Portia the Porsche

[Kees 594]

Thought I would write a little piece about my latest toy. 

I've been wanting a Porsche for many, many years. However, even before I got my learner license back in the day I would watch the prices of basically anything Porsche climb. First it was older 911s, then nice 928 S4s and 944 S2s and then it was just everything else. Currently there is a 20K 924.... umm wtf. 

 

Anyway, over the last year I came to the realisation that the best way for me to get a decent first taste of the Porsche life was going to be through a manual Boxster. I narrowly missed a bargain (for the time) 987 Manual at the start of the year when the market was still quite hot, but since then prices have come back a little bit. Although that said, I am rather grateful I sold my D3 Audi S8 when I did, as I saw a really tidy looking NZ New example similar to mine go for 9.7K recently... I got double that for mine in March this year. 

 

Anyway I digress. I was torn between 986 and 987 Boxster. 986 has the bonus of the detachable hardtop, but the regular 2.5s are apparently a bit gutless, and the S variants or 986.2 2.7s are hard to find at a half sensible price in manual. Plus, the interior is a bit uninspiring and while I actually don't mind the fried egg headlights on a 996, I'm not completely sold on them on a Boxster, especially pre-facelift. 

Then a month of two ago a high ks 987 rolled across my screen. I'm sure a few of you will recognise it. 

Seller had it listed as an auction, and had some excellent photos of it in the rain with the interior absolutely filthy. Furthermore, it had faded headlights, stickers on the doors and plasti-dipped wheels which generally just made it look a bit tired, BUT had a NEW Soft Top (which cost $8K apparently). Unsurprisingly no one bid on it, and I was the highest bidder some $8K below what he wanted for the car. Car was re-listed two more times and while the final bid increased from the first auction, it was not hitting reserve. As I was the highest bidder every time I eventually negotiated with the seller to a price I thought was fair. 

I then made the trip to pick it up. Of course I generally do not have normal car buying experiences. Whether its my Subaru Legacy E-Tune blowing up on the way home, the clutch packing up in my Manual W8 on the test drive, or getting a flat tyre in my newly acquired Boxster at 10pm on a Sunday night in rural Hamilton, there's generally something. 

 

So yes, flat tyre.... 10pm at night.... rural Hamilton. Obviously the car does not have a spare and is missing its stud key, excellent! 

The letter box at the driveway I pulled into was 1126 from memory - just to put into perspective how I had absolutely no idea where I was. Only reason I was on that road in the first place was because the motorway had been closed 😕 

Went to two nearby houses to ask if they had an air compressor I could borrow (as the car's one is rubbish and slow) just to try get the car somewhere safer such as a petrol station, but of course: young, Aucklander, driving a Porsche - Do you think I got any help?

First house I went to I was ridiculed for not buying a ute, and then ridiculed for buying a girl's car. 

Second house I went to I was asked if I go to spastics school for being younger with a Porsche. 

Anyway, luckily the lady at the AA centre had done a good job upselling me to be a premium member with extended towing allowance so I waited with the car for a couple hours and got the tow truck to flat bed the car to a tyre shop on the North Shore in Auckland. Great 19 hour day that was. 

The next day I set about sorting the tyre. Of course the Pirelli DragonSport it had on it was apparently out of stock nationwide, so naturally I put on a new set of Bridgestone RE003s for $1.3K. Would have preferred Michelin PS4s but the RE003s were ready to go at the shop it was at so its whatever. 

 

So finally I got the car home and set about its deep clean. I don't think the interior had been cleaned since the previous owner bought it. It was super dusty and full of rubbish and food crums. Luckily not the hardest to clean, just a little time consuming. 

Then I set about removing the hideous aftermarket "Porsche" script from the bootlid (to be replaced by a Boxster badge when I find one), and also stripped off the stickers and the plastidip on the wheels. 

Headlights had a tidy up at Renew Car and already the car looks alot tidier. 

So anyway, how does it drive? 

The previous owner upgraded the rotors and put performance pads on it so when you get on the brakes hard it stops like nothing I have ever driven - its SUPER impressive. 

