Looking to purchase 986S

[GmanB]

Hi All,

I am looking to purchase my first Porsche and I really can't wait!

Sensible head on now, I was wondering what advise anyone could give me. I'm viewing/test driving a 986S 2013 plate with 60k with Porsche SH up to 2013, then Porsche Specialist to date. It's got an asking price of 8.5k, which seems a little high for a private sale, but I guess it's that time of year?

I have watched videos/read about a few things, I am aware of IMS, RMS, hood noise, damp in boot, suspension noise and rust.

Apologies if there are other posts like this. If anyone could offer any advise or point me to other threads it would me much appreciated. 

Many thanks in advance.

G

[Jaykay495]

Hi,

i’m only about a month ahead of you, having bought my 987 a month ago.

i test drove a 2.5 986 (am guessing your car is a 2003 and not a 2013), which wasnt for me due to its cosmetic condition, however, it drove great. Bought a 987 in the end, and your budget will get you a 987...maybe check under the sofa for a little more.

Take a really bright led torch with you and wear clothing that will allow you to get under for a good look. You want a dry engine. Look on 986’s with torch through wheels at engine block. See oil? Might not be bad, but strike a big discount or move on. 

also get plenty of light into the front air-con condensers. You may see patches a different colour, suggesting a leak. It should blow ice cold, if not, allow for replacement of condensors, labour and regas. £££.

have a good sniff about in the front wheelarches once its up to temp. Get torch in there and look for leaks / sweet-smelling coolant (its leaking). Look at the “crossover pipes” (deffo on 987, unsure if 986 have them but guessing they do). Can be seen in front wheelarches low down and circulate the cooling from engine to rads and back. They all corrode and will eventually fail - circa £600 at indy.

check cars mot history via website. Gives a feel for the owners approach to preventative or reactive maintenance.

what is the next service due? Minor about £300 at indy, major is double or a bit more.

hope this helps....and by bright torch, i mean an led one that you cant look at...that bright ?

find a good one, and you will be very happy.

[GmanB]

Hi @Jaykay495

Yes it's a 2003, the excitement got to my fingers! Thank you very much for the advice, I'll take my bicycle torch and check the bits you mentioned.

The next service is a minor in March next year, so a while off yet. It's had new window regulators and springs recently. Assuming the car has no visible faults, what are your thoughts on the 8.5k asking price? It has Bose system, parking sensors, glass rear window and a new management system.

Honestly it's massive help, so thanks again.

G

[mikefocke]

Who is selling it and what docs do they have to tell you its maintenance history?

Will this be the first Boxster you ever drove? Alert (though I did buy my first drive Boxster and was pleased (but I also negotiated a great price and could verify the sellers reason for selling).

What mechanical maintenance background do you have? If you have little Porsche specific experience, can you arrange for a Porsche mechanic to spend an hour or so looking at and under it. They will know so much more than you might that they can give you some guidance on what to expect.  Ask to have the oil filter replaced and the one they take out inspected for ferrous metal. Expect to pay for these inspections no matter if you buy or not. And share the results with the seller.

Buy a good car with maintenance history from a seller whose motivation to sell you understand.

[Jaykay495]

4 hours ago, GmanB said:

Hi @Jaykay495

Yes it's a 2003, the excitement got to my fingers! Thank you very much for the advice, I'll take my bicycle torch and check the bits you mentioned.

The next service is a minor in March next year, so a while off yet. It's had new window regulators and springs recently. Assuming the car has no visible faults, what are your thoughts on the 8.5k asking price? It has Bose system, parking sensors, glass rear window and a new management system.

Honestly it's massive help, so thanks again.

G

Hi @GmanB,

Be fussy, there are lots of good cars out there.

It IS easy to be seduced by Boxsters. They are very underrated cars, and you get a lot of bang for your buck.

That said, we all know the issues these cars can suffer, and if you’re not into twirling the spanners, they can be £££.

Expect less than perfection, then see where it goes. Keep your eyes open and be honest with yourself about the car. If its a nice house, friendly and knowledgeable owner, and the car is “the One”, you’ll know.

My car is very nice shape, which has recently been verified by a specialist, but to a large degree, buying privately was a gamble!

Good luck ?

 

[Menoporsche]

We often claim that a car of that age will need 2k spending on it in the first year to get it up to scratch. That's a massive claim and should probably be qualified with "if you are an enthusiast". Of course you can buy it and it will squeak a bit and have soggy suspension but you might not notice or care.

At that budget you'll get a very good 986 or a high mileage (this is not necessarily a bad thing) 987. Be aware of the differences, not least space inside if you are over 6ft (987 clearly more spacious).

You can buy the first you see, but we usually recommend having a look around the market, there are several for sale and they will give you an idea if your local one is a good buy or not.

[guest1]

@Menoporsche gives good advice. 

The provenance of the car is important to me, I am happy when someone passes me a stack of invoices and paperwork to be able to check care and attention to the bits you can't see.

Good luck on your search and -- most importantly -- when you get it, ENJOY

[GmanB]

Thanks for all the help Gents, will report back on Tuesday.

