Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Mr_Shiftright

stickguy said:

OK, I forgot already. what year boxsters suffer from IMS syndrome?

Here's the Boxster "drill" as far as I know it:

1. 2009 and up is good.

2.The lower the mileage on the car, the higher the risk

3. IMS replacement improves odds significantly but is not a guarantee--it's still, after all, the same engine design.

4. Frequent oil changes improves your odds

5. Revving the engine frequently improves your odds.

6. Failure is catastrophic, and requires an engine rebuilt (currently, OTD about $18,000, or used maybe $6K-$8K)

7. Failure rates vary by year.

28firefighter

So, at @Mr_Shiftright - What would you say to a 2007 987 Boxster (base, not S) with 120k miles? Better choice?

Mr_Shiftright

I think you have to view each car individually, and have it carefully checked for any evidence of future problems. Keep in mind that the IMS isn't the *only* factory defect to consider.

That said, I think the ideal Boxster would have about 80K on it, a new clutch already done, IMS replaced, and good service records. Some owners do the clutch and IMS at the same time, since during this operation, the IMS is right out there staring the mechanic in the face. Might as well do it.

What you don't want to do is pay a premium price for one that hasn't had any of this done--because you will be doing some, or all, of it.

So yeah, watch out for slipping clutch, IMS bearing debris in the oil filter, defective air/oil separator, leaking water pump, and real main seal leaks.

They really are very nice cars for the money, if you can get them squared away.

28firefighter

I was asking about the 987 mostly because it looks like (1) the base engine is less prone to issues and (2) I've heard on the 987s it requires splitting the block open to change the IMS, which is a lot more complicated (read $$$).

The car I'm considering just had the clutch done, no IMS, full service records though. Asking is just under $10k.

Edit: I need a less expensive hobby...

Mr_Shiftright

Well, get a PPI and have them saw the oil filter in half and look around; also check for a rear main seal leak, and for blue smoke discharge on cold start (that's the air/oil separator). If the car checks out at this point in time, it's probably going to be okay. The price of $10K depends on the year and cosmetics.

28firefighter

Thanks - sent the seller a note, so we'll see.

Mr_Shiftright

Good luck. I could never fit in a Boxster, so haven't been considering one. I'm more interested in a Cayman or 996.

Here's a beauty but he wants a high premium for exceptional condition:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/6562057257.html

Basically the same car as a 2006 Boxster S for twice the price!

kyfdx

Mr_Shiftright said:

Good luck. I could never fit in a Boxster, so haven't been considering one. I'm more interested in a Cayman or 996.

Here's a beauty but he wants a high premium for exceptional condition:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/6562057257.html

Basically the same car as a 2006 Boxster S for twice the price!

Doesn't that one break all of your rules?

Low miles
Original clutch
Original IMS
High price

ab348

qbrozen said:

Impressive amount of car for $12k.

Great car if someone wants to get into the Uber/Lyft/airport limo/car service business.

Mr_Shiftright

Well it's not "my" type of Porsche at all---this one would be for someone who wants a Sunday drive, and goes maybe 2,000 miles a year, and wishes to preserve the car as a low miles original.

If/when I get one, it will a) live outside; b) be a primary driver; c) be used up over the years until every last drop has been squeezed out of it.

Like I did with the MINI--it's approaching the end of its useful life at 150K, and I've had a lot of fun with it. I've amortized it to nothingness.

No sense for me (or someone like me) to buy a pristine, low mileage car at a premium price--I'm just going to more or less trash it over time, although it will always get regular maintenance.

I like my cars with patina and lots of reliability!

"Thousands for maintenance, and not one penny for car wax".

28firefighter

Mr_Shiftright said:

Good luck. I could never fit in a Boxster, so haven't been considering one. I'm more interested in a Cayman or 996.

Here's a beauty but he wants a high premium for exceptional condition:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/6562057257.html

Basically the same car as a 2006 Boxster S for twice the price!

This is just my first foray. I think ideally I want a 996, too, but they are more expensive and suffer from a lot of the same problems.

I'd be interested in the Cayman if it had a rear-seat that I could put Sam in once he's out of car seats. But since it doesn't, I might as well get the convertible I've wanted.

I'm only 5'10 and not especially broad shouldered, so the Boxster is fine for me.

Mr_Shiftright

The problem with the Cayman is that there's no rear seat, that's true. So every time you want to stow something you have to open the front or the rear trunk. There is a hatch area but it's shallow and anything you put in there blocks your rear vision--it's also difficult to reach between the seats to pull something from the rear hatch while in the cockpit.

