Theo86 Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Dear All, I have just sold my mx5 na and am looking at talking my first step into poschedom. I am on a tight budget and have seen a red 986 2.5. The IMS, rads and cam chains have just been done. The dealer said it's a good first car. Another dealer said don't waste your time and get a 987s. I would be interested to hear what people think of the 2.5...? Many thanks, Theo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russjmills Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Have you got a link for the 986? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edc Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 986 2.5 is the cheapest but is also the original Boxster. A 987S is a different price proposition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topbox Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 The 2.5 is a fine car, lots of fans here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilTUK Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Just now, Topbox said: The 2.5 is a fine car, lots of fans here! Agreed! ^^^^ What he said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red rocket Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 If you're on a tight budget and looking at a 2.5 986 you're unlikely to get near a 987S. Don't have personal experience but as others have said, plenty of experienced people on here who do. Think @Nobbie might be one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scubaregs Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Two dealers, with two different cars, telling different porkers perhaps? Welcome. You are buying an older car, it will almost certainly have issues, the smart money suggests keeping some cash back for maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bally4563 Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 By right and research there should be no requirement for holding cash back for maintenance, plenty out there and now is a good time to buy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russjmills Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 I'd agree with that😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo86 Posted November 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Sorry guys and girls...the other dealer said get a 986s. The car is on auto trader for 5.5k. I do tinker on cars and want to learn how to do the odd basic job. The last 6 services where done at a none specialist garage. However the dealer sounded genuine and said some major work has just been done. I like the colour (guards red) and the wheels. Really was wondering people experience of the car. My recent experience is of mx5s is the first model was the best as far as feedback. This is only the start of my journey as eventually I would like to get a 996. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201911194535987?atmobcid=soc3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Confusing title! 2.5 clearly has the least power. Some knock it. Others drive it. Which is faster round bends, the car’s forte, comes down to cojones as much as cubes. S I think has an extra gear (tighter ratios not higher top end), possibly bigger brakes? And a higher chance of IMS paranoia. I suspect most here would prefer a sorted 2.5 to a ropey 3.2; by now both are old so will need love and parts replacing. Certeris paribus, the 3.2. But certeris isn’t usually paribus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edc Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Similar to MX5 then in that 986 probably better for feedback than succession of later cars. S has a significant power hike over the 2.5 but still well within the chassis capability. If you are handy with the spanners then a 986 should suit you but you'd probably get better value from a private sale. £5.5k on a 2.5 is fairly strong money. You'd expect an 8 or 9 out of 10 sorted car for that price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobbie Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 12 minutes ago, Theo86 said: Sorry guys and girls...the other dealer said get a 986s. The car is on auto trader for 5.5k. I do tinker on cars and want to learn how to do the odd basic job. The last 6 services where done at a none specialist garage. However the dealer sounded genuine and said some major work has just been done. I like the colour (guards red) and the wheels. Really was wondering people experience of the car. My recent experience is of mx5s is the first model was the best as far as feedback. This is only the start of my journey as eventually I would like to get a 996. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201911194535987?atmobcid=soc3 That looks pretty, but you'd have to ask why it needed the chains replaced by 65k🤔, mine's done 149k on the originals and still going strong. May point to poor servicing early in it's life where owners get tempted to skip,services if it's only covering low miles. On the 2.5/3.2 point, I'm very happy with revving the nuts off mine to get the best out of it and enjoy the glorious sound of the engine, but then it's only a weekend toy. If it was an everyday driver, then I suspect I would welcome the extra torque of the 3.2 lump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo86 Posted November 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Hi Nobby, I have a garage and this is only a weekend toy. I want to experience the first generation of boxster and see then if I want to progress. My budget is really 10k however i would like to see how much I like the 2.5 before moving to a S Okay...the dealer is mostly a workshop for Porsche. If the chains havd been replace would you say it's an okay or would you buy another one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxob Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 I have a 2.5 and know it well. It's been with me for nearly 10 years. I've not driven any other engined Boxster but I have been a passenger. I'm more than happy with the 2.5 model. It's been 'cheap' to run: tax, insurance, parts, fuel. It's relatively easy to work on so DIY for a lot of jobs. It's the lightest model Boxster (including the Spyder) which partially offsets the lack of BHP (if 201bhp is a lack!). It has a strong 5 speed gearbox which doesn't stick or slip in/out of 2nd gear. It's got the lowest record of IMS failure as it has the strongest dual row bearing. It's a quick car, not quite as quick in a straight line as the larger engined variants, but just as agile in the twisties. Working the gearbox it the trick. When it was first released there was no "S" variant so there are some well spec'd 2.5 models around as buyers had no other model to option up! It doesn't bore score and whilst you might read about "D chunk" this was an issue with some cars early in their life. Never heard of it happening to a 2.5 model in the near 10 years on here. A thing of the past. