Pricing a ‘97 Boxster

[BabyRay]

I’m looking to sell my wife's baby….her ‘97 Porsche Boxster. It has 32,500 miles, and includes the optional hardtop. It’s in excellent condition. The only body issue is one small scratch, to the primer, on the hardtop. Always been garaged, without fail. Never been wrecked, but had body dings and paint repairs done on it a few years ago. It has no curb rash on the wheels (kudos to my wife for that!). Runs great and nearly new tires, brakes redone about 5k miles ago. It has NOT had the IMS bearing replacement done, which might cause concern to some.

CarMax made the best offer of companies of that type, at $8,000. I’m not excited about selling it myself, but if the spread is great enough, I’ll do it. The other possibility is trying to find a dealer to consign it, but I suspect the better dealers wouldn’t touch it due to the age and category.

It’s not a real popular car, but does anybody have experience with actual sale pricing on this or similar? Please note that I’m not interested in demonstrations of Google or AI query abilities…already did that, and am looking for confirmation now.

Thanks in advance!

 

[lbhsbz]

I’m looking to sell my wife's baby….her ‘97 Porsche Boxster. It has 32,500 miles, and includes the optional hardtop. It’s in excellent condition. The only body issue is one small scratch, to the primer, on the hardtop. Always been garaged, without fail. Never been wrecked, but had body dings and paint repairs done on it a few years ago. It has no curb rash on the wheels (kudos to my wife for that!). Runs great and nearly new tires, brakes redone about 5k miles ago. It has NOT had the IMS bearing replacement done, which might cause concern to some.

CarMax made the best offer of companies of that type, at $8,000. I’m not excited about selling it myself, but if the spread is great enough, I’ll do it. The other possibility is trying to find a dealer to consign it, but I suspect the better dealers wouldn’t touch it due to the age and category.

It’s not a real popular car, but does anybody have experience with actual sale pricing on this or similar? Please note that I’m not interested in demonstrations of Google or AI query abilities…already did that, and am looking for confirmation now.

Thanks in advance!

With those kinda miles, I'd post on Rennlist

 

[4Waters]

We just sold my MIL 2001 Boxer for 17k with 13k miles on it always garaged as well 100% original paint with no chips, dings or dents and manual trans. We were asking 23k obo, we got a few offers for 16k and one at 19k but he backed out. We ended up dealing with someone that @Jefftowz recommended (a higher end dealer), they bought it and put it on their lot.

IMS was definitely an issue with buyers as hers wasn't done either. GLWTS

 

[MonkeyButt70]

What Color, Auto or Manual, S or non S?

 

[BabyRay]

With those kinda miles, I'd post on Rennlist

Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.

 

[BabyRay]

What Color, Auto or Manual, S or non S?

Silver, Red leather, Manual, non-S.

 

[Scott4593]

That car belongs on bring a trailer with that kind of mileage

 

[MonkeyButt70]

Silver, Red leather, Manual, non-S.

Great color combo, manuals are the desired over auto, being a non-S is actually a good thing for the Porsche Club guys, they use that spec for the boxster race series. I would say an honest $15-18K, People will bitch and moan about IMS but reality failure is a VERY low percentage. I would take the time to sell privately. The buyers will ask for a paint thickness report, DME report, and any maintenance records. Porsche guys are a pain in the ASS (Im a Porsche guy, but without the snobbery), so you have to ask yourself is it worth the extra money for the hassle or you can price in between market and wholesale and then tell buyers you priced at a come get it now price $12k, no haggle and no bullshit reports needed...

 

[86403]

Eventual comp here:

1998 Porsche Boxster 5-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a 1998 Porsche Boxster 5-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #184,876.

bringatrailer.com

 

[Mandelon]

Bring A Trailer.com

 

[BabyRay]

That car belongs on bring a trailer with that kind of mileage

Another for me to keep in mind. Thanks.

 

[BabyRay]

Great color combo, manuals are the desired over auto, being a non-S is actually a good thing for the Porsche Club guys, they use that spec for the boxster race series. I would say an honest $15-18K, People will bitch and moan about IMS but reality failure is a VERY low percentage. I would take the time to sell privately. The buyers will ask for a paint thickness report, DME report, and any maintenance records. Porsche guys are a pain in the ASS (Im a Porsche guy, but without the snobbery), so you have to ask yourself is it worth the extra money for the hassle or you can price in between market and wholesale and then tell buyers you priced at a come get it now price $12k, no haggle and no bullshit reports needed...

Great info. Thanks!

 

[4Waters]

Great color combo, manuals are the desired over auto, being a non-S is actually a good thing for the Porsche Club guys, they use that spec for the boxster race series. I would say an honest $15-18K, People will bitch and moan about IMS but reality failure is a VERY low percentage. I would take the time to sell privately. The buyers will ask for a paint thickness report, DME report, and any maintenance records. Porsche guys are a pain in the ASS (Im a Porsche guy, but without the snobbery), so you have to ask yourself is it worth the extra money for the hassle or you can price in between market and wholesale and then tell buyers you priced at a come get it now price $12k, no haggle and no bullshit reports needed...

