Boxster Buying advice?

[jonttt]

Good points above re .1 v .2 the easy way to tell is the PCM central console display is 'grey" plastic in a .1 and 'black" in a .2 They actually look completely different butt he colour is the first check until you get used to which is which ;-)

Nb if your new to Porsche, the engines can sound feel a little rougher / tappety than other cars, its just their nature as they are obviously more of a sports engine and normally aspirated v people get used to turbo / none sports engines in other cars. Just bear that in mind when / if you test drive. The trick is to drive a few so you get used to them :thumb:

As with any cars that can be 10 years old, a reputable garage with fresh MOT / service history is as good a guarantee as you will get on a 987.2. If your buying privately try to get it into a Porsche specialist for a look over as part of the test drive, a decent Indy will give it a once over FOC for you. It may not pick up everything but if you want that you will need to pay c£400 for a proper PPI which I've never done as I've always gone for good service history and respected dealer route. £15k should get you into a nice car from a good dealer with some form of warranty, fresh MOT and service etc.....

Options you can spot from pics are:

- PASM = a little suspension button on the lower central console
- sport chrono = dial on top of central dash and sport button on the lower centre console
- heated seats = button on climate control in centre console
- parking sensors front and or rear = you can spot the sensors on the bumpers bit they are colour coded. Nb rear more common than front & rear
- full climate v air con = 'AUTO" on climate controls
- full leather = stitching on top console / other places
- PSE (sports exhaust) = and exhaust button on the lower centre console
- BOSE audio = BOSE badges on door speakers

You get used to spotting all of the above very quickly after a bit. The PSE and PASM options which are highly desirable are spotted by extra buttons located on the strip under the climate control buttons. When you get used to them you can spot them even on bad pics just by counting the buttons and their location lol

Enjoy the search, its part of the fun :thumb:

Here are some of my 987.2 pics for reference nb it has basically every option fitted apart from ceramic brakes, its a manual so a PDK should have an extra Sport Chrono bottom (ie manual just has a sport button v a PDK which has sport and sport plus buttons)...the stitching at the sides of the main centre console = full leather option, you can even spot the BOSE badge on the door speaker if you zoom in (once you know where it is you just need to see the silver lettering rectangle location)......

Nb. Don;t get too wrapped up on options as very few cars have every one (mine is a fully loaded special edition late run out car).....it's known as the Porsche options game :grin: ......just decide if any are important to you or not and look for them. Most are just a 'nice to have" which can make a difference when you have narrowed down a few cars to choose from and they are similar prices / condition / mileages :bandit:

Personally I would always look for a PASM car (gives the car two personalities which is great if it's someone's daily and another's weekend fun car but even when 'off" its still adaptive depending on how its being driven) and Sport Chrono if a PDK (less important on a manual but still makes even a manual 'more eager"). They are however less common on a 2.9 but you do occassionaly get 'loaded" 2.9's v basic 3.4's, the trick is finding one without paying a premium :thumb:

 

[SimonH81]

Wow, thanks Chaps... Super helpful.

Yes, I've driven plenty of Porsche's and aware the engines sound different to your average car. Good to have the low down on the extras though, thanks!

As crazy as it sounds on her wishlist is Red Calipers or "red bits in the wheels" as she calls them :roll: :lol: Is that option only on an S or can they come on a non S car?

thanks

 

[The return of Marty Wild]

Glad I'm not the only one with my views on boxa.net, a couple of characters on there seem to have been bullied at school and never quite got over it.

This here is a far better place for like minded people, boxa.net is more like PH.

On topic - 'red bits in the wheels" to me is synonymous with the marque, unless I had PCCB, red calipers is a prerequisite.

 

[Counter Of Beans]

S has red calipers .. non S has black .. they can of course be repainted so a non S can be painted RED .

Absolutely right deMort, I have had this done on both my cars as part of a caliper refurb in both cases.
Thomas at Pro Calipers does a great job.

 

[SimonH81]

What kind of cost is a Caliper refurb? And a Also do they reckon apply the 'Porsche" lettering or just simply paint them?

Looking like we probably will go for an S but there is a particularly stunning one near us with 1 owner, very low mileage that ticks all the boxes apart from the callipers.

 

[SimonH81]

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to say thanks for all your advice. Managed to get the Mrs a 2010 Boxster in White, 37k Miles, 1 Previous owner, Carrera S 19" Wheels and in White! Look a million dollars!

Not sure how to post a pic on here but tried it as an attachment?

 

[jonttt]

:thumb:

 

[kas750]

Sweet :thumb:

 

[TV8]

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to say thanks for all your advice. Managed to get the Mrs a 2010 Boxster in White, 37k Miles, 1 Previous owner, Carrera S 19" Wheels and in White! Look a million dollars!

Not sure how to post a pic on here but tried it as an attachment?

Looks good. Now I am not using my Boxster as a daily, I would consider white!
2.9? What sort of Money was that please?

 

[HSC911]

:congrats:

 

[Zingari]

I go onto boxa.net but generally find it less "stimulating" than on here :grin:

I got ridiculed for buying an original OEM absolutely mint carbon centre console for £450 :grin: .....their logic being that they are two a penny and there where 3 others for sale.......the fact that they are one of the rarest OEM parts, cost >£2k when new and the 3 they referred to where actually 2 (ie one was advertsied twice), where both materially damaged / cracked and being sold a "discount" of £750+ was not relevant apparently :?: .....needless to say there has been no sign of anything similar in the past 6 months but what do I know about Porsches ..... and carbon parts :hand:

Jonttt you are THE King of Carbonique :worship:

OP - well done. You won't regret it buying the car, or posting on here :thumb: