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Is it the right car?

11K views 73 replies 32 participants last post by  schell 
#1 ·
Hello: So, I have read over a lot of threads on this forum and all of the information has been very helpful. I guess I'm just looking for some comfort or reassurance before I go down this road.

I currently own a 2010 Jeep Wrangler and it's been fun. Just need a change and I've always wanted a Porsche. I'm not made of money and I have ZERO mechanic ability (I did use to change the oil in my own cars, '74 bug, '93 VW Cabriolet and a '96 Honda) but those days are gone.

Anyhow, I know what I can afford and at those prices, given the amount of miles on most, it scares me. What unforeseen costs am I going to run into, that might not be so visible now? Based on my budget, is it possible to find something from '07-'09 in the $19,000 range, that could last me several years? What's the average yearly cost to maintain? How bad are those "major" and not so major services? Will I get beat up by having to replace brakes and tires?

I have read up but I was hoping for some more personal, direct answers and thoughts from anybody that is willing to share. I want to do this, badly but I want to make sure I'm getting the right car, at the right price. I have never been more concerned of the term "buyer beware" when it comes to buying a car. Thanks for your time and any responses. Cheers, and peace.
 
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#2 ·
Welcome

There are oil changes every year, minor service every two years and major every four years regardless of miles. Every two years flush brake lines. Search and you will find costs, probably more expensive at a dealer, less expensive and an independent shop.

No matter what, if its a base or S car, they are still $60,000 cars so the maintenance costs are those of a $60,000 car, not a $19,000 car. Porsche parts are not cheap. Tires will wear quickly in the rear, maybe 10K miles. Others will have more experience here and can give you the latest prices for maintenance. I guess $400 easy for the yearly service, $1500 easy for the major service.
 
#3 ·
Look at online sites and within you residential range, dealers / private sales of 2007-2008 Base Cayman's with 30-40k mi.( Cayman S versions will b slightly higher in price). They are in your price range. 2007-2008 have the 987.1 motor with minimal IMS problem concerns (larger single row IMS). They are also more user maintenance friendly than follow on year designs. You can find all minor and major maint scheds online and even service manuals. You would b surprise at how much YOU can do wrenching on these cars saving tons of $$$$ performing the scheduled maint. Parts can be found online thru very repitable companies (Pelican, ECS, Suncoast etc.). Look for OEM parts that are identical to Porsche labeled parts when shopping (they will b visible on same screen shot for comparison.) This will also save u $$$$$ and at same time knowing your not installing junk.

Bottom line, step out of your ZERO mechanic ability zone because if u don't the car can b costly relying on others to do all wrench turning. You have to b proactive and spend time learning the car, understand the car, know where to go for knowledge resources (ie Planet 9, Rennlist, Pelican Forums, PCA Cayman Register etc). Read, Study, Talk, ask questions. In the end u will feel a sense of accomplishment and a much deeper bond to your new best friend!!

Good luck my friend!!!!
 
#4 ·
+1 on the last post.

cavediver is right.

The 987.1 is in your price range and easier to work on than you might think. The car you would be considering will 10 or more years old. Even if it only has 20,000 miles. Most mechanical items require servicing and replacement after a certain amount of time.

For instance, a door lock might cost $600 wearing the Porsche badge. That door lock may be found on a 2006 VW Golf and be found for $30.

But, if you are paying others to work on it, they will act like it is a Porsche and it can quickly cost way more than you might think.

Also, if you aren't comfortable working on your own car, you may not be able to truly evaluate a used Porsche. A pre-purchase inspection would be something you should consider.

Regardless of which one you get or how much it costs, it will be a Porsche and you will love it.
 
#5 ·
Thanks to you all for responding. I appreciate the information, greatly.

*Chowsforus: "No matter what, if its a base or S car, they are still $60,000 cars so the maintenance costs are those of a $60,000 car, not a $19,000 car." That's such a "no-duh" statement and I don't think I ever considered or thought to apply in this situation. Makes all the sense in the world- thanks for that.

*Cavediver and RJD: Appreciate the comments on doing-it-yourself with the suggestions of places to order OEM parts. Thanks for the encouragement to roll up my sleeves and doing some of the maintenance on my own. Maybe it's time to learn something new and to not be afraid. Yes, a pre-purchase would definitely be in order. And I hope soon-ish, to begin the new love affair. I'll get back with updates when I find "the one". Let the search begin! Thanks again.
 
#7 ·
With your budget I'd be looking for a 2009 base Cayman. I've seen some nice ones close to that price.

The 09+ have quite a few improvements in reliability, power, and features. It's my opinion they'll hold their value a bit better, too.

