Really tempted by a 986, thoughts?
Discussion
Wrote on the forum about a month back.
I really want a Porsche as my "2nd daily". I drive a 2017 340i Estate that's staying for the long term. Does the job and I really enjoy it. I cover about 20k miles a year so wanted something on the side to share some of those commutes to work especially when weathers better.
Thought about a 981 but after much thought £20k is outside my budget on a car that will mostly be weekend/occasional daily.
I could stretch my budget to circa £13/14k but I'd much rather stay in the sub £10k region and spend the difference on "bulletproofing" the car I buy.
987.2 was next in my search but they're a smidge outside my budget or very high mileage closer to £10k.
So essentially my options are 987.1 3.2 S, 987.1 2.7 or a 986 (2.5, 2.7 or 3.2).
Currently the 986s are very tempting at their price points with some clean examples going for around £6k but I realise they are a bit dated now. Whichever car I buy I'm budgeting in for clutch/IMS upgrades and I suspect bore scoring is fairly low-ish risk in those models?
I don't really stress my cars and I'm a fairly boring driver 99% of the time so essentially what I want is:
Gets me from A to B with a smile.
Usual yearly maintenance + wear and tear stuff (£2k/year)
Don't want it to be a headache with diagnosing/problems/engine seizing/stranded.
Can trust it to take me to Europe once a year.
I feel like for my needs a 986 would fit the bill and make me happy? Keen to hear thoughts from owners of either 987.1 or 986. Cheers.
I really want a Porsche as my "2nd daily". I drive a 2017 340i Estate that's staying for the long term. Does the job and I really enjoy it. I cover about 20k miles a year so wanted something on the side to share some of those commutes to work especially when weathers better.
Thought about a 981 but after much thought £20k is outside my budget on a car that will mostly be weekend/occasional daily.
I could stretch my budget to circa £13/14k but I'd much rather stay in the sub £10k region and spend the difference on "bulletproofing" the car I buy.
987.2 was next in my search but they're a smidge outside my budget or very high mileage closer to £10k.
So essentially my options are 987.1 3.2 S, 987.1 2.7 or a 986 (2.5, 2.7 or 3.2).
Currently the 986s are very tempting at their price points with some clean examples going for around £6k but I realise they are a bit dated now. Whichever car I buy I'm budgeting in for clutch/IMS upgrades and I suspect bore scoring is fairly low-ish risk in those models?
I don't really stress my cars and I'm a fairly boring driver 99% of the time so essentially what I want is:
Gets me from A to B with a smile.
Usual yearly maintenance + wear and tear stuff (£2k/year)
Don't want it to be a headache with diagnosing/problems/engine seizing/stranded.
Can trust it to take me to Europe once a year.
I feel like for my needs a 986 would fit the bill and make me happy? Keen to hear thoughts from owners of either 987.1 or 986. Cheers.
I've got a 987.1 3.2 S that I've had for over 10 years. It's a great car, though lacks the modern electronics of newer cars, but that doesn't bother me as I fitted PCCM+ a couple of years ago. PCCM+ is still a bit dated, but does the job. I also drive modestly most of the time, but it's nice to give it a thrash every now and again. Not sure what I could replace it with to be honest.
Of course if you're tight for budget, a MX5 could do a similar job for less money and less worry. You'd get something more modern, with cheaper parts and plenty of tuning options should you like the car but want more performance at a later date.
Of course if you're tight for budget, a MX5 could do a similar job for less money and less worry. You'd get something more modern, with cheaper parts and plenty of tuning options should you like the car but want more performance at a later date.
They are wonderful cars, but you have to go in with your eyes very much open.
I have a 2001 986 Boxster S which suffered cracks in both cylinder heads. I suspect it had been significantly overheated at some point prior to my ownership. I had it rebuilt with good used heads, and it's been great since, but that did cost over 50% of the original purchase price of the car. Cylinder head cracks and IMS failures are probably the most catastrophic issues that can catch these cars, but bear in mind that lots of them are not maintained properly, so you can run into all sorts of issues from that. All 986's are 20+ years old now, and because prices have been relatively low for some years, many owners are not prepared to spend the money to keep them in good condition.
