Porsche Boxster...

[TW]Fox · 1 Jul 2010 at 12:50

daz said:
I think I'd rather have a newer Z4 than a 10 year old bottom of the market boxster.

This is the bottom of the market for Z4's as well (There are even cheaper ones though there are even cheaper Boxsters also), and most will be 03 plate which is 7 years old..

daz · 1 Jul 2010 at 13:00

Didn't realise that. In that case the OP should research the cars and test drive as many as possible in order to have the best chance of getting a good one.
Best chance of this I'd have thought would be to be as flexible as possible with engine/spec/colours...

Peerzy · 1 Jul 2010 at 13:02

[TW]Fox;16861741 said:
This is the bottom of the market for Z4's as well (There are even cheaper ones though there are even cheaper Boxsters also), and most will be 03 plate which is 7 years old..

Didn't someone (can't remember his name atm - sorry, he's got a 330ci atm and get his Z4 from near Guildford/Chobham area) buy a good 3.0 Z4 with a few extras for about £11k iirc, then sold it a year later for about £10.5k?

[TW]Fox · 1 Jul 2010 at 13:15

Yes and that was a 2003 as well, the oldest Z4 you can get.

Spamalot · 1 Jul 2010 at 13:23

Firestar_3x said:
If the roof motor puts you off the Z4 (cost wise) then i'd say the Boxster isn't the car for you, words "tip of the iceberg" come to mind.

I'd look at something with lesser running costs (S2000 / MX-5).

In all fairness the Boxster isn't that bad on running costs. I might have only had mine a month but I have all the invoices for any work that's ever been done over the last 9 years (since new). In the last two years (inc servicing and tyres) it cost the previous owner about £5k, having said that the year before it cost him £500. It's just luck of the draw with cars like these. He took it back to Porsche though so with a good indi you would be able to cut a good % off that.

In the past four weeks I've needed a new lambda sensor and handbrake switch. Both easy fixes but still a pain none the less.

NVP · 1 Jul 2010 at 13:26

What is the internal room like for the driver in a Z4 in comparison with a Boxter?

Spamalot · 1 Jul 2010 at 13:41

NVP said:
What is the internal room like for the driver in a Z4 in comparison with a Boxter?

I hope the Z4 is bigger; because there isn't much room at all in the Boxster!

Although I am a bit of a tall fat bar steward!

Firestar_3x · 1 Jul 2010 at 14:46

Spamalot said:
In all fairness the Boxster isn't that bad on running costs. I might have only had mine a month but I have all the invoices for any work that's ever been done over the last 9 years (since new). In the last two years (inc servicing and tyres) it cost the previous owner about £5k, having said that the year before it cost him £500. It's just luck of the draw with cars like these. He took it back to Porsche though so with a good indi you would be able to cut a good % off that.

In the past four weeks I've needed a new lambda sensor and handbrake switch. Both easy fixes but still a pain none the less.

Will be interesting what your view is in 12 months.

Just having a read of the above 2008 cost him £500 and 2009 cost him £4500 in parts in tyres?

Thats a huge variation in running costs, what was done in 2009, i take it needed a brake overhaul?

Housey · 1 Jul 2010 at 14:51

Quality Porsche Indi's are not that much cheaper than an OPC.

Firestar_3x · 1 Jul 2010 at 14:55

Thats what i've read and been told in the past, clearly taking the car to a backstreet garage would be a massive mistake if you actually plan on selling it again.

DM · 1 Jul 2010 at 15:10

If i was running a 10 year old Boxster now this would be my plan. (Boxsters have pretty much bottomed out now, so ending up with a non perfect history when i came to sell it would be less of a concern to me)

All normal servicing including brakes done at a decent 50 quid an hour garage.

Any diagnostic needing problems at a decent Porsche indy.

If you buy right and dont have a major problem they need not cost the earth.

That is why a GOOD specialist inspection is so worth doing buying a Porsche.

Firestar_3x · 1 Jul 2010 at 15:39

If the seller was serious about getting rid at close to market value i'd expect a recent inspection from Hartech of similar (at no cost to myself), i've read several Hartech reports over the last year which have raised serious issues for the future, i'm not sure if this is Hartech trying to stir up work or if the issues really exist.

Either way its put me off several cars in the past.

DM · 1 Jul 2010 at 15:43

I think Hartech are a fantastic and truthful company, what you need to remember though is for every car that turns up at Hartech with a blown bearing/new engine needed, there are thousands driving round problem free.

I think all of the Porsche bearing/valve horror stories sound more regular on the internet than they are in reality.

Of course that dosent detract from your 6-10k bill if it does happen to you.

Hence my firm belief in a good report before buying.

I think you would be looking long and hard for owners willing to foot the bill for your inspection though.

Spamalot · 1 Jul 2010 at 16:58

Firestar_3x said:
Will be interesting what your view is in 12 months.

Just having a read of the above 2008 cost him £500 and 2009 cost him £4500 in parts in tyres?

Thats a huge variation in running costs, what was done in 2009, i take it needed a brake overhaul?

The past 24 months cost £5k for various bits and bobs inc a £1800 service. The 12 months before that (3years ago) only cost £500 for a minor service plusa couple of bits.

[TW]Fox · 1 Jul 2010 at 17:07

I think you are being awfully premature saying that its reasonable to run after owning a car which in the past 24 months had £5k of work done it for a whole month. And its already begun to go wrong in that month

Spuderoony · 1 Jul 2010 at 17:55

[TW]Fox;16859688 said:
I disagree. Of the people I know who have a Z4 (either through this forum or elsewhere) thats older than 2006, I don't know a single one who has not had a roof motor fail.

Me, for one (touch wood).

mr tommo · 1 Jul 2010 at 18:49

Mine was a 53 plate (Dec 2003) and the roof motor went when the car was around 6 years old. Never had any other problem with the car.

I really enjoyed owning the car, the roof down experience is just unbeatable in the summer. However, with a bit more experience of other cars, I would say that the handling hardly inspires confidence on back roads.

IMO it looks better than the Boxster.

Peerzy said:
Didn't someone (can't remember his name atm - sorry, he's got a 330ci atm and get his Z4 from near Guildford/Chobham area) buy a good 3.0 Z4 with a few extras for about £11k iirc, then sold it a year later for about £10.5k?

Yep that was me

Bought it for £10,500, sold it 14 months later with about 12k extra miles for £10,600.

I did get it pretty cheap and when second hand cars were at their lowest, then sold it when they started to pick up a little hence the lack of depreciation.

A chap on here bought it from me in the end.

Sagalout · 1 Jul 2010 at 18:49

My car also has all of it's bills. Seems to been a consistent £1k a year ish at an independent but concensus on Boxa.net is to budget 2k a year, which seems reasonable.

Thing with these cars is it just takes one big ticket item to make averages pointless anyway.

helpimcrap · 1 Jul 2010 at 20:28

St0rmer66 said:
Considered an S2000? Revvy engine which which you'll be used to from bikes and could spend a fair bit less than £10k and still get a nice one... which could leave money for forced induction upgrades or just pocket the change . Just an option...

I have considered it and it's becoming more alluring - i've heard theyre revvy motors which appeals.

helpimcrap · 1 Jul 2010 at 20:33

cheers for all the view points. i realise what i'm asking for given i'm avoiding expensive bills etc but if i didn't mind expense - i'd buy a TVR T350 but apparently the speed sixs all need an engine rebuild!

i don't mind cost but i'm not a bottomless pit thats all and i want to actually use the car.

just wondering as considering it.