So!
After initially wanting to buy a leggy 997 to run forever, my gaze turned to the only car I've every genuinely missed - a lowly Boxster. My first porsche was a beautiful Seal Grey 986s which I tastefully modified (surprise!) with a 996 throttle body and plenum, air intake pipework, airbox removal, stainless exhaust and MO3O suspension.
I did several trackdays in it and had a truly cracking time in the 12 months I owned her.
I sold the car to another first time porsche buyer who has kept her since and I still see the car knocking around.
When looking for a new daily driver I had a budget which I was willing to spend of £15-20k. The idea was that it would be something I could drive every day, leave anywhere without worrying about it and do my trackdays in. Most of all it had to be a Porsche.
During my search I stumbled across an old Boxster which was being sold due to the owner needing imminent back surgery which meant he couldn't drive the car anymore. He needed the money sharpish so priced the car to sell.
Within 9 minutes of his advert going live I had arranged to meet him and buy the car. In the end I paid £3850 for her. She is an arctic silver 986S with 130k miles on the clock. Full service history. A replacement engine in 2002 due to IMS failure (dual row). Serviced as per the schedule, but not over-serviced. It has spent the past 5 years going from Southampton to Leeds and back twice a week so the mileage hasn't been hard.
The last few owners have clearly been the type that otherwise couldn't afford a porsche and it has been run on a shoe-string by the looks of it. Cheap, bizarre tyre brands (hidieo - ever heard of them?), consumables not replaced - arb bushes, coffin arms etc - but essentials have been done - plugs/packs/brakes. The last service was a major and has a bill for £1800. The clutch seems to have lots of life left in it which is a big item which doesn't need replacing any time soon.
My initial plan for this car was to spend a few quid on it bringing it up to scratch and then sell it on for a profit before continuing my search for the ultimate leggy daily. However my drive home From picking it up in Leeds was so much fun, so reminiscent of old times, that I think I'm going to keep it for a while! Sure she's not perfect, but the cheapest S in the country was never going to be! On the flip side I sold the Mini for £6k within 12 hours, so I've got a couple of grand to throw at the Boxster before I'm in negative equity anyway!
So a critical appraisal of what needs doing:
1) The paint is yellowy due to road film. Its rough if you run your fingers over it and hasn't seen a clay bar in 15 years
2) All 4 coffin arms need replacing.
3) Track rod ends need replacing
4) New condensers needed
5) Small pin-hole in large a/c return pipe. Going to try to seal this without replacing the pipe (replaced this pipe before and its a ball-ache)
6) Oil leak noted - spent an hour yesterday cleaning the sump and crank case. Appears to be coming from the IMS/RMS area
7) All exhaust flange studs completely shot
8) Rear under tray missing
9) Rear anti roll bar heavily corroded and thinned. Needs replacing.
10) Alloys could do with a refurb
11) New tyres all round needed.
So last night I spent £500 or so on parts, did an oil/oil filter/air filter service. Pleased to report that there are no signs of iron filings in the filter.
God I love a money pit!
After initially wanting to buy a leggy 997 to run forever, my gaze turned to the only car I've every genuinely missed - a lowly Boxster. My first porsche was a beautiful Seal Grey 986s which I tastefully modified (surprise!) with a 996 throttle body and plenum, air intake pipework, airbox removal, stainless exhaust and MO3O suspension.
I did several trackdays in it and had a truly cracking time in the 12 months I owned her.
I sold the car to another first time porsche buyer who has kept her since and I still see the car knocking around.
When looking for a new daily driver I had a budget which I was willing to spend of £15-20k. The idea was that it would be something I could drive every day, leave anywhere without worrying about it and do my trackdays in. Most of all it had to be a Porsche.
During my search I stumbled across an old Boxster which was being sold due to the owner needing imminent back surgery which meant he couldn't drive the car anymore. He needed the money sharpish so priced the car to sell.
Within 9 minutes of his advert going live I had arranged to meet him and buy the car. In the end I paid £3850 for her. She is an arctic silver 986S with 130k miles on the clock. Full service history. A replacement engine in 2002 due to IMS failure (dual row). Serviced as per the schedule, but not over-serviced. It has spent the past 5 years going from Southampton to Leeds and back twice a week so the mileage hasn't been hard.
The last few owners have clearly been the type that otherwise couldn't afford a porsche and it has been run on a shoe-string by the looks of it. Cheap, bizarre tyre brands (hidieo - ever heard of them?), consumables not replaced - arb bushes, coffin arms etc - but essentials have been done - plugs/packs/brakes. The last service was a major and has a bill for £1800. The clutch seems to have lots of life left in it which is a big item which doesn't need replacing any time soon.
My initial plan for this car was to spend a few quid on it bringing it up to scratch and then sell it on for a profit before continuing my search for the ultimate leggy daily. However my drive home From picking it up in Leeds was so much fun, so reminiscent of old times, that I think I'm going to keep it for a while! Sure she's not perfect, but the cheapest S in the country was never going to be! On the flip side I sold the Mini for £6k within 12 hours, so I've got a couple of grand to throw at the Boxster before I'm in negative equity anyway!
So a critical appraisal of what needs doing:
1) The paint is yellowy due to road film. Its rough if you run your fingers over it and hasn't seen a clay bar in 15 years
2) All 4 coffin arms need replacing.
3) Track rod ends need replacing
4) New condensers needed
5) Small pin-hole in large a/c return pipe. Going to try to seal this without replacing the pipe (replaced this pipe before and its a ball-ache)
6) Oil leak noted - spent an hour yesterday cleaning the sump and crank case. Appears to be coming from the IMS/RMS area
7) All exhaust flange studs completely shot
8) Rear under tray missing
9) Rear anti roll bar heavily corroded and thinned. Needs replacing.
10) Alloys could do with a refurb
11) New tyres all round needed.
So last night I spent £500 or so on parts, did an oil/oil filter/air filter service. Pleased to report that there are no signs of iron filings in the filter.
God I love a money pit!