Seasonal pricing/value fluctuation (981 Boxster S)

[impreza280]

I'm looking for a 981 Boxster S and have found a nice one (2015, 44k, well specced, excellent history) for £35k. Comparisons against another car (that's now sold) suggest it's not quite worth that much. I'd be interested in views as to how much pricing/values fluctuates across the year i.e. are they constant but there's less choice in the Spring/Summer, or will a £35k car in Feb be £36-£38k in Apr/May?

Edited by impreza280 on Wednesday 26th February 15:57

[Youforreal.]

Up in spring summer, down in autumn winter, price is subjective and what someone calls expensive others will call reasonable but don’t worry, you’ll get plenty of replies because prices.

[Cabsi]

The value of these do follow the convertible seasonality trends.

I find it quite difficult to compare the value of 981 Boxsters as the spec's can be so different. Not sure what you mean by well spec'd, but what might be well spec'd to one person can be 'no way' to another. It took over 12 months to find one with the right spec for me. I was happy with the price I paid in the end, but I was getting a bit frustrated...

[impreza280]

Cabsi said:

The value of these do follow the convertible seasonality trends.

I find it quite difficult to compare the value of 981 Boxsters as the spec's can be so different. Not sure what you mean by well spec'd, but what might be well spec'd to one person can be 'no way' to another. It took over 12 months to find one with the right spec for me. I was happy with the price I paid in the end, but I was getting a bit frustrated...

I agree and I'm trying to establish just how much a £35k Boxster might fluctuate across the year e.g. is the summer/winter difference more £500, £1k, £2k or more. I'm very happy with the car (spec and history) and just weighing up whether to pay £1k over the odds now (when it could go up £??? in value in April) or not. Either way, in car terms, I'm convinced a 981 Boxster S 3.4 is a sensible place to put money.

[SV_WDC]

I don't think there is much seasonality in these cars now, only that more generally become available in winter.

Even my friend had an MX-5 up for private sale since May last year. Virtually no interest until November when there was a sudden rush of buyers. He didn't even move on price since first listing it. We reckon a lot of people just entered the market believing winter was the best time.

All very anecdotal here but noticed hardly any fluctuations in Porsche related to seasonality.

[elan362]

Ive sent you a private email.
You don’t say if it is a private sale / indi specialist or an OPC (albeit i appreciate it will be OPC at that age)
If a private sale - does it have an existing OPC warranty on it? If so, that can be extended and give you extra security in case of mechanical issues. That is worth a lot of peace of mind and would be a good negotiating point from the seller to command an increased price.

Whatever you decide, good examples tend not to hang about - decide what spec is essential, what is nice to have but not essential and what is a no no -

E.g. for me, i wanted certain colours , however some colours like a tan interior - no thank you! I wanted Sports Seats plus rather than simple sports seats - i wanted PDK, SC PSE / extended leather and full climate … other things were nice, but not essential - so you need to be prepared to move quickly on a spec that appears - as good examples don’t tend to hang about for long.

[Maxym]

OP, if you like the spec and it’s a good 981, get it bought. In the overall scheme of things, £500 or a grand is neither here nor there.

What would be a pisser is you humming and haa-ing and then losing it because someone else snapped it up in the meantime.

[Youforreal.]

Maxym said:

OP, if you like the spec and it’s a good 981, get it bought. In the overall scheme of things, £500 or a grand is neither here nor there.

What would be a pisser is you humming and haa-ing and then losing it because someone else snapped it up in the meantime.

Exactly, not exactly going to loose the family inheritance.

[Patrick Bateman]

FWIW as this is one I've been aware of for a long time-

[elisered]

As others have said if you find a car in the right spec for you that has a good maintenance history then I’d be buying it before someone else does - there is less and less choice as time passes.
If a £1k saving really is important to you then perhaps buying a 10+ year old 981 is not the right move.

[RiccardoG]

My experience with convertibles in general is that supply decreases over the winter period. Fewer cars come onto the market and there is less choice, possibly due to people putting them away waiting for better weather (spring).

[paulguitar]

elan362 said:

E.g. for me, i wanted certain colours , however some colours like a tan interior - no thank you!

The tan interior on mine is one of the things I like most about it.

[paulguitar]

impreza280 said:

I'm looking for a 981 Boxster S and have found a nice one (2015, 44k, well specced, excellent history) for £35k. Comparisons against another car (that's now sold) suggest it's not quite worth that much. I'd be interested in views as to how much pricing/values fluctuates across the year i.e. are they constant but there's less choice in the Spring/Summer, or will a £35k car in Feb be £36-£38k in Apr/May?

Edited by impreza280 on Wednesday 26th February 15:57

This seems very high-end, price-wise. Is it at an OPC?

[elan362]

paulguitar said:

elan362 said:

E.g. for me, i wanted certain colours , however some colours like a tan interior - no thank you!

The tan interior on mine is one of the things I like most about it.

That kind of what I meant, what works for one doesn't work for another. I'm not criticising your taste / choice, but it's not for me. Life would be dull if we all liked the same

[paulguitar]

elan362 said:

paulguitar said:

elan362 said:

E.g. for me, i wanted certain colours , however some colours like a tan interior - no thank you!

The tan interior on mine is one of the things I like most about it.

That kind of what I meant, what works for one doesn't work for another. I'm not criticising your taste / choice, but it's not for me. Life would be dull if we all liked the same

Well, that's true. The biggest aesthetic deal-breaker for me is black wheels, although that can be sorted if the car is perfect otherwise.

[Mick Dastardly]

I bought my 25k miles sapphire blue 981 GTS in December 22 for 46 grand. Over 2 years on, try buying an equivalent car for the same money.

So yes, it does matter what time of year one buys a convertible.