- Seller: Ray E
- Location: Stuart, Florida
- Mileage: 113,900 Shown
- Chassis #: WPOCB29881U661121
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 3.2-Liter Flat Six with 250 HP
- Transmission: 6-Speed Triptronic
Now that they are over 25 years old, the early 2000s Porsche Boxsters have reached classic car status. Of course, age isn’t the only factor that makes a car a classic. These Boxsters also have great looking, impressive performance, and incredible handling. They are blast to drive, but they aren’t without their issues. The example being offered here as a Barn Finds Auction has been well cared for but has developed one of the more common issues, a broken front trunk release. The seller recently had the car serviced and a new top installed, but they aren’t able to fix the release so they’ve decided to let it go to a new home.
As great as being able to open the trunks remotely with the keyfob, it might not have been the best feature on a 25-year-old car. Porsche attempted to mitigate any potential issues with the feature by adding a hidden cable to open the frunk in a pinch, but the cables are known to also fail, which is what has happened here. The battery just happens to be in the front trunk and went dead while attempting to get into the trunk. The seller has removed the headlight in hopes of reaching the cable to open it that way, but it’s a difficult task. The easiest option may be to cut a hole in the hood, but obviously, it would be ideal if that can be avoided.
The interior looks to be in good condition and was optioned with the Red Special Leather package. The Special Leather option covered most of the interior in leather and was a pricey upgrade, costing $2,370. Whoever ordered this car didn’t hold back on the options, they also selected the power seat option, Sport Touring Package, Tiptronic S, 18″ Alloy Turbo Look wheels, and Porsche Stability Management. The seller notes that the original Turbo Look wheels are included with the car. It’s currently riding on aftermarket wheels and newer tires.
While the car won’t start due to a dead battery, and being unable to access the front trunk means you can’t jump-start it, the car was running in early January. The seller has provided a video of the car running that was filmed on January 4th, and it sounds great. Being an S means the car is equipped with the more powerful 3.2 liter flat-6 engine. It’s rated at 250 horsepower and provides lots of performance. Since it’s also optioned with the Tiptronic 5-speed automatic transmission, zero to sixty takes a half second longer than the manual version, but the trade-off is worth it for those looking for an easy and fun to drive sports car. The seller has also provided photos of all the included receipts and it seems like it’s been well maintained.
These early Boxsters are fantastic cars with incredible handling, a great exhaust note, and a unique experience only a Boxster can provide. This one looks to be in clean condition inside and out. If you have questions about the car, please leave them in the comment section. And if you’d love to get this Boxster back on the street, cast your high bid below!
Bid On This Auction
- Bleslie bid $4,310.00 2025-01-29 11:03:35
- 4starz bid $4,260.00 2025-01-29 11:01:55
- Bleslie bid $4,010.00 2025-01-29 10:58:02
- JRussell bid $3,760.00 2025-01-29 10:36:52
- 4starz bid $3,510.00 2025-01-29 10:09:39
- chieftbird bid $3,200.00 2025-01-28 11:51:39
- 4starz bid $2,857.14 2025-01-24 22:45:00
- Richard Kiger-Nelson bid $500.00 2025-01-23 12:31:51
Hope this fella doesn’t lose the house keys.
“That’s it. We’re moving!”.
Getting the trunk open is not a big deal. You can jump to the fuse box or the cigarette lighter and then hit the button on the fob. Easy peasy.
Good thinking!
Would the lighter method work with a dead battery?
I was thinking that also, that is how I got my frunk open after a dead battery issue in my ’03 996. The fuse box is the key, so to speak! Over the years I have heard of the charger in the lighter socket trick also, it doesn’t take many amps to hit the open-frunk switch to work! I was just wondering if the Boxster shared the same set-up as a 996???
“The old charger in the lighter socket trick. That’s the second time I’ve fallen for it this year.” – Maxwell Smart
I’m 2 hours away. I’d like to view the car and read through those recepts.
Still waiting for appointment to see the car.
yeah, I cant use a car like this so ‘maintenance’ is key One.
(pun intended) Key Two is ‘original purchase price’ as my
margin rests 80% on that. Put in too much there & it’s not
worth my bringing up to sales condition, guarantees, etc..
