Lumply Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 Newbie here with little knowledge of the Boxster let alone driving one. However I am looking forward to retiring later this year from overseas and need a solid reliable top down for a daily user and Europe With £20k to spend but preferably less(!) 2.7 or 2.9 with reliability the key. Question, do I spend 10K and put it into a Porsche specialist for a full makeover IMS etc, or blow my budget on peace of mind hopefully on a newer model.Any advice would be helpful.Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topbox Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 Morning @Lumply welcome to the forum. No right answer to your question really and I would say peace of mind is a state of mind. For your budget you have lots of options, 10k would see you into a well sorted older car for sure. 20k gets a 987.2 with the reliable 2.9 engine. The 987 has a slighly larger cabin than a 986. Given you will be using as a daily plus some Europe adventures I would plump for the 987.2 with the 2.9 either manual or PDK gearbox. I currently own a 2002 facelift 986 which I purchased with low miles, got the IMS replaced and 25000 miles and three years on, no regrets and I love the car and ownership. Not a daily though. A number on here have high miles 986 which are daily drivers by design, as I say no right answers. If you are able to fix cars yourself and enjoy doing so, may be a key factor. Enjoy the search let us all know how you get on ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBD914 v2 Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 As Topbox says, at your budget and with the usage you intend, a 987.2 with the 2.9 engine is the way to go! Have fun with the search and let us know what you end up with...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordlee Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 11 minutes ago, RBD914 v2 said: As Topbox says, at your budget and with the usage you intend, a 987.2 with the 2.9 engine is the way to go! Have fun with the search and let us know what you end up with...! I'd add PDK into the equation too if touring is the main use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 2.9 no question if you want reliability. Manual or PDK for you is a matter of taste, PDK is usually for those who use their cars daily and don't like clutch-pumping in traffic. It might also end up being decided by circumstances i.e. finding which one is available to your taste and budget, I'm not sure how many manuals were sold. If you weren't aware, consider Porsche's system of options, which is that each buyer specs exactly what they want so no two cars are the same. Options which are very difficult to retrofit are xenon lights (much better at night), climate control (I personally don't need this in a convertible but some do), uprated stereo of some sort (speakers and the wiring to them), various levels of leather interior. Many love 19in wheels for the looks but 18s actually give a better drive and are cheaper to replace! If you buy from a dealer and the car has sat nav, ensure they've installed the latest system and maps as part of the package; 3-400 quid to update if not. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandit_287 Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 I’ve owned a 2.9 987.2 for over four years, no issues apart from a snapped window regulator. I’ve done 27,000 miles so apart from a couple of sets of tyres and annual servicing it’s been great. I was going to get a 981 but my indie keeps telling me to keep mine as it’s perfect. Not very many 987.2’s have problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porschemad Posted January 8, 2018 Report Share Posted January 8, 2018 Got 40,000 in my 2.9 now. 7 years and not a single problem except a battery failure? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lumply Posted January 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 Thank you all so much for your helpful comments. It seems then that the more reliable 987.2 with the 2.9 is the way to go but any recommendations as to where to start looking, initially in the N.Yorkshire area although can extend search nationwide as I really want to take my time? If necessary I might be able to increase my budget to the mid twenties for a really pristine example. I’m not in any partular hurry and will be retiring back to the UK at the end of August but wish to put start putting the the feelers out now. It will be a big purchase so I want to get the preliminaries right! Thanks everyone. Len Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBD914 v2 Posted January 12, 2018 Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 Autotrader and Pistonheads are the usual starting points. You could also keep an eye on eBay. A Porsche dealer may have the occasional 987 for sale too so it's worth doing a national search of OPC stock every now and then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lumply Posted April 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 Carrying on from the excellent advice received as retirement back to the UK looms I'm pretty close to making up my mind to go for a gen.2 Boxster with the reliable 2.9 engine. One reservation I have concerns the matter of the security of the soft top and my worries about a mindless individual with a sharp object. How do insurance companies view such a risk? At home it will be garaged most of the time and when not, will be relatively secure on a longish driveway (village