[GmanB]

Thanks again for all your help. I really liked the car, unfortunately there was no where near to raise the car, so there were a few things I couldn't check. 

It's had 18 services, IMS and RMS done, new springs all round, window actuators done, new trailing arms. It's been very well looked after, by a real nice gentleman and only one previous owner before him. There is absolutely stacks of history/receipts. It drove really well, much better than my friends 911 in all honesty, but a different experience. The history of mileage on the service stamps was very good, 3-5k between each. 

Only a couple of things I spotted was that it needs front new tyres (visual cracks) and one of the front wheel mud flaps was hanging off. So nothing I wouldn't need sorting on any car and relatively inexpensive. 

I have an RAC inspection being carried out tomorrow and if all goes well, I should be driving it next week. 

Will keep you posted.

G

[Menoporsche]

I'd say new springs and trailing arms will save you a bit, that's good. 

Hope it goes well!

[Nobbie]

28 minutes ago, GmanB said:

Thanks again for all your help. I really liked the car, unfortunately there was no where near to raise the car, so there were a few things I couldn't check. 

It's had 18 services, IMS and RMS done, new springs all round, window actuators done, new trailing arms. It's been very well looked after, by a real nice gentleman and only one previous owner before him. There is absolutely stacks of history/receipts. It drove really well, much better than my friends 911 in all honesty, but a different experience. The history of mileage on the service stamps was very good, 3-5k between each. 

Only a couple of things I spotted was that it needs front new tyres (visual cracks) and one of the front wheel mud flaps was hanging off. So nothing I wouldn't need sorting on any car and relatively inexpensive. 

I have an RAC inspection being carried out tomorrow and if all goes well, I should be driving it next week. 

Will keep you posted.

G

Sounds like a good one, good luck with the inspection and let us know what they say as we may be able to put some of the comments in context.

[niceone]

well did you????

[GmanB]

Other than a stone chip in the windscreen and a loose intake vent, the inspection only picked up what I could find. The report was gleaming, so I'm picking it up on Thursday. Pretty exciting, although I won't be able to drive it properly until the front tyres have been replaced. 

[bally4563]

I would personally finish off the front rubber, once you have a feel for it, new rubber and when confidence is up.... explore.

[Lonewolfgjp]

Exciting ?

Roll on Thursday and take it easy on the bends until you get the feel of it.

Im with you and would get the tyres changed straight away as they they are shot and will only dampen your experience. My 986 had crazed tyres on the front and brand new ditch finders on the rear, it drove like a completely different car on new Goodyear eagles all round ?

[Jaykay495]

All sounds about as positive as its possible to get, plus you get to choose new rubber.

Cracking cars, you’re gonna love it.

get pics up asap too ?

[Saxosim]

Congrats sounds great look forward to seeing photos 

[GmanB]

Thanks Gents,

The fronts are shot to be fair, lots of cracks, one is even 9 years old. Rears only have 3 mil left, so not long until I'll need to replace those.

G

[Lonewolfgjp]

Once you get over the purchase maybe price up at set of Goodyear Eagle F1s. Not to bad as I remember £550ish for a set of 18s but that was two years ago ?

[mikefocke]

I wouldn't be waiting to replace tires in the condition you describe. They are what keeps you connected to the road and the alternative is disaster. Rubber ages and a general rule is not to run them beyond 6 years and to replace them even before they reach their legal limit.  Especially true in an area where you drive in the wet as tread depth is what helps you squeeze the water from under the tire so the tire can contact the road. You'd be amazed at the difference tires make in stopping distances and P-car body repairs are really really expensive.

 

Read the invoice and understand exactly what was done to the IMS as frequently it is nothing but an external seal which does nothing to prolong the life of the bearing, just deals with an oil leak via using an updated and better seal.

[Nobbie]

@GmanB have a good search around on here for opinions on various tyres. A good start would be the 'Are we tyre snobs' thread which exposed the differing viewpoints quite well. Plenty of very good mid range options out there if four new tyres are required in the near future. Have you checked across the the whole width on the back? There can wear unevenly across such a wide tyre depending on how it's been driven. Might be worth biting the bullet and replacing all four tyres at the same time as fitting grippy new tyres on the front with old low tread tyres on the back will give unbalanced handling since the rears will be more likely to let go earlier. I'm generally not one for spending money unnecessarily, but I would consider this money well spent. Worth getting a 4 wheel alignment done at the same time unless this has been done recently to ensure everything is A1.

[GmanB]

Thanks @Nobbie

Had a lot of fun driving it home this evening. Had to drop it down a few gears a few times to hear that sweet sound. Don't think my ears will ever get enough of it. 

I actually ordered 2 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 for the front with wheel alignment yesterday (before I picked up the car). I had done some research and also used previous versions of the Eagle F1 variant on other vehicles. Admittedly on slower cars, but the grip was incredible. I'll see how they go on the Boxster before having the rears done (next pay day). I can always fit a different tyre, but I think they're good enough.