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Porsche Boxster and Boxster S

926 messages,  Last post on Jan 21, 2013 at 2:10 PM

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What is this discussion about? Porsche Boxster

Messages Page 93 of 93

#917 of 926 Re: Concerned [lemmer] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Oct 28, 2011 (8:23 am)

Replying to: lemmer (Oct 28, 2011 8:11 am)
Sure. I'll just make sure they cut open the oil filter. I see plenty of Boxsters running around with well over 100K++. Sure a few people will get burned--and a few will be creamed by a garbage truck waiting at a stoplight.
 
I went through this with my MINI purchase as well---another "risky" car with all kinds of potential factory defects. I avoided all of them with an inspection except for one---the noisy flywheel when cold--but in that case it's only a noise and doesn't affect the clutch.
 
All used cars are a risk---the best one can do is either play the odds and try to eliminate all risks, or don't play at all.
 
If I didn't play at all, I would never have owned many of the cars I did end up buying and enjoying.
 
If a person is totally risk-averse, they should buy a good ol' Camry or some such. Exciting cars are always risky to some extent.
 
A used Corvette has its risks, too. The only upside is that it's not a $12,000 engine. (but it's getting there).

#918 of 926 Re: Concerned [Mr_Shiftright] by tj60

Oct 31, 2011 (8:14 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Oct 27, 2011 2:04 pm)
Thanks for doing all this checking really appreciate it. I found a good porsche mechanic here where I live so first chance I get I will be bending his ear with lots of questions. still would like to own one )))

#919 of 926 Re: Concerned [tj60] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Oct 31, 2011 (10:45 am)

Replying to: tj60 (Oct 31, 2011 8:14 am)
Yep, the people who work on them everyday are in the trenches, and know the situation better than any of us. Tell us what he says when you speak to him.

#920 of 926 Re: Concerned [tj60] by longislander1

Dec 20, 2011 (8:06 am)

Replying to: tj60 (Oct 31, 2011 8:14 am)
I don't know if you've bought yet, but if you haven't, I would suggest you do more homework. Search for engine failure posts on forums like Planet 9 and Rennlist, go to the "Porsche Boxster Engine Failure" page on Facebook and do a Google search on Porsche engine failures. Contact some of the owners directly and see what their experiences have been. I think you'll find the picture a little less rosy than some of the postings on here. While independent mechanics may be somewhat helpful, they don't have the broad knowledge of the problem that you can find by searching the web.
 
Yes, the Boxster does handle great. There's still nothing quite like it out there for the price, especially if you buy used. But if I had to do it over again, I never would have bought mine. The financial exposure is too great and the fact that Consumer Reports rates my engine "much worse than average" does nothing to help resale value. The safety risk is too great, especially if the engine suddenly goes while you're on a crowded highway doing 80 mph with a Hummer tailgating you. And, while I always understood, from personal experience and from others, that Porsche was not the best for customer service, it is clear that by the time the '05s were launched, Porsche had plenty of knowledge about the IMS problem and yet it continued to sell cars with defective bearings to unsuspecting customers like me. Any company with such a contempt for paying customers doesn't deserve my business. Since -- based on owner reports -- the '97-'04 cars were defective and the next generation '05-'08 cars also harbored defects, who's to say that the cars built in '09 or after won't be trouble as well?

#921 of 926 Re: Concerned [longislander1] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 20, 2011 (10:52 am)

Replying to: longislander1 (Dec 20, 2011 8:06 am)
Well the internet *is* great for gathering information but there is the tendency to presume that a problem one sees posted time and time again represents a 100% failure rate---which is hardly the case. Even a 5%--10% failure rate for a certain component is considered a catastrophe for a manufacturer.
 
So most Boxster engines will run fine for many years...BUT...there is that risk, yes indeedy. This is why I recommend sawing apart your oil filter at every change.
 
At least, if you see any indications of bearing debris, you can do a retro-fit at considerably less cost than an engine rebuild.
 
Actually nobody really rebuilds Boxster engines. as that's just MORE risk--most shops install a new short block.

#922 of 926 Re: Good Porsche Mechanic [jhowieb] by rabbitb

Mar 29, 2012 (2:58 pm)

Replying to: jhowieb (Jul 19, 2010 10:16 am)
I know this post is old... I live in KC area and am thinking about buying a Boxster. Did you ever buy? What has your experience been like?
 
Appreciate the feedback in advance.

#923 of 926 New Boxter by hky

Sep 26, 2012 (11:40 am)

I am considering buying a Boxster. There isn't much news about the newer model, are they better and more reliable than before (I am expecting more to own this car but certainly don't want a money pit) ? Dealer has a 2012 loaded around the price of a base 2013, should I go for 12' or 13'?

#924 of 926 Re: New Boxter [hky] by claires HOST

Sep 26, 2012 (10:45 pm)

Replying to: hky (Sep 26, 2012 11:40 am)
One of our members, habitat1, recently drove the 2013 -- he's probably a good one to ask. Here's a link to his post:
2013 Boxster S Convertible
 
ClaireS, Host
Automotive News & Views | Coupes & Convertibles

#925 of 926 Identifying Porsche Engine Designs by uswaiter

Jan 21, 2013 (1:28 pm)

I'm considering buying a used Porsche Boxster or Boxster S, and have become aware of the intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing failure problem that has destroyed some M96 and M97 engines.
I also understand that the later 9A1 (aka MA1) engine design is much simpler, having no intermediate shaft or IMS bearing to fail. My question is: When I'm looking over a used Porsche as a potential buyer, how can I tell, unambiguously, whether the engine in the car is a M96, a M97 or a 9A1 design?
 
P.S. I've got conflicting information regarding which model year cars were built with the different engines.

#926 of 926 Re: Identifying Porsche Engine Designs [uswaiter] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 21, 2013 (2:10 pm)

Replying to: uswaiter (Jan 21, 2013 1:28 pm)
2009 and up should have the 9A1 engine.
 
However, there are retrofit kits available for the earlier engines.
 
you can test for IMS bearing failure by cutting the oil filter in half and looking for tell-tale debris. If you catch it in time, you can install the upgrade kit (something like $3,000 installed).
 
Most IMS bearing failures recorded come from 1997-2004 cars. So it's unlikely, but not impossible, that a 2004-2008 engine will do this. In fact there are many 1997-2004 engines that have been driven hard for 200,000 miles and have never had a failure. This is why sawing the oil filter in half is a good way to check.
 
Also, on a Boxster you can pretty much count on clutch failure around 80,000 miles. In fact, you should budget for it.
 
By all means get an "S" if you can afford it. The regular 2.7 is not that fast.

Messages Page 93 of 93

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