dave Morgan

My car did this after standing idle over the bad weather.

Warming it up on the drive did not clear it, however a fast run and top up with new fuel sorted it out.

I suppose there is a small market for people with little taste and too much money.

High miles with one owner and good service history- Yes

High miles with multi-owners and sketchy service history - No , there will always be a better car worth waiting for and paying for.

From the ad this car looks like a good proposition.

Good clean condition from the pix, low miles for age, evidence of money spent by previous owners and the colour is good as well.

Not a bad price and you have a safety margin in your budget if it needs bits later on.

Looks like a decent enough car, sensible milage and good spec.

Priced as a dealer car, so you could buy similar for less with a private sale.

Colour is one of those love it or hate it ones...strictly personal.

On 9/1/2022 at 8:12 PM, Clarkyboy said:

Had the same issue with a neighbours cat actually where it has clawed the roof, so another reason for a cover.

Anyone had experience of this cover: https://www.ukcustomcovers.com/porsche-boxster-986-987-tailored-car-cover 

I have one for my 986 and it has been great.

Breathable and a very good fit.

For the money you will not find anything better. Also keeps your car clean if you live in a dusty area like I do.

On 8/3/2022 at 3:03 PM, iborguk said:

The compressor I ordered for this and other occasional use , loud but it works for not too silly an amount of cash.
 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/stanley-8216035scr011-24ltr-compressor-with-5-piece-accessory-kit-240v/48089

 

I have a very similar small mobile compressor to yours.

Very useful indeed for many tasks around the car and home, mine has lasted several years and still working well.

7 minutes ago, iborguk said:

Yours is certainly a lovely example.

Thanks for the compliment, I did a bit of research and had to drive around for a bit to find it, but very glad I viewed a couple before making my move.

Sometimes you have to take a gamble in life.

Always interesting to find a genuine bargain, they are out there if you are not too fussy.

If a 986 steers straight, pulls up properly in a straight line and the engine pulls nicely through the gears there is probably no immediate big expense.

Just enjoy it, try to learn a bit about the servicing to keep the cost down, but also locate an independent specialist for the more difficult work.

Looks decent from the pics.

Hi Topbox, the meet is at The Goat, on the green at Hertford Heath.

1st Sunday of every month, they open for coffee at 11.oo am and drinks and food from 12.00.

Always a wide selection of classic cars, best to get there earlyish because it gets very busy in the summer if the weather is good. Lots of Porches there today, and good to meet iborguk and see his pristine Boxtser .

To be honest as a boxster newb I did not have extensive knowledge of all the available options.

The ones that appealed to me were the 3.2 S engine preferably with manual 6 speed , sports seats, heated glass rear window and heated seats.

After a bit of a search I found a year 2000 car with all of these ( aftermarket hood and rear glass ), ended up with the car I wanted and very pleased with it in evert way.

Some things can seem too good to be true Topbox.

It was indeed priced to sell. I was ready to make a quick call and race over there.

Thanks Paul P, I did notice that one, it looks good and one owner with a decent service history is a big bonus in my opinion.

Always good to here a positive story, that counts for a lot these days as well !

I'm really looking for a long term keeper tha I can cherish, a better car for a higher price could be better for me long term rather than a ' bargain ' that turns out to be a money pit. As I said I was not looking for the anniversery model, but it just jumped out at me when I saw it, somebody else thought the same !

My ideal budget was under £ 10 K

This one was 12 K , as it sold and the ad disappeared instantly I assume it was underpriced.

I wasn't looking for one, I thought they were outside my price range, but it looked so good that I thought it might be worth going over budget for.

I really liked some of the details on these such as the wheels, more powerful engine and the black faced instruments with the chrome bezels...

I'm half expecting to see it relisted with a mark up by some trader.

Was browsing AutoTrader this morning checking out the available 986 3.2 S seelection when I saw a low milage 2004 special anniverasry model.

Nice pictures, two owners , 55 K miles and at a price that was a little above my target zone but very affordale for what it was, and only about 45 miles away.

By the time I got a pen and paper and got back to the phone the ad had vanished. Must have sold almost instantly !

20 hours ago, Jonobigblind said:

My previous XFS worked well with the auto box but the torque of the diesel suited an auto and meant that driving it in sport mode was a little redundant as the power band was nestled in the regular rev range and stringing it out didn’t do anything more exciting (but helped with Italian tuneups). 
 

My V8 Cayenne had the auto box and I wouldn’t have enjoyed the drive with a manual box. It was a decent GT type mile muncher and the lazy Tiptronic shifts suited the torque. 
 

My 986s has a manual box and I wouldn’t enjoy the drive with the tiptronic.  As you mention, the driving profile is totally different and the total control over gear selection and how quick the shifts will be (including blipping on downshifts) adds so much to the enjoyment of the car. 

This has turned out to be an interesting and informative thread for me.

