedule).
<img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/RayS/BoxGem1.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

Cajun

Hi guys, thought I would Chime in on this one...

My Boxster is a '99 that I bought new. I have nearly 83k miles on the clock (I'm NEVER selling this car) and it has been as reliable as my girlfriend's Toyota.

Obviously, I am on the road a lot in my Boxster. I KNOW what the Porsche Manual says about the oil, but I change the oil every 8k miles, and NOTHING leaks, weeps, drips, etc.. My Vette, (which I also bought new), has run Mobil 1 Synthetic oil since birth too, and I've found that even with Synthetics, it is better to air on the safe side and change the oil before 15k...

As for maintenance, other than the Porsche scheduled maintenances at 15,30, & 45k, the most expensive thing the car has needed was new tires (I am on my second set), and the only "major" problem of note so far was at around 45k the top started to mysteriously unravel (and the car ALWAYS sleeps covered indoors). Porsche promptly replaced that and the car looks as good as new.

Finally, just get the ppi and drive it forever. Perhaps I just got lucky, but I can honestly say that my Boxster hasn't cost me more to run/maintain than my Vette or Ford Truck.

Good luck!

chris928

How about if you never change your oil?

Check out Amsoil's bypass system.

You change oil for a few reasons:

Dirty

Viscosity degradation

Contaminants

With Amsoil's bypass system the filter scrubs particles a fraction of a stock filter, it helps get rid of contaminants and the synthetic oil doesn't loose viscosity.

Install one and you're still not sure, just send in a sample with a little sample kit they supply and they will run a full analysis on your oil whenever you want. They will tell you if there are any problems.

You do change the filters at regular intervals.

The main problem is that there probably isn't anywhere for the bypass filter anywhere on a boxster.

Just a thought, why throw out good oil? I would have thought every environmentalist on the planet would be doing this.