Those cars go for 20K € (same as USD these days), typically, as of 2022, in Portugal (yes, the 1997 986, even if it is the 2.5L). But our salaries are much lower than in the US (20K is an slightly above average yearly salary, but gross, you have to take out taxes: regular folks, such as teachers and software developers, take home about 1000-1200 USD a month, few people make more than 2000/month). It breaks my heart to see the 986's selling for 7 or 8 K in places such as the US or the UK, and being bought by spoiled students as their first "cheap" car. It was my dream to have one of these. I would never drive it with the top on ;) the day seemed perfect to drive roofless there. The "argument" for selling the car of your wife's friend (being to low among the SUV's) makes me realize how such a diverse world we live in... Even recently, I was with a friend couple at a coffee, and I showed them the 986, in my phone, and told them how much I would like to have one... The wife was hypercritical of my interest on the 986, telling me the car seemed extremely uncomfortable, and that she would never drive a car without a non-removable roof, because she likes to be "inside" and not exposed to the elements... But what makes me "suffer" (relatively speaking) is people being able to give less that 10K for a 986, which for their standard of living is like I having it for some 4 or 5K, and choosing not to. I drive a fun Suzuki Grand Vitara from 2006, 3p, 4x4. I got it for about 8K, and I like the damn thing. But I dream of one day having a 986. Not a 987. Not (any) 911. Not even a 718. It is that car that I fancy. Even more so a early, 1996 or 1997, model. The car that saved Porsche, and a car I suspect that Porsche's founder would choose as a representative of the soul of the Company. I would just not be bored by those "dents" or the smaller things. You don't need something to tell you the temperature, you feel the temperature. And you don't need A/C, you just make sure that roof mechanism works *every time* it is not raining. Sorry about the length of this comment. :D
Love the comment - you are right, this is the car that saved Porsche - I am just finishing up fixing the IMS and all the other issues in the engine, and like you, I don’t care about the dents - it’s a great car to drive especially here in Scottsdale, where most of the time the weather is great. My wife wants me to sell it once it’s all back together, but I don’t think I will - it’s a great little car!
I sold my blue ‘98 Boxster with 173000 miles on it. Everything worked fine despite being driven on rough roads. The ims had never been done. I recently bought a red 2002 Boxster S with 120000 miles on it. The ims has been done. Both used as daily drivers.
The whole IMS issue has been blown out of proportion, but unfortunately if you want to sell an early Boxster, the inevitable question you get is "has the IMS been done?". In reality for a high mileage Boxster, or 996 911 for that matter, if it hasn't failed by now it won't, but the bearings are deemed a wear item and it is wise to change "while you are in there" if doing the clutch or flywheel.
I wouldn't be surprised if it was the tires. I had new rear tires fitted to mine and it really didn't like them. The handling changed dramatically and I was experiencing that very strange shimming. The rear end felt so nervous and It almost felt like it was wanting to rotate at speed. I then changed all four tires to a Dunlop SP Sport and it went back to feeling amazing again. I never would have thought that tires could effect the handling so much but it was the difference between feeling almost unsafe to feeling normal again. I would definitely change all four at once and stick with quite aggressive sporty tread patterns.
The handling did get better when I inflated the tires to their proper pressures, but it was still there - My guess is new tires should improve it. I am also thinking the rear alignment may be off - toe-out could cause the wayward handling.
1997 has the double rollers IMS and has like a 1% failure rate, so it's unlikely to cause any issue. The later Boxster went to a single and those are more susceptible to failure. Your model year came with the 2.5-liter engine, the smallest in the Boxster lineup, and therefore the least powerful at 201-hp. Spirited it how I'd describe it. The dings, especially the "outie" ding on the frunk, can be removed by a good PDR specialist.
The bearing looked and felt perfect when I took it out, but it's a job worth doing once you are in there - the clutch and flywheel definitely needed replacing. Now if I can just figure out what is making the noise in 1st gear . . . Next step is to turn that "outie" into an "innie"!