I've only owned my Cayman for a few months so I can't speak too much to long-term reliability. The reading I've done on the subject says they're pretty good minus a few known (but mostly not catastrophic) problems. The idea that most parts cost more than the cars you're used to is most definitely true. Even for aftermarket parts there's a "Porsche Tax". Comes with the territory, I suppose. I'm above-average in DIY skills but I haven't found this car particularly hard to work on, albeit with some learning curve due to the layout. I like to do my own work so I know it's done right, and it has the bonus of saving a lot in labor. Luckily, this isn't my daily driver so I can leave it pulled apart for a while.

So far, my opinion is that it's absolutely worth it. This car drives like no import or domestic I've ever owned. Very well balanced, and much faster than it feels. To the point I found it necessary to invest in a Uniden R3 the other day just in case (though I do try to keep it sane on the street). In my opinion it can be difficult to drive this car anywhere near its limits on public roads. It likes to be revved out, and is very capable at high speed, which I enjoy, but sometimes I do miss the instant 400ft/lbs of torque in my Focus ST on the street.

Do you have any interest in checking out autocross or a track day? It's not for everyone, but the few people I've convinced to come out with me are now as addicted to getting out there as I am! It really allows you to push the limits of a vehicle like you never should on the street, in a relatively "safe" environment.
 
#8 ·
I would plan on a budget of $500 per month for everything. Insurance, reg tags, fuel, tires, brakes, oil changes, maintaining the car to keep it running like new. If you are going to get a Porsche get the S model. My opinion is the best bang for bucks is the Cayman S with the PDK. Models between 2009 and 2011 are mostly selling between $25K and $30K depending on miles and options. Never buy salvage title or accident cars. I think it is better to spend more than $19K on a Porsche to get the best car the first time and then take great care of it and keep it for many years of great driving fun.
 
#9 ·
Make sure you do a PPI, like others have said. Also, check the carfax/autocheck. They won't catch everything, but if it looks like the car went in for regular services, it SHOULD be OK. Make sure to get the car on a cold start, to check for AOS issues. The indy shops are less than the dealer, but find one that has good reviews on Porsche, and not just BMW/Merc/VW. The engine layout of these cars do require a bit of skill to understand.

If you find one you like, get out and drive it!! Follow the service schedule (time and/or mileage) and you should get years of grins.
 
#12 ·
two cents...perhaps look for an independent shop near to your locale first. Costs using a dealer on a ten year old + car will quickly exceed it's worth.
The indy warranty companies have said they would cover my 2006 CS, surprised I guess. Didn't pursue to coverage/costs but maybe do that
pre-purchase. Pressure the selling dealer to take care of all state mandated warranty items, pre-delivery (got a new clutch that way).
Lastly I wouldn't empty my bank account on the purchase, every semi-minor issue these guys stated did eventually happen to mine
(no IMS probs btw). No panic when you know in advance. As was said, this automobile is so incredibly satisfying to own and drive, handles like nothing I've ever owned in my 30 yrs of car buying. If you can reach, just do it!
 
#13 ·
A minor point I didn't see in your post is whether you are more interested in a Boxster or a Cayman. As you can see, many of us like the Cayman for various reasons. However, they do reflect a slightly premium price over an equivalent Boxster (maybe $2-3k). Maintenance comments are same for both.
 
#14 ·
Yeah, left that out by mistake- shopping for a Cayman. A question I forgot to ask and I'm sure a lot of this is preference, is the automatic transmission a little less, in the way of costs/upkeep? Without having to worry about a clutch and all that goes with replacement etc. Just wondering if automatic is better or inferior to the manual transmission. Thanks again in advance.
 
#16 ·
If well cared for these cars do not require a lot other than routine stuff. I picked up my '07 Cayman base a little over a year ago. Since I had no service history I did the water pump, thermostat, oil and coolant changes. Been driving it quite a lot, with some longer road trips and it's been great. Did have the typical AOS issue and needed to replace the starter. Both easy to do yourself and not too bad parts cost wise. Recently had the EVAP test pump fail on mine, but again was an easy fix once I found the goofy thing.

Have put nearly 10k miles on my car since I bought it. Wouldn't hesitate to jump in it and go anywhere.

As far as TIP ('06-'08) vs. manual, vs PDK ('09-current).. TIP's (Tiptronic) are just a standard automatic transmission with the ability to shift manually. They are not bad cars, but do require you to keep the fluid clean or they start to have shifting issues. If you don't mind rowing gears, a manual transmission is a lot of fun (my preference). Clutch change in any car is a bit of a pain since so much has to come apart. I'd prefer to do a clutch change in my Cayman, than ever do one again in my 944 (total nightmare). If I had to choose between TIP or PDK, I would take PDK.

I'll echo what others have said. It's still a 60k + car with a price premium on parts because of the badge. Being able to do most of your own work will save you a ton. A Durametric cable and laptop is almost a must to help diagnose issues and clear codes.

