Hey, buddy, in New Jersey a contract still means somthin'. Know what i mean? *NM*

I am thinking about buying a boxster from New Jersey but I live in Los Angeles. Any suggestions on how I can do this? It's a private party that is selling the car. I obviously need to have it shipped. Hate to buy it sight unseen... Is there a service out there that I could use?

Any suggestion would be appreciate it.

Jeff

What year boxster are you buying? Are you getting a special deal? There are plenty available locally. I have seen many in my regular travels.

I was thinking about an 986 s 03-04. But wanted a low mileage and yellow color with turbo wheels. Hard to find actually.

... have the car inspected by a specialist who knows these cars.
It could end up saving you tons of money in the long run.
Don't buy a Porsche sight unseen.
I know of a very nice 2004 S that;'s for sale in Florida.
I did most of the maintenance on the car, then the engine went and a rebuilt engine was installed.
Now the owner needs to sell it with only 1000 miles driven since the rebuilt engine.
It's not yellow with turbo wheels, but midnight blue metallic with Carrera 5-spoke wheels.
Send me an e-mail or call me if interested and I'll hook you up with the seller.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

PS: If you're looking for used Porsches, try South Florida. Our cars never get driven in salted roads with pot-holes!

Pedro Bonilla
1998 Boxster 986 - 311,000+ miles: [www.PedrosGarage.com]
PCA National Club Racing Scrutineer - PCA National HPDE Instructor - PCA Technical Committee (Boxster/Cayman)

---

Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar

"Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting" ... Steve McQueen as Michael Delaney in "LeMans"

"If you wait, all that happens is that you get older"... Mario Andretti

"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose" ... Ayrton Senna

Where in NJ is the car? It's a small state, but it can still take several hours to get from one place to another depending on the exact location, traffic, etc. One suggestion would be to hire a local independent shop to do a PPI for you before you finalize the deal. Another option is to have one of us locals do a private inspection for you, but of course you are then relying on the expertise of the individual. Let us know where the car is, and then maybe some of us can give you additional suggestions.

That's a great idea. Maybe I can even get the shop to help broker a deal. I assume I would have to send a cashier check and then the shop can ship the car to me. The car I saw was in Bedford, New Jersey. Know any good shops there? Thanks for all your responses. I used to have an 2004 boxster s on lease and I returned it. Later I got an 05 boxster a and drove it for a while. It was more refined but I didn't have the same connection with it. So I sold it. Now I am getting the Porsche itch again and I think I prefer the simplicity of the boxster. Also I missed the boxster whine that was in the 986. So I figured I look back into a 986 s again.

BTW, the 18" "Turbo" wheels on the Boxster S are Porsche solid-spoke knock-offs of the actual Porsche Tequipment hollow-spoke Turbo wheels which came standard on some 996 Turbo's. I have an '01S with the 18" 'Turbo' wheels, and hated them. They are ridiculously heavy and overbuilt. I swapped mine for a set of forged 18" BBS RS-GT wheels and noticed an immediate difference in steering feel and ride. The rear RS-GT's were 10lbs lighter per corner!! Moral of the story: these wheels are nothing special - don't limit yourself to cars only with them!

Welcome back to Boxster heaven...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/2014 03:24PM by jlegelis. (view changes)

Didn't know about the turbo look wheels being heavier. I just had it on my car when I had it. Good point. Thanks!

Quote
diegotola
That's a great idea. Maybe I can even get the shop to help broker a deal. I assume I would have to send a cashier check and then the shop can ship the car to me. The car I saw was in Bedford, New Jersey. Know any good shops there? Thanks for all your responses. I used to have an 2004 boxster s on lease and I returned it. Later I got an 05 boxster a and drove it for a while. It was more refined but I didn't have the same connection with it. So I sold it. Now I am getting the Porsche itch again and I think I prefer the simplicity of the boxster. Also I missed the boxster whine that was in the 986. So I figured I look back into a 986 s again.

