We’ll discuss one important subject that you might come upon throughout your investigation before we go into the essentials of each Porsche Boxster model. This article addresses the intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing on Boxsters from 1997 to 2008. An IMS bearing is what? It’s an engine part that helps transfer power from the crankshaft to the drivetrain, without getting too technical. The IMS-bearing failure of these Boxster generations is well known.
It’s critical to realize that an IMS bearing failure could result in severe engine damage. In fact, replacing the engine is a typical treatment for these problems. A new engine for an older Boxster can cost as much as the vehicle itself.
Does this imply that the years 1997 through 2008 are bad for Porsche Boxsters? No, generally. If you’re looking for a Porsche with one of these models, seek for a vehicle that has already undergone repairs. Alternately, include the roughly $3,000 cost of the IMS bearing repair in your budget. Some Porsche owners, though, believe the problem is exaggerated and are prepared to take the chance.
The CoPilot app isn’t just for purchasing a car; it can also be used to keep track of recalls and receive recommendations on which regular maintenance activities are most crucial.
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reported problems
Many automobiles using the Boxster 718 platform are still covered by factory warranties despite their recent age. Due to the 718’s low sales (less than 4000 vehicles sold in 2019), there aren’t many widespread issues being documented at this time. The following mechanical problems have been recurring:
- A/C compressor that makes noise or rattles
- incorrect fuel level indication
- Turbo malfunction
- PDK Errors
- PDK downshifts are noisy.
- faded headlights
- Malfunction of Lane Change Assistance
Are Porsche Boxster repairs expensive?
Costs of Porsche Boxster auto maintenance and repairs A Porsche Boxster is expected to cost between $95 and $11029 in maintenance and repairs, with an average of $434.
Are Porsche Boxsters dependable vehicles?
Porsche Boxsters: Are They Reliable? According to RepairPal, the Porsche Boxster frequently needs significant and unanticipated repairs. It ranks 12th out of 15 vehicles in the same category with a 2.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating. But in terms of performance, handling, and ride comfort, the Boxster is reliable.
What was the Porsche Boxster’s worst year?
Porsche had its lowest year ever in 1992, selling only 15,000 vehicles worldwide. The evergreen 911 was never a big-numbers car because of its relatively high price. Neither were the 928 or 968, which were not selling in the numbers anticipated. Stuttgart was essentially at its lowest point.
It needed to make a radical change in how it approached production growth, and Mazda and the MX-5 provided the idea. The two-seater, open-topped market was still strong in North America because to the popularity of the Miata (the car’s U.S. moniker), which had a phenomenal sales performance. Porsche threw down the challenge to its design teams after quickly realizing the possibilities in creating its own more economical two-seater.
If you’re wondering why Mr. Hucknall bothers to mention Mazda’s terminology specific to the American market, just remember that he initially wrote this article for Hagerty UK. We have translated the article into this language for your viewing enjoyment, complete with beans-on-toast slang.
The finished product, the Boxster concept, was unveiled at the 1993 North American International Auto Show and impressed spectators to the point where Porsche realized it was on the correct road. But before the Boxster can be produced, a major player in the Japanese auto sector must be introduced.
Porsche had to copy Toyota’s lean manufacturing (also known as Kaizen) system in order to meet the predicted production volumes for the Boxster. Porsche managers were sent to Japan to study Toyota’s manufacturing techniques and comprehend the various inefficiencies of the German sports car manufacturer’s production process under the direction of Wendelin Wiedeking.
In no time, a consultant made up of former Toyota workers was hired to make the required adjustments at the Stuttgart production. Wendelin Wiedeking, the CEO of Porsche at the time, recalled that it was “the biggest shock for the company to accept that Japanese were wandering around, not speaking either the Schwabian dialect or German, and instructing people what to do.” “They were strong men. They were blatantly hostile toward the populace. And that’s how we wanted it.”
Porsche lived despite egos being bruised. After suffering losses totaling hundreds of millions of pounds, the corporation announced its first profit in four years towards the end of 1996.
The introduction of parts commonality between model lines, which Porsche had previously disregarded in favor of bespoke lines for each model, was another significant shift toward improved efficiency. As a result, the first Boxster and the impending 996-generation 911 shared a new “flat”-six engine as well as bonnets, front wings, headlamps, and interiors.
The Boxster outperformed all predictions when series manufacturing began in 1996 and achieved global sales of 146,874 by 2004. But is the fundamental quality that enchanted so many purchasers still present in the car you would purchase today, now in its fourth generation? To find out, we parallel-drive the first-generation Boxster and the most recent version.
Can a Porsche Boxster be tuned?
With the help of our chiptuning files for Porsche Boxster, you may enhance the performance, engine power, and torque of your vehicle. Every file in TC Performance is a custom creation by skilled engineers, programmers, and tuners. It has been tested on two 4×4 Dyno Project dynamometers.
Both the OBD2 diagnostic connector and the engine control unit can be used for Porsche Boxster chip tuning (ECU). By remapping the engine, the Porsche Boxster’s power can be increased. Concerns of incompatibility or unreliable engine performance are unfounded.
Are Porsche Boxsters suitable for daily use?
Porsche’s Boxster model has evolved into the ideal of a dependable, classy sports car that is ideal as an everyday vehicle. It may not be the most luxurious or sought-after sports car on the market, but it is similar to current coupes that we have all grown to know and love.
