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Marque 'specialists' who very obviously aren't...


Twinspark
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I've pulled the MOT history - not a lot in there, but there were a couple of fails in around 2007/8 - one for front tyres down to the canvas (!) and one on a jammed seatbelt mechanism.

 

Seems it has done 1k miles / year since the MOT history was available - and had done 5k miles between 1999 and 2005.

 

So it doesn't sit around doing nothing, it just hasn't been used much. A bit like my Alfa and the MX5, really.

 

I do worry about the kind of person who can fail an MOT on totally shot tyres, though.

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I'd not be going anywhere near that.

 

You've said it yourself.  If the owner has let tyres go down to the canvsas, what else will they have allowed to go?  Nope, I'd avoid that like the plague.

 

Then again I'd not be looking at a Boxster 2.7 either.  If residual is a concern then buy the oldest most appreciating Porsche you can.  Simples.

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If the tyres were down to the canvas in 07/08 it would have had what, about 10k on the clock? Not sure how long you'd bank on a set of tyres lasting on a Boxster but i'd be wondering if it had been thrashed during those miles or tracked? Not necessarily an issue but i'd be wondering.

Edited by stooH
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Air con?  Just put the roof down when it gets hot - I suppose. :grin:

 

1000 miles a year - that equates to 'going to the shops and back'.  Which is shite for a car.

However, if you are happy, go and see it (a long way for you) or ask (nicely) Stooh/Tipex to go and hack it (sorry, look, prod and probe it then take it for a gentle drive)?

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If it's been used on a track it should be obvious - repainted (or retouched) nose/bonnet. Low annual miles doesn't necessarily mean lots of short trips - could be a few leisurely summer weekend jaunts into the countryside.

 

Must admit I'm at a bit of a loss to explain the front tyres MoT failure. If it hasn't been tracked I'd half expect it to still have the original fronts on it at 19k...!

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Ahhh, just spotted a flaw in the plans.

Do you lot actually realise how big Wales is?

I live down near the South Wales coast. That is up in the hybrid Scouse / Welsh wastelands - ie. pretty much the same as going from London to Sheffield.

 

Oh, OK.

In which case, Chestershire has a whole plethora of TSNers, all at a loose end   :P

 

Maybe if you ask nicely, Mr G can have a look at it?

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Have read that mileage, I would not touch that at all.  19K miles, 14 years, the thing has never been used (let alone abused), so that means many items will have been sitting there without oil, all the fluids probably not getting warmed etc etc.

 

Seals and stuff might have perished or be perishing at a much faster rate than a properly used car.

I'd bet my left nut my Passat with x5+ the mileage is in better a mechanical state..engine gets hot in the morning and cools down 12 hours later.

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2000 Boxster 2.7......... £8.5k

 

You said the mint 24,000 mile 2003 '53' 986 Boxster 3.2 S asking 12k I suggested was a '£9k or maybe £10k car", so whats this one actually worth?  I'm not sure I could stomach spending 8.5k on a 2.7 Porsche - I'd want more grunt for my 8.5k

 

Put some more into the budget!  You won't regret it.  +++

Edited by Ian_C
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If I put more into the budget, I'm into 996 territory. And that would be insanity. I think.

 

Such I shame I missed the 964 and 993 bus - if I could get one of those with a ragtop or targa (well, not 993 targa, because they weren't, really), I'd not be looking at Boxsters.

 

The 996 just has a bit of a reputation and I'm not sure I want to get into that.

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Richard_W bought a stonker of a 996 for the kind of money you are talking about.  He looked at about six examples and bought a private car yes one might say it was a risk but the car speaks for itself, its certainly stands up to its claimed 50k mileage, its flipping beautiful (2001 Y prefacelift 3.4)

post-3263-0-72343700-1396295517_thumb.jp

Edited by Ian_C
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Back in the day BT used to sell all the London City van stock after 3 years. All bargains via auction.

They weren't, they'd done 20k miles in 3 years which 'looked' good. Maybe the same engine running hours as 120k miles motorway stock. The difference?

Sitting in traffic all day long, sitting in van with heating on all day long. It might not be true of the stock your looking at, but some folk will run a nice car, in a town and do small miles year in and year out and that will wear the car far more than 40k motorway miles p.a.

Key to your search is finding an owner who has loved the car, not the miles it's covered. Documents prove that sort of thing, 3 owners and each has added to the previous owners history with detail, mileage recorded mots, service stamps backed up with invoices, all make for a better experience.

You do need to get off the internet and get out trying them. Try a 3.2 and a 2.7 as joy rides and then target them. Telling a decent dealer that runs mostly with stock from the brand what you want may help. They often take in something p/ex that might not be good enough for stock, and goes to auction. They'd rather not pay auction fees so a deal might be good for both sides.

The other element of letting the pros know what you want, is they will have a network of contacts that might be helpful.

As a side line why not look at BMW Z3M's bit flawed, but some decent suspension, brakes and tyres would make it a hoot to drive, and there's no issue with 2nd hand or new parts supply.

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