I just put a deposit down on a 98 Boxster with 9000 miles (Pre-owned certified by Porsche). Asking for $26900. Is that a fair price ? 5 speed with 17 inch rims, CD player, sport package.

I've been looking at buying a used Boxster for a year but wanted a post 2000 one. But a 2000 beyond Boxster would require me (financially) to give up my CL-S which I didn't want to do. I'm too spoiled with the comfort and 260 horses to be driving a "lesser" commuter car. If I were to just have the Boxster, it would have to be entirely loaded with power seats, heated seats,etc.


So I think this is a good compromise. I found the car and it's BLACK (exactly what I wanted).

Does anyone here have any experience with reliability issues with the Boxster ? Consumer reports says that it's above average.

thx

 

I've heard good things about the Boxster as well, so that's a good sign. Sounds like you got a pretty good deal too.

One question.. why not a Boxster S? I've read that the regular Boxster is actually slower then a CL/TL. Is an S that much more?

 

My former boss had one. Nice car, but not for those of us over about 5-10. I am 6-2 and the car was too damn small for me.

 

I'd love to have a Boxster S. The S has now 258 hp I think. It came down to that I can't afford it. You're right, I think the Boxster (at least the 201 HP 97-99s) are not all that quick. Probably on par or even slower than the CL. And that's one of the reason why I don't want to give up my CL. I'll still have the CL. But I've always wanted a convertible and the styling of the Boxster (and of course to be shallow here, the Porsche name). I considered a used S2000 but the looks of the Honda just doesn't do it for me. And I don't like the Z3/Z4s at all.

 

Are you going to mod the Boxster?

Boxster
Stock 0-60 6.9 seconds (Manual)
Supercharged 0-60 ~4.9

Boxster S
Stock 0-60 5.9 seconds (Manual)
I/H/E, ECU 0-60 ~4.9

 

I'm in the same boat as you. I'd love a porsche, but I don't want to give up my CLS to do it. I was going to buy a 993 (hafta trade in the CLS which is paid off), but I've been thinking about a older/cheaper 911 (72-73 or 78-89).

There are a bunch of links to porsche forums I posted in this thread:

http://www.acura-cl.com/forums/showt...&highlight=986

I remember reading something about the early boxsters (986) having problems. I don't remember what those problems were, but search the pcar forums or post a question there.

I forget which issue of Excellence magazine has the market update for the 986, but I can look it up when I get home.

I would tell you to use the porsche forsale links on my website, but those are porsche enthusiuasts sites (i.e. 911's - sorry, but the 986 still hasn't been accepted by most old time porsche fans). You'll probably have to hit cars.com and autotrader.com to see what 986's are going for in your area.

 

thanks greenmonster for the link. I'll look into it. I have 3 days before I go test drive and hopefully buy it.

I look at it as buying a brand new car priced in the mid 30s. Only that I have 2 cars I really like. Insurance will be 2800 for both cars. The CLs actually went down in insurance cost because now I'll have 2 cars.

I just like my CL too much to give it up.

 

My dad has had three different Boxster's since they came out. ALL of them had issues with the top mechanism--the latest was even worse. He had the top replaced on the last "S" three times in about 2 years...
He did have the benefit of the warranty, though. But other than that, the car was flawless and there were no issues at all...

 

I drove the Boxter myself, nice car but wouldn't buy one personally.
Seems like a girls car to me, sorry.

 

love the boxster... really fun to drive and always nice to drop the top.

 

Dacura, Here's a link to a 98 boxster thread (I had actually posted in that thread, but had forgotten about it):

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showt...hreadid=124055

From Sept 03 Excellence mag "Market Update" by Bruce Anderson:

1998 low $19,546 high $29750.


BA usually gives an extra 10% for low milege, so it looks like an good buy. There are just so many of the boxsters out there, it's hard not to find a good buy. Lots of 'em just recently came off lease and the factory warranty, so prices are continuing to go down.

BTW: 18 inch wheels were an option on the 1998 (first year for those on the boxster), so I'd assume the 17's were standard.

 

Like someone said earlier, if you are 6ft or better, your nuts might be touching the steering wheel. Everyone loves it when you drop the top...real pimp

 

The Boxster is a great handling car. But you really should be a mechanically inclined individual to own one. I'm not talking just oil changes either. You really should be able to troubleshoot and repair the car yourself. Clutch jobs are real easy to do, it should be no prob to do that in the driveway. You should be able to troubleshoot and repair the electrics, fuel delivery, and ignition systems. You should be comfortable doing in frame and out of frame overhauls. Let me tell you why, the engine is mid mounted. You have to remove some stuff to get access to it. Labor times on the Boxster are real high. If you take it to a dealer your paying a lot of money per hour. Most privately owned import shops don't want to touch em. It would be a great car for someone who has another car to drive, tools, and is willing to spring for a Porsche factory repair manual set. Having said that let me also say that the Boxster has a great record as far as reliability goes. I just want to give you some food for thought because you did say you are short on cash. European sports and luxury cars are my thing. If I can help you out some more just ask.

 

thanks to all. thanks Carnut for th offer. Definitely gave me reassurance. I'm 5' 7" so the height problem is not there. I don't think I'll mod this car. I'm buying it for the handling, open top motoring, not so much for the acceleration. And I'm not very mechanically inclined and I do know that the engine is very hidden in the Boxster. I guess I won't be doing much work myself. Fortunately it's warrantied by Porsche for 2 years/100,000 miles, so at least I won't have to worry about it for 2 years. Besides, I'll still have my CL if that breaks down.

