Thanks for all the input.
The intended use of the car will be for trips of up to 4 weeks in mainland Europe. One of the attractions of the Boxster the ability to stow luggage securely.
The Morgan dealer network is fairly thinly spread, and the factory have a real problem in dealing with shipping spares, if they can locate them. If there is a hiccup, you get stuck.
One one of the trips to Nordkapp we met up with a fellow in a Mazda MX5 who was travelling around the Baltic states as a charity event. He was pretty positive about his car dealing with a fairly demanding journey.
Not really changing the topic since this is an important consideration...
All the people I speak to ref. Porsche ownership say how important it is to take out a maintenance/warranty contract - IMHO this doesn't speak well about reliability! Can anyone advise about after market maintenance/warranty contracts on a second hand Porsche.
I understand that going through an AD get's you a 2 year warranty but what if you purchase private or through a non-AD?
Advice please.
My wife kept her 987 S under the extended Porsche warranty throughout the ten years she had it, was around £800 pa when she started taking it out, cheaper if you buy two or more years at once, it requires a Porsche check prior to putting in place and that its services within the dealer network.
Most years it payed for it's self I think the last big bill it covered was when a front Spring failed at nine and a half years and because the car lived at the coast most of the fixings were seized and so most of the front suspension was renewed and replaced and realigned for the cost of a spring I think that bill was touching three K.
You might find you don't need to do as much with a indy garage and warranty company but I've no experience so suggest you find your local Porsche indy with a good rep and then have a chat
Don't forget the old maxim that when you buy a £50-60K car that looks like a bargain at £15K, the maintenance costs are still those of a £50-60K car and you should budget accordingly. I don't think any Porsche is particularly expensive to maintain when you consider its initial cost vs the competition (997 3.8l issues aside - they can be ruinuous). Don't expect a Boxster to be as cheap as a MX5 to run, it just wont be, it is after all a 996 which has been messed about (or fixed depending on your viewpoint) and hobbled.
Last edited by Padders; 21st December 2016 at 12:25.
Going through the posts on the boxter forum I've come away with the conclusion that you really have to purchase an approved vehicle from an AD. You might be able to save a little going to a non authorised dealer but by the time you've added on the warranty etc... (which is a MUST) then there's not much in it.
I agree re. running costs. Owning a Porsche does seem to be an expensive past-time. There's the grand a year for warranty (included in the price from an AD). Then there's the much more expensive service/insurance and the fact that the nearest dealer might be half way across the country. Perhaps, at least, another grand or two on top for the essentials (service/insurance/tax/tyres/etc...). Makes running a Lotus look REAL cheap: A new Elise cost me £100 for service, £200 for insurance, £200 for tax and that was it - no special warranty needed. The 3 year old Elise I ran for a couple of years was even cheaper to run and, again, no special warranty needed because it really doesn't cost that much to repair (lots of Toyota parts probably helps). And, of course, there's the depreciation - by that I mean a LOT worse on the Porsche!
However saying all that I think every 'petrol head' (I hate that expression) must at least ONCE in their life own a Porsche.
Last edited by solwisesteve; 22nd December 2016 at 09:18.
Completely agree with this.
Having had a few Porkers, including a 986 3.2s, I would advise you to
1. Decide on your spec including mileage and service history. There were loads about and you can cherry pick, also applies to 987s.
2. Get the docs ie. history & receipts sent to you to check over. Any genuine / interested / competent seller will do this and you may help not to waste time on cars that don't fit your criteria (ie. missed services etc)
3. Agree with the vendor to have the car inspected at your cost. Any major issues negotiate to split the cost. If bad then walk and maybe sell the report to the vendor.
I found my 986S on Pistonheads, a very well spec'd car with a large and complete history file; it flew through the inspection, paid £8.5K. Sold it 18 months later for £8.3K, only costs were a £295 service.
Ian
I had a 986 2.5 & 3.2S after having a couple of Lotus Elise & a Caterham 7. We now have a Mk3 MX5 which is mainly the wife's car.
The 2.5 Boxster was under-powered, but the 3.2 was like a grown up Elise - I loved it. I also never had any reliability issues.
When Foxy says about the MX5 being more fun at lower speeds he has a point, but his is a MK1 MX5. They can be picked up cheaply, but rust is a VERY common issue. The later ones are also fun, but a lot heavier and even the 2.0 engine is lacking in grunt. You can however pick up a really nice MX5 for £6k.
I'd heartily recommend trying an Elise. If the relative lack of practicality is not an issue they are an absolute hoot to drive.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
An update.
I took a test drive in the latest MX5 today. It was a very impressive car. Great gearbox, clutch and steering. Coming from a Morgan it was strange to be driving a rattle free car.
I have requested a test drive in the new 718 but no manual version appears to be available at the moment.
As the buyer of Darren's (Yuma) Boxster back in the summer I would say the feel, handling, quality and overall performance for the money is excellent. I too have owned a scooby WRX, SL 320/450 and several fast Fords over the years , I have just turned 60, and driven in numerous Road Rallies back in the day.
I am also fortunate to have a playground called Beacon Fell on my doorstep where, on a quite morning, I can use he Porsche as it was intended........no speed cameras.
Buy a 2.7! I also had a day in the 3.2 but despite being a bit faster in a straight line the power delivery from the 2.7 is more useable. Bang for buck you won't go far wrong so long as you buy a loved one.
Martyn at Lancaster.
"A man of little significance"
I had a 986S for 6 years and had no problems at all with it. Took it on hoons to Wales and the Alps regularly and it was perfect for the twisty roads. I sold it to a close friend three years ago and it's still going strong. I didnt have a warranty on it and maybe I've been lucky but it's never had any major issues. I replaced the Boxster with a 997 and I think the Boxster was much more fun. Ignore the idiots who will say the usual hairdresser comments or "couldn't you afford a real Porsche?" anyone who has driven one properly will always respect it
Hello All
Thanks for all the input.
I have agreed to buy a 718 manual. It's a 2016 car with 700 miles on the clock. There is a Porsche warranty until September 2019. There are bags of extras I wouldn't have bothered with ordering but as they were on the car and I was happy with the numbers, I'll take them without complaint.
I pick it up next week so will report and post some pics.
Regards.
Well done and congratulations - I've been casting a wandering eye on a few Caymans, as an alternative to my 335d, not sure whether to take the plunge as the 335d is such a great all rounder.
I'm assuming from the mileage etc. that you're buying from a Porsche dealer?
Anyone drove or drives a nissan GTR? Them things look like they would give anything a run for there money.
Hi
Yes OPC in Edinburgh.
One of the factors I considered was the practical layout of the storage. The previous car, Morgan plus4, need to be loaded up with luggage rack and then a 90 litre waterproof bag.
The sorts of trips I tend to do are long distance and typically up to a month in duration. Travelling solo is no issue as I could load up the passenger footwell with kit and use the rear shelf. Travelling with a passenger for a long trip was proving to be a bit of a slog.
The Boxster has two storage areas, one front and the other rear, so secure and better balanced.
You might enjoy a test drive in a Cayman!