Porsche Boxster S

[Byron]

As some people may know, I recently bought myself a new car. The Clio 197 although fun, wasnt what I really wanted so it was sold a little over 2 months after buying it. I had wanted a Boxster for a little while, and decided now was the time to get one.

My must have specifications were;
- 987 (facelift)
- 19" Carrera S wheels
- Full sports leather
- PASM
- Sports Chrono Pack
- BOSE
- Navigation (PCM)

I was convinced that Basalt Black metallic was the best exterior colour to have but one came up in Seal Grey Metallic that fitted the bill perfectly.
A friend sent me an ebay link whilst I was travelling to London, downside was that the auction ended at midday on Friday and I wanted to view the car before making a bid on it. I asked my parents to view the ebay ad and let me know if there were any alternative ways to make contact with the seller.
As luck would have it, my parents knew the seller....so plans were made to view the car the following morning.

I bought it after a long drive and satisfied myself that the car and supporting history was solid etc.

The specification of my car is;
- 2005/05 'S'
- Full service history
- 3 previous owners
- nearly new tyres all round
- Seal Grey Metallic
- 19" Carrera S alloy wheels
- Black sports leather
- Sports Chrono Pack
- Bose
- PASM
- Porsche Navigation (PCM)
- Xenon headlamps
- Wind deflector
- Coloured wheel crests
- sports seats
- 3 spoke leather steering wheel
- Top tinted windscreen





















image hosting

I have already done a few things and planned for it;
- Deep clean. The supplying dealer/trader soaked the car in silcone to give the appearance of shine, but it was horrendous. Full de-tar, clay, polish, wax, leather clean etc happened the day after I bought it.
- Wheel refurbished. Booked into the wheel specialist for this friday.
- Some fresh paint in arches where stone chips have taken lacquer off. Booked in for 25/26th June.
- Major service. Booked into Porsche Bournemouth 1st July.
- New floor mats. Purchased, done.
- New number plates. Purchase, done.

Comments welcome as always.

 

[lukeeddy]

Really nice example and a great drivers cars just not my kind of car how's the mpg?

 

[Byron]

Really nice example and a great drivers cars just not my kind of car how's the mpg?

TBH, I havent paid too much notice to the fuel use. The girlfriend uses it daily and we only now need to fill it up after brimming it on 2nd June. She has probably covered 250 miles since then?

 

[Iain 007]

I very very nearly bought a guards red one just before I got my clio, fantastic cars. Not the most comfortable for taller folk but everything is nicely adjustable so not too bad.

Wasn't too happy about the £2500 insurance quote, and more-so about the fact it sold before I could sort the money!

 

[Richy200]

awesome car rated very highly and an S can be picked up for good money

I was looking at these recently and is a fantastic all round car!! wouldn't let the gf drive it daily though! haha.

looks awesome and grey is a much better colour than black

enjoy it

 

[Willis]

Good but mate, she looks very clean.

Lovely to drive and they do sound the part too.

 

[dangerdaz]

Very nice matey 8)

 

[RalphyBMW]

Really nice. A 986 S or 996 3.6 are definitely on my list, 987 still too expensive for me. Probably no more expensive to maintain than an older 197 and a lot classier.

 

[MikeH]

Nice looking car, dont expect handling anywhere near the clio though, and you will still look like either a hairdresser, midlife crisis or a driving instructor

 

[Mark83]

I've been looking at these. Did you check ignition and rev ranges? I was about to buy one two weeks ago until I asked for an inspection and it had hit a range 6 ie >9500rpm a couple of hundred hours ago.

 

[Byron]

Nice looking car, dont expect handling anywhere near the clio though, and you will still look like either a hairdresser, midlife crisis or a driving instructor

I didn't buy it expecting to handle like the Clio?

 

[Chris197F1]

I'd love one of these, its just the running costs that puts me off as a work colleague has one and just paid £800 for a MOT and 'GOLD' service

 

[Byron]

I'd love one of these, its just the running costs that puts me off as a work colleague has one and just paid £800 for a MOT and 'GOLD' service

Add £300 per tyre into the mix aswell.

 

[Chris197F1]

yeah I know as he had one changed last year, epic costs involved but they are fantastic cars

 

[deadmau5]

Really nice. A 986 S or 996 3.6 are definitely on my list, 987 still too expensive for me. Probably no more expensive to maintain than an older 197 and a lot classier.

You may be in for a shock.

 

[weebob]

You may be in for a shock.

Too true. My father in law had one, one of the abs sensors went and cost a absolute small fortune

 

[ryan197]

an old work collegue had one, cost him £3000 to do a blown head gasket and that was mates rates.

 

[Byron]

People forget that it was a £40k+ car, so the running costs are proportianate to that.
I dont think the Porsche will suffer like the E46 M3 has done i.e. reasonable second hand prices that make it accessible to the masses and then any routine servicing and costs are ignored or corners cut because those costs are big.

 

[DarrenM]

Congrat's on the car, looks very nice, I really like seal grey on the 987's and you've got the best "lobster fork" wheel's as well.

Without trying the scaremonger, no doubt you've heard about IMS failures on the earlier (M96) engines, there is quite some truth in the matter so it may be worth speaking with your local Porsche indy about it, (forget OPC's - Official Porsche Centres, they are a total rip off). It may have even been upgraded already to the later (M97) IMS, but do check for signs of a "rattley" noise on start up and also regular oil changes have proved to help with issues as well.

you will still look like either a hairdresser, midlife crisis or a driving instructor

Also, ignore comments like this, it's basically just jealousy and goes to prove some people know nothing about cars. In fact, funnily enough, my Mum's mobile hairdresser (who is probably in her 40's) drives a Clio and my wife learnt to drive in a Clio so where the Boxster gets above reputation from, I haven't got a clue.

 

[Byron]

Darren, the IMS is a topic I have researched. I will be checking with the OPC week after next. I was going to use an indy, although I have a good relationship with a main dealer so financially I am better to use the OPC.