Post by alf on Mar 15, 2021 12:25:43 GMT
So.... Ever since I discovered how much I enjoyed a bit of soft-top motoring (in Tina's 1 series cab) for the short local trips I mostly do now, I have been pondering a relatively low-cost stab at something for a bit of summer fun, a good drive and that won't depreciate much. This would be alongside the XFR which is so fit for purpose for longer trips, cross European motoring, and so on, I will keep that long term - this one has been fantastic and just feels trustworthy.
The 1 series was a wonderfully packaged little thing and handled much better than I expected (I find her current much bigger/heavier A5 cab soulless by comparison) and it would be hilarious to see what it is like with the "35i" motor in it, but not many come up in decent specs, especially as manuals, with that engine.
Anyway it got me thinking - I like E46 M3 cab's but they are worth as much as my car in decent spec now! And I'm missing track days, a lot, and would like something where I could gently track it and still enjoy it, do the odd autotest in it, things like that. Looking around has reaffirmed for me that early Boxsters are great value - I suspect the potential running costs put many people off, but I'm more able to deal with that than I am wanting to sink a lot of capital into it.
So I started looking around at cars around the £7-10k mark (having originally had £7500 as a "reasonable" figure in my head). Thoughts please.... I prefer the looks of the 987 but given what I'm used to these days I do find the non-S cars a bit gutless, however that may be a good thing in some ways (still a great engine sound but fewer consumables used). 987 S cars seem a bit more than I'd want to pay, if we ignore the cars that blatantly seem to have not been looked after (and I'm looking at things like Barried mods and budget tyres here, I am not buying a Porsche from someone that fitted cheap tyres) then 987 "S" models start about here which I think is a bit much for a toy that won't get much use - the more the outlay the less I'm likely to do this - however no doubting this is good value and it's the usual "a bit more buys a lot better" story as always with SH cars, but where do you stop?
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102209283629 This car was OPC until 2013 then supplied and serviced by the people now selling it.... Looks lovely...
Obviously a gen 2 987 S is the one to have, but that's a totally different price proposition.
More on-message, some interesting 986 gen 2 "S" cars are here, the last one is not cheap but looks really nice and I think with buying from trade there is an element of knowing what they are looking for, and some fallback/warranty. However, would you have it over the 987 "S" above for a bit more??
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101077723861
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103049762064
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102249404299
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101208166488
And here is a good example of what seems stunning value but has budget tyres, ceramic brakes (was it a press car?) and so on with minimal description and crappy photos, the kind of thing I've been steering clear of as I'm no expert but I know a car bought by someone unable to afford to run it properly when I see one!
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101278399783
If I extend to 987 2.7 then there are some cracking cars, like this one which while it is on 16's and a private sale, has new (Michelin) tyres all round and sounds genuinely well cared for:
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103130097628
Can't be too choosy about specs and so on at this age, Xenons would be nice but it will mostly be used in daytime, PSM I'd happily not have, my main issue is just how worn the leather on the driver's seat is on many of them - too ratty looking an interior would put me off. Oh and you see the odd cheap one with full leather in a colour that can only be described as post-curry vomit, that would be a deal breaker! Happily given most are Silver, I like it on these cars - especially as they age - its very simple to look after and shows chips and scratches less. And dust, this will sit around a bit...
In all cases looking within 100 miles of me, not really wanting to travel further in current conditions...
So, choose me some to view and/or talk me out of it or into something similar that will be a genuine hoot to drive on country lanes and on track, not cost too much, and still be worth the same (or more?) in a few years if looked after!
The 1 series was a wonderfully packaged little thing and handled much better than I expected (I find her current much bigger/heavier A5 cab soulless by comparison) and it would be hilarious to see what it is like with the "35i" motor in it, but not many come up in decent specs, especially as manuals, with that engine.
Anyway it got me thinking - I like E46 M3 cab's but they are worth as much as my car in decent spec now! And I'm missing track days, a lot, and would like something where I could gently track it and still enjoy it, do the odd autotest in it, things like that. Looking around has reaffirmed for me that early Boxsters are great value - I suspect the potential running costs put many people off, but I'm more able to deal with that than I am wanting to sink a lot of capital into it.
So I started looking around at cars around the £7-10k mark (having originally had £7500 as a "reasonable" figure in my head). Thoughts please.... I prefer the looks of the 987 but given what I'm used to these days I do find the non-S cars a bit gutless, however that may be a good thing in some ways (still a great engine sound but fewer consumables used). 987 S cars seem a bit more than I'd want to pay, if we ignore the cars that blatantly seem to have not been looked after (and I'm looking at things like Barried mods and budget tyres here, I am not buying a Porsche from someone that fitted cheap tyres) then 987 "S" models start about here which I think is a bit much for a toy that won't get much use - the more the outlay the less I'm likely to do this - however no doubting this is good value and it's the usual "a bit more buys a lot better" story as always with SH cars, but where do you stop?
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102209283629 This car was OPC until 2013 then supplied and serviced by the people now selling it.... Looks lovely...
Obviously a gen 2 987 S is the one to have, but that's a totally different price proposition.
More on-message, some interesting 986 gen 2 "S" cars are here, the last one is not cheap but looks really nice and I think with buying from trade there is an element of knowing what they are looking for, and some fallback/warranty. However, would you have it over the 987 "S" above for a bit more??
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101077723861
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103049762064
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102249404299
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101208166488
And here is a good example of what seems stunning value but has budget tyres, ceramic brakes (was it a press car?) and so on with minimal description and crappy photos, the kind of thing I've been steering clear of as I'm no expert but I know a car bought by someone unable to afford to run it properly when I see one!
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101278399783
If I extend to 987 2.7 then there are some cracking cars, like this one which while it is on 16's and a private sale, has new (Michelin) tyres all round and sounds genuinely well cared for:
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103130097628
Can't be too choosy about specs and so on at this age, Xenons would be nice but it will mostly be used in daytime, PSM I'd happily not have, my main issue is just how worn the leather on the driver's seat is on many of them - too ratty looking an interior would put me off. Oh and you see the odd cheap one with full leather in a colour that can only be described as post-curry vomit, that would be a deal breaker! Happily given most are Silver, I like it on these cars - especially as they age - its very simple to look after and shows chips and scratches less. And dust, this will sit around a bit...
In all cases looking within 100 miles of me, not really wanting to travel further in current conditions...
So, choose me some to view and/or talk me out of it or into something similar that will be a genuine hoot to drive on country lanes and on track, not cost too much, and still be worth the same (or more?) in a few years if looked after!
