Boxster 987 buying
Discussion
A 987 is on my list of potential new cars to go alongside my Polestar 2. It will do probably 5000 miles per year.
A base model should do fine for me, my only demand is a full SH with OPC or Specialist, and not black or dark blue, but I'm not sure what to go for - budget around £15k or a bit more, here's 2 examples I'm probably going to look at next week;
2.9, higher miles, scabby wheels and brake calipers, otherwise looks ok. Same town as I live helpfully, been for sale for ages, not sure on service history, MOT history good;
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306258...
2.7 low miles, from a specialist, lovely looking car, but at a cost, MOT history highlights the same issues for a few years (brakes worn, play in steering rack), I would assume the seller has fixed these now as the brakes look new;
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312084...
I plan to keep the car for quite a few years but can a 2 year older 2.7 car with half the miles be worth £3k more than a 2.9 car? Though I would have to put 19's on that one which would halve the difference.
Any views welcome!
A base model should do fine for me, my only demand is a full SH with OPC or Specialist, and not black or dark blue, but I'm not sure what to go for - budget around £15k or a bit more, here's 2 examples I'm probably going to look at next week;
2.9, higher miles, scabby wheels and brake calipers, otherwise looks ok. Same town as I live helpfully, been for sale for ages, not sure on service history, MOT history good;
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306258...
2.7 low miles, from a specialist, lovely looking car, but at a cost, MOT history highlights the same issues for a few years (brakes worn, play in steering rack), I would assume the seller has fixed these now as the brakes look new;
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312084...
I plan to keep the car for quite a few years but can a 2 year older 2.7 car with half the miles be worth £3k more than a 2.9 car? Though I would have to put 19's on that one which would halve the difference.
Any views welcome!
OP - have a read of the buyers guides on PCGB website. Should give you an idea of options + what to look for.
Although main piece of advice is to buy on condition. I don't know why a 2.7 would be worth more than 2.9 other than pricing does seem to be a bit all over the place & if it isn't a Porsche specialist dealer they may not know how to price it?
When going through the service books check that in addition to the servicing that the items due at 12 years have been carried out. It might not make too much difference in manual but for PDK there's a substantial cost in that service due to items such as PDK oil needing changing
Although main piece of advice is to buy on condition. I don't know why a 2.7 would be worth more than 2.9 other than pricing does seem to be a bit all over the place & if it isn't a Porsche specialist dealer they may not know how to price it?
When going through the service books check that in addition to the servicing that the items due at 12 years have been carried out. It might not make too much difference in manual but for PDK there's a substantial cost in that service due to items such as PDK oil needing changing
The red gen 2 car is just a little more up to date than the gen 1 with more modern interior style and a few hp more as well
Difficult to tell without seeing both, but the white one is at a dealer who is known to ask higher prices. The description needs to be taken with a pinch of salt- many of the options described are standard fit.
Personally the black wheels don't suit the car, but the lower owners and supposed full opc history is a plus point. The red one has had more owners which may be a concern.
Get yourself over to Boxa.net for any questions, lots of great knowledge on there.
Difficult to tell without seeing both, but the white one is at a dealer who is known to ask higher prices. The description needs to be taken with a pinch of salt- many of the options described are standard fit.
Personally the black wheels don't suit the car, but the lower owners and supposed full opc history is a plus point. The red one has had more owners which may be a concern.
Get yourself over to Boxa.net for any questions, lots of great knowledge on there.
Edited by mattman on Friday 22 December 18:34
This has been for sale for quite a while now
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308291...
poverty spec but low mileage, I think it could be had for £18k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308291...
poverty spec but low mileage, I think it could be had for £18k
Spevs said:
This has been for sale for quite a while now
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308291...
poverty spec but low mileage, I think it could be had for £18k
You could buy a 981 for not far off that list price. Yes it will be higher miles but by far and advance in all ways. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308291...
poverty spec but low mileage, I think it could be had for £18k
987 2.7 will want a replacement steering rack in the near future,seals fail and gradually fill up the boots causing rack wear at the same time,mine was about 1500 quid to change at PCT when they were still around.Might as well get the front coolant tubes that run over the front axle done at the same time as they love to leak coolant especially on a low mileage 987 thats sat around most of its life.
Spevs said:
This has been for sale for quite a while now
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308291...
poverty spec but low mileage, I think it could be had for £18k
Did you see this?https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308291...
poverty spec but low mileage, I think it could be had for £18k
autotrader said:
Located in Frankfurt, Germany.
MOBB said:
Any views welcome!
Some of the better educated Porsche nerds, like Me, know that condition on Porsche like this doesn't really mean how well it presents. There is much more to it.A tired example can swallow at least 5000 on bits and pieces depending who does the work for you.
Tired doesn't mean high mileage.
I bought a 986 with only 22800 miles on the clock 2 years ago. It needed replacement drive shaft gaitors, engine mount, possibly gearbox mount and the jury is out on suspension. A full suspension refresh is more like 3000. My 986 had a brand new clutch just before I bought it and all new discs and pads. That's maybe 2000 right there. So hopefully I am giving you a little taster of what these cars can cost to maintain properly.