What kind of shop can’t figure out how to open that trunk without cutting a hole in the hood? Something not right here. Buyer, beware.
I agree 100%. I find it pretty hard to believe that a Porsche dealer can’t open it. There is something else going on here.
I had the opportunity to spend an hour driving a 2001 Boxster S on a curving road and it was amazing, I would own one in a minute if I had a garage space and budget for it.
It sounds easy but the key fob does not unlock the trunk, only the trunk. The normal wat to unlock the frunk is by a cable operated latch on the door threshold or in emergency from the front left wheel well. Sounds like both failed and sacrificing the hood may be a last option if it is the actual latch that failed.
That’s not correct. The key fob has a dedicated button to open both the frunk as well as the trunk. The cable release is for emergency use.
Not sure how they removed the headlight without opening the frunk?? I have one of these and have had a couple of 996s – you can literally jump start the car though the connections on the fuse box down by the driver’s feet. I would be worried they are hiding something (IMS bearing, bore score, cylinder chunking) as there are certainly well known potential issues with these motors.
I owned a 2003 boxster with tiptronic for a few years , they are really great cars but the highmilleage can be pretty scary , engine and transmission work will clean you out , this one is a beauty , black with red interior and black top are a great combination.
If you choose to buy it , it must be a very low admission price
YOLO
I believe the author stated the remote trunk opener stopped working so jumping it would not work now maybe jumping it through the cigarette lighter will get it to start but seems so simple you wonder why it has not been tried
Is this the motor that needs a major bearing replaced? I can’t remember the name of the bearing but it was a factory defect and a really big deal .
Yup, its the IMS bearing but it’s not regular , safer to get it done if it hadialready been done
If , that bearing desintegrates , the engine needs to be replaced and 3,2 engines are quite expensive
YOLO
IMS bearing and yes, they are a known weakness in this generation 986/987/996. But once replaced with the upgraded LN Engineering bearing all is typically well for a long, long time.
In America 25 years makes that car in antique.
After 20 years it’s a classic so it has been a classic for 5 years now and has turned in to an antique.
I turned into a dinosaur.
In WI. you get collector plates at 20yo, Antique at 40yo!
How did they get the headlight out without opening the frunk? Something isn’t right here. Should be able to jump and start the engine from the fuse box. Nice looking car but if the bearing is shot then the motor is basically a boat anchor.
To the seller – i would like to look at this car. I live in the area. How can I get in touch with you to set up a time?
The bearing is not shot. The trunk won’t open. The opener is an electronic relay that became inoperable and I used the secondary cable to open it continually and unfortunately before replacing the relay opener. It’s a switch next to the driver seat by door sill. The cable became more bound up and ultimately snapped. This will not be easy to get Into trunk but the car is functional. I would be glad to show but you must contact barn finds and follow the rules of auction. I don’t think they allow that for obvious reasons. The price it’s at now you could easily sell parts and/or the engine to be way ahead. But you surely won’t…you’ll drive it once you repair the hood relay.
The bearing is fine on the car. I believe you can contact Barn Finds directly to make arrangements to see it with me. Id be glad to show it to you if they approve
It’s concerning the seller won’t reply to Tbone or SK about showing the car. I want to see the front end since the write up says the seller has removed the headlight – seller please, it will only help you if you engage as the auction winds down.
The seller has spoken to several individuals over the phone about the car. If you’d like to speak with them, I can email you their phone number!
I literally just saw the replies – for some reason not everything loaded when I first logged in, apologies to Ray (seller). Would still like to see a picture of the car with the headlight removed, and to know how long the seller has owned the car. Thanks
If you watch the video, at the 10 second mark, you’ll see that the headlight is out. I checked the video’s meta data and it was definitely recorded on January 4th.
The seller just let me know, he’s owned the car for about 10 years.
Seller – please state what services were recently completed. Thanks!
The next bid will clear the reserve!
So many unknowns…just not sure…
The reserve is off! And the bid increment has been reduced.
All good – best of luck bleslie.
Without that bearing being replaced caveat emptor.
In a business class, the teacher had caveat emptor on a quiz.
1. The cave is empty.
2. Buyer beware
3. Open the door and let the salesmen in.