I think it may have a different intake on it - sounds incredible, like a baby GT3. Has that intoxicating Porsche flat 6 howl when you rev it out. 

Gearbox is lovely, clutch weighting is nice, steering is awesome - probably the best car I've driven. (I actually think it sounds better than my Mum's 997.2 C2S)

 

The previous owner asked me when I was paying for it - "Is this your first Porsche?", "Yes" I replied. 

"Well you're screwed then, all you will want to drive from now on will be these". 

And so far he's been right. I've driven it everyday. Drove my W8 on the weekend and hated how light the clutch was and how high up the car felt. 

 

But of course, after excitedly telling everyone I got my first Porsche, someone from my extended family has offered me their manual 987 Cayman S for essentially trade in value so this 987 will probably go up for sale within the month (as passing that deal up is insanity) because there isn't much point having two and under 25 insurance is already an unpleasant experience with the 540i, Manual W8 and the Boxster. 

 

P.S: The car has a silly Hikeit throttle controller in it which I hate - a Boxster is obviously not a diesel Mitsubishi Triton, and surprisingly Porsche know a thing or two about making a nice, reactive throttle. Who would have guessed? Anyway, if anyone wants the Hikeit, if you know what you are doing and can remove it from the car you can just have it. 

Anyway, here's a couple photos of how it's looking now. 

 

 

 

[GorGasm 563]

Awesome man, live the dream.

[Vass 852]

Tempted to become a hairdresser looking at that. Looking mint, good buy.

[Sammo 2549]

Looks like a fabulous car and I'm not surprised its an amazing drive - light(ish) weight, top down, flat 6, mid engined - I also think the 987 exterior / interior was a big leap over the 986.

And yes - Cayman S manual - DO IT

*BRB, off to look at longhood 911s on Bring a Trailer*

Edited November 10, 2022 by Sammo

[318Touring 40]

Hey congrats from another Porsche owner.  I bought my 987.2 back in Sept. to keep the 997.2 company.  I remembered someone said that you can't have too many Porsches......

If the Cayman is a 987.1 S, watch Jake Raby's videos on .1 S cars, and check for bore scoring.  Remediating M97 engine costs around $30-40k, easily. 

Edited November 14, 2022 by 318Touring

[Kees 594]

22 minutes ago, 318Touring said:

If the Cayman is a 987.1 S, watch Jake Raby's videos on .1 S cars, and check for bore scoring.  Remediating M97 engine costs around $30-40k, easily.

Yes it is a 987.1 S so bore scoring is definitely a concern of mine. Will definitely look out for it - I saw a 987.1 Cayman S 2 weeks ago up for sale with bore scoring, and there's currently a 997.1 911 with bore scoring for sale at a dealer in Wellington - seems to be more of an issue than the famed IMS? 

 

24 minutes ago, 318Touring said:

I bought my 987.2 back in Sept. to keep the 997.2 company

987.2 would be great. Quite a rare beast along with the 997.2s thanks to the old GFC. 

Cheeky pic of my Boxster next to my Mum's 997.2 which makes my 987 look rather mediocre 😂

P.S: Ignore the horrid yellow'd headlights on my 987 - that photo was taken the day I got the car. 

[318Touring 40]

10 hours ago, Kees said:

Yes it is a 987.1 S so bore scoring is definitely a concern of mine. Will definitely look out for it - I saw a 987.1 Cayman S 2 weeks ago up for sale with bore scoring, and there's currently a 997.1 911 with bore scoring for sale at a dealer in Wellington - seems to be more of an issue than the famed IMS? 

Yes that's right, bore scoring seems to be the main problem especially for 997/987 gen 1 while IMS is the main issue for 996/986 gen 2 mostly.  Hence I got rid off my 996 as I didn't want to spend $5k for IMS Solution then having to fork out another $30k to remediate the cylinder walls. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a pattern that people can use to determine whether a vehicle will have bore scoring in its later life or not.

I was looking for 987.1 non S or .2 - mine came up for sale for a good price, so why not eh.  Manual is fun but my wife wouldn't want to drive it.

I wish at least one my Porsches is not grey or black, but beggars can't be choosers....