Ok, embarrassing situation. I looked up "Bedford, NJ" on two different map apps (phone and laptop), and could not get a specific location. There's Bedford, MA and Bedford, NY but not a simple Bedford. NJ. The closest name is "New Bedford" which is located in Monmouth County. If that is the location, then you have a Porsche dealer and a very good independent shop nearby. I know you may not want to reveal the exact location, but if you can confirm the county or zip, then maybe we can zero in on a shop. By the way, New Bedford is not a town per se, but an area close to Franklin Lakes, which is a very nice town on the Jersey shore.

Hi think, sorry I totally screwed up. It's supposed to be New Hampshire. Not New Jersey. I assume the people in New Hampshire are nicer?

The name of both states starts with 'New'. And, New Hampshire is a LOT closer to N.J. than New Mexico. But then, New Mexico would be closer to you.

New Hampshire is a gorgeous state. They love their Subaru's which, as you know, also have horizontally-opposed (boxer) engine, so be careful they haven't swapped out the Porsche engine for a Subie motor.

as i recall, you can't get there from here.

Grant (originally from Vermont border)

Grant

gee-lenahan-at-gee-mail-dot-com

New Bedford, MA
New Bedford, NJ
Bedford, NH

If in MA or NH I can give you some suggestions, or even check the car out for you (you still need a PPI from a good tech).

-Rey

checked out by a specialist that knows these cars.

This has to be a very involved checkout as you are not there to give the car a preliminary visual inspection and then to follow this with a ride/drive.

I'm not sure the best way to actually purchase the car. Others who have done this long distance/remote purchasing will have to chip in.

I want to add that once you have decided to buy the car be sure you get full coverage on the car just in case. I would want something in writing from my insurance agent confirming the car -- be sure the VIN is listed correctly and other details about the car are also correct! -- confirming the car is covered against all risk: the shipping truck has an accident, the car falls off the truck, the truck with the car, or the car is stolen, fire, hail, vandalism and so on. You may have to get a special short duration policy then once the car is in your possession then get a more normal car policy.

I would NEVER buy a car from New Jersey. I live in Philly.... and have experience. Porsches in NJ are just banged up. Dings. They live a rough life. The folks in NJ are pretty darn rude, selfish, and aggressive. They bang doors in parking lots.... it is Lord of the Flies. I helped a buddy look, any car in NJ was not pristine.

I am being serious here. Avoid cars in NJ.

Now I am really going to tick some folks off...... I think the general level of honesty in NJ is .... well let's just say it is not like the rest of the USA.

Peace
Bruce in Philly



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/2014 08:50PM by Bruce In Philly (2000 S Boxster, now '09 C2S). (view changes)

Thanks for the input. I thought the owner took car of the car. He even did th ln engineering swap to avoid the dreaded ims.maybe he is a member on the board...

Grant

gee-lenahan-at-gee-mail-dot-com

Then you have shipping issues, can;t help there.

Grant

Grant

gee-lenahan-at-gee-mail-dot-com

Clean examples of the '986' are common. The cost of a proper inspection along with shipping the car is substantial enough that you are better off continuing your search closer to home.

Quote
silverbox03
Clean examples of the '986' are common. The cost of a proper inspection along with shipping the car is substantial enough that you are better off continuing your search closer to home.

+1; I didn't do a search but would think there are a number of cars within 500 miles of LA.

I can vouch for what most of the members here said (except for the NJ folks editorial by Bruce )...

I got my Boxster not only across country and sight unseen, but across border from the US to Canada.

It is a risky proposition, but not unachievable. When I bought mine, we proceeded in this order:

1- Find the car in my price range with my desired colors, options and model.
2- Talked with owner, discuss car history, reason for sales etc.
3- Obtain VIN and run both a CarFax and CarProof, this guaranties nothing but was used as a first "red flag" process. Nothing popped up, so we continued the process.
4- Talked with owner again and checked if he was willing to drive the car to a Dealership for inspection. Often the willingness of the owner to do it quickly is a sign of a well maintained car, as he fears not that inspection will identify something major with the car.
5- Call car dealership (or reputable indy) and negotiated the inspection and expected feedback.
6- Got the car checked and reviewed inspection results.
7- Clear the title and proceeded with purchased
8- Obtain insured and covered shipping service and coordinate the pick up
9- Deal with custom and import
10- Received the car and was granted the instant permagrin that, 3 years later, still has not dissipated.