With its new 718 Boxster model, which is currently in its third generation, the well-known German automaker has yet again succeeded in proving this point. The Boxster’s 718 designation is intended to evoke Porsche’s racing vehicles from the late 1950s and early 1960s, which served as an inspiration for the model that first appeared as a concept in 1992.
By including a four-cylinder engine in the 718 Boxster for the first time since the 944 did so in the 1980s, Porsche has given the car firm another tribute to its past. For optimal output, Porsche equipped the little 2.0-liter engine with a turbocharger, and it gives plenty of power for a street-legal racer.
Naturally, the 718 Boxster has all of the features one would anticipate when purchasing a Porsche. The 718 Cayman is another new release from the German auto giant for hardtop aficionados.
Do Porsche Boxsters have high maintenance costs?
We looked at how frequently the vehicle required major unplanned repair over a three-year period to determine the frequency of major maintenance. This “serious” maintenance item is a costly system breakdown that needs to be repaired (often a part or component costing above $1,000).
It should be emphasized that even while we analyze this data by make and model, driving style, vehicle condition, and mileage undoubtedly affect outcomes. Different frequencies of maintenance are needed depending on the vehicle. While newer cars can go longer between services, older vehicles may require more frequent maintenance.
The frequency score can be used to determine how long a vehicle can go without maintenance. A frequency score reveals how frequently a certain vehicle needs major repair over a three-year period. If an automobile has a maintenance frequency score of 3, for instance, it needs major repairs every year because the score is calculated over a three-year period. The longer it can go without major maintenance services, the closer the frequency score is to 0.
The frequency score for a Porsche Boxster is 1.7399999999999998. This indicates that the Porsche Boxster performs much poorer than average given that the industrial average is 1.3. The breakdown of all manufacturers and models is shown in the chart below.
It’s important to note that there are many trustworthy cars that could also need frequent, yet reasonably priced maintenance. For instance, many domestic brands have higher maintenance visits but lower overall costs (since labor and parts expense are typically cheaper for domestic brands). This doesn’t imply that cars break down less frequently, but it does show that when they do, the problems are usually fairly simple to remedy, which is perhaps even more significant.
How long is the lifespan of a Porsche Boxster engine?
If properly maintained, a Porsche Boxster will last approximately 200,000 miles, though they can live much longer; some have even exceeded 300,000 miles. If you drive 15,000 miles per year, you can have 13 years of dependable service before the cost and practicality of repairs become too great.
When did Porsche experience engine issues?
The dreaded intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing failure is the most noticeable and well-publicized problem you’ll encounter on the used market. An IMS bearing failure can result in a loss of the engine timing, which would completely destroy the engine. A Porsche engine replacement is not inexpensive, as you might expect.
The M96 and M97 flat six-cylinder engines used in 911s, Boxsters, and Caymans between 1997 and 2008 frequently experience IMS bearing failure.
However, the 996-era Porsche 911s and 986 Boxsters experienced the most significant IMS bearing issues up to 2006. Despite the significantly lower IMS bearing failure rate in the later year samples, it is still feasible.
Before buying a car, it’s crucial to check the VIN and service records. It is best to budget for an urgent replacement of the IMS bearing if you locate a car in this time frame that you are interested in purchasing. It might cost up to $2,500 to have an IMS bearing replaced by a skilled mechanic.
The cost of replacing an engine, though, can be more than triple that. As a result, it is imperative to replace the bearing before anything else.
You would be hard-pressed to identify any significant failure areas of Porsche flat engines if the age of IMS bearing problems were excluded. Given their great performance, Porsche engines are known to be remarkably durable whether they are new or old.
Some more recent models hardly ever have “bore score,” which is the engine cylinder walls scraping together as a result of inadequate lubrication.
However, if a Porsche has been well maintained, you won’t likely encounter any significant problems.
Is the Boxster a car for women?
We were faced with the inquiry, “Is the Porsche Boxster a girl car?” While some people—including myself—felt without a doubt that it was directed toward female drivers, others hesitated to make a decision. Nobody clearly stated, “No, this is not a girl automobile,” therefore the votes were divided in the end.
How frequently should a Porsche Boxster need maintenance?
We advise you to inspect your Porsche Boxster annually or every 10,000 miles and to change the engine oil and filter. A minor service was to be performed every 20K miles or two years, and a major service every four years or 40K miles, according to the original 987 maintenance schedule (shown below).
What is the Porsche of the poor?
Porsche is renowned for its engineering prowess and automotive tradition, as well as for being expensive. Because they are regarded as entry-level models for the company, there have historically been a few Porsche models that have been called the “Poor Man’s Porsche” by brand enthusiasts.
We can discuss the 944, which was manufactured between 1982 and 1991, or the more modern Boxster, whose initial generation was released to distributors in 1996 and served as the inspiration for its “brother,” the Cayman. Porsche debuted the Cayman, a coupe derived from the third-generation Boxster roadster, in 2006.
The 718 Cayman T is the current name for the Cayman. It not only took the position of the Cayman as the entry-level Porsche, but it also gained the moniker “poor man’s Porsche” because of its underwhelming performance when compared to the 911 or even the Taycan, the German company’s electric car.