Things to check before buying a Spyder... - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

... except for the weather forecast? I’m getting close to buying a local Boxster Spyder that I found three days ago here the NL. Price is just over 40k GBP and the spec is very nice in my eyes. Aqua blue, manual + short shift, full leather + alcantara, pse, sport chrono, bucket seats, A/C, PCM, less than 5000 miles. Accident free, never drove in winter. The car is a 2010 and just had the "big service" done at the OPC. It has warranty until summer 2015. The seller is a private seller and he seems to know what he is talking about. My plan is to pay for a OPC 111 point check and extend the Porsche warranty to mid-2016 before signing. Owner says it has no overrevs but I’ll ask for a print out during the 111-point check. I can hardly believe it has zero over revs in any range, everything in the 3 range and above would be a no-go, correct? The local equivalent of a HPI check came back fine. Is there anything else I should pay extra attention to? So far I never got "burned" on a used car purchase and I‘d like it if it stays that way.

Ranges 1 and 2 are fine, and they will not impact the warranty position. For any activity in 3 and 4, you may need a leak down and compression test to be carried out, and if the vehicle passes that, it would be eligible for a warranty. Otherwise you will not get a warranty. For 5 and 6, you need the over revs to have occured over 200 operating hours ago, and undergo the leak down and compression tests.

Obvious checks are the roof, there are some plastic sleeves that clip onto the metal frame for the fabric top. Also the rear pvc window. You don't want one that is scratched! I think you'll find its the best 40k you'll have ever spent!

Check the chassis number under the right hand scuttle panel as well as the one on the windscreen tag. Check the rads as vest you can with a torch. Check the front bonnet latch isn't causing bimetallic corrosion with the aluminium bonnet. Check the undertrays are in tact and undamaged. Check the locking wheelnut key, tyre inflator, tools, towing eye and wind deflector cover are all there. Good luck, hope it all works out.

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted. Not surprised, you got yours at a bargain price!!!

Great car - and great in that colour - just sol dmy white one - values are strong, but will get stronger! Get the 111 point check - and all being well - enjoy the car!

That's a very good spec and a decent price. I'm sure you'll love it. They're very well built so there's not all that much to look out for. As mentioned, check the roof and for scratches caused by taking the roof on/off.

The deal fell through because the 111-point check revealed 29 ignitions in range 4 (>7900 and <8400) about 3 hrs back. The seller was not happy at all and suspects it happened during a test drive. Why he would let somebody test drive his car without being in the car is beyond me. He paid for my 111-point check which was a nice gesture, I wished him farewell and that is that. If you are looking at an aqua blue spyder near amsterdam, build date 06/2010, be aware.

EricE said: The deal fell through because the 111-point check revealed 29 ignitions in range 4 (>7900 and <8400) about 3 hrs back. The seller was not happy at all and suspects it happened during a test drive. Why he would let somebody test drive his car without being in the car is beyond me. He paid for my 111-point check which was a nice gesture, I wished him farewell and that is that. If you are looking at an aqua blue spyder near amsterdam, build date 06/2010, be aware. Sorry to hear that! What does this mean, to a Porsche noob; "29 ignitions in range 4 (>7900 and <8400) about 3 hrs back" ??

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted. I think in that situation there was a single ignition in a certain rev range, and a single one in the next rev range. Given that the engine revs up and then down, it's impossible for this to be the case, ie there should always be more ignitions in the lower range. 29 in 4 sounds feasible, and would require a leak down and compression test in order to secure a warranty.

Sorry to hear this as the Spyder is such an awesome car and if it was not for the overrevs it could have been a fantastic car. Know this does not help you due to the car failing its 111 point check. However for anyone else looking at a Spyder a couple more minor checks: - check the exhaust tips as they have a habit of pitting at the end of the exhaust. Unfortunately mine have started to go but Porsche do not see it as a warranty claim (unsure why that is as it is corrosion in my books). However its now a biggie but just a minor thing - most Spyders will be kept garaged but check the drain holes as they can have a habit of being bunged up with leaves

Is this a result of an over-rev by mis shifting etc, or by just revving to the limiter?

You have a limiter to limit the revs :-) What happens is people rag the cars when they come to sell it My spyder had a number of Rev range 2 about two hours befor I bought it. And while range 2 will pass every thing, if you mess up that down shift you get number in ranges 3 and 4 3 used to be ok, but now Porsche don't like 3 either. That last drive has caused many a car to be part exed at 3rd party dealers rather than fetching top money.

Depends what you call a problem Every single car in the world where you change gear manual you can over Rev, it's not a porsche thing. I guess if people cannot change gear then an auto is best for them. Some people do need help driving, :-)

29 ignitions is less than 10 revolutions. Is that really likely to lead to a catastrophic failure? On most cars you couldn't find out and you'd never know. I understand the warranty implications and the ideological preference for no over revs at all, but supply is very limited. To dismiss a car on an over rev that lasted less than a tenth of second, and is not representative of regular abuse seems rash. Is it not worth reconsidering whether this is simply helpful information on which to base a lower offer?

griffter said: 29 ignitions is less than 10 revolutions. Is that really likely to lead to a catastrophic failure? On most cars you couldn't find out and you'd never know. I understand the warranty implications and the ideological preference for no over revs at all, but supply is very limited. To dismiss a car on an over rev that lasted less than a tenth of second, and is not representative of regular abuse seems rash. Is it not worth reconsidering whether this is simply helpful information on which to base a lower offer? very true, I would say 30+% of manual cars have been mis shifted I miss-shifted our last Mini, woops !!!, it never felt right after, but when I part exed it no one cared or would even know I f ked up once in the last 700,000 miles , it can happen lol I bet loads of older 993 cars have been mis shifted over the years but they still sell and for loads of money. the issue with new cars is, every one can plug in a laptop see the over revs in 3 or above and then the cars a big issue because PORSCHE make it a big issue now days. not quite sure why Porsche said 3 was ok and 4 was an issue, now 3 is an issue but Porsche sold loads of cars with RR 3 on them under warranty, I wonder what happens to those cars come renewal which have been sold by Porsche with rr3 on when rr3 was ok a the time !!!