2001 Porsche Boxster

This my second 986 model Boxster, the first a '99 and this a '01S. The car has been a joy to own and to drive. Living in an area of dense traffic, I opted for the Tiptronic transmission, an automatic with manual shifter buttons on the steering wheel. It is exceptional, having several shift modes that sense your driving style and change the shift points and shift speed according to what it senses would be appropriate. There are race drivers who actually prefer the Tip over the manual and claim their lap times are faster with it.

I do recommend a Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI) paid for by the potential buyer and performed by the Boxster-familiar mechanic who will maintain the car (or at least not by a friend of the seller). This should cost about 2-3 hours of labor but will tell you the condition of the car and what you can expect to need in the way of repairs. It should help you avoid the beater that looks good but which will need lots of work.

To address some concerns others have mentioned: I get 20k on my rear tires driving briskly. I have the alignment set up to favor even tire wear over all out handling, this done by a Porsche racing mechanic who knows what works on these cars.

My experience over 4 years and 16k miles with cars that had from 20k to 52k on them and were bought used is the repair costs have averaged $20 per month (not counting scheduled maintenance, oil changes, tire changes, etc). Tires are expensive (~$225 each)if you buy good ones, but can be had for less than $100 for lesser tires. Yes, Porsche repair and parts costs are high. I buy many OEM parts (example made by Bosch and exactly the same part as what Porsche labels and puts markup on) to reduce my repair costs, do some of the maintenance work myself and some at independent mechanics and some at the dealers.

There are many guides to do it yourself maintenance and many online forums where you can ask questions and receive advice (ppbb.com is a very friendly place).

I've written a rather extensive guide to buying a 986 Boxster with input from many others (http://mike.focke.googlepages.com/mikesporscheboxsterwebpages)that may be helpful.

Would I do it again, absolutely. In fact when I wrecked my first (my fault) I bought another. It makes me volunteer to go to the store and to go to the farthest store I can find <grin>.

The car has great active safety (handling/brakes) and good passive safety that I tested by totaling my first Boxster while walking away with no aches or scratches at all.

I've rated it a 4 on most areas because it doesn't have 400HP, isn't as reliable as a Honda, doesn't have the most room of a sedan, etc. But there is no category for "most fun" and that is what influences my overall satisfaction score. It is more than the sum of its parts and to drive a twisty road with the top down on a nice day is near heaven.

I was very pleased with the condition of the auto. It was as described on ebay. The performance level is excellent.

FOR THE FOLKS LOOKING FOR A PRE-OWNED PERFORMANCE AUTO, I CHALLENGE YOU TO FIND A BETTER VALUE THAN A BOXSTER S. A PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST. THE $100-$200 IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE CAR AND CAN SAVE YOU $1000'S LATER ON. THE BOXSTER IS MOST CERTAINLY NOT THE MOST COMFORTABLE AUTO TO DRIVE, BUT HAVING OWNED A HONDA S2000 AND MB SLK230, NO COMPARISON. AT A PRICE UNDER $25K, NO TWO SEATER IS COMFORTABLE AND NONE IS AS FUN TO DRIVE. AFTER TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, HERE ARE THE NUTS AND BOLTS. NEEDING NEW TIRES, PRICES ARE $100-$270 EACH. BUY THE MIDRANGE YOKOHAMA OR MICHELINS THAT WILL GIVE YOU 13K-17K MILES, DEPENDING ON YOUR DRIVING HABITS. OIL CHANGES ARE $130-$180 EVERY 15K MILES.(SYNTHETIC OIL) SOUNDS LIKE ALOT UNTIL YOU FIGURE OUT YOU SPEND $25 EVERY 3K ON AN EVERY DAY DRIVER, OR $125 FOR EVERY 15K DRIVEN.

BASICALLY, THIS IS AN AWSOME CAR THAT SHOULD BE DRIVEN ON WEEKENDS AND NIGHTS WITH THE TOP DOWN. YOU WILL NOT HAVE MORE FUN.

This my second 986 model Boxster, the first a '99 and this a '01S. The car has been a joy to own and to drive. Living in an area of dense traffic, I opted for the Tiptronic transmission, an automatic with manual shifter buttons on the steering wheel. It is exceptional, having several shift modes that sense your driving style and change the shift points and shift speed according to what it senses would be appropriate. There are race drivers who actually prefer the Tip over the manual and claim their lap times are faster with it.

