At $5,000, might this Project 1999 Porsche Boxster inspire you to roll up your sleeves?

Today’s Nice Price or No Dice 986 has covered many miles and shows its age. Its engine has also been changed, but it still requires some work to make it reliable. Let’s see if it’s worth getting our hands dirty.

In the party game “Hot Potato”, partygoers stand in a circle and toss a beanbag or other small object from person to person while music plays. When the music suddenly stops, the person holding the object is removed. This continues until only one player remains. Aside from parlor games, the phrase ‘hot potato’ has long been used to describe any item, idea or even company of dubious desirability that has passed through several hands. Saab automobiles are a prime example of a hot potato car company. Originally acquired by General Motors in 1989, the Swedish carmaker faced that company’s bankruptcy and then its own, ultimately closing its doors. Since then, the brand has been owned by Spyker Automotive, NEVS (National Electric Vehicle Sweden) and eventually Chinese conglomerate Evergrande Group.

The 1976 Saab 99 GL we looked at last Friday suggests happier times, when people wanted Saabs. Unfortunately for its collector-seller, the car’s $14,900 asking price became severely limited. Ultimately, this became clear in the comments and Saab received a 75% “no dice” loss.

Okay, now, who wants leftover potato salad from the Fourth?

While Saab Automotive is long gone, Germany’s Porsche is still alive and kicking. This was not nearly the case, as the company was in difficult financial times in the 1980s. Two decisions turned things around, stopping the Wolves. The first of those was the decision to reach out to Toyota and politely ask for advice on how to make cars more efficiently. This led to just-in-time production and the sharing of parts between certain models, reducing redundancies. The second decision that pulled Porsche’s feet to the fire was to divert production to enter the extremely popular and profitable SUV and crossover market.

We are not going to discuss that latter effort today. Instead, we are going to note that it 1999 porsche boxsterWhile the marque’s entry-level car for the turn of the millennium, it shares almost 90% of its parts from the front doors with the more expensive and storied 911 Carrera. However, unlike the 911, which has conventional rear seats, the Boxster’s mid-engine layout makes it an exclusively two-seater. This layout potentially makes for a better-handling car, which is why the Boxster was initially only available with smaller-displacement engines than its bigger brother.

Being a 1999 model, this Boxster has the smallest engine offered in the model line, the 2.5-liter, 201-horsepower M96 flat-six. It was Porsche’s first water-cooled boxer engine, and early models had problems with cracks in the alloy blocks and cylinder liner wear. In fact, this car is on its second motor, the first motor having apparently worn out. According to the ad, this happened when the car had 170,000 miles on the clock, so it really gave it its all. The replacement engine came from a car with a much more reasonable 80K. This Boxster has now covered an astonishing 197,700 miles, the engine has now covered a total of 107,000 miles. A replacement clutch at 27,000 miles also came up in the chat. It sits between the M96 and a five-speed manual sourced from Audi (see? More sharing!)

Now, the seller claims that the engine “starts and runs well without any smoke or strange noises.” Currently riding on lowered springs and blown-out shocks, the seller says its ride and handling could be improved. A set of four Bilstein B4 struts will be included with the sale.

However, this Boxster needs more work. According to the tale of woe given in the ad copy, the seller thinks the alternator has failed. The car will start on a fully charged battery, but driving for any length of time drains it. Because of this, all emissions codes have been removed from the OBDII, meaning that once the alternator is fixed, the car will need to be driven 330 miles to reset the codes, which can allow it to pass a smog test.

The rest of the car appears to be in good condition, although its age shows and the mileage suggests it has been close to a trip to the Moon. Specifically, the nose is full of stone chips, and there is a scratch in the paint on the rear-left fender. Things are looking better in the cabin, as the driver’s seat has been restored and looks to be in solid shape. As a starter car, this Boxster has a less than desirable four-spoke steering wheel and a shift knob that looks like it came from the entry-level VW Polo. On the positive side, the top looks great and is said to work without any issues. Finally, the title is clean, and the car has current registration.

Okay, so we’ve established that this Boxster needs some love. The point of the arrangement is that this model is the cheapest way to drive a Porsche sports car today. And, like the 914, 924 and 944 before it, the Boxster, although cheaper now, will eventually only increase in value.

But how cheap is it now? The seller asks $5,000 for the car and suggests bringing a flatbed because the alternator problem makes it a poor candidate for a drive-off. This is an additional cost that must be considered. Then we will have to think about work on the charging system. An alternator will cost several hundred dollars, and if the next owner is unable to diagnose and fix the problem, the higher costs of Porsche mechanics will have to be considered.

With all that in mind, what do you think about this wrecked Boxster and its $5,000 asking price? Is it cheap enough to roll the dice despite the issues and long distance? Or would it make more sense to give this Porsche a pass?

You decide!

Los Angeles, California, CraigslistOr go here if the ad disappears.

Hat tip to Tony A for the hookup!

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