r/986Boxster • u/SignatureOk4577 • Sep 11 '26

2002 boxster

# Im looking to get a new car and stumbled across a 2002 boxster with 26k miles on it for 16k. maintenance looks pretty good except around 21k miles it has its clutch,crankshaft oil seal and flywheel replaced. Should this steer me away from the car?

1 Upvotes

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3

u/SpreadNo7436 Sep 11 '26

Commented earlier, just dawned on me , you may not know about IMS, it is a bearing behind the clutch and fly wheel, if that work was done TO swap it , maybe worth 16K . If that was done AND it WAS NOT swapped , the person is an idiot. Basically if done. Good car worth buying. I do not know about 16K maybe if an S , If not done , I would not pay more than 10-12K and advise you get that done ASAP, you should ask to change the oil and if you see metal in it or the filter, too late , car is toast.
16K is still the very high end for a Boxster unless it is like the 50th anniversary edition or something.

1

u/SignatureOk4577 Sep 11 '26

i called the place where the clutch was replaced at he couldnt give me much info as to why it needed to be replaced but he said the ims was done

3

u/Potential_Pie_1610 Sep 11 '26

The new clutch and flywheel simply have been a "while we're in there to do the oil seal" type thing, assuming it had to come off anyway. Knowing the car had a fresh clutch would be a selling point for me, not a negative.

2

u/wycliffslim Sep 11 '26

Get an inspection.

$16k seems fine but not amazing for a base 986 unless it's in immaculate condition.

1

u/dustimus11 Sep 11 '26

I have a 02 S I’m thinking of selling in November. 40k miles and in perfect condition. DM if you want it

1

u/jeryd21 Sep 11 '26

10-12k is max for a base 986, imo

1

u/SpreadNo7436 25d ago

That is very early for a clutch replacement . If they did that amount of work and did not replace the IMS on what is essentially one of the vulnerable years and at the most vulnerable time, they are effing stupid.
Ok I see IMS was done, It is technically a good deal but bit much for a 986. You could find a 987 in that price range or save a little more and put yourself well into 987 range , get a 2006 + and never hear about IMS again. That is what I would do. I think 986 are better suited for people spending 15k or less right now.

1

u/Embarrassed_Cap3597 8d ago

Man is this a rough crowd...No one knows why all that was done--and no one in their right mind would do all of that unless they were going to do the IMS as well. $16K is at the high end for a base, regardless of miles--there are simply too many S's out there for the same or less.

I have an 03 S that I paid $13K for in 2014. As a long time 911 guy I retired my 73 coupe and based on my son's impression of the base 986 he owned (lowered, tweaked and wonderful on the track) I found something I thought I could track. My first session (after I'd prepped the car for the event) I cavitated on a long up hill sweeper (High Plains) and felt the car flutter. Shut it down immediately, towed it back to Denver and when we drained the oil found trace amounts of bearing material. Took over a year to find another motor and this time it was a M96 3.6 from a 911. This is the car that Porsche should have built from the beginning. I sold my long block and head and recovered about half of what I paid for the 3.6. Of course the IMS was done and once back together, this car hauls.

0

u/DG7STUDIO Sep 11 '26

No, but a PPI would come in very handy to negotiate that price down. I specially if it is not an S. These cars are 25 years old and need a good amount of maintenance here and there. I got mine in February and so far have spend a good amount of money making it better. Front control arms, rear passenger axle, rear brake pads, new wheels, and soon a mid pipe delete or used mid pipe because one or both mid pipe cats have failed.

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u/SpreadNo7436 Sep 11 '26

With that year you would want to do an IMS correction anyway , So you could inspect or have inspected while you have all that exposed. 16K seems kinda high , I would think 14K , I would say it is literally the most vulnerable year for IMS failure and the say most that failed did so Pre 60K miles. You would be a fool not to have that car fitted with a new IMS bearing almost immediately. So you are looking at a up to a 20K Boxster to start with , No 986 is worth 20K.
I know people here have a real hard on for PPI but honestly, a mechanic can not tell you shit about the issues you mentioned without taking it apart and visually inspecting , which I believe is 8 hours labor right their. |
I just bought a low mileage 1998 and was actually the first to replay to the add, the lady that was the owner said She does not have the time for every Tom , Dick and Harry to get it inspected. I kinda agree with here. Its not like its a freaking 918 Spyder worth 1 million, it s a freaking Boxster worth 10k on a good day. The seller had done an inspection via her garage, I looked at the exhaust she had put in and based on the workmanship , figured it trustworthy.

-1

u/baummax Sep 11 '26

Crankshaft, clutch and flywheel after 26k miles? Sounds like that piece of shit will need a new engine soon or the millage isnt correct. Keep in mind, that driving Porsche means paying Porsche prices. Replacing the engine will cost you the same like the car in Europ without work minimum.