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo86 Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 Thank you Boxob that is helpful. Good reasoning, insurance is cheap and the lightness is a definite plus regarding the dynamics of the car. Nobbie's got me worried regarding the timing chains. Will speak to the dealer today and feedback... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulQ Posted November 21, 2019 Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 7 hours ago, Boxob said: I have a 2.5 and know it well. It's been with me for nearly 10 years. I've not driven any other engined Boxster but I have been a passenger. I'm more than happy with the 2.5 model. It's been 'cheap' to run: tax, insurance, parts, fuel. It's relatively easy to work on so DIY for a lot of jobs. It's the lightest model Boxster (including the Spyder) which partially offsets the lack of BHP (if 201bhp is a lack!). It has a strong 5 speed gearbox which doesn't stick or slip in/out of 2nd gear. It's got the lowest record of IMS failure as it has the strongest dual row bearing. It's a quick car, not quite as quick in a straight line as the larger engined variants, but just as agile in the twisties. Working the gearbox it the trick. When it was first released there was no "S" variant so there are some well spec'd 2.5 models around as buyers had no other model to option up! It doesn't bore score and whilst you might read about "D chunk" this was an issue with some cars early in their life. Never heard of it happening to a 2.5 model in the near 10 years on here. A thing of the past. HTH Had mine over 5 years now, and agree with the above. Great cars.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kas750 Posted November 21, 2019 Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 19 minutes ago, PaulQ said: Had mine over 5 years now, and agree with the above. Great cars.... I bought one new and had no problems and had two more 2.5's since and none have given me any bother. This is my latest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russjmills Posted November 21, 2019 Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 That looks really nice. Love the interior Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usman10316 Posted November 21, 2019 Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 37 minutes ago, Theo86 said: Thank you Boxob that is helpful. Good reasoning, insurance is cheap and the lightness is a definite plus regarding the dynamics of the car. Nobbie's got me worried regarding the timing chains. Will speak to the dealer today and feedback... This is only down to poor servicing. I did have similar work done on mine. As long as there is receipts to show the work has been done it should be good to go for a long time! I wouldn't worry about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usman10316 Posted November 21, 2019 Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 17 minutes ago, Kas750 said: I bought one new and had no problems and had two more 2.5's since and none have given me any bother. This is my latest. One of the best interiors on a boxster! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobbie Posted November 21, 2019 Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 1 hour ago, Theo86 said: Thank you Boxob that is helpful. Good reasoning, insurance is cheap and the lightness is a definite plus regarding the dynamics of the car. Nobbie's got me worried regarding the timing chains. Will speak to the dealer today and feedback... If the chains and guides have been replaced, then they seem to be the weakest link so should be ok now. At that age it's a bit of a lottery as it's rare to have a full service history, but on the plus side the 2.5 engine does seem to last well and take a lot of abuse. I think on balance I would have a good look at that car to make sure that the condition of the bodywork and interior are all A1. Listen out for any strange clocks and knocks when driving over speed bumps and turning corners as this will show up suspension that needs work. Being low mileage can often mean that it's still on it's original suspension and will need a fair bit spent to make it drive properly. Any evidence of work on the suspension? That's a high price for a 1998 2.5, but if it's in great condition it could be worth it. Have you been to see/drive others so that you can see what others of that age are like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
map Posted November 21, 2019 Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 9 hours ago, Boxob said: It's got the lowest record of IMS failure as it has the strongest dual row bearing. This is true and yet this particular car has (according to the blurb) had the IMS Bearing replaced with a ceramic version... Wonder why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulQ Posted November 21, 2019 Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 11 minutes ago, map said: This is true and yet this particular car has (according to the blurb) had the IMS Bearing replaced with a ceramic version... Wonder why? It's rare, but I have read of 2.5 failures.... Long time ago though. Probably just preventative maintenance, though I'm not sure I would even bother on a single row bearing after all this time, let alone a dual row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted November 21, 2019 Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 Because some people didn't, before research, or don't, due to lack of research, know that they didn't really need to replace it in those particular cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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