Of course some examples will be perfect, and will run year to year without a single issue - these tend to be, but are not always, the more expensive examples with much better service history!
On a nice sunny day, and a good country lane, a decent example, or even a slightly ropey one is absolutely sublime. I love it!
I have a 2001 986 Boxster S which suffered cracks in both cylinder heads. I suspect it had been significantly overheated at some point prior to my ownership. I had it rebuilt with good used heads, and it's been great since, but that did cost over 50% of the original purchase price of the car. Cylinder head cracks and IMS failures are probably the most catastrophic issues that can catch these cars, but bear in mind that lots of them are not maintained properly, so you can run into all sorts of issues from that. All 986's are 20+ years old now, and because prices have been relatively low for some years, many owners are not prepared to spend the money to keep them in good condition.
Of course some examples will be perfect, and will run year to year without a single issue - these tend to be, but are not always, the more expensive examples with much better service history!
On a nice sunny day, and a good country lane, a decent example, or even a slightly ropey one is absolutely sublime. I love it!
I have a slightly ropey 986 and I absolutely love it - never got round to making a thread for some reason. Could probably bring it back up to scratch quite easily but frankly I enjoy driving it too much to be messing around with it. It's done 120k, never worried about IMS. 2.7 has plenty of power and does over 35mpg on the motorway.
Window mechanisms are pure garbage. Get one with a glass rear window too.
Window mechanisms are pure garbage. Get one with a glass rear window too.
I've done 6 European drives in the last two years, (pictures from Alps / on the way to Seville / Monaco).
Off to Gibraltar in it in May...
But I'd run it for a year or so first so that you can iron out any issues..and whilst no means a daily, I try to get it out for a drive every week or so and get some miles on it. MY2000 986S, brought for £2700 in 2016 on 111K miles, now on nearly 140K miles.
Off to Gibraltar in it in May...
But I'd run it for a year or so first so that you can iron out any issues..and whilst no means a daily, I try to get it out for a drive every week or so and get some miles on it. MY2000 986S, brought for £2700 in 2016 on 111K miles, now on nearly 140K miles.
allatsea said:
I've done 6 European drives in the last two years, (pictures from Alps / on the way to Seville / Monaco).
Off to Gibraltar in it in May...
But I'd run it for a year or so first so that you can iron out any issues..and whilst no means a daily, I try to get it out for a drive every week or so and get some miles on it. MY2000 986S, brought for £2700 in 2016 on 111K miles, now on nearly 140K miles.
Bro THIS is what I want. Off to Gibraltar in it in May...
But I'd run it for a year or so first so that you can iron out any issues..and whilst no means a daily, I try to get it out for a drive every week or so and get some miles on it. MY2000 986S, brought for £2700 in 2016 on 111K miles, now on nearly 140K miles.
Lovely car. Did the car have decent service when you bought it? Have you paid a lot since getting it to get it up to scratch? If so what sorta' jobs?
Op,
I had one for the last 18 years, went this summer. Wonderful things, mine was bulletproof until it wasn’t.
I had no issues with ims, still original clutch at 105k miles.
Watch out for brake line corrosion, the front to back and across the rear are expensive.
Listen for clunks etc - at this age it’s not the part you have to replace that’s the problem, it’s that it’s been together since 2004. I snapped a spring. The bits that they broke getting it apart enough to replace the springs cost a _lot_ more than the springs.
So for 15 years it cost me less than any other car I have owned, ever, then from 15-18 it got expensive (still pennies compared to owning an RS4). Over the average of 18 years, still less than the mini, the Alfa, the Saab, the vw etc etc.
Would recommend one to anyone in a heartbeat, but look for history, buy on condition etc etc. imo the post 2003 facelift is a huge huge upgrade (glass roof), mine was a 2.7 but now I’d go 3.2 - on the assumption that the lower values means your 2.7 buyers might possibly be shoestringing it.