So ideally you need to buy a car with a long list of stuff that's been changed or attended to recently otherwise it might well need doing - by You - soon.
Standard SH doesn't cover additional items which are generally chosen by enthusiasts or nerds. A tired clutch will probably work fine but it will get heavier with age. Tired suspension will pass an MOT but feel rubbish on the road. Gear shift cables - gears will change fine but the lever will feel a bit stiff and less precise. Brake Caliper redurb - they will work but pedal will feel soft and squidgy. The list goes on and on but I don't want to go on and on.
I'd suggest you find a resource of information from other people who have had and still have cars like the ones you want. In the past we had a vibrant discussion here but it's been quiet for a long long time. You could repost your question there.
It can be a mine field. Just know this. There is no such thing as a Cheap Porsche.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I got a early 987.1 3.4S for £14k last year. Loads of love in the service history and a new engine off of Porsche 15k miles ago. It's been awesome car for a year, really enjoying it and it impressed a lot of people at the Nurburgring. No, they're not cheap to run but that's only because they deserve good treatment.
I'd say your budget will get something decent, but I wouldn't get too hung up on spec and just buy the car that seems genuine and has good history with it. Keep a bit of a war chest: I put new tyres on mine straight away. Oh, and I'd advise against 19's, the compliance of 18's really help with our roads.
I'd say your budget will get something decent, but I wouldn't get too hung up on spec and just buy the car that seems genuine and has good history with it. Keep a bit of a war chest: I put new tyres on mine straight away. Oh, and I'd advise against 19's, the compliance of 18's really help with our roads.
The 2.9 has the 9A engine .Designed on Mezglers principles.
The 2.7 has a bored out version of the original Toyota collaboration engine .This was designed to manufacture cheaply and use min parts hence the inherent ( well documented) issues going Fwds as they age .Namely IMS bearing and bore scoring risks .
Thus 2.9 is a safer used bet . Buy from 09 upwards.
The 2.7 has a bored out version of the original Toyota collaboration engine .This was designed to manufacture cheaply and use min parts hence the inherent ( well documented) issues going Fwds as they age .Namely IMS bearing and bore scoring risks .
Thus 2.9 is a safer used bet . Buy from 09 upwards.
Fiammetta said:
The 2.9 has the 9A engine .Designed on Mezglers principles.
The 2.7 has a bored out version of the original Toyota collaboration engine .This was designed to manufacture cheaply and use min parts hence the inherent ( well documented) issues going Fwds as they age .Namely IMS bearing and bore scoring risks .
Thus 2.9 is a safer used bet . Buy from 09 upwards.
The later 2.7 (MY 2007) is a very reliable unit. Different ims bearing and no bore scoring. The 2.9 is generally also a reliable engine, choose which you prefer after driving both would be my opinion The 2.7 has a bored out version of the original Toyota collaboration engine .This was designed to manufacture cheaply and use min parts hence the inherent ( well documented) issues going Fwds as they age .Namely IMS bearing and bore scoring risks .
Thus 2.9 is a safer used bet . Buy from 09 upwards.
jimmy p said:
The later 2.7 (MY 2007) is a very reliable unit. Different ims bearing and no bore scoring.
I don't think any standard m96/m97 is free of bore score risk. To say the 2.7 from any era has no bore scoring is just not true. They can all score unless they've had full on open heart surgery from someone like Hartech. Why don't you speak to Baz about 2.7 boxster bore scoring issues, they are reliable in relation to bore score, only the 3.4 gen1 engines are problematic with bore scoring I.e the 987.1 cayman and late 987.1 boxster. I'm not saying no 2.7 has ever suffered from bore scoring but then again I've known 2.9 gen2 cars to in rare occasions too.
Ims problems yes with earlier 987 2.7's but not the later cars MY 2007-2008, these are also the ones which fall into the cheaper tax bracket.
I've bought numerous 987's over the past 16 years and done lots of research to minimise my risk.
No cars are totally risk free though but minimising risks is what it's about.
Ims problems yes with earlier 987 2.7's but not the later cars MY 2007-2008, these are also the ones which fall into the cheaper tax bracket.
I've bought numerous 987's over the past 16 years and done lots of research to minimise my risk.
No cars are totally risk free though but minimising risks is what it's about.
My 20 year old daughter bought her first Porsche earlier this year, a 2008 Boxster 2.7 sport.
Tbh, it's absolutely brilliant and I'd recommend one to anybody after an open top sports car.
One thing to note though...if you go for the sport edition then be prepared for the higher tax bracket 😠
Tbh, it's absolutely brilliant and I'd recommend one to anybody after an open top sports car.
One thing to note though...if you go for the sport edition then be prepared for the higher tax bracket 😠
simonsti said:
My 20 year old daughter bought her first Porsche earlier this year, a 2008 Boxster 2.7 sport.
Tbh, it's absolutely brilliant and I'd recommend one to anybody after an open top sports car.