 

Hey Dacura, you will be very happy with your Boxter. Mine has given me miles of trouble-free fun. I just had it in the shop yesterday for it's routine YEARLY maintenance and got yet another clean bill of health ($618.59). I've honestly never even looked at the engine, even out of curiosity because of the steps you've got to go through to get to it. Careful with the "B" on the boxter emblem on the rear trunk, it's easy to break off when you wash it. Other than that, even with a non S, you'l have a lot of fun with it. The CL will blow it away off the line, but the way it corners.....man, there's nothing like it for the price. For parts and just little "coustom" touches ..try Tweeks, they are awesome to deal with and have a big variety to chose from. I bought the "speedster humps" from them for the back to give it a different look when the top is down and they were $900 less than the Porsche dealer! Good luck and enjoy.

 

rickm,

What year Boxster do you have ? I'm getting a 98 and I don't like the steering wheel. The 2000 beyond steering wheel is much nicer. Can the st wheel be swapped out ?

 

dacura I tried to pm this to you but it said you don't accept pm's.

I've got a '98 5 speed, bought new in nov '97. 32k miles on it. Artic Silver, Boxter- Red FULL leather (doors, and all the dash are covered in red leather instead of vinyl). Black Carbon fiber dash kit from Joshua Tree. I checked into a Nardi steering wheel when I bought the car to match my '81 911SC's but at the time, they didnt' have one that I liked that could accomodate an airbag. I agree, the one in it kind of looks like one from a mid '80's Grand Am, but it sure feels good.

 

my sister has a boxter. slow and tiny, but i am over 6 feet tall. its black with the tan interior. Also her top broke 3 times so far. but then again, she puts the top down every time she drives it.

 

rickm, your sounds real nice. I really don't want a black interior but that's what the car has. I'd like a tan or red interior. I mean I have a black interior CL. Oh well. THis one also only has partial leather. But like I mentioned earlier, I'm buying it for the handling, convertible and not really looking for luxury. I can't wait to check it out and hopefully buy it tomorrow. Did a carfax report on the car and it came up clean. I also went back to some older road and track mags last night and found some performance data on a 5 speed 201HP Boxster they tested in 99 and they had 0-60 running at 6 secs, quarter mile at 14.6/94mph, top speed of 149, 60-0 braking at 124 feet. Certainly good enough numbers for me, not slow at all. But again, that's not a priority anyway.

 

It's not too fast , but it sure is sweet. Check out some nice black carbon fiber dash trim to dress the inside up a little. Unlike a lot of the people on this board, I've never had a problem with the top (but I am also the guy with no problems with our Land Rovers, I guess I am just lucky). I am 6'1 with big feet and no problems fitting in it at all or working the pedals. You'll like the two trunks too, I can fit way more stuff in it than in my 911 when i have to. Good luck and enjoy.

 

Went to test drive this on Sat. The car is in very good shape. Everything was still pretty new. The ride was tight and the car drove very smoothly. It has 9100 miles on it. Apparently it was sold to a 55 year sold woman who hardly drove the car.

So I bought it for 26000 with a 2 year warranty. I'm picking it up either Wed or Thurs. Really excited about it.

For rickm, do you know of a place/web site that I can get discounted parts at ? I need to buy the CD shelf and cupholders,etc.

thanks

 

Too much, 26k is more fair. Early models have way more troubles than latter cars. It is a wonderful car, man u can pimp it out with some Porsche stuff.

 

Tweeks (eihter .com or they have a catalog too)has a GREAT parts list, I am able to get hard to find parts for my Old baby from them and for the Boxter. You can probably get the cup holders there, but not the ones that snap into the vents like your car should have came with(Porsche stopped making them because they break the vents). Good luck with it, I hope you have many years of fun with it.

 

thanks Rickm for your help

 

The magazine Excellence will help, it is all Porsche, a great mag, I buy it.

 

yeah that's right. There are a few Porsche magazines out there.

thanks

 

Just wanted to give an update to those who's interested.

Picked up the Boxster a few weeks ago. Really started driving it last week. This thing is a blast to drive. It's certainly quick enough and it handles like a dream. It's a lot of fun. And suprisingly it still gets a lot of attention from
people (the guy at the inspection station, valet people, etc.) The car is very clean and it looks great in black.

With that said, my CL-S rides so much nicer and it's much more quiet and luxurious. Can't live without the heated seats and the nice stereo (the Boxster has a horrible stereo system.)

Love both cars for what they are !

 

nice choice...glad you kept both

 

Congrat's on the purchase. I still don't really like the exterior design, and I kinda think of it as the poor man's Porsche, but I hear they handle great, and I'm sure it's pimp with the top down.

 

I wish I could have two sweet cars like that.

 

I'm thinking of doing the same thing, 'cept I want to buy a older (15 y/o) 911 as a sunday driver.

Yep, it is the poor mans Porsche. Just like the 914 in the 70's and the 912 in the 60's, Porsche always seem to have a sportscar priced lower then the 911.

It's still rocks to have a 'vert and a CL tho'

 

the boxter is hot, but ummm, my tl-p with mods was able to take one from 40 till 120 and off the line as well. Blackshadow has also taken a boxter.

 

Did you try and look for an "S" model?

 

yes it's definitely sweet to have a convertible. When I need comfort, back to the CL.

I didn't look for an S because I can't afford one.
A 2000 Boxster S costs about 36000 with relatively low miles.

 

Yeah, the S's are nice, but still pricey. They also haven't hit the bottom of their depreication curve, so they probably will lose more in value (percentage wise)then the one you just bought.

 

Boxsters are cool. But, If I am to own a porsche, i would buy a GT3. Of course this is some 80,000 dollars more. But, anyway, congrats on the porsche im sure you'll find it to be an excellent car.