Find a car you like, get a PPI and jump in with both feet. You will not regret it. On the test drive of my car, I got a half mile down the road and thought to myself "I'm screwed.. have to buy this car now".
 
#17 · (Edited)
About ten years ago I told my wife I was going to start wrenching on our cars. We finally had a big garage.

I said (and did) every job I do, I will take the $ saved on labor and buy a tool. I slowed down on the tool purchases, but have a few jacks, different wrenches etc.

Now when I do a job if I need a tool I go to Harbor Freight and get it. My daughter will inherit a lot of tools.

Started with a tune up and brakes. I then moved to suspension and put PSS9s in my E36 M3 along with oil pan gasket, fuel lines, etc

I still don't dig deep into the motor but changing the whole cooling system with my daughter on her E46 and my E82 were not much harder than doing the brakes and rotors, or control arms with my buddy on his 968, etc.

Doing my own work enabled me and a buddy to buy a 944 for weekend track duty. When little things broke we fixed them. The cost would have been prohibitive if we had to pay someone to diagnose and fix each thing.
 
#18 ·
Hello all and again thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I found something in my price range, as a fist timer. Not that I need to explain (or have been asked to explain) my financial situation, 1 kid in college, 1 in private high school. So my price range isn’t a flexible as I’d like. I’ll give you the info that I have and based on that, please share concerns/comments/thoughts. I’ll still have a PPI done. ‘07 base, with 123000. Asking $15750. Here’s what I know not in any particular order as I’m grabbing from out texts:

New front brake pads

The crank case vent valve was recently replaced and the car was serviced and inspected.

Front motor mount was replaced a year ago

Mechanic said it will pass any inspection at a porshce dealership. Only issue might need 2 tires soon

mechanic said the car has a newer water pump and thermomsat as those rarely make it past 100k plugs he thinks were done but not the coil packs

There are normal rock chips in the front but I can try to touch up. Also has the fab speed upgraded exhaust

Some fading to the spoiler but I can have wrapped or painted

I should add that this guy works at a dealer (but selling car privately) and has access to painting etc.
 
#69 ·
Hello all and again thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I found something in my price range, as a fist timer. Not that I need to explain (or have been asked to explain) my financial situation, 1 kid in college, 1 in private high school. So my price range isn’t a flexible as I’d like.
Lol! I'm in the same boat, and starting my research. Daughter is a senior in high school(private) and planning on attending a private university(Better get scholarships lol!). Son is 14 and in same private high school. So we aren't as flexible in pricing either. Yay. My price ranges is roughly the same as yours. I'm aiming for late December to mid-February to buy, hoping the prices dip a bit in the winter. This will be my first pcar though I've driven a couple. I am drawn to 987.1 Boxster's due to price but truly love the look of the Cayman more and will focus on those. I'd have to find a Boxster that would blow me away to get me to switch.

I am fortunate in that I currently work from home, and this wouldn't be my daily driver even if i didn't.

So, from the back end of the boat, good luck with your search!
 
#21 ·
Actually for the price that sounds fair. I don’t think mileage like that is a bad thing. The car was built to be a daily driver. I paid 21,000 last June for a 2007 CS with 94,000. It had 4 owners but all scheduled maintenance. So far I’ve bought two new rear tires, had the underbody lining replaced in driver front wheel well, got the minor scheduled service. The car burns a quart of oil every two fill ups, but has no leaks anywhere. The chips in the front are unavoidable if you drive freeways. The cup holder broke but a previous owner came up with a genius velcro fix. I drive the hell out of this beauty and am taking it cross country in a few weeks. Also it’s a tip, which I balked at initially but once you get used to it is just fine. In fact with my recently diagnosed arthritic knee it let me keep the car.
 
#23 ·
I bought a 2006 987 Boxster S back in November with 57500 miles, 6 speed manual, sold new for over 67K, I paid 18750. I driven about 3000 miles and no problems, so far.... will need to do an oil change in November. The car is fun to drive and I hadn't had to shift my own gears for about 20 years. I really wouldn't buy a Porsche much over my mileage. I feel the car I have is solid and hopefully, I won't need any major repairs in the near future.
 
#24 · (Edited)
Your first consideration should be to find an independent mechanic that specializes in Porsches. Routine maintenance or any unfortunate hiccups will cost vastly different amounts depending on who is doing the work. Here in Silicon Valley, taking a 10 year old Cayman to the dealer would be so expensive that you'd be better off springing for a new Cayman instead.

PDK vs Tiptronic vs Manual. I'm pretty sure the manual will be lower long-term cost hands down. A clutch or synchro job is vastly cheaper than anything that can go wrong on the PDK or Tip. The Tiptronic really numbs the car; you pay the big bucks for the "S" with Tiptronic... and you have the acceleration of a base model with manual. That said, the PDK is fantastic, but just not as much fun to drive on the streets (or racetrack) as the manual. These cars are now lagging 10 years with respect to the horsepower wars. The 2008 Cayman S with Tiptronic doesn't stand much of a chance against a base $26k Ford Mustang 2-liter with automatic in stoplight racing. If you want to enjoy straight-line driving, you're better off getting the stick.