in N. Yorkshire), overnight. As added protection from the elements when parked away from home, can anyone recommend a sturdy canopy cover? I've not come across such an accessory but does Porsche recommend one? Thirdly ( please bear with me), it is likely that I may be spending up to two months of the year out of the country to escape the worst of the winters, how does a Boxster stand up to say 3 to 4 weeks of disuse under cover in a perfectly dry environment and protected from dust etc. It's my intention to pay a visit to RPM when back on leave next month to finalise my research about sourcing, with a purchase towards the end of the year, or should I wait for the Spring? Or of course there is the Cayman although top down is an important criterion(!). Thank you and Happy Easter Len Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nath Posted April 1, 2018 Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 For my insuer, Manning, there seems to be no difference. I got quotes for both Boxster and Cayman and they were the same and this was for parking on the street in central London. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobbie Posted April 1, 2018 Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 I don't think the soft top is much of a security issue unless you have an expensive aftermarket unit rather than the Porsche unit and park it on the road somewhere built up. Have. Asearch on here about car covers that people use, but I wouldn't bother with one outside, as I'd be more worried about the paintwork being scratched by the cover as it got blown around by the wind. Mine sits outside all year and the o lay issue is a bit of green algae on the hood, but this comes off with a good wash. The car will stand for ages as long as the battery is kept on charge, otherwise mine can lose charge in 2-3 weeks. I just use a £14 charger from Lidl which sits in the Frunk of my car on the drive with the extension cable poking out of the corner to an external mains socket. If you can find the right car, buy in autumn as the prices will be better then and there will be plenty available. There seem to be fewer for sale over winter and the prices rise in spring. Buy in autumn, get it looked over by a garage and then stick it in the garage for winter on a charger with SORN in place. Just make sure you put it away on a dry day so the brakes don't rust up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattman42 Posted April 1, 2018 Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 When I recently got quotes for insurance the soft top doesn’t make any difference - there are thousands of soft tops on the roads and I think the days of random roof slashing has passed (always a potential risk though) i wouldn’t worry about it - get protected no claims so if something does happen, it won’t hit you in the pocket too hard. have you found a car yet? All my research before my recent purchase suggests a gen 2 987 will remove all of the IMS/RMS/scoring issues that ‘could’ be a risk on an earlier car. If you don’t want a gen 2 then the 2.7 is the most robust of the options. you should easily get a well looked after gen 2 for 20k and then not have to worry. If you really want peace of mind, buy from a specialist rather than private. The dealer I bought mine from has done lots of work I hadn’t even picked up on during my test drive so i’m Really happy that i’ll Be getting a well sorted car from day 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lumply Posted April 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 Thanks Mattman you have pretty much clarified everything. I had already decided to buy from a specialist outfit preferably one that knows the car already although not essential Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lumply Posted April 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 2 hours ago, Nath said: For my insuer, Manning, there seems to be no difference. I got quotes for both Boxster and Cayman and they were the same and this was for parking on the street in central London. Thanks Nath Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattman42 Posted April 1, 2018 Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 43 minutes ago, Lumply said: Thanks Mattman you have pretty much clarified everything. I had already decided to buy from a specialist outfit preferably one that knows the car already although not essential Lumply - maybe too far for you, but I bought mine from Maundrells - https://www.maundrells.co.uk/ they have been great from the start, they don’t give much discount but they do prep their cars very well, anything needed and it’s done. My car had an MOT until August and they put a new 12mths as part of the sale. Others on the forum have also reported good experiences with them. I’m sure there are others, just that i’ve had personal experience with these guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lumply Posted April 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 Distance is really no object for the right car. I'll have time on my hands once I return home. I'll look them up and thanks once again. Len Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M12MTR Posted April 1, 2018 Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 I'm actively looking for a 981S so this is potentially up for sale. 2010 2.9 with some nice options. FOPCSH with only 21k miles. It is totally immaculate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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