Sam would love the back seat of a 996. He gets to hear the engine up close, too.

kyfdx

My son never got to ride in the 911. I sold it, eight days after he was born..

Mr_Shiftright

I bet he was ticked off about that.

kyfdx

Mr_Shiftright said:

I bet he was ticked off about that.

I tell him that I traded the 911 for him, and he agrees it was a bad deal....

Mr_Shiftright

And you're on an 18 year lease, too.

28firefighter

Sam is dying to be forward facing in his car seat right now. Every time I try to strap in, he stands up on the seat facing forward pointing at the gauges and out the window. I have no doubt that the sound of the engine would thrill him right up until he passed out (he inherited my wife's propensity for sleeping as soon as the car moves).

Mr_Shiftright

Ah, yes, Carcolepsy. I had a GF who had that. I found it kind of annoying actually. Like driving a hearse.

stickguy

My wife too. Fine by me.

Mr_Shiftright

LOL! Is that the difference between an wife and a GF?

pensfan83

kyfdx said:

My son never got to ride in the 911. I sold it, eight days after he was born..

Not a car but my parents sold their almost brand new speedboat so we could move into a bigger house once my sister was born. He was too prideful to accept help from his parents or his in laws.

kyfdx

Mr_Shiftright said:

And you're on an 18 year lease, too.

18 years... if only.. lol

imidazol97

stickguy said:

My wife too. Fine by me.

Sounds like the TV commercial for an insurance company that gives rebates if you don't use it.

The guy is driving and his wife and kids are doing other things, sleeping or have their ears on, and he's talking to the camera telling how great it is that they don't know about the money that he gets back...

Mr_Shiftright

Me At 18:

kyfdx

Mr_Shiftright said:

Me At 18:

Yeah... but, we're hoping for a better result.

(hasn't worked so far)

28firefighter

It's funny - I have a lot of friends who could fall into that category. I was never in that situation, but I've always felt that my parents did so much for my siblings and I that I wanted to be independent as soon as humanly possible and prove to myself (and them) that it was a worthy investment.

My sense is they had a harder time accepting that and finally cutting me loose than I did.

andres3

28firefighter said:

stickguy said:

OK, I forgot already. what year boxsters suffer from IMS syndrome?

Inception to 2008 with varying degrees of severity and risk over the generations. 

But after speaking with several former owners they basically echoed @Mr_Shiftright and said that the IMS was the least of the issues and they’re known for nickel and diming you to death with small things. 

Did I mention the story of the older Porsche that was in front of me for about 1 minute on a twisty fun road I sometimes take on the way home, and a huge black cloud of smoke came out in front of me, very thick, and there on the other side of the smoke screen was the Porsche on the side of the road stopped, as I passed in my reliable Audi.

Could that have been the IMS?

xwesx

28firefighter said:

It's funny - I have a lot of friends who could fall into that category. I was never in that situation, but I've always felt that my parents did so much for my siblings and I that I wanted to be independent as soon as humanly possible and prove to myself (and them) that it was a worthy investment.

My sense is they had a harder time accepting that and finally cutting me loose than I did.

Sounds like the best possible result! It's when things go the other way that it gets quite challenging for all involved....

andres3

A Cayman with a back seat would be the TTS . Though I'd stick to the 3rd generation, which means you can still score a good deal apparently for around $30-35K. In another year or two that number will keep going down I'm sure.

Did I mention my S4 was delivered on the morning after my daughter was born? She went home from the hospital and her first ride was in a brand new 2014 S4.

Now that's a family car!

roadburner

My son was driven home in my M6. Nothing else was appropriate...

tjc78

roadburner said:

My son was driven home in my M6. Nothing else was appropriate...

Both of my kids were taken home in Buick’s.  

2012 LaCrosse 
2015 Enclave

xwesx

andres3 said:

A Cayman with a back seat would be the TTS . Though I'd stick to the 3rd generation, which means you can still score a good deal apparently for around $30-35K. In another year or two that number will keep going down I'm sure.

Did I mention my S4 was delivered on the morning after my daughter was born? She went home from the hospital and her first ride was in a brand new 2014 S4.

Now that's a family car!

Yeah, she probably took it for granted. Kids these days....

fintail

Not so workable today, with insane schooling costs and menial job pay that hasn't nearly kept up with the cost of living.

Speaking of rides home, I think I was in my dad's 70 Mustang.