I was slightly negative about the tiptronic, but now after hearing from both sides will reserve my opinion until I have driven one.

The thing is I tend towards liking the idea of a manual 6-speed, and as you say things like blipping on down shifts all adds to the experience.

23 hours ago, ½cwt said:

When warm.  Second baulks quite a lot before it warms up for the first couple of miles on the 6 speed, particularly in winter when its cold.  A gearbox oil change helps.

I already have a manual car with a baulky gearchange a 1968 Pontiac Firebird with a wide ratio Muncie4 speed.

It has an external rod linkage and you have to learn to use it. Get the oil warm and the revs right and it is fine, not really what you need for everyday driving which is why most customers chose the automatic back then, those early American manual cars take a bit of getting used to.

On 1/28/2022 at 7:41 PM, JonSta said:

The other auto I broke was my 71 Dodge challenger 340 r/t. 3 speed torqueflite with slapstick which I suppose was a bit like a tip - just click the shifter up and whack it up or down as you like. Broke the reverse gear brake band. Rebuilt it in my kitchen with a direct connection (the Mopar hot parts department) shift kit. Kickdowns and full throttle upshifts would both burn rubber. God I loved that car.

A real collectors item now, especially a genuine r/t. Lovely shape as well along with it's Cuda cousin. Out of my price range...

Always thought the small blocks were more balanced than the Big Blocks as road cars.

1 hour ago, Robster66 said:

I have a 987 tip and my father in law has a 986s also a tip

The big advantage which hasn’t been mentioned so far is there are no worries about changing expensive dual mass flywheels and clutches. Bit obvious I know also no worries about whether the previous owners have over revved the car. The Tip also adapts to your driving style and it’s easily reset

so we’re definitely fans

Good to know, I have had some automatics which were dreadful and others that suited the cars well.

I was curious about the automatic in the 986 because they seem to be a bit unpopular , and being a newbie wanted to hear from experienced owners.

I get the feeling that I would possibly get on with one for 90% of the time, but as I am buying a 'second ' summer car I might miss the pleasure of a really smoth shifting 6 speed. Decisions, decisions. I will have to test drive one to really find out.

16 hours ago, Terryg said:

I have a Jag auto diesel too as an everyday car. I had a 986S manual and now have a 987.2S with Pdk. It is fantastic but just not quite interactive enough for me if I am being 100% honest and I think a manual would be more fun and more special if you already have an auto.

What I tend to find with my Jag is that 90% of the time it stays in normal auto mode. The v6 S twin turbo makes so much torque that it goes well enough, if you select the Sport settings it is even more responsive and I tend to use the paddles only on 'special occasions ' with no other traffic about.

You probably have the same view as me ,that manual gear change adds something to the driving experience in a powerful sporty car.

On 1/26/2022 at 3:53 PM, mattomg said:

I went from a 986 s tip to a 996 C4S tip because of sciatica. ! thing you can do to improve it's drivability is fit a sprint booster. At around £200 it transforms the feel of the box to more akin to a cable throtle rather the more usual sensor equipped ars. Kickdownns are more reaily triggred too

As a Boxster newbie I have a lot to learn.

I know that with some of the Amercan automatics fitted to the muscle cars there are a range of Shift Kits and Trans packs that sharpen up the gear changes, move the shift points and make them more responsive. Also a range of torque converters that suite different uses. Automatic gearboxes can be a topic in itself.

20 hours ago, JonSta said:

For me it's a hell no. And I have had one. Mind you I'm not good with autos. I've only ever had 2 and I broke both. Don't disagree with autos in principle but....

I used to have a bad opinion of autos, mainly based on older rover and Jaguar autos that drained power and were not sporty to drive.

However my wife had an automatic Toyata Supra turbo that I abolutey loved driving. Also my turbo diesel Jaguar is not slow so I don't dismiss a good auomatic.

I'm getting the message that Tiptronic could be an option, if one comes up I will definitely give it a test drive to see if it would suite me.

I have had many cars over the years both auto and manual, so I know both have good and bad points. I don't have a town commute so that advantage of an auto would not apply to me, it will be a second car probably for Summer use only and tucked up in Winter to help preserve it.

17 minutes ago, ½cwt said:

Make sure you drive an example of both as only you can decide really.  Also try a 5 speed Boxster and a 6 speed Boxster S.  There is a notable difference with the wider ratio spread an lower torque of the 2.5/2.7 needing more work to access the engine performance or at least be in the right gear at the right time, where you can be a bit lazier with the 6 speed in the 3.2 S with its extra torque.

I was trying to find a 3.2 S if possible, but the more affordable ones all seem to be too far North for me.

I think if I bought a 2.7 for price reasons I could regret it later. I think the torque of the 3.2 would suite me better.

Strangely a cheap 3.2 S auto came up on ebay that was fairly local, but it sold instantly before I could view it.