Pretty sure my next car is either going to be an MR2 turbo or a Boxster at this point. It'll likely come down to whichever I can get a better deal on. I have a feeling MR2s are going to start going up, while Boxsters are going to keep coming down, so I'm thinking MR2, but occasionally stuff like this shows up and gets me thinking. (I'm a little busy trying to buy a house right now so if anyone feels the need to jump on that, go for it. 
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I've had a lot of European cars and a lot of German cars, but the P-car itch is one I've never scratched. Any Boxster I acquire would primarily exist as a weekend cruiser and HPDE car, I have a Honda to drive daily. That said, what is routine maintenance like on one of these? Is it as costly as the average person would have you believe? I know about issues like the IMS bearing and oil separator, but I've never heard what one of these costs to keep going as far as typical consumables and replacement parts, particularly anything that would need to be replaced for track use.
Anyone care to chime in? I know we have a few Boxster folks on this board.
Before I bought my Cayman, I bought a copy of this book. There's a lot that you can do yourself on these cars.
My mr2/ spyder has been relentlessly reliable despite making double the factory whp and being beaten senseless on street and track. Can't recommend one highly enough. Like a budget elise, especially once gutted.
I'd say Boxster prices have hit bottom and are going up.
sesto elemento wrote:
My mr2/ spyder has been relentlessly reliable despite making double the factory whp and being beaten senseless on street and track. Can't recommend one highly enough. Like a budget elise, especially once gutted.
While I appreciate the recommendation, there are many places on this board where the MR2 Spyder is hawked as a Boxster alternative 
I want to scratch the P-car itch once in my lifetime, I actually love the 986 styling (probably because they came out around the time I really started caring about cars), and I'm wondering how much they actually cost to run. I know parts won't be Toyota cheap, but are they absurd?
Seems everyone's lost their minds since they've seen the new Miata movable roof!
No Boxster ownership experience to share. But here's what I learned while considering it:
Reddit: Cost of ownership
986 Forum: cost of maint
Slightly Cheesy Ebay article.
My fav quote from all of above: Cheapest, most reliable car I have ever owned. I used to drive VW's.
More or less it boils down to:
1) More expensive to maintain than (insert brand) because P car
2) I'm seeing reports of $1k to $4k a year in maint.
3) If you're willing to do more work yourself, obviously you save $$
Depends upon where you buy parts. On my 996, an oil filter (mann) is about $8. Coil packs (beru) about $30 each. I had my alterntor bite it at ~70k I bought the Porsche uprated one for ~$400, 3 years later, and out of warranty, I dies again, advance lifetime alternator $150. Brakes: rotors ~$50 and pads about the same. I use EBS. Great place and very knowledgeable. Sometimes I turn to Rockauto (like for wiper blades and filters) but usually them. It isn't a Toyota but has much better aftermarket support. If you buy it, just don't become another Porsche shiny happy person. There's enough of them already. That's why my SCCA dues are current but haven't been with the Porsche Club for over a year. Too many asshats. (and I used to be a former rally chair and historian) (for upstate NY, region does seem to make a difference)
I didn't type "shiny happy" but that's ok is you throw in a ton of sarcasm.
Ya know, that's gotta be a regional thing. All the Porsche owners in Oregon are old guys that drive extremely slow. Same goes for vette owners. Out here the A-holes are 350z and sn197 owners.
markwemple wrote:
I'd say Boxster prices have hit bottom and are going up.
I have seen 3 under $5k over the last 4 months. 1 was an automatic, 1 was sketchy at a dealer that sketchy, and one had 208k on the clock. I really want the high mileage one.
Pelican Parts has a great how-to tech section and they intentionaly avoid using lifts and special tools.
I don't see them going up anytime soon. 1. there are too many 2. most are still not appreciated with the droopy egg headlights 3. perceived porsche tax 4. IMS issues even though by now most have been replaced. 5. Still not a 911 and the 996 is still dropping in price 6. You will see a small bump as vert in spring but nothing huge because of 1-5.
FWIW, the 996s are going up. You must not have been shopping lately. Most are back up above the 20k mark.
markwemple wrote:
FWIW, the 996s are going up. You must not have been shopping lately. Most are back up above the 20k mark.
Does yesterday count? 996s are going through a seasonal adjustment. Sports car in the spring, they will come back down and lower than they were during fall winter.
I bet you a coke.
EDIT: Just checked Ebay Motors on recently sold ones. 1999-2002 range from $14k to $18k actually a little lower than a month ago. That is actually to be expected with a new model just released. Now the 996 is 3 models out.
On BAT, there is a 03 996 targa 6 speed w/65k that's currently $28k. (and with those low miles, I'd be a bit concerned about the IMS)
But, back to the maintenance, call Don at EBS Racing. He'll give you plenty of info!
markwemple wrote:
On BAT, there is a 03 996 targa 6 speed w/65k that's currently $28k. (and with those low miles, I'd be a bit concerned about the IMS)
Holy E36 M3 that is about $4k short of Turbo money. (not with those miles but still under 100k)
Must be real proud of that targa
Edit: Dealer retail on that thing is $24.2k
2003 Boxster S with replaced engine. 5 days left and it isn't at $5k yet. Black Book retail has it at $13k. There is a nice one almost identical local for $11k with less miles and the IMS done. (IMS is NOT done on the BAT Boxster.)
I haven't seen any turbos under 40. Any 996s I've seen under 20 were questionable. Especially if they are /2s. /1s seem to command thousands less (for a reason). Same goes for Boxsters. Early ones with high miles are cheap. 986/2s are noticeably stronger money.
Remember the BAT is a bidding car, not an asking price car. That means the market is speaking. If you are finding cars that cheap, ship them to the east coast and make some money. Only sub 5k boxsters I've seen lately are early autos with a lot of defered maintenance.
I once owned an MR2. Nice little car. But then we got the Boxster S. Wow! "There is no substitute."
markwemple wrote:
Remember the BAT is a bidding car, not an asking price car. That means the market is speaking. If you are finding cars that cheap, ship them to the east coast and make some money. Only sub 5k boxsters I've seen lately are early autos with a lot of defered maintenance.
I'm in DC and these cars are in Virginia. There is a very nice Boxster for $6k with IMS and Clutch (listed in previous ad IIRC) new top included (not installed) on the list of Craig, been up for awhile now (and renewed a few times) too
In reply to markwemple:
4 days left and it went up $400 to $5100.
In reply to Flight Service:
That's a 986/1 but with those miles, it should be good for 50-100k more before anything major happens so it's worth a shot. Like I said above /1s with high miles. I personally prefer higher miles on the M96. Much less likely to run into trouble.
