Need advice on purchase of 1998 - it's cheap, but risky?

My best to all. My Miata was just totaled when parked and I'm in the market for a cheap replacement but as you all know, the used car market is crazy right now. The car has some 97k miles - verified by CarFax. It was originally used as a leased vehicle and has changed hands some 7 times or so. No accidents. Photos look good. The private owner bought it about a year ago. She tells me that the top has to be raised and lowered manually. I can live with that. She bought the car but the title hasn't been issued - she says that's because of the effect of Covid on the operations of the DMV. She does have a bill of sale made out to her. The asking price is $7,000. The car looks great in the photos. My major concerns:: Cost seems to be significantly lower than other 1998 Boxters. My research shows that the engine had major problems and was replaced in late 1999. However, since the car has been driven that many miles, could I assume that a problem with engine will probably not happen? The problem appears to manifest itself in the mixture of engine liquids - as best as I can tell. Any and all comments would be highly appreciated. With my regards, Andy Fern Virginia

The new engine is really old news at this point. The mileage would imply that the second motor has ran successfully for many years. So, I would treat it as a 21 year old Boxster that is being priced "by the book", rather than the Covid induced escalated values. (See KBB Private sale value below for the car) Still, I would want to drive it and see it up close. Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

Seems like a fair market value price - maybe you can negotiate down a little bit for the broken top operation. Where in Virginia are you and the car?

Thanks for your response Hokie. Methinks that perhaps my posting wasn't clear in regards to the current engine. When I said that the engine was replaced in late 1999, I was trying to say that Porsche apparently kept selling their 1998 Boxter regardless of the many failures of the original engine. But, in late 1999 they stopped selling Boxters with the original engine and started putting in an engine that was manufactured using a different process. (Wikipedia) CarFax doesn't show that this particular car's engine was ever replaced. Hence my concern. With my regards, Andy

Well that could very be but I've certainly seen significantly higher prices. Please check out my response to Hokie as I think I might have made a significantly confusing statement in my original post. I have no indication that the original engine was ever repaired or replaced on the vehicle that I'm considering buying. My comment re the engine being replaced in late 1999 was referring to Porsche selling this model with a redesigned engine starting in late 1999 due to the problems with the engine they initially used in the first production models. I can find no assurance that All of the 1998 original production engines were Ever replaced. Hence my concern. Andy

Take it to a dealership and have a PPI to be sure it's in good shape.

Good idea. Perhaps the seller will let me do that as a condition of the sale - but perhaps not as none of the used cars on the market seem to last very long unless they have somewhat glaring issues. Thanks for the idea and your response. Andy

I second getting a PPI. A bad engine will cost you more to replace than the car is worth, and a good mechanic can check it out pretty thoroughly for just a few hundred dollars. It's really a must-have item for older Boxsters. Make an offer on the car contingent on the PPI (which you pay for, not the seller). If the seller declines, walk away and keep looking. If the PPI turns up any major problems, adjust your offer accordingly. I was shopping for a Boxster last year and the first two really nice ones turned up problems in the PPI -- the third one was the charm (2000 Boxster S )! Also, you (or your mechanic) can tell if the engine is original or replaced by looking up the VIN and the engine's serial number. If I recall, the early 986 /996 engine problems were due to bad casting of the crankcase, and those tended to fail pretty early. After 97k miles, you're probably ok on that issue, and the PPI can check out most other common issues. Good luck!

Some states - NJ for instance will not issue a title unless an existing and signed title is presented when the title transfer is supposed to take place. They also have some rules about the time between a vehicle being sold and being titled is allowed. A bill of sale made out to her - well - I'd check your motor-vehicle laws and see if that has any validity without her transferring title to you. Is she proposing to give you a bill of sale for her existing bill of sale? She can't transfer title to you since she doesn't actually have the title (if as you said it was never issued.) Dunno VA laws but in NJ this wouldn't fly. You probably can find out exactly what's needed by talking to a sleazy used-car salesman somewhere. I'm sure they've had to deal with untitled cars and bill of sales and will know right away what's possible.

30 seconds with Google: § 46.2-617. Sale of vehicle without certificate of title law.lis.virginia.gov " § 46.2-617. Sale of vehicle without certificate of title. Except as provided in §§ 46.2-644.03 and 58.1-3942 , any person who sells, trades, exchanges, or barters a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer in the Commonwealth without first having secured a certificate of title for it or without legally having in his possession a certificate of title for the vehicle issued to its owner, except as otherwise provided in this title, shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Code 1950, § 46-7; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-88; 1968, c. 605; 1978, c. 605; 1988, c. 363; 1989, c. 727; 2009, c. 664 ; 2012, c. 623 ." Doesn't sound promising to me.. " Class 3 and 4 Misdemeanors Class 3 and 4 misdemeanors, the least serious misdemeanors, are punishable by fines, but no jail time. A Class 3 misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $500. A Class 4 misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $250. A first conviction for public intoxication is an example of a Class 4 misdemeanor. (Va. Code § 18.2-11 (2019).)"