 

[Neal 546]

Always been temped and no doubt at some stage may get menoporsche..

Great story btw , hope you really enjoy driving it and ownership.

[Kees 594]

Ok so I have decided I really would like the Cayman S I have been offered. 

Will most likely list the Boxster on Trademe tomorrow or on the weekend. 

Thinking of listing for $22,995, does this sound reasonable? 

 

Cheapest manual Boxster at the moment is a 986.2 for $24,995, and the current cheapest manual 987 is $35,000 ONO for a standard 2.7 Boxster like mine (aside from a questionable example at Turners Otahuhu for $31.5K estimated auction price).

 

Mine has roughly 228,000km, a few cosmetic issues (primarily some paint damage on the rear bumper, small dent on driver's door & bonnet, paint damage on wheels and general stone chips) and has a minimal paper trail of receipts due to the previous owner's apparent nonchalant attitude to keeping things with the car, hence I was thinking $22,995 would be a somewhat reasonable place to start price wise. 

My car also has:

- New Porsche Soft Top (Done by previous owner, cost around $8K apparently)

- New Bridgestone Potenza RE003 Tyres (Cost me 1.3K)

- DBA Performance Slotted Front Disks

- Paddon Sport Front Pads 

Car stops like nothing I have ever driven, fairly sure it would out-brake majority of cars (short of the serious stuff with carbon ceramics). 

 

I also set about cosmetically tidying the car up so I did:

- Light polish + basic ceramic coating

- Replaced the Fan Speed and Temperature switches on the interior as they had gone yuck. 

- Sourced "Boxster" badge from Porsche (rip off at $286) 

 

Being a 2.7L Flat 6 with 240hp, mid-engined and 5-Speed Manual it is a very fun car to drive and feels quick. Makes the distinctive Porsche Flat 6 howl so sounds really nice. 

 

Let me know your thoughts, here are a couple photos of the car my mate did with his flash camera recently. 

 

 

 

[318Touring 40]

Price is roughly at the right level for the mileage.  There is.a NZ new 987.1 with 90kms in Welly for $29k, been sitting for months now.

Unless been refreshed, suspension will likely due soon (any clonking noise?), as well as reservoir bottle (they crack from the ongoing cycle of hot and cold).

GLWS, I think I have it in my watchlist, and good on you for putting the wheel cap(s) the right way!

[Kees 594]

22 minutes ago, 318Touring said:

There is.a NZ new 987.1 with 90kms in Welly for $29k, been sitting for months now.

Had that one on my watchlist too for ages. Was wondering why it took so long to sell as it didn't even seem that badly priced, especially as it was NZ New, manual, under 100,000km and an interesting blue over tan colour combination. Was wondering if it potentially had some issues as I had watched the Boxster market all year and many other examples came and went except for that one. However, I believe it has finally sold in the last week or so. 

25 minutes ago, 318Touring said:

Unless been refreshed, suspension will likely due soon (any clonking noise?), as well as reservoir bottle (they crack from the ongoing cycle of hot and cold)

Not having much of the service history really annoys me as the car drives great so I'm guessing its probably had a refresh of bushings and what not in the past. Suspension is tight, no weird noises, no shimmers or vibrations. I have a feeling the shocks may have been replaced as there is a sticker in the door jam from a shock specialist, but without the paper trail I can't really confirm. 

It's a little frustrating as the previous owner clearly spent money on the car, he just didn't keep the receipts. He was meant to have a look for some so I may chase him up about it tomorrow actually. 

Guess we will see how it goes! 

[318Touring 40]

11 hours ago, Kees said:

Had that one on my watchlist too for ages. Was wondering why it took so long to sell as it didn't even seem that badly priced, especially as it was NZ New, manual, under 100,000km and an interesting blue over tan colour combination. Was wondering if it potentially had some issues as I had watched the Boxster market all year and many other examples came and went except for that one. However, I believe it has finally sold in the last week or so. 

Hah, at last.  I went to take a look. Front bumper has different shade to the rest of the car.  Front radiators half-blocked by rotten leaves. Interior hasn't been looked after so it was dirty-brown.  Discs badly scored all around and they didn't want to negotiate on the price.