It's a great car now I have fixed most of the issues. Of course new ones keep cropping up, most recently the right turn indicator only works if you hold the stalk halfway . . .
I know about the shimmy you're talking about. I thought it was tires but it's not. It still shimmies going over bumps. Only thing I can think is it's normal for this car. I have new Bilstein's, new tires and bushings so it must be just part of this car's personality I suppose.
Scuttle shake over bumps is not unusual, but mine wobbles going in a straight line, so there is something suspension-related going on I think - as I mention below, I think it could be the alignment in the rear - I will be checking that shortly.
You are not going to be happy when you hear this - $3,700 - but I had to do the IMS bearing rear main seal, clutch and flywheel, replace the coolant tank (not an easy job!) plus the gearbox makes a funny noise in first gear. And there are a few dents and dings in it. Definitely worth way more now.
You have a really low threshold of what is great, I mean I f you paid 500 dollars for it I would agree but it really is a bag of crap,,, good luck though
It's BLUE!! I would suggest that you see beyond the color, because your snappy comeback, "I'm your man!" is something you will live to regret. The entire review was an endless list of things that need to be fixed. Even if it was free, you paid too much. When you look back on this money pit, I can tell you exactly how you're going to feel: BLUE!! (I am deeply sorry for this reality check. Find someone else who buys a car for its color and cut your losses immediately.)
Actually it's been great so far - the only issue that really concerns me is the noise coming from the gearbox. As I do all the work myself, the cost of getting it into good shape is limited to parts, which haven't been that expensive to date.
Those cars go for 20K € (same as USD these days), typically, as of 2022, in Portugal (yes, the 1997 986, even if it is the 2.5L). But our salaries are much lower than in the US (20K is an slightly above average yearly salary, but gross, you have to take out taxes: regular folks, such as teachers and software developers, take home about 1000-1200 USD a month, few people make more than 2000/month). It breaks my heart to see the 986's selling for 7 or 8 K in places such as the US or the UK, and being bought by spoiled students as their first "cheap" car. It was my dream to have one of these. I would never drive it with the top on ;) the day seemed perfect to drive roofless there. The "argument" for selling the car of your wife's friend (being to low among the SUV's) makes me realize how such a diverse world we live in... Even recently, I was with a friend couple at a coffee, and I showed them the 986, in my phone, and told them how much I would like to have one... The wife was hypercritical of my interest on the 986, telling me the car seemed extremely uncomfortable, and that she would never drive a car without a non-removable roof, because she likes to be "inside" and not exposed to the elements... But what makes me "suffer" (relatively speaking) is people being able to give less that 10K for a 986, which for their standard of living is like I having it for some 4 or 5K, and choosing not to. I drive a fun Suzuki Grand Vitara from 2006, 3p, 4x4. I got it for about 8K, and I like the damn thing. But I dream of one day having a 986. Not a 987. Not (any) 911. Not even a 718. It is that car that I fancy. Even more so a early, 1996 or 1997, model. The car that saved Porsche, and a car I suspect that Porsche's founder would choose as a representative of the soul of the Company. I would just not be bored by those "dents" or the smaller things. You don't need something to tell you the temperature, you feel the temperature. And you don't need A/C, you just make sure that roof mechanism works *every time* it is not raining. Sorry about the length of this comment. :D
Love the comment - you are right, this is the car that saved Porsche - I am just finishing up fixing the IMS and all the other issues in the engine, and like you, I don’t care about the dents - it’s a great car to drive especially here in Scottsdale, where most of the time the weather is great. My wife wants me to sell it once it’s all back together, but I don’t think I will - it’s a great little car!
I sold my blue ‘98 Boxster with 173000 miles on it. Everything worked fine despite being driven on rough roads. The ims had never been done.
I recently bought a red 2002 Boxster S with 120000 miles on it. The ims has been done. Both used as daily drivers.
