Buying tips - 2nd hand Boxster S

[MattBCardiff]

Hi, am looking to buy a 2nd hand Boxster S it is likely to be a 2000 - 2002 year car with less than 50k on clock.

I'm looking for any tips from those who own a Boxster S around:

Running costs
Issues with cars
Best options to make sure you have
Pros and Conw with gearbox option - manual or auto ?
Good dealers for purchase AND independent service
Service internals and when the big ones are!
Best insurers
Anything else worth knowing or considering when buying

All tips welcome.

Cheers, Matt

[Andy T]

I got a 2003 Boxster S in May last year.

there are a couple of known issues with them:

Rear Main Seal will go and that will cost you a few hunderd quid to put right. Mines had two!

If you get the manual (which you should) you should make sure the gearbox is in perfect working order! There is a known issue on some where second gear fails. Unfortunately you won't always know about this when you test drive it. Mine turned out to have this problem and after 7 months and more than 3 attempted repairs (at the garage where I bought the car) the problem still persists.

A new gearbox is needed in this situation and that will cost you in the region of £4500 fitted by an OPC.

There have been a few people post on here about engines going pop but I think they're few and far between.

Basically buy the best one you can afford and get a warranty.

[satans worm]

When I bought my 2000 'S' I took it to an OPC to get a 100 point check over for piece of mind (found no problems) but on a previous one they found loads and stopped me buying a duff car.

I have had it over 3 years and have had 15k totaly problem free miles (touching wood), including no RMS failure (touching more wood!)

I think you will find in general they are very reliable, just respect the usual buying rules such as having FSH etc

Good luck

(oh, and for a blatant plug, I'm selling mine now if your interested, even if you just a want a more indepth nose at a box S)

www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/130718.htm

[jamieo]

Check out the official Porsche service costs. The later the Boxster, the less servicing it needs and so reduces costs quite a lot. Can remember the different time windows/mileage but worth checking out. Even if you're not using OPC servicing it will reduce cost. Depending on how long you're planning to keep the car it may be worth spending more now.

Jamie

[scruffy101]

Mines for sale too!I would post the but I do not know how.

[boxsey]

The 'big' service is 48K* miles or 4 years. This consists of a major service (oil, filters, electronic and mechanical checks), change the polyrib belt and change the spark plugs. Total price at a Porsche centre will be about £700 but less than £500 at a an independent Porsche specialist.

Unfortunately many people will sell the car rather than have this done and leave it till the next owner

If you want lots more information about boxster ownership look up www.boxa.net

*If the car gets to 4 years and has done less than 48K miles (which is quite common), only a major service is needed as the spark plugs are on a mileage only interval.

[Don]

boxsey said:

The 'big' service is 48K* miles or 4 years. This consists of a major service (oil, filters, electronic and mechanical checks), change the polyrib belt and change the spark plugs. Total price at a Porsche centre will be about £700 but less than £500 at a an independent Porsche specialist.

Unfortunately many people will sell the car rather than have this done and leave it till the next owner

If you want lots more information about boxster ownership look up www.boxa.net

*If the car gets to 4 years and has done less than 48K miles (which is quite common), only a major service is needed as the spark plugs are on a mileage only interval.

Actually they'll often advice changing the plugs anyway but the belt doesn't need doing. On mine I had the plugs changed...