Looking to buy a '02 S, should I?

[matthewb]

Hello, newbie here to this forum. I recently started looking to purchase a Boxster, and found one that is priced way to good to walk away from.

The good...it is a '02 Boxster S and it runs really well, no unusual noises, suspension is tight, clutch feels like it is new and everything works on the car. No leaks underneath and I did the oil cap test to test the oil seperator and it seems to be good, car idles smoothly, etc. Mileage is 110,000 miles and it is for sale for over $6k under market value. It was recently imported to Canada from Texas.

The bad... one small ding on rear quarter panel, air bag light is on and the worse item, it would seem that the second gear syncro is gone. You can't shift first to second without grinding but you can downshift from third to second without issues. Seller says it is the syncro and he has a quote to fix it for $500...I didn't think there was any repairs on a Porsche for that low an amount. <_< Last item, no history on the car...I plan on doing a car fax today just to get an idea on the history.

So should I just run, or could this still be a good purchse. Keeping in mind that this car is selling for considerably less then market value and I am able to almost all repairs myself.

On another note, anyone know what option codes 239, 502 and 584 are?

Thank you in advance for any advice

[therock88]

Hello, newbie here to this forum. I recently started looking to purchase a Boxster, and found one that is priced way to good to walk away from.

The good...it is a '02 Boxster S and it runs really well, no unusual noises, suspension is tight, clutch feels like it is new and everything works on the car. No leaks underneath and I did the oil cap test to test the oil seperator and it seems to be good, car idles smoothly, etc. Mileage is 110,000 miles and it is for sale for over $6k under market value. It was recently imported to Canada from Texas.

The bad... one small ding on rear quarter panel, air bag light is on and the worse item, it would seem that the second gear syncro is gone. You can't shift first to second without grinding but you can downshift from third to second without issues. Seller says it is the syncro and he has a quote to fix it for $500...I didn't think there was any repairs on a Porsche for that low an amount. <_< Last item, no history on the car...I plan on doing a car fax today just to get an idea on the history.

So should I just run, or could this still be a good purchse. Keeping in mind that this car is selling for considerably less then market value and I am able to almost all repairs myself.

On another note, anyone know what option codes 239, 502 and 584 are?

Thank you in advance for any advice

Don't see any of those codes listed except M584 which is a storage box. I was looking under the option codes for 02 Boxster in PET 7. No 239, or 584 that I can find? Lots of subjective questions that you will likely need to decide. I doubt the tranny can be repaired for $500 though. To R&I the tranny and engine to replace RMS on a 996 is + $2000. Also not certain how serviceable the components are. Porsche is pretty particular about transmission repairs...

A ding on a quarter panel would be about $100-200 if it has no scratch and can use PDR...Traditional repair would require blending and refinishing and will quickly get over $2K.,,,,Or you could just leave it at $0 :)

Good luck.

DC

[matthewb]

The ding is really not a concern for me, this car if purchased will become more of a track toy then show car. As for the R&I and RMS for approx. $2k then that is not bad news due to the cheap purchase price of the car. So I do feel better about this car. I have since done the carfax and it comes back very clean, showing regular dealer maintenance up to 2009.

So once my wife is onboard and accepts the speed yellow colour (not our favourite) I think i might just have my first boxster in the driveway.

If anyone else has anything to add it would be much appreciated.

Thank you

[therock88]

The ding is really not a concern for me, this car if purchased will become more of a track toy then show car. As for the R&I and RMS for approx. $2k then that is not bad news due to the cheap purchase price of the car. So I do feel better about this car. I have since done the carfax and it comes back very clean, showing regular dealer maintenance up to 2009.

So once my wife is onboard and accepts the speed yellow colour (not our favourite) I think i might just have my first boxster in the driveway.

If anyone else has anything to add it would be much appreciated.

Thank you

Great...The reference to the RMS etc, is to simply give an idea of labor for removal etc. The parts for the job are only a little over $100...The rest is labor :)

Good luck with the wife.

DC

Edited June 18, 2011 by therock88

[mikefocke]

239 18" wheels

502 Made in Valmet, Finland as are probably 98% of Boxsters

To repair a 2nd gear synchro, I see a ~$4k cost as you'll do the IMSR and RMS while you have the gearbox out and the rebuild of the trans or a replacement trans is not cheap.

[matthewb]

239 18" wheels

502 Made in Valmet, Finland as are probably 98% of Boxsters

To repair a 2nd gear synchro, I see a ~$4k cost as you'll do the IMSR and RMS while you have the gearbox out and the rebuild of the trans or a replacement trans is not cheap.

Thank you for your input, I did in fact use your buyers guide to help me better evaluate this car and your approximation of $4k is probably more realistic for what may be required. I am certainly sleeping on this decision and will likely not get back to the seller until mid week. If it is gone by then, well I get the pleasure of searching for another Boxster.

On a slight tangent, if it is a bad syncro, is it bad to drive the car in this state...i.e. would there be "bits" of metal/debris in the tranny that could cause further damage?

Thanks again

[Cloudsurfer]

Gbox is about $2500 for a G50 based 6-speed rebuild, and while you're there, get an LSD installed (biggest improvement you can make to the car). Now, to pull the tranny, do the RMS seal and IMS upgrade, new clutch, and put it all back together, figure another $3k. So, realistically, if you JUST pulled the gearbod and had the syncro fixed, you might get out the door for as low as $2k. If you do it right, and replace/ upgrade everything in there, figure $5k.

The bodywork bit is no big deal, as it's just paint.

Now, the lack of records is not the best situation.

Unless the car is truly priced attractively, I'd keep looking. Were it me, I wouldn't want anything but an 03/04 S.

[hanuman]

I purchased my 2002 Boxster S with 160K miles accompanied with a bad OAS and bad final drive for under USD$6K ended with a repair bill of slightly over USD$ 3K and still have a leaky coolant system .. but it's been the best purchase experience for me since the engine still purrs and the annoying 2nd gear non syncro can be over looked if you LEARN to shift correctly :). These cars perform best once properly warmed up as it a pedigree and only perform once properly prepped, I drive the heck out of if it and it still demand more.

Hello, newbie here to this forum. I recently started looking to purchase a Boxster, and found one that is priced way to good to walk away from.

The good...it is a '02 Boxster S and it runs really well, no unusual noises, suspension is tight, clutch feels like it is new and everything works on the car. No leaks underneath and I did the oil cap test to test the oil seperator and it seems to be good, car idles smoothly, etc. Mileage is 110,000 miles and it is for sale for over $6k under market value. It was recently imported to Canada from Texas.

The bad... one small ding on rear quarter panel, air bag light is on and the worse item, it would seem that the second gear syncro is gone. You can't shift first to second without grinding but you can downshift from third to second without issues. Seller says it is the syncro and he has a quote to fix it for $500...I didn't think there was any repairs on a Porsche for that low an amount. <_< Last item, no history on the car...I plan on doing a car fax today just to get an idea on the history.

So should I just run, or could this still be a good purchse. Keeping in mind that this car is selling for considerably less then market value and I am able to almost all repairs myself.

On another note, anyone know what option codes 239, 502 and 584 are?

Thank you in advance for any advice

[shyster77]

A couple of additional things to check

1) Convertible top movement - transmissions (on both ends) can wear out by now and these are pricey ($650/each).

2) Window regulators (especially the ones that help the windows snug under the top).

Mileage isn't bad on a 9yr old, provided the maintenance records for all major work is available.