Boxster problems ????

[Floyd1957]

Thinking of a boxster 2.7 or 3.2 ( ten year old or so) Heard a few horror stories...very expensive repairs etc etc.. Car would only do a max of 5k a year (would be replacing a mint Z3 2.8 with 40k on it; which has done 22k in last 6 yeras)..(Which is staying in family) Really enjoyed Z3...very underated car but do prefer handling of Boxster but a bit concerned over some of issues I`ve read/heard about.. Drove a few ...liked them all..including surprisingly the 2.5 Tip !!! ( still handled great)
Any info about ownership greatly appreciated..anything ..running costs; common faults ; warranties;servicing. views on Tiptronic.. (I quite liked it ??? and wondered in long run wether it might prove more reliable/less stress on engine?/no clutch replacement?...3.2 Tip is seriously quick??? (In reality 2.5 Tip is probably quick enough?)
My prefence would be a 2.7 manual tho... ???Probably

[mollytherocker]

Start here.

http://www.hartech.org/porsche_996_997_Boxster_fre...

[Andy665]

Bought a 2001 Boxster S back end of last year, drove a few 2.5s and found them too slow, the 3.2 is lovely, more so with the manual box

There are known issues but every car has those - header tank split and needed replacing, part not cheap and a swine to fit and it's needed a couple of tyres.

At 80000 moles it feels just nicely run in

[Floyd1957]

Thanks for replies... 3.2 is a very fast car but there is a lot to be said for driving a slower car nearer its limits...stage my driving career is at and state license is in a 2.5 would be more than adequate... It wasnt out right pace of any of Boxters that impressed most..was the neutral easy handling..superb....(and the noise !!) I`ll be reading Hartech site for a while !!!

Edited by Floyd1957 on Saturday 15th March 19:01

[paranha]

You Will notice that the 2.7 Engine seems to be reliable compared to the 3.4.

[Rockster]

Floyd1957 said:

Thinking of a boxster 2.7 or 3.2 ( ten year old or so) Heard a few horror stories...very expensive repairs etc etc.. Car would only do a max of 5k a year (would be replacing a mint Z3 2.8 with 40k on it; which has done 22k in last 6 yeras)..(Which is staying in family) Really enjoyed Z3...very underated car but do prefer handling of Boxster but a bit concerned over some of issues I`ve read/heard about.. Drove a few ...liked them all..including surprisingly the 2.5 Tip !!! ( still handled great)
Any info about ownership greatly appreciated..anything ..running costs; common faults ; warranties;servicing. views on Tiptronic.. (I quite liked it ??? and wondered in long run wether it might prove more reliable/less stress on engine?/no clutch replacement?...3.2 Tip is seriously quick??? (In reality 2.5 Tip is probably quick enough?)
My prefence would be a 2.7 manual tho... ???Probably

277K+ miles on my 02 Boxster 2.7l with a 5-speed. Original engine (other than had to replace one VarioCam solenoid/actuator at under 250K miles) and original clutch. Best car ever.

Running costs? Fuel, tires, servicing, just like every other car. At 5K miles per year you are planning on covering, what do you care? Try covering 5K miles in a month then come talk to me about servicing costs…

Anyhow, MPG runs from the low 20's to 28mpg depending. Tire life with a good alignment -- critical! -- runs over 20K miles for the rear tires, double that for the fronts. For some time now while I have always followed a 5K mile oil/filter service I'll combine this with some other service that is due, like a brake/clutch fluid flush/bleed, or new plugs, or a tranny/diff fluid change, and so on.

There are always faster/quicker cars -- and I've owned some, and currently own one (03 Turbo) -- but the 2.7l 5-speed is quick enough, from a stop, on up to as fast as it will go and at any speed around the corners. It has the brakes to match too.

Tip? That's a personal call. The Tip can result in less shock to the engine/drivetrain which might count for something. Perhaps my 02 has lasted as long as it has from among other things I try to be very smooth with the car taking off from a stop, upshifting and downshifting.

If you drive the car long enough various things will wear out. FWIW what I've worn out and when I can remember at what mileage: RMS (25K miles, covered under warranty); AOS (first one, <80K miles); rear wheel bearing (<100K miles); couple of O2 sensors (<120K miles); oil filler tube cap (missed this leaking air and replaced a perfectly good MAF); coolant tank cap; water pump (approx. 172K miles); fuel pump (<200K miles); coolant tank (<220K miles); VarioCam solenoid/actuator (<240K miles); the replacement MAF failed at some point -- I forget at how many miles -- and I replaced it with the original MAF which is working fine still with I do not know how many miles on it; the replacement AOS failed (I forget the mileage). CV boots (removed, the CV bearings cleaned, inspected and found ok and greased and fitted with new boots and put back into service (<250K miles). Couple of more O2 sensors, but I can't recall when.

While the plugs have been replaced on schedule the coils are original.

Other things: Door lock assembly, door latch, both window regulators, front and rear trunk lid struts,.

Brake and clutch interlock switches. Ignition switch assembly (probably Ok the real culprit was a marginal new clutch interlock switch). New rear window as the old one split due to age and cool temperatures.

Not too bad in my book given the miles the car has covered, and continues to cover to this day. (60+ miles just this AM.)

Really this car has been everything I expected to be and I'm quite pleased.

[belfry]

I bought one 15 months ago. It is a 2.7 tiptronic from 2003, so pretty much identical to your proposed specification.

It has not missed a beat, and it is great fun to drive, especially on days like today. The handling is really good fun, and it has proved to be a cheap, enjoyable and exciting car to own.

I have to warranty to cover any worries about reliability. So far it has done 71,000 miles without any problems at all

[Floyd1957]

Some great replies... Thanks
Belfry...any comments about Tip???