Patriotjj

First I'd like to say that these cars are absolutely amazing and to whoever owns one, congrats to you. So I've been in the market for looking to buy a new car and had come down to a 370z Nismo or the 2013 Boxster. My uncle had just got the Boxster and I got to drive it yesterday and instantly fell in love! I've pretty much came to the conclusion I want to buy one and am willing to fly out of state to go get one, but I just have a question and need opinions. The area I live in does not have a Porsche dealership near by, so when it comes to maintenance issues(spark plugs,brakes, sensors etc) does it have to or recommended to be taken to a dealership, or will shops that work on VW and other foreign cars work? I don't want to get this car and if it requires work, I will be stuck out because it has to go to a dealership or a specific type of mechanic. Thanks!

Anker

Update your profile with your location and ask here for recommendations for an independent Porsche specialist. A Google search may also unearth one. I doubt many of us use Porsche dealerships. Their prices are out of this world.

You may also find a lot of enjoyment in working on the car yourself. Some of it is a PITA, but our sense of accomplishment is proportional to the difficulty of the task. And the labor rates are the best! You also get to hunt for good quality OEM and used parts at decent prices. Since I bought my car in September of last year I have done the DRL hack (see the 986forum for details), replaced yellow marker lights with clear ones, replaced brake pads, flushed the brakes, and replaced rear tracking arm. Lots of fun, lots of aches in my 69 year old body. I now have a very complete tool set.

Anker

I should add that I will be replacing a brake caliper and an AOS in about a week. All of that would have cost a fortune is I had taken it to a stealership.

Macster

A good car is where you find it but you should be able to find one in Texas. I mean you have Dallas/Ft Worth, Austin, San Antonio and the Houston areas in state.

While I like to shop global (so to speak) I prefer to buy local. It is much easier.

Located where you are -- about half way between Austin and Dallas/Ft Worth -- you are probably not going to find an indy shop for your late model Boxster.

Such shops will be located in the major metro areas because that's where the cars are.

But you can hope. A suitable shop will have a PIWIS. This diagnostic computer system is a lease setup and is rather expensive (I've read the cost can be in the $18,000/year range) but if a shop has one it must have the business to justify it. (Or the prices...)

Be aware there are import PIWIS knockoffs which are much much cheaper to get.

It is not only the computer it is the training and experience to go with it. A 2013 Boxster is still a pretty new car and are only now coming out of the 4 year factory warranty so indy shops have probably not seen many of these.

I'm getting closer to retirement and one thing that I'm having to think about is where I want to live and along with this comes what will I do about my two Porsches.

Some of the places I'm thinking about living do not have Porsche dealers nearby and one "solution" is to have a pick up truck or van or some suitable towing vehicle and a car trailer so if I have to I can load the Porsche on the trailer and haul it to the nearest dealer for service or repairs. I'm not talking hundreds of miles just maybe 50 to 100 miles.

Another "solution" is to just get rid of the Porsches and buy a car or cars I can get serviced locally either at a dealer or a reputable indy shop or even do my own serivcing.

kuehjo

Not to jack the OP's thread - but just reading about your retirement planning...

Another option might be to buy an OLDER (ie, not computerized and hopefully less complex) Porsche and allow the wrenching to be part of the enjoyment of ownership. (It is SOOOO much easier to enjoy when it's not your daily driver, and you have to be at work at 7am tomorrrow!)

mikefocke

Not down the street but https://www.pcarshops.com/search?q=killen%20tx I can't vouch for any of them but you are certainly near enough to Austin and a dealer so it isn't absurd to own a Boxster IMHO.

I had the same issue. Shops were 40 miles away. Mine was wonderfully reliable. I could get oil changes at a quick lube place that did several P-cars of various vintages. I took em the parts and even the oil and watched them like a hawk. Local did tires too and had to order them but they were in in 2 days so not a big deal. I replaced the battery, hand washed, maintained the top, etc.