2000 Base With 2004 Replacment Engine?

[Stephen Porter]

I've been looking/research with the intention of purchasing a Boxster to use as pretty much a daily driver. There's a car on the market now that has got me thinking seriously. It's a 2000 base with about 95K miles on it. I haven't seen it in person yet, but it looks very clean. The intriguing fact on this one is that it had a brand-new factory replacement engine dealer-installed in 2004. So new engine has only about 35K miles on it. Price is $11K, which is about my budget.

It's not my favorite color, nor is it a tip, nor does it have a hardtop--all of which are things I'd like to have, but the new engine is very enticing.

Questions: what, if any, changes were incorporated into the factory engines by 2004? I take it they still haven't fixed the IMS problems, but is there a point when RMS (or any other) problems were engineered out of the design? And am I correct in assuming that a factory-replacement engine installed in 2004, was, in fact, a 2004 MY engine?

TIA for any pointers.

[Guest]

The engine installed in 2004 is still a 2000-2002 variocam engine. 2003-2004 engines are variocam plus and are not compatible with the electronics in your 2000 car. I hope this answers your question. I think thou the price is right.

Sergiu