I would only advise you to try a few. Be as patient as you can unless money is no object (though it sounds like it is) and you need to that particular one. There is no cheap Porsche .

Many thanks for that Deilenberger. I hadn't really thought through the paperwork problems that I would have if I buy this car. My problem has been that I'd really love to have a 1998 Boxster . But I think it's time to give this dream up unless I can find a different one. My regards and thanks to all who made a comment or suggestion about my post. Andy

Thanks for your great response Sandy. I wasn't aware that one could check the VIN against the engine's serial number on the internet. Your memory about the bad casting agrees with what I've been able to find on the net. My gut feeling is similar to yours in that the engine will Probably not be a problem. But, that possibility plus the titling issue has made me decide to give up on this particular car. I hope you have many more years of fun with your Boxster S . Andy

I am new to Porsche but have owned many German cars for 37 years. You didn't say if you were new to Porsche or not just that you are coming from a Miata so I will assume you are somewhat new. It also sounds like you NEED a car at the moment. My recommendation is that if you are not familiar with the Porsche ...good independent shops, a place to get parts at reasonable prices, experience with common foibles of the car that you should not go in with a sketchy car like this. It will probably just sour you to Porsche ESPECIALLY coming from the most reliable inexpensive to run roadster in the known universe. If you find a one or two owner cleaner car for a little more money, it will buy you some time to learn where is a good place to get serviced, where to get decent priced OEM grade parts etc. I have three cars so I have can buy something that if it breaks, I can park for a week until I feel like working on it and order the lowest priced online parts from some far off place. So my recommendation based on the information at hand is no. Get yourself another Miata or find a little less sketchy car while you learn the ins and outs of German car ownership. I'm also sorry your Miata got totalled. I also had a mint BMW 330i ZHP MT with Alcantara Interior and rare Mystic Blue rear ended and totalled a couple of years ago and it was tough. Best wishes!

That's very good advice especially coming from someone with the background that you have. Thank you. Sorry to hear about your Beemer - bummer. I would prefer to buy another Miata but that might not be in the cards right now as there are almost none of them for sale in my area. Actually, there are very, very few for sale in my preferred price range. I strongly prefer a convertible with a manual shift. From what I've seen over the past couple of weeks, my options seem to be; pay too much for an inferior car; do without until prices start to drop; or gamble on buying something that I'm not confident in. Such is life. My best wishes to you as well. Andy

What Miata did you have btw? I have a friend in the area who has a 2005 Mazdaspeed Miata in mint condition and with Flyn' Miata tune (Little Enchilada I think) who was thinking of selling, but I think he has decided not to (somewhat due to my urging him seeing the market and the prices going up and up!

I too entered the Porsche arena via the Mazdarati. (see photo that was the genesis of my labeling) I agree that while you probably can't compare the co$ts of ownership, at least not long term, of the two brands, I have been very pleasantly surprised by the availability and price of 15 year old Porsche parts. Both were impulse purchases because when they popped up each was a very unique circumstance with an incredible opportunity to acquire at a great price. Both also are 100% healthy, the Mazdarati now at 37,000 miles and the 987.1 Boxster at 47,000 I have le$$ in them combined than what an ND Miata cost new. You just have to be eye's wide open and ready to pounce when an opportunity arises. Admittedly it's a very different situation than the OP finds himself in because of "time". He needs to acquire now for transportation purposes. I wish him the best of luck and I hope he doesn't automatically take a Porsche off the table. But you do have to be diligent in making sure you find a motor with some life in it. I'm convinced that a Porsche motor, especially the little 2.5/2.7 is a great motor, and less stressed than it's bigger brothers. Also lots of community support, similar to the Miata community.

Either choice would work fine I think, but then you're asking. So I take that as a sign to go with a newer Mazda for the same money. I mean if I had only one car to count on, I would do. When you have the luxury of two or three cars you can fart around with fixing old car issues on your own schedule.

Hello again Hokie. I had a 'standard' 2001 Miata . Before that one I had a 1995. Loved em both. Gave up on the 95 without a reakkt good reason. The only thing was that it had about 195k on it. For now, I think I'm gonna just hang back and use my wife's car when it's available. I'm thinking that paying some $8,000, for example, for another one while knowing that in a couple of years it's going to only be worth some $3.5 or $4k isn't something I want to do. But perhaps I'll change my mind. We'll see. Take care, Andy

Lookin good Mr. Snake Regards

She doesn't own the car. It is her ex boyfriends car. He is overseas, the title is in his safe deposit box, and she is selling it for revenge. Maybe? Probably not. Trust but verify. No title = no cash.