Best of luck !



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/29/2014 04:03PM by EricG. (view changes)

Quote
EricG
I can vouch for what most of the members here said (except for the NJ folks editorial by Bruce )...

I got my Boxster not only across country and sight unseen, but across border from the US to Canada.

It is a risky proposition, but not unachievable. When I bought mine, we proceeded in this order:

1- Find the car in my price range with my desired colors, options and model.
2- Talked with owner, discuss car history, reason for sales etc.
3- Obtain VIN and run both a CarFax and CarProof, this guaranties nothing but was used as a first "red flag" process. Nothing popped up, so we continued the process.
4- Talked with owner again and checked if he was willing to drive the car to a Dealership for inspection. Often the willingness of the owner to do it quickly is a sign of a well maintained car, as he fears not that inspection will identify something major with the car.
5- Call car dealership (or reputable indy) and negotiated the inspection and expected feedback.
6- Got the car checked and reviewed inspection results.
7- Clear the title and proceeded with purchased
8- Obtain insured and covered shipping service and coordinate the pick up
9- Deal with custom and import
10- Received the car and was granted the instant permagrin that, 3 years later, still has not dissipated.

Best of luck !

I did the exact same process back in the spring of 2010.

I followed the same steps as Eric...I was very picky and searched for my Boxster on line for about a year to find the right one. I stop counting on the Local Dealer to help me find my car as their motivation is to sell you one on their lot!! This came perfectly clear when the Sales guy called my and told me he had found my car. I was very excited until he told me it was white with red interior...I was looking for a triple black Boxster.. NEXT!!!

Eric...I did cheat a bit as I found a CPO car a Dealer in S-CAL and hired an Auto Broker here in Toronto to take of all the particulars you mentioned above.

As I paid for the car sight un seen...I waited 5 agonizing weeks until I saw my Boxster.... the small clip my wife took as I picked up my perfect Boxster.

I have been smiling every day since.

Enjoy the hunt...I know I did.


[www.youtube.com]

MIKELLIG

Quote
BLKBOXS

Quote
EricG
I can vouch for what most of the members here said (except for the NJ folks editorial by Bruce )...

I got my Boxster not only across country and sight unseen, but across border from the US to Canada.

It is a risky proposition, but not unachievable. When I bought mine, we proceeded in this order:

1- Find the car in my price range with my desired colors, options and model.
2- Talked with owner, discuss car history, reason for sales etc.
3- Obtain VIN and run both a CarFax and CarProof, this guaranties nothing but was used as a first "red flag" process. Nothing popped up, so we continued the process.
4- Talked with owner again and checked if he was willing to drive the car to a Dealership for inspection. Often the willingness of the owner to do it quickly is a sign of a well maintained car, as he fears not that inspection will identify something major with the car.
5- Call car dealership (or reputable indy) and negotiated the inspection and expected feedback.
6- Got the car checked and reviewed inspection results.
7- Clear the title and proceeded with purchased
8- Obtain insured and covered shipping service and coordinate the pick up
9- Deal with custom and import
10- Received the car and was granted the instant permagrin that, 3 years later, still has not dissipated.

Best of luck !

I did the exact same process back in the spring of 2010.

I followed the same steps as Eric...I was very picky and searched for my Boxster on line for about a year to find the right one. I stop counting on the Local Dealer to help me find my car as their motivation is to sell you one on their lot!! This came perfectly clear when the Sales guy called my and told me he had found my car. I was very excited until he told me it was white with red interior...I was looking for a triple black Boxster.. NEXT!!!

Eric...I did cheat a bit as I found a CPO car a Dealer in S-CAL and hired an Auto Broker here in Toronto to take of all the particulars you mentioned above.

As I paid for the car sight un seen...I waited 5 agonizing weeks until I saw my Boxster.... the small clip my wife took as I picked up my perfect Boxster.

I have been smiling every day since.

Enjoy the hunt...I know I did.


[www.youtube.com]

Well, other than the fact mine wasn't CPO, I also used what you could call a broker. They qualify themselves as a dealer that offer "personalized shopping".
Notice the we in my previous message.