Another thought on getting the manual... There are fewer and fewer cars being sold with manual. Some day soon there will be huge resale benefit for Caymans with manual. Various Ferraris like the 360 already show that. Older 911 Porsches already show that. I don't think the price will gain with age, but at least it won't go to practically zero as quickly as an automatic. One problem with the automatics (Tip or PDK) is that there are things that can go wrong without warning. A tiptronic or PDK can seem fine (even to an expert inspector) and then suddenly develop a problem a month later. With the stick-shift the clutch and synchros wear gradually and predictably; if an expert inspector says they are in good shape, there will be few expensive surprises.

Somewhere on this website is a page with ALL the 987 options. It's a great resource (that I can't find right now). You should find it and read it top-to-bottom to decide what items you really want, what items you would like, and what items you really don't want. For me, I would really NOT want: automatic, navigation, cluster gauges in body color. (The navigation looked kind of dated even when it was new!)
 
#37 ·
I agree with most of what is said here but disagree on the benefit of a MT. Since the take rate on MT is getting lower and lower, the likelihood of the value being better is sheer guesswork. As less people even learn to drive MT, finding a buyer down the road gets more difficult. I wouldn't compare the resale of a used Ferrari with that of a used Cayman - apples and oranges. Caymans are entry level Porsches and not particularly collectible. Older Porsches are collectible for many reasons - air cooled engines and limited edition models being the most collectible. Make your decision based on your need, not potential resale.

Additionally, the PDK, in particular, is always faster than the MT. That being said, it is certainly cheaper to service the MT rather than the auto. I would also advise looking for a PDK over the Tip if you decide to go with an auto. In general, Porsches are MORE expensive to maintain than the average vehicle. If you know that going in you will make an informed decision.
 
#25 ·
Asking $15k for a 120k+ mile car..umm.. is it possible to get an options list?

As a price comparison, I picked up my very lightly optioned '07 base with just under 100k miles, manual with a $14k asking price for $11,500. No PPI, no service history, and needed tires. I've had good luck going with my gut on car purchases and did quite well with this one. After purchase I bought a Durametric cable and ran the over-rev report. It came back very clear. The PO mentioned his mechanic cut the oil filter open after every change to check for debris and never found anything.

Since I had no service history I did the water pump, thermostat, plugs, coils, belt and changed all the fluids. Have put about 10k miles on it without anything major happening. Just usual wear items for a 12 year, 100k car.
 
#26 ·
Whew...I'm getting caught up, the whirlwind/excitement of this process. I hear you all and thanks for looking out. I'm putting the brakes on this one- it was the first one I found that checked most of the boxes but I have to show a little patience here.

It's harder because there's nothing for sale (in my price range) that's close by. I have to rely on the owner/dealer's information. I live in NM. The one I was considering is in Phoenix and I happen to have a good friend there that was going to look the car over. I found a highly rated independent mechanic that I was going to have a PPI with but in the end, something didn't feel right- I was excited and the more I asked questions and looked over the photos and considering the price vs. mileage, the excitement faded- with this particular car. At the same time, I saved myself $390 on a PPI and didn't have to impose on my friend, for now.

As for what I want, just the perfect car! Like everybody...... ha, ha.. In all seriousness, I was leaning towards an automatic but only because I've only driven manuals- just wanted to drive something different. I've always been wary of having to replace a clutch etc and the thought of that cost on a Porsche scared me; not the same cost wise as my current Jeep. However, the points that "SunnyvaleCA" made sense and thus, sending me back to re-think this. I want to use this as my DD so patience is key here. Greatly appreciate all the comments and suggestions.
 
#28 ·
Patience is critical, and this comes from a relatively impatient person. I bought my 2014 CS last August AFTER a 3 month search to get THE car I wanted (at least all the top priority options were there and a few of the 2nd priority ones). That said, I ALMOST bought the first car I went to look at (it was also the closest and, frankly, probably the best deal), but I ended up passing it by because I decided I wanted the body and wheel colors I wanted (if I were going to pay the most I've ever paid for a used car). So, with time, the list of what I really wanted solidified and my knowledge increased, and by the time I made an offer, I felt very comfortable doing so. Time is in your favor and will only serve to improve your final selection. The car is out there, the only questions are when, where, and how much.

Also, you may wish to check out "Mechonomist" on YouTube. He bought a used 987 and chronicles his experiences with it across several videos, from a "layman's" perspective. Here's a link to his YT home page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5IZo7Sxt_3PWFsCcKUIp3Q. Check it out.
 
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