The whole IMS issue has been blown out of proportion, but unfortunately if you want to sell an early Boxster, the inevitable question you get is "has the IMS been done?". In reality for a high mileage Boxster, or 996 911 for that matter, if it hasn't failed by now it won't, but the bearings are deemed a wear item and it is wise to change "while you are in there" if doing the clutch or flywheel.
I wouldn't be surprised if it was the tires. I had new rear tires fitted to mine and it really didn't like them. The handling changed dramatically and I was experiencing that very strange shimming. The rear end felt so nervous and It almost felt like it was wanting to rotate at speed. I then changed all four tires to a Dunlop SP Sport and it went back to feeling amazing again. I never would have thought that tires could effect the handling so much but it was the difference between feeling almost unsafe to feeling normal again. I would definitely change all four at once and stick with quite aggressive sporty tread patterns.
The handling did get better when I inflated the tires to their proper pressures, but it was still there - My guess is new tires should improve it. I am also thinking the rear alignment may be off - toe-out could cause the wayward handling.
@@ihaveapetsheep Yes correct tire pressure is really important for them too. My rears toe in a bit so toe out on rear does sound a bit off.
Haven’t checked the alignment yet - that’s next on the agenda!
1997 has the double rollers IMS and has like a 1% failure rate, so it's unlikely to cause any issue. The later Boxster went to a single and those are more susceptible to failure. Your model year came with the 2.5-liter engine, the smallest in the Boxster lineup, and therefore the least powerful at 201-hp. Spirited it how I'd describe it. The dings, especially the "outie" ding on the frunk, can be removed by a good PDR specialist.
The bearing looked and felt perfect when I took it out, but it's a job worth doing once you are in there - the clutch and flywheel definitely needed replacing. Now if I can just figure out what is making the noise in 1st gear . . .
Next step is to turn that "outie" into an "innie"!
I have a 2006 i love it will never sell mine is a s it has almost 300hp they are very good cars and worth fixing up
It's a great car now I have fixed most of the issues. Of course new ones keep cropping up, most recently the right turn indicator only works if you hold the stalk halfway . . .
I know about the shimmy you're talking about. I thought it was tires but it's not. It still shimmies going over bumps. Only thing I can think is it's normal for this car. I have new Bilstein's, new tires and bushings so it must be just part of this car's personality I suppose.
Scuttle shake over bumps is not unusual, but mine wobbles going in a straight line, so there is something suspension-related going on I think - as I mention below, I think it could be the alignment in the rear - I will be checking that shortly.
Hello! Cheers from south Florida, October 2023.. I just bought the same vehicle.. cobalt 1997. 49,680 miles. May I ask what you paid for yours?
You are not going to be happy when you hear this - $3,700 - but I had to do the IMS bearing rear main seal, clutch and flywheel, replace the coolant tank (not an easy job!) plus the gearbox makes a funny noise in first gear. And there are a few dents and dings in it. Definitely worth way more now.
996 took styling from 1996 boxster.😉. U said it backwards...
You are quite right - the 986 came first. However, most people look at the front and say "It looks like a 911 . . ."
You have a really low threshold of what is great, I mean I f you paid 500 dollars for it I would agree but it really is a bag of crap,,, good luck though
It's actually a pretty good car underneath it all. Thanks for the best wishes
It's BLUE!! I would suggest that you see beyond the color, because your snappy comeback, "I'm your man!" is something you will live to regret. The entire review was an endless list of things that need to be fixed. Even if it was free, you paid too much. When you look back on this money pit, I can tell you exactly how you're going to feel: BLUE!! (I am deeply sorry for this reality check. Find someone else who buys a car for its color and cut your losses immediately.)
Actually it's been great so far - the only issue that really concerns me is the noise coming from the gearbox. As I do all the work myself, the cost of getting it into good shape is limited to parts, which haven't been that expensive to date.
both are correct.