Low mileage 2000 Boxster 3.2s

[Lawrence5]

Seen one up for sale for £5,500 but slightly scared of all the IS,RMS failures, cracked liners/heads etc

39,500miles so will problems have occured if they are going to and if it has history covering any of the common failures can lightning strike twice ?

Won't get used much by me either - 1,000-2,000 miles p.a.

[thegoose]

Unless you have a crystal ball it's anyone's guess (the number on the dash is irrelevant too). The chance of failure is still very small though, but if it does it'll write the car off.

The only exception to this is if there's a documented rebuild or IMS replacement, in which case your odds are much better.

[Lawrence5]

So don't consider unless it's had a rebuild or just do a careful inspection ? Anything to be seen in service history that makes it less likely ?

[edc]

I paid more than that earlier this year for my 2000 3.2 S. 58k to 66k miles since March and now retired to weekend car duties. Like you I read all about the usual complaints but ultimately you just have to balance the risk and bite the bullet. Good service history, check. Replacement IMS or RMS, no.

[thegoose]

Lawrence5 said:

So don't consider unless it's had a rebuild or just do a careful inspection ? Anything to be seen in service history that makes it less likely ?

An inspection is never a bad thing but it can't/won't predict engine failure issues - they are all a time bomb in that respect but most never go off.

[Lawrence5]

I read that as get one that's been fixed already and you're less likely to have a failure ?!

[thegoose]

Lawrence5 said:

I read that as get one that's been fixed already and you're less likely to have a failure ?!

Maybe, but they're incredibly difficult to find for sale. Imagine if you'd spent £5k-£9k having a rebuild, you wouldn't be in a rush to sell would you? That's before you then consider whether you actually like the colour/spec/gearbox of any that you may be lucky enough to find on the market.

[bigee]

All cars have the potential to self destruct....certainly not just Boxsters..you could look at it the other way and say that in the last 12 years it hasn't gone bang...if you get too hung up on what MIGHT happen you will never buy or even if you do,you will not enjoy the car for the fear !
Even with new bearing/seals doesn't mean it couldn't go again does it?
Just do it and enjoy!

[Lawrence5]

But I live in Jersey it will probably never get fully warm - and thrashing won't often happen with a blanket 40mph limit and bored policeman

Though there is France 1hr away

Thats useful to know if they haven't gone by 60k the chances of going are perhaps reduced....

[dadofbud]

Go to www.Boxa.net there's a current topic there just for you, lots of owners cars with 100k plus miles on their cars and never had any engine issues.

As for the rest of the car, it's Porsche.

[Lawrence5]

No worries - I didn't take it as a warranty.... I know with things like head gaskets on lotus's they tend to have a mileage when they go by.

Good guidance - but it is only guidance

[RWA441]

I had my 2003 Boxster S in about 2007. It had a full dealer history with 36k on the clock. Porsche did the RMS free of charge following a service that it was picked up that it hadn't been done. Probably about a month later bang!!! No warning, no build up, the IMS snapped. GUTTED. To be fair Porsche were very good and I think I had to pay about £500 for them to fit a new/recon engine. I even ended up with a Carrera 4S cabriolet whilst it was being done!

I went for the Porsche as a 'reliable' daily driver so was a bit miffed about it all but it hasn't really soured things too much and I'm going to be going for a 996 sometime soon. Funny though all the stick TVR's get, had 6 of them and done thousands of miles without anything other than the odd £30 part here and there!

[nick997]

At just under 40,000 miles is a clutch likely to be needed soon? If so get the IMS retrofit done at the same time. Personally I would include the cost of having the IMS retrofit done within your man maths - get this done and you can rest easy that the biggest potential failure point has been addressed. Go for it and enjoy.