Mr_Shiftright said:

Me At 18:

Mr_Shiftright

I came home in a Packard! So there!

thebean

Mr_Shiftright said:

I came home in a Packard! So there!

I would have bet it was a horse and buggy.  

28firefighter

I came home in a Rabbit GTI. We brought Sam home in the X1 

pensfan83

I was brought home in a Chevy Malibu. One kid was brought home in a Mazda6 and the other in a Fusion.

Mr_Shiftright

thebean said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

I came home in a Packard! So there!

I would have bet it was a horse and buggy.  

Actually I was a large baby. I walked home.

graphicguy

My son came home in a Toyota Corolla 16v GTS.....coupe. That stayed in the driveway exactly 10 days after he was born. I remind him regularly that if it wasn’t for him, I’d be in a Lambo.

kyfdx

graphicguy said:

My son came home in a Toyota Corolla 16v GTS.....coupe. That stayed in the driveway exactly 10 days after he was born. I remind him regularly that if it wasn’t for him, I’d be in a Lambo.

Pretty cool car.. the GTS

Took my wife to the hospital in her Nissan 240SX, as we weren't sure we were going to make it on time, and there was no way I was letting that happen in my 911. She already threw up in it, once, about two months earlier.

The kid came home in the same vehicle, as it was snowing.

laurasdada

I likely came home in the NYC subway system. Maybe my folks sprung for a cab...

Woman who owns a very red Alfa Giulia in my building pulled into the garage in a black Giulia. I struck up a conversation with her, asked if it was a loaner. Yes, as her's is at the dealer as the sunroof no longer works. And, maybe, nicer weather approaches here in New England, she would like to be able to open her sunroof. Hmm, an electrical problem? Glad I bought British!

xwesx

Perhaps I cheated our daughter: She was born at home! Her first vehicle ride was not until three days later, in a 1997 F350 diesel. But, we made up for it. By the time she was five weeks old, she had traveled about 5,000 miles by car and another 6,000 by airplane. Poor kid!

qbrozen

I think our first one came home in our leased Pacifica. I'm not sure about the 2nd. I did drive to the hospital a couple of times in blizzards in a 190e with my wife, but I don't believe the actual final delivery happened when we took that car. Maybe possibly it was the Mazda5.

suydam

xwesx said:

Perhaps I cheated our daughter: She was born at home! Her first vehicle ride was not until three days later, in a 1997 F350 diesel. But, we made up for it. By the time she was five weeks old, she had traveled about 5,000 miles by car and another 6,000 by airplane. Poor kid!

Us too. All 3. 

cdnpinhead

xwesx said:

Perhaps I cheated our daughter: She was born at home!

My wife (and I, by extension) approve wholeheartedly. I love Alaska and the people I met the two times I've been up there, in '87 & '07. I've been a misfit all my life, and AK is full of people like me.

tifighter

My wife is from Kodiak, about a 3 hour boat ride from the nearest town. Born at home of course, but I don't think she rode in a car for a long, long time. They didn't have power or plumbing. Never used a telephone until she was 15.

Lots of different ways to grow up in the world, for sure.

Sandman6472

Think our oldest came home in my mom's 1985 Pontiac Parissiane(?), can't spell that sucker. The other two in our 1985 Olds Cutlass Supreme my in-laws bought for my wife. Since she was an only child, her folks were super generous to her(us). My folks, millionaires, gave us almost nothing, go figure!!

The Sandman

Sandman6472

My Golf is driving o k so it seems it'll be around for a bit. Definitely going to go to CarMax for a trade-in figure. They did an excellent repair job though I notice I have to close both drivers side doors a bit harder or else I get error messages. Also plan to do a DV claim as soon as possible so if I do win, that extra cash can be used as a down payment. Honestly not sure what comes next? Has to have similar mileage and size as my Golf SE but also has to have that "grin from ear to ear" effect every time I see it. Since they no longer make the Golf SEL, bummer, not sure whether to go back to Japan or Korea though the 328i is still the one I'd really really want but think it might be a bit too long. The few I've driven have given me that grin I always talk about!!

The Sandman

carnaught

After 8 days with all city driving, and mostly with a/c on, the wife is pleased with the mpg's.

nyccarguy

tifighter said:

My wife is from Kodiak, about a 3 hour boat ride from the nearest town. Born at home of course, but I don't think she rode in a car for a long, long time. They didn't have power or plumbing. Never used a telephone until she was 15. Lots of different ways to grow up in the world, for sure.

That is both wild & so awesome