Replaced engine boxster S

[orangem]

I am thinking of buying a '05 boxster S (987) and I just found out it already had 2 engine replacements (intermediate shaft failure). The first replacement took place in april, 06 and the latest one is Jan, 2008.

I wonder would you buy such a car or go on to look for another one?

Thanks

[White987S]

Keep looking! There are many used Boxsters out there.

[orangem]

Perhaps I am talking myself into it.... Since the engine was replaced 800 miles ago, may be I get the added benefit of a brand new engine?

But perhaps the car is just so jinxed that i shouldn't get it. ;)

Does one get repeated engine failures often?

[Westcoaster]

Perhaps I am talking myself into it.... Since the engine was replaced 800 miles ago, may be I get the added benefit of a brand new engine?

But perhaps the car is just so jinxed that i shouldn't get it. ;)

Does one get repeated engine failures often?

If it doesn't seem right, maybe it isn't! There has to be a lot more to this story.

Does the owner seem like the kind of person that would thrash the car, there should be tell tale signs of this if they are... Look carefully!

As previously posted there are lots of cars out there, no need to pin all hopes on tis one...

[White987S]

Plus, in a few years from now if you decide to sell the car, now you have to explain to the next potential buyer that the engine is not the original one.

[berty987]

Are you sure its had two complete engines ? I could understand one intermediate shaft and a seal , but two cases of shaft failure sounds excessive. The design of the intermediate shaft was changed around 2006 to a larger thread size. Unless your car was unlucky to have a replacement engine with the older design , it doesnt make sense that a newer one would fail. The newer design is what is currently fitted to all 987 Cayman / boxster (with 3.4 l engine ) and 911 with 3.6 and 3.8. The last or later 3.2 engines also had the same shaft design I beleive. To date I've heard no cases of the 3.4 l engine intermediate shafts failing. If the latest engine is one fitted after mid 2006 then you should have no more worries. The intermediate shaft seems more likely to fail on cars with lower less frequent mileage than daily ruunners. Typically cars dont tend to reach 40 k if the intermediate shaft is going to fail if it is a weak unit.

Edited March 19, 2008 by berty987

[orangem]

Are you sure its had two complete engines ? I could understand one intermediate shaft and a seal , but two cases of shaft failure sounds excessive. The design of the intermediate shaft was changed around 2006 to a larger thread size. Unless your car was unlucky to have a replacement engine with the older design , it doesnt make sense that a newer one would fail. The newer design is what is currently fitted to all 987 Cayman / boxster (with 3.4 l engine ) and 911 with 3.6 and 3.8. The last or later 3.2 engines also had the same shaft design I beleive. To date I've heard no cases of the 3.4 l engine intermediate shafts failing. If the latest engine is one fitted after mid 2006 then you should have no more worries. The intermediate shaft seems more likely to fail on cars with lower less frequent mileage than daily ruunners. Typically cars dont tend to reach 40 k if the intermediate shaft is going to fail if it is a weak unit.

The car is being sold by a Porsche dealer with CPO. It got its first "heart transplant" in April, 2006 around 10,000 miles then the 2nd one blew around 20,000 miles (Jan,2008). The dealer service history said is 2 intermediate shaft failure and both resulted in engine catastrophe. And of course they told me driven by a lady who doesn't abuse the car ;)

[White987S]

orangem, I'll repeat what I said earlier. Keep looking. There are lots of used Boxster out there. That car sounds cursed.

[orangem]

thanks, took your advice! Besides, dealer wouldn't budge on pricing makes the decision easier.

[1schoir]

thanks, took your advice! Besides, dealer wouldn't budge on pricing makes the decision easier.

Orangem:

If the dealer wouldn't budge on pricing, I tend to believe that this car will be on his lot for some time to come. As everyone else has said, there are just too many nice used Boxsters out there to get involved with a car with a story.

You made the right decision, IMHO.

Let us know what you eventually get.

Regards, Maurice.