One thing to note though...if you go for the sport edition then be prepared for the higher tax bracket ??
Yes, sport edition is a nice car but it's the 6 speed box in that which pushes emissions slightly higher which unfortunately drops it into top tax bandTbh, it's absolutely brilliant and I'd recommend one to anybody after an open top sports car.
One thing to note though...if you go for the sport edition then be prepared for the higher tax bracket ??
Out of the 987.1 cars, the only engine I'd specifically avoid due to well documented reliability issues is the 3.4. The mid 2005 onward 3.2 reputedly has the larger IMS bearing, and there is evidence gradually coming to light to support this. The only reason I didn't consider a 2.7 is because they seem difficult to resell and at the time I bought mine, I wasn't sure I was in it for the long haul.
I haven't read or heard anything about bore score on the 2.7 or 3.2 987.1s in the 8 years or so of my frequenting Porsche forums, and if it's occurred on any of them, must be so negligible as to be inconsequential as a percentage. The 3.2's apparently very occasionally crack a head. They all end up needing front coolant crossover pipes and a suspension refresh, and are therefore all capable of presenting a large bill now and again. I've spent a grand on mine once in 8 years among the usual expected maintenance bills. It's been very reliable, despite my German car cynicism, and a lovely thing to own and drive.
I haven't read or heard anything about bore score on the 2.7 or 3.2 987.1s in the 8 years or so of my frequenting Porsche forums, and if it's occurred on any of them, must be so negligible as to be inconsequential as a percentage. The 3.2's apparently very occasionally crack a head. They all end up needing front coolant crossover pipes and a suspension refresh, and are therefore all capable of presenting a large bill now and again. I've spent a grand on mine once in 8 years among the usual expected maintenance bills. It's been very reliable, despite my German car cynicism, and a lovely thing to own and drive.
Heaveho said:
Out of the 987.1 cars, the only engine I'd specifically avoid due to well documented reliability issues is the 3.4. The mid 2005 onward 3.2 reputedly has the larger IMS bearing, and there is evidence gradually coming to light to support this. The only reason I didn't consider a 2.7 is because they seem difficult to resell and at the time I bought mine, I wasn't sure I was in it for the long haul.
I haven't read or heard anything about bore score on the 2.7 or 3.2 987.1s in the 8 years or so of my frequenting Porsche forums, and if it's occurred on any of them, must be so negligible as to be inconsequential as a percentage. The 3.2's apparently very occasionally crack a head. They all end up needing front coolant crossover pipes and a suspension refresh, and are therefore all capable of presenting a large bill now and again. I've spent a grand on mine once in 8 years among the usual expected maintenance bills. It's been very reliable, despite my German car cynicism, and a lovely thing to own and drive.
And further, the early 987 3.2S has the small IMS bearing. This is a good thing, because it's fairly straightforward to change it for a better component. I have the LN Ceramic IMS bearing in mine. The later large bearing unfortunately can't be changed without splitting the crankcase. 2.7s and 3.2s are not prone to bore scoring, but the 3.4 is a different story. The 2.7 and 3.2 use a ferrous coating on the pistons, whereas the 3.4 uses a plastic based coating, and also has slightly thinner liners. Hartech have published quite a detailed paper on why this plastic coating is a very bad thing and is the main cause of bore scoring on these engines. (None of this applies to 987.2, which has a totally different engine design). I haven't read or heard anything about bore score on the 2.7 or 3.2 987.1s in the 8 years or so of my frequenting Porsche forums, and if it's occurred on any of them, must be so negligible as to be inconsequential as a percentage. The 3.2's apparently very occasionally crack a head. They all end up needing front coolant crossover pipes and a suspension refresh, and are therefore all capable of presenting a large bill now and again. I've spent a grand on mine once in 8 years among the usual expected maintenance bills. It's been very reliable, despite my German car cynicism, and a lovely thing to own and drive.
Personally, I wouldn't touch a 987.1 3.4, unless I was buying it with a known 'bad' engine and shipping it to Hartech for a complete rebuild and probably a few choice upgrades while it was there.
Armitage.Shanks said:
Spevs said:
This has been for sale for quite a while now
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308291...
poverty spec but low mileage, I think it could be had for £18k
You could buy a 981 for not far off that list price. Yes it will be higher miles but by far and advance in all ways. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308291...
poverty spec but low mileage, I think it could be had for £18k
Personally (and having owned several 987 Boxster and Caymans) I'd go early as poss 3.2 S manual and try to find one that has had loads of money spent on it (exhaust, cats, suspension, crossover pipes etc).
Options wise, heated seats are a must - Anything else is a nice to have (for example extended leather)...
I think they are the best driving and best value 987's... I bet for sub £10k you'd get a really nice one. At the end of the day they are all old cars now and will all need work regardless of how "mint" they might appear!
Options wise, heated seats are a must - Anything else is a nice to have (for example extended leather)...
I think they are the best driving and best value 987's... I bet for sub £10k you'd get a really nice one. At the end of the day they are all old cars now and will all need work regardless of how "mint" they might appear!
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