Post 3, no way he is gonna get 15-18k we had that for sale for about 18mo

 

[monkeyswrench]

Does the wife know you're selling her baby? Turns out, they get real pissy when you sell one of theirs to add something new to your stable

 

[JUSTWANNARACE]

Post 3, no way he is gonna get 15-18k we had that for sale for about 18mo

Did it have the hardtop?

 

[4Waters]

Did it have the hardtop?

No

 

[BabyRay]

Does the wife know you're selling her baby? Turns out, they get real pissy when you sell one of theirs to add something new to your stable

Absolutely! I’ve been married too long to not know that!

 

[JUSTWANNARACE]

No

Soo.. maybe he can get that price Debbie Downer

 

[4Waters]

Soo.. maybe ge can get that price Debbie Downer

 

[gqchris]

Im interested, put me on the list.

 

[BabyRay]

Im interested, put me on the list.

Just so you know, I’m in Washington State.

 

[Rennsport]

Rennlist classifieds as mentioned above. Might have to deal with the Porschephile picky ass BS - and also like mentioned above I’m one of them without the picky ass part

silver/red is great and with a manual transmission should sell without issue

 

[Lumpy]

Boils down to the cost of having the IMS done…including clutch kit and main oil seal too. Ya ain’t gonna go in there without doing all three. No doubt it’s gonna need the HVAC front and rear mod too. Done it all to my C4. I wouldn’t drive that time bomb unless the IMS was done for starters. Then there’s the bearings on the transmission mains…that’s a fun one too…been there done that. They really are great fun cars if you’re willing to correct the flaws of the era…that’s why I did mine. Just shy of 300hp at 2k pounds makes for a really fun car with the right driver. Fortunately for me I do all my own work including the transmission rebuild…no one touches my stuff. Today you’re probably looking at 5k to have the IMS, clutch pack and seal done. At that point it’s probably worth 15-20k with the low mileage. Possibly more…

 

[n2otoofast4u]

Just so you know, I’m in Washington State.

Where in WA, I’m in WA also near Vancouver. I’ll give you what Carmax offered!

 

[BabyRay]

Boils down to the cost of having the IMS done…including clutch kit and main oil seal too. Ya ain’t gonna go in there without doing all three. No doubt it’s gonna need the HVAC front and rear mod too. Done it all to my C4. I wouldn’t drive that time bomb unless the IMS was done for starters. Then there’s the bearings on the transmission mains…that’s a fun one too…been there done that. They really are great fun cars if you’re willing to correct the flaws of the era…that’s why I did mine. Just shy of 300hp at 2k pounds makes for a really fun car with the right driver. Fortunately for me I do all my own work including the transmission rebuild…no one touches my stuff. Today you’re probably looking at 5k to have the IMS, clutch pack and seal done. At that point it’s probably worth 15-20k with the low mileage. Possibly more…

Thanks for the input! At the low end of that price range, it wouldn’t be worth the bother to me. It’d be great at the high end, but it’s too speculative. I’ll sell it as-is.

 

[BabyRay]

Where in WA, I’m in WA also near Vancouver. I’ll give you what Carmax offered!

I’ve already been offered that by two family members. They’d never forgive me if I sold it to someone else at that price without giving them a shot at it.

 

[lakemadness]

100% Bring a Trailer. Easy to list and they fetch good numbers, especially low mileage examples. Take good pics, or better yet, pay their professional photographer to take them.

 

[MonkeyButt70]

100% Bring a Trailer. Easy to list and they fetch good numbers, especially low mileage examples. Take good pics, or better yet, pay their professional photographer to take them.

BAT is a good place for selling I have sold my cars there, but if @BabyRay does not want to deal with Porsche nerds, that is the last place I would list it. They all come out of the shadows to be keyboard warriors with zero intention of buying it.

 

[lakemadness]

BAT is a good place for selling I have sold my cars there, but if @BabyRay does not want to deal with Porsche nerds, that is the last place I would list it. They all come out of the shadows to be keyboard warriors with zero intention of buying it.

Not sure how boxster auctions go, but 911 auctions seem to stay positive for the most part. Agree, often way too comments from people that will never buy a car. But it might still be worth it.

 

[BabyRay]

100% Bring a Trailer. Easy to list and they fetch good numbers, especially low mileage examples. Take good pics, or better yet, pay their professional photographer to take them.

BAT is a good place for selling I have sold my cars there, but if @BabyRay does not want to deal with Porsche nerds, that is the last place I would list it. They all come out of the shadows to be keyboard warriors with zero intention of buying it.

Not sure how boxster auctions go, but 911 auctions seem to stay positive for the most part. Agree, often way too comments from people that will never buy a car. But it might still be worth it.

I’ll consider BAT as an option. Negative online comments from people I don’t know wouldn’t bother me, especially if it’s to be expected….in fact, that might be the essence of my reply to them. I’ll need to read up on BAT’s process.

 

[lakemadness]

All you guys do know that only about 1% of cars have had ims failures. At least on the 911.

I had an ‘02 911. Ran it and never really cared or worried.

 

[lbhsbz]

All you guys do know that only about 1% of cars have had ims failures. At least on the 911.

I had an ‘02 911. Ran it and never really cared or worried.

Exactly...at 30K miles, I don't think anyone GAF about the IMS, but they will use it as a tool to beat you down on price.

But it's a hard top, so tell 'em to fuckoff.

You've got a great car there....it should fetch top dollar.