I do recommend a Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI) paid for by the potential buyer and performed by the Boxster-familiar mechanic who will maintain the car (or at least not by a friend of the seller). This should cost about 2-3 hours of labor but will tell you the condition of the car and what you can expect to need in the way of repairs. It should help you avoid the beater that looks good but which will need lots of work.

To address some concerns others have mentioned: I get 20k on my rear tires driving briskly. I have the alignment set up to favor even tire wear over all out handling, this done by a Porsche racing mechanic who knows what works on these cars.

My experience over 4 years and 16k miles with cars that had from 20k to 52k on them and were bought used is the repair costs have averaged $20 per month (not counting scheduled maintenance, oil changes, tire changes, etc). Tires are expensive (~$225 each)if you buy good ones, but can be had for less than $100 for lesser tires. Yes, Porsche repair and parts costs are high. I buy many OEM parts (example made by Bosch and exactly the same part as what Porsche labels and puts markup on) to reduce my repair costs, do some of the maintenance work myself and some at independent mechanics and some at the dealers.

There are many guides to do it yourself maintenance and many online forums where you can ask questions and receive advice (ppbb.com is a very friendly place).

I've written a rather extensive guide to buying a 986 Boxster with input from many others (http://mike.focke.googlepages.com/mikesporscheboxsterwebpages)that may be helpful.

Would I do it again, absolutely. In fact when I wrecked my first (my fault) I bought another. It makes me volunteer to go to the store and to go to the farthest store I can find <grin>.

The car has great active safety (handling/brakes) and good passive safety that I tested by totaling my first Boxster while walking away with no aches or scratches at all.

I've rated it a 4 on most areas because it doesn't have 400HP, isn't as reliable as a Honda, doesn't have the most room of a sedan, etc. But there is no category for "most fun" and that is what influences my overall satisfaction score. It is more than the sum of its parts and to drive a twisty road with the top down on a nice day is near heaven.

The Porsche Boxster can be summed up in one word, amazing. The performance and handling of this tight roadster is energetic and forgiving. The mid-mounted "boxer" engine allows this cabriolet to hang in corners where others will fail. Entering the cockpit makes you feel like you are about to take off. Running through the gears offers plenty of fun in every position.

Most used Boxster's will require 2 - 3 thousand dollars in repairs within the first six months of ownership. Common issues including replacement of the coolant expansion tank, water pump, drive belt, brakes, rotors, rear main seal, clutch, cam seals, suspension, tires, and major services will pop up and require attention sooner before later. Labor on a Porsche is expensive, so, save yourself money by requiring a pre-purchase inspection the Boxster you've got your eye on. In addition, require 3 working keys (2 remotes, 1 valet), the rear wind stopper in and between the roll bar, manuals, a complete tool kit, jack and spare tire (if equipped) radio security code, and information about the previous service center to lookup service history.

I highly recommend the Boxster to anyone looking for a reasonably priced daily or weekend driver that looks and feels like it just drove off the show room floor every time.

This is an excellent car bought on no reserve auction for about 4,000 less than the blue book title. It will need new tires and brakes.

This is my fifth Porsche and it is by far the best yet. Build quality is outstanding, ride/handling and performance is the best.

I have driven for 27 years and owned nearly 30 cars. My Porsche Boxster is in a class all by itself. No other car I've owned compares. It handles like no other car I've owned. It corners like its on rails and the mid-engine design allows for a perfect balance when driving this awesome machine. You truly become one with the car and the road when you're driving. The Porsche Boxster is truly a sports car. This is not the kind of car a person should buy if he or she is overly budget conscious. Maintenance can be more expensive than a regular automobile. An oil change at my dealership runs between $160-$170, but is only required every 15,000 miles or within a year's time, whichever comes first. You can only expect to get about 10,000 miles or so out of a set of tires, but a Porsche is a sports car and above-average tire wear is normal for this type of car. Aside from a few minor changes, the exterior looks the same over the past decade. I personally prefer the 2001-2003 model interiors to those of the newer models. I traveled 1,200 miles home after I bought my car and had an impressively comfortable ride, although I'm 5'10" and weigh 160 pounds. If I were taller and heavier I might feel differently about the car. The car looks small but I find the interior to be roomy. I was concerned about feeling claustrophobic when driving the car or not having ample head room, but this has not been the case for me at all. I'm in my 40s and have been accused of having a mid-life crisis since buying my Porsche. Personally, I don't think I'm having one, but if I am, I'm having one hell of a ride (and a good time)!!!