Don’t worry about the upgraded audio, it’s still crap. (Mine had it, i think 100 quid on aftermarket would outperform it). Cruise is retrofittable. I’d look for extended leather, the litronics if possible (standard boxster lights sat low means you can’t see jack when a newish land rover comes the other way), but I think this is needle in haysatack territory.
Oh, and the roof - mine was blue and right in the last 6 months starting to show signs of decline. It’s never been garaged so probably one of the worse ones, but where it had started to thin / Frey looked like a 1 way street to eventual replacement if it started to leak - I just don’t see how you could even possibly patch the little rub areas near the back without it looking like sadsack from the misfits.
I had one for the last 18 years, went this summer. Wonderful things, mine was bulletproof until it wasn’t.
I had no issues with ims, still original clutch at 105k miles.
Watch out for brake line corrosion, the front to back and across the rear are expensive.
Listen for clunks etc - at this age it’s not the part you have to replace that’s the problem, it’s that it’s been together since 2004. I snapped a spring. The bits that they broke getting it apart enough to replace the springs cost a _lot_ more than the springs.
So for 15 years it cost me less than any other car I have owned, ever, then from 15-18 it got expensive (still pennies compared to owning an RS4). Over the average of 18 years, still less than the mini, the Alfa, the Saab, the vw etc etc.
Would recommend one to anyone in a heartbeat, but look for history, buy on condition etc etc. imo the post 2003 facelift is a huge huge upgrade (glass roof), mine was a 2.7 but now I’d go 3.2 - on the assumption that the lower values means your 2.7 buyers might possibly be shoestringing it.
Don’t worry about the upgraded audio, it’s still crap. (Mine had it, i think 100 quid on aftermarket would outperform it). Cruise is retrofittable. I’d look for extended leather, the litronics if possible (standard boxster lights sat low means you can’t see jack when a newish land rover comes the other way), but I think this is needle in haysatack territory.
Oh, and the roof - mine was blue and right in the last 6 months starting to show signs of decline. It’s never been garaged so probably one of the worse ones, but where it had started to thin / Frey looked like a 1 way street to eventual replacement if it started to leak - I just don’t see how you could even possibly patch the little rub areas near the back without it looking like sadsack from the misfits.
recently bought a lovely low-mile 986s - admittedly for strong money - but still a bargain of a car. drives superbly and is a joy with the roof down on a country road.
in my experience with older sports / classics, buy the best example you can - it's usually cost effective over the longer terms and a nicer ownership proposition throughout.
in my experience with older sports / classics, buy the best example you can - it's usually cost effective over the longer terms and a nicer ownership proposition throughout.
shadowedition said:
Bro THIS is what I want.
Lovely car. Did the car have decent service when you bought it? Have you paid a lot since getting it to get it up to scratch? If so what sorta' jobs?
Service history was 'OK', but when I brought it it was down on its luck...needed everything doing, new clutch, new rads, brakes, suspension, first bill after two months was £4,500, but I knew that when I brought it. I wanted to make it 'mine' and know that the work had been done. Since then I've had new suspension and had it changed to MO30, so slightly lowered. Interior was a mess, carbon fibre sticky back plastic all over it and the door cards were botched for aftermarket speakers. In those days, 2016-2018, you could pick up door cards for about £100 a pair, think I brought 3 sets until I got ones that were good enough and sourced some original Nokia speakers. Since then replaced the seats with Recaro Pole Positions and very recently installed a Momo Mod 07 steering wheel. I did the centre console delete and painted the tunnel, when you could get the bits for £180. Last year had the front end re painted. It has been well looked after by most of the owners and then suddenly 'wasn't'. Chap I brought it off had loved it but the 'next bill' was, I think going to be too much for him, so I took it off his hands.Lovely car. Did the car have decent service when you bought it? Have you paid a lot since getting it to get it up to scratch? If so what sorta' jobs?
