Porsche Boxster 986 98’ 2.5
Discussion
Hello all,
Moving on from this and losing 3k on it
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
After about 5 years i’m back in a 986. My previous 986.2 was bought from a chap on boxa.net. I loved the 2.7, it took me and the OH around Wales and France and help make some awesome memories
So a little different of a proposition this time. I’ve always liked the simplicity of the original 2.5, no frills, base car appeals. I don’t have many pics of the new one at the moment but can add some as I go through it. What attracted me to this one were the indicators that it’s been quite well looked after. about 3k worth of invoices in the last 3 years for a suspension refresh etc. a £400 ‘major’ service in the last 3 weeks and the addition of the wheels with Pirelli PZeros. Also a hard top with stand, replacement hood with glass screen and private plate. That with a 2” thick folder of all docs for the car dating back to 98’ and presented in acceptable over all condition made it a viable purchase. For £5995 it seems a good deal.
It’s not perfect. The air con doesn’t work despite invoices for various AC pipes being replaced, dye tests and re-gasses. There’s a slight whine from what I assume is an aux belt pulley, and the interior light is loose!
It’s as tight as a drum to drive, much more agile than the 2.7 id say and it loves to rev with an exploitable power band especially above 4k.
I had the bypass mod done to the exhaust on the last one so will likely do that again, I actually want some 17” wheels for this as think they would suit the car more and I like less wheel and more tyre for comfort. I’ll try to update as I go along
Moving on from this and losing 3k on it
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
After about 5 years i’m back in a 986. My previous 986.2 was bought from a chap on boxa.net. I loved the 2.7, it took me and the OH around Wales and France and help make some awesome memories
So a little different of a proposition this time. I’ve always liked the simplicity of the original 2.5, no frills, base car appeals. I don’t have many pics of the new one at the moment but can add some as I go through it. What attracted me to this one were the indicators that it’s been quite well looked after. about 3k worth of invoices in the last 3 years for a suspension refresh etc. a £400 ‘major’ service in the last 3 weeks and the addition of the wheels with Pirelli PZeros. Also a hard top with stand, replacement hood with glass screen and private plate. That with a 2” thick folder of all docs for the car dating back to 98’ and presented in acceptable over all condition made it a viable purchase. For £5995 it seems a good deal.
It’s not perfect. The air con doesn’t work despite invoices for various AC pipes being replaced, dye tests and re-gasses. There’s a slight whine from what I assume is an aux belt pulley, and the interior light is loose!
It’s as tight as a drum to drive, much more agile than the 2.7 id say and it loves to rev with an exploitable power band especially above 4k.
I had the bypass mod done to the exhaust on the last one so will likely do that again, I actually want some 17” wheels for this as think they would suit the car more and I like less wheel and more tyre for comfort. I’ll try to update as I go along
I do like the originality of it and glad previous owners (all 9 of them!) refrained from de-oranging it. These wheels will be for sale soon i reckon.
I’ve called Chris Denning specialist in Whitchurch Cardiff to price replacing the ignition barrel as it’s quite stiff and vague.
p.s. the interior is blue!
I’ve called Chris Denning specialist in Whitchurch Cardiff to price replacing the ignition barrel as it’s quite stiff and vague.
p.s. the interior is blue!
Gave Chris Denning a call today to book in the ignition barrel getting sorted. He seems to think it’s the cheaper of the two solutions that will sort the last key issue so fingers crossed. I’m confident I could do it myself but happy for him to do the work and maybe give the car a quick look over; even pick his brains on a few other issues i’ve come across namely
rev dependent whine
stiff / imprecise gear change
slightly wooden brakes (maybe sticking pistons?)
Other than that and having just gone out for another spin (in the rain
) I can still say it’s massively entertaining and put a big smile on my face the whole time, which is kind of what it’s for. It’s surprisingly quick too! Well it feels it for sure.
Few interior pictures, the camera really brings out the blue, doesn’t look like that in real life, it’s much more subdued
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/frdyfXme[/url]
Slightly loose interior mirror cover
rev dependent whine
stiff / imprecise gear change
slightly wooden brakes (maybe sticking pistons?)
Other than that and having just gone out for another spin (in the rain
) I can still say it’s massively entertaining and put a big smile on my face the whole time, which is kind of what it’s for. It’s surprisingly quick too! Well it feels it for sure. Few interior pictures, the camera really brings out the blue, doesn’t look like that in real life, it’s much more subdued
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/frdyfXme[/url]Slightly loose interior mirror cover
squareflops said:
Gave Chris Denning a call today to book in the ignition barrel getting sorted. He seems to think it’s the cheaper of the two solutions that will sort the last key issue so fingers crossed. I’m confident I could do it myself but happy for him to do the work and maybe give the car a quick look over; even pick his brains on a few other issues i’ve come across namely
rev dependent whine
stiff / imprecise gear change
slightly wooden brakes (maybe sticking pistons?)
Other than that and having just gone out for another spin (in the rain) I can still say it’s massively entertaining and put a big smile on my face the whole time, which is kind of what it’s for. It’s surprisingly quick too! Well it feels it for sure.
