The "anything & everything" about Porsche Boxsters thread

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GG.
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by GG. »

Ascender wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 11:03 am
Rich B wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:53 am For £10k I’d want a 987. The 986 just looks like a £4-5k car to me.
Yeah you’re all right... I’d lost track of the model numbers but you’re right, 987 it is.

So.... What’s the must-haves from a spec point of view?
Agree with Broccers - Bose is a good option as the standard Porsche system is awful for a car of that price (my 997 doesn't have it and I really miss it). Sat Nav an irrelevance given how dated the system is.

Adaptive dampers would be good - can't remember whether these are standard on the S - I think perhaps that's only the 997. Sports seats and sports steering wheel also nice options but you could live without. Sport Chrono and the 'sport' throttle response largely pointless. 19" Carrera wheels as per Broccers Sport model make a huge difference to the looks.

Check the exhaust isn't hanging too low at the rear which suggestes the tranny / engine mounts are shot. 3.2s better than 3.4s for scoring but I'd probably have both borescoped at this stage in their lives. Clutch life varies a lot depending on whether it is a city car. You should still get 60-70k out of a clutch for a town car but you'll probably have a heavy pedal from 50k miles as a result of the auto adjustment.
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Jobbo
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Jobbo »

Jimmy Choo wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:21 am From my vast experience of driving Jobbo's old one and an "impromptu side by side performance analysis" with my old e46 330i, I wouldn't bother with anything other than an "S". Jobbo's was nice but wasn't "special" enough. It wasn't until you were well into 3rd gear that it showed the bimmer a clean pair of heels.

@Jobbo Didn't yours have a fantastic history, high miles and no air con?
Yeah, one owner for 120k miles with an absolute sheaf of receipts (well over £20k's worth). It had 18" wheels so it looked right, but was otherwise the basic 986.2 2.7 with no air-con, 228bhp and 5-sp gearbox.

I tried a few Ss and they didn't feel significantly quicker and were so linear that I preferred the 2.7 for its second wind above about 3,500rpm. Even the 3.4-engined 987 isn't all that quick; if you want raw performance you've got to go for a 911, one of the special 981s or a 718.

I'd be far more keen to get a looked after one in a spec you like than care about which engine, particularly if looking for a bargain. My preference now would be a 2.9-engined 987 because they don't suffer IMS failure; nor bore-scoring, so far as I'm aware.

They've all got gearing which is far too high for the UK though, can't do anything to solve that.
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Orange Cola
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Orange Cola »

Jobbo wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:00 pm
They've all got gearing which is far too high for the UK though, can't do anything to solve that.
Yes you can, fit a pair of turbots 8-)
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Jobbo
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Jobbo »

Orange Cola wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:22 pm
Jobbo wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:00 pm
They've all got gearing which is far too high for the UK though, can't do anything to solve that.
Yes you can, fit a pair of turbots 8-)
Sounds a nice cheap, reliable option :lol:

I bet the 718 generation will be bargains of the future if you can put up with the 4-cyl noise, mind. There's your turbos.
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GG.
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by GG. »

Orange Cola wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:22 pm
Jobbo wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:00 pm
They've all got gearing which is far too high for the UK though, can't do anything to solve that.
Yes you can, fit a pair of turbots 8-)
Probably cheaper to refurb the box with shorter ratios by the time you've factored in the engine detonation and rebuild that would result from the turbotcharging :lol:

Seriously thought - there is a reason the 996 and 997.1 turbos used the Mezger engines with the closed deck blocks.
Last edited by GG. on Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Ascender
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Ascender »

It was an original 2.5 model I had, so I expect the 2.7 or S will be a massive difference performance-wise. I’m not looking for something 911-quick, I did love my Boxster, but it was just under-powered.

So high mileage shouldn’t put me off assuming there’s receipts... thanks for the heads-up about some of the things to look for. I guess it maybe will come down to finding one with a nice spec as much as anything else.
Cheers,

Mike.
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GG.
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by GG. »

A 3.4S is 295hp to the 2.5's 205 (IIRC) so, yes, will be all the performance you need to have fun on a back road realistically and ample shove to get past dawdling traffic.
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Jimexpl
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Jimexpl »

I never had an issue with the gearing on mine (‘07 3.4S), but I had just come from a Z06 that did 60 in first...