Edited by allatsea on Friday 14th March 10:36
Edited by allatsea on Friday 14th March 10:48
Really nice build man. I'm sold.
There's a few 986s posted online that have caught my eye all with pretty good service history to be fair. Dealer near me called Moorside Prestige, anyone have experience with them?
I've seen some 986s going for like £15k while the ones I'm keeping an eye on are in the £6-9k territory with 60-90k miles. As an owner any particular things i should look for or ask about when going to see the car as my questions have mostly been generic service history questions and whether clutch has been done?
There's a few 986s posted online that have caught my eye all with pretty good service history to be fair. Dealer near me called Moorside Prestige, anyone have experience with them?
I've seen some 986s going for like £15k while the ones I'm keeping an eye on are in the £6-9k territory with 60-90k miles. As an owner any particular things i should look for or ask about when going to see the car as my questions have mostly been generic service history questions and whether clutch has been done?
shadowedition said:
Really nice build man. I'm sold.
There's a few 986s posted online that have caught my eye all with pretty good service history to be fair. Dealer near me called Moorside Prestige, anyone have experience with them?
I've seen some 986s going for like £15k while the ones I'm keeping an eye on are in the £6-9k territory with 60-90k miles. As an owner any particular things i should look for or ask about when going to see the car as my questions have mostly been generic service history questions and whether clutch has been done?
Get over to boxa.net.There's a few 986s posted online that have caught my eye all with pretty good service history to be fair. Dealer near me called Moorside Prestige, anyone have experience with them?
I've seen some 986s going for like £15k while the ones I'm keeping an eye on are in the £6-9k territory with 60-90k miles. As an owner any particular things i should look for or ask about when going to see the car as my questions have mostly been generic service history questions and whether clutch has been done?
Lots of info, lots of technical support and often cars for sale by people who've really cared for them.
Get an early 986 and don't worry.
Bore scoring / dechunking is almost never seen on small bore 2.5 and IMS issues didn't come in until the IMS bearing size was reduced about 2000. So 1999 or older 2.5.
I got one for daughter #1 and we went through it thoroughly. Easy to work on IF you can get easy access to underneath. Most of the stuff is done from underneath, or from above with the top in service position, or you can remove a panel on the bulkhead and get to the auxiliary belt and front. So it's a bit of a faff compared to an early MX5 or Mk3 Escort, but entirely doable for the home mechanic. Lots of parts availability via FCPEuro or Pelican Parts and lots of forum help and advice on how to fix things.
Lovely balance, nice brakes and a good sound track. Just not super fast and it drinks a bit more than a Miata. Also, rebuild the shifter with new bushes and adjust the gear change cables as this makes a world of difference.
If you insist on a later car because you want a `nicer interior' or bigger motor, then at least also read through Poppopbangbang's thread 'Knackered old Porsche with loads of natural light - Boxster!'
For when the motor does become too expensive for economic repair...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Bore scoring / dechunking is almost never seen on small bore 2.5 and IMS issues didn't come in until the IMS bearing size was reduced about 2000. So 1999 or older 2.5.
I got one for daughter #1 and we went through it thoroughly. Easy to work on IF you can get easy access to underneath. Most of the stuff is done from underneath, or from above with the top in service position, or you can remove a panel on the bulkhead and get to the auxiliary belt and front. So it's a bit of a faff compared to an early MX5 or Mk3 Escort, but entirely doable for the home mechanic. Lots of parts availability via FCPEuro or Pelican Parts and lots of forum help and advice on how to fix things.
Lovely balance, nice brakes and a good sound track. Just not super fast and it drinks a bit more than a Miata. Also, rebuild the shifter with new bushes and adjust the gear change cables as this makes a world of difference.
If you insist on a later car because you want a `nicer interior' or bigger motor, then at least also read through Poppopbangbang's thread 'Knackered old Porsche with loads of natural light - Boxster!'
For when the motor does become too expensive for economic repair...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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