Few interior pictures, the camera really brings out the blue, doesn’t look like that in real life, it’s much more subdued
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/frdyfXme[/url]
Slightly loose interior mirror cover
Nice looking Boxster there..rev dependent whine
stiff / imprecise gear change
slightly wooden brakes (maybe sticking pistons?)
Other than that and having just gone out for another spin (in the rain
) I can still say it’s massively entertaining and put a big smile on my face the whole time, which is kind of what it’s for. It’s surprisingly quick too! Well it feels it for sure. Few interior pictures, the camera really brings out the blue, doesn’t look like that in real life, it’s much more subdued
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/frdyfXme[/url]Slightly loose interior mirror cover
Yea they’re replicas bud. Not sure who makes them, made in Italy stamped on them and they seem high quality, i’ll probably eBay them.
Good to know on the short shifter, I want to get the centre console off and see what state the bushes etc are in and make they’re all good, but short shifter could be a shout
Good to know on the short shifter, I want to get the centre console off and see what state the bushes etc are in and make they’re all good, but short shifter could be a shout
The gear change seems to have really eased up since I bought it, I think more use has seen it come back to life.
I changed the electrical portion of the ignition housing to try and solve the sticking barrel issue, no luck unfortunately. It’s made the key turn a little more positive but it’s going to need the full housing which i’ll do in time.
I’ve put the wheels on eBay and i’ll be advertising the hard top also. They both look great but the wheels are more for looks than driving performance and I value the latter more than the former. To that end I have some OE 16”s on the way. Crap tyres and wheels are in OK condition so will all be refurbed replaced in time but no rush.
I’ve priced up the exhaust bypass mod with Longlife in Caerphilly, £300 to do the work and the pipe will be mandrel bent 1”. Will probably be quite loud!
Other than that it’s had a (very quick) clean and driven a little, loving it
I changed the electrical portion of the ignition housing to try and solve the sticking barrel issue, no luck unfortunately. It’s made the key turn a little more positive but it’s going to need the full housing which i’ll do in time.
I’ve put the wheels on eBay and i’ll be advertising the hard top also. They both look great but the wheels are more for looks than driving performance and I value the latter more than the former. To that end I have some OE 16”s on the way. Crap tyres and wheels are in OK condition so will all be refurbed replaced in time but no rush.
I’ve priced up the exhaust bypass mod with Longlife in Caerphilly, £300 to do the work and the pipe will be mandrel bent 1”. Will probably be quite loud!
Other than that it’s had a (very quick) clean and driven a little, loving it
The 16s arrived. Against all feedback and recommendations I went ahead with the swap and think they look great 
more importantly the car handles much more nicely with the smaller wheel / bigger sidewall. Admittedly the wheels arrived wrapped in 10 year old Conti SC 2’s on the front and Landsail LS988’s on the rear
but these won’t be staying for long. I’m edging toward Uniroyal Rainsport 5s but we’ll see; Michelins in the rear 225 50 16 are just too expensive to justify on this ‘poverty pork’.
Size comparison of the fronts
and rears
With the reduction in size comes a reduction in weight of course which is another benefit that is noticeable whilst driving.
and after a quick drive to settle the suspension
Just as Porsche intended. Next to get the hard top advertised and the original R reg plate back on.
I have no idea how to do the number plate - stuff
more importantly the car handles much more nicely with the smaller wheel / bigger sidewall. Admittedly the wheels arrived wrapped in 10 year old Conti SC 2’s on the front and Landsail LS988’s on the rear
but these won’t be staying for long. I’m edging toward Uniroyal Rainsport 5s but we’ll see; Michelins in the rear 225 50 16 are just too expensive to justify on this ‘poverty pork’. Size comparison of the fronts
and rears
With the reduction in size comes a reduction in weight of course which is another benefit that is noticeable whilst driving.
and after a quick drive to settle the suspension
Just as Porsche intended. Next to get the hard top advertised and the original R reg plate back on.
I have no idea how to do the number plate - stuff
https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati...
Best way is to remove it first, then you can sell the plate (and give them the certificate) or transfer it to another vehicle at your leisure, even somebody elses, it doesn't have to be yours. It costs £80 and there are no more costs except buying the plates. The only rule is that it can't be done to make a vehicle look 'newer.' So 1996/97 or before. You can even put them on motorcycles, which wasn't always the case until 20 odd years ago.
Best way is to remove it first, then you can sell the plate (and give them the certificate) or transfer it to another vehicle at your leisure, even somebody elses, it doesn't have to be yours. It costs £80 and there are no more costs except buying the plates.
The only rule is that it can't be done to make a vehicle look 'newer.' So 1996/97 or before. You can even put them on motorcycles, which wasn't always the case until 20 odd years ago.What these brokers say they're worth and what they sell for are often miles apart. Since you can buy a number of P** BXT number plates direct from DVLA for £250 (including the transfer fee), I'd say that it's not worth more than that. Here's one:
https://dvlaregistrations.dvla.gov.uk/buy.html?pla...
A huge number of the plates on eBay are not owned by the seller, they're trying to flip them.
https://dvlaregistrations.dvla.gov.uk/buy.html?pla...
A huge number of the plates on eBay are not owned by the seller, they're trying to flip them.
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