It’s the 2007 model year on that have fewer engine issues, so check the chassis number as 06 and 07 model years could be on 56, 07 or 57 plates, depending on how long they sat around.
For me, sports seats and adaptive suspension make quite a difference, and to a lesser extent the sports exhaust and sports steering wheel, but if you haven’t spent a decent amount of time in a car with them you probably wouldn’t miss them.

I’d have another tomorrow, but nearly all of my diving these days requires 4 seats.
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240PP
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by 240PP »

I love my 987 S but it’s not getting used much so I’m considering parting with it. It’s a 3.2 (updated IMS bits)

They really are a fantastic package.

Purchase thread
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Ascender
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Ascender »

240PP wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 3:03 pm I love my 987 S but it’s not getting used much so I’m considering parting with it. It’s a 3.2 (updated IMS bits)

They really are a fantastic package.

Purchase thread
Looks nice! Will go read the thread properly now.

[mention]240PP[/mention] What’s the spec, likely price etc if you don’t mind me asking? Just trying to get a feel for the market at the moment.
Last edited by Ascender on Wed Jul 08, 2020 5:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Cheers,

Mike.
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Broccers
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Broccers »

Ascender wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 3:34 pm
240PP wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 3:03 pm I love my 987 S but it’s not getting used much so I’m considering parting with it. It’s a 3.2 (updated IMS bits)

They really are a fantastic package.

Purchase thread
Looks nice! Will go read the thread properly now.

What’s the spec, likely price etc if you don’t mind me asking? Just trying to get a feel for the market at the moment.
Buy that one. Job jobbed 😎👍
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Jobbo »

Ascender wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:42 pm So high mileage shouldn’t put me off assuming there’s receipts... thanks for the heads-up about some of the things to look for. I guess it maybe will come down to finding one with a nice spec as much as anything else.
It shouldn't, but mine did still manage to throw up regular bills (alternator, water pump, that sort of thing); the alternator failing left me stranded too. So a parade of bills is just evidence that they keep throwing bills at you in my anecdotal experience :lol:
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Ascender
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Ascender »

Jobbo wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 4:21 pm
Ascender wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:42 pm So high mileage shouldn’t put me off assuming there’s receipts... thanks for the heads-up about some of the things to look for. I guess it maybe will come down to finding one with a nice spec as much as anything else.
It shouldn't, but mine did still manage to throw up regular bills (alternator, water pump, that sort of thing); the alternator failing left me stranded too. So a parade of bills is just evidence that they keep throwing bills at you in my anecdotal experience :lol:
Oh I don’t doubt it, but with an out-of-warranty Boxster I’ll be using my own guy for stuff like that. I just remember how much Porsche dealers used to charge for anything & everything with a “Porsche Approved” sticker on it.
Cheers,

Mike.
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Sundayjumper »

Jobbo wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:00 pm Even the 3.4-engined 987 isn't all that quick...
Faster than a Fezza 360.
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Rich B
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Rich B »

Sundayjumper wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 5:27 pm
Jobbo wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:00 pm Even the 3.4-engined 987 isn't all that quick...
Faster than a Fezza 360.
😀
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Jobbo »

Sundayjumper wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 5:27 pm
Jobbo wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:00 pm Even the 3.4-engined 987 isn't all that quick...
Faster than a Fezza 360.
You've been test driving broken Ferraris I take it? :lol: I can believe the Ferrari doesn't make the 400bhp it's supposed to, but it's not much heavier than the Boxster which has 300bhp. I've never seen any figures which suggest the Boxster is faster.

ETA: here's an Evo comparison of the Boxster Spyder (lighter than a standard 3.4) and the 360 Spider (heavier than a standard Modena) and the Ferrari is faster - https://www.evo.co.uk/porsche/boxster-s ... r/page/0/2
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GG.
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by GG. »

Steve's latest purchase :lol:

Image
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Broccers
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Broccers »

Sundayjumper wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 5:27 pm
Jobbo wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:00 pm Even the 3.4-engined 987 isn't all that quick...
Faster than a Fezza 360.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Got to laugh at the inability to take wind ups on here.
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Sundayjumper »

<whoosh>

:D


t’other day Broccers made that claim, refusing to produce anything to back it up.
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Broccers
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Re: Used Boxsters - Talk to me....

Post by Broccers »

Sundayjumper wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 6:11 pm <whoosh>

:D


t’other day Broccers made that claim, refusing to produce anything to back it up.
Impossible as its not true - please dont pick on me too steve I will have to leave as well :lol: :lol: :lol:
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