Porsche Boxster 3.2 S 986

DubsterACS

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DubsterACS
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176
Location
Ballymena
Drives
911C2,ZX16v
After a long time offline from car forums (its been a busy year!) i thought i would get back into it again etc. Still have the Boxster, so here is an update of its adventures over the last year.
The wheels were treated to a full refurb, the classic Turbo Twist wheels really set this car off well and are well suited to this shape and era of Porsche, whether it be in the 996 911 or here on the 986 Boxster - they can both thank the previous generation 993 911 for the design! At the same time I wanted to get the car lowered slightly, after much research and going between H&R's / Eibach's / TechArt I decided on TechArt springs from Design911.co.uk, they were slightly more expensive than the others and are made for TechArt by Eibach but apparently TechArt supply their own spec's, from what i can tell the spring rates are different to that of the Eibach ones. They drop the car 30mm all round, i was so pleased with the results:
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr

Next up was the exhaust, the sound from the flat 6 is already awesome with quite a surprising amount of induction sound especially from 4k onwards but i felt it needed to be released more. I then realised how expensive Porsche parts can be and modified parts can be expensive as well, but during one of my Ebay hunts one night i came across a guy in england selling a Dansk backbox for a more affordable price, best thing was he had only driven a few hundred miles with it on his car and realised it wasn't for him. So got it, fitted it and was not disappointed - it really releases the engine note without too much droning. Only problem is it sits off centre which is annoying, I've yet to get this sorted but do plan on it.
At the same time, just before Dubshed last year, I had service work carried out along with discs and Textar brake pads all round, handbrake cable and full geometry set up done. Ready in time for Dubshed:

Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr

The week after Dubshed was a Kirkistown Track Skills day, decided I really wanted to see how this car handled on the circuit given my last trackway was in my E36 M3 CLS - that car was fantastic on the track although i was mad taking it there due to its rarity and i felt i could never really push it to its limit just in case something happened it. Not so with the Boxster, I felt i was really able to push it on and get further up to its limits. Having not been on the track in a few years and with it being a bit greasy i did take it easy initially (which i think @soupz was pleased about being my passenger!) then got an instructor in with me - Debtors dip is always the test or benchmark so i managed to get myself up to 96/98mph then with the instructor in with me telling me to push and to have more confidence in the car i got it up to 114mph, which i thought was impressive although i have very few cars to benchmark it against, the E36 M3 CLS was 121mph, also took my Dad's 964 Supercharged 911 C4 round it and it managed 126mph so the wee Boxster with its seemingly only 252/260bhp did ok i reckon! I had a lot of fun though, managed to push so hard the brake pedal went to the floor at one point but otherwise the car held up really well. It was fun learning the on track characteristics of a mid-engined car as well.

Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Wee video of the instructor part:



Next up was a little but in my eyes effective detail - changing the orange bulbs for silver ones:
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr

After this, it turned out the trackday did shorten the lifespan of a few components, thankfully nothing major but a few rattles developed from both axles so to sort the problem the car was treated to:
Rear Track Control Arm
Front track Control Arm
Front Top Mounts
Front Anti-Roll bar bushes
Rear Wheel Bearing and front wheel bearing
2x Front Michelin Pilot Sport tyres

My mechanic did all of the above and carried out another full geometry setup on the car, the car is by far one of the best handling cars I've driven - it has so much mechanical grip so its able to utilise all of its power.

After this, thankfully it hasn't needed much other work other than a set of rear tyres so a pair of Michelin Pilot Sports went on the car at the end of the autumn so haven't really got to see what they are like compared to the Bridgestones which were on it before. Other than that it was much enjoyed the rest of the summer and autumn months:

Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
The collie even got a spin!
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Meeting the previous owner out and about:
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
And then road trips with mates:
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
We moved house last year so it and the ZX got a new house too (still a work in progress):
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr

And that's it all caught up to date. Next thing its getting is an o2 sensor which has gone on it and also I really need to get stuck into the paintwork so a few more updates on its way. If you've got this length thanks for reading, may not be everyone's cup of tea but i cannot recommend Boxster ownership highly enough, it really is a fantastic car for not a lot of money. Now just waiting on the better weather to use it again!
Boxster 986 S by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
 

DubsterACS

RMS Regular
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DubsterACS
Messages
176
Location
Ballymena
Drives
911C2,ZX16v
Great update . The springs just have that sitting lovely
Very nice! Sits lovely :grinning:

Thanks! I was really pleased with how it turned out with the springs, some look a bit clapped out when lowered but this isn't too bad, would maybe like it a bit more nose down but that would mean coilovers. The main thing is it didn't ruin the great handling, just enhanced it.

Now that's an update. Love the garage setup too!

Thanks @Neil_M , the garage is coming along - looks very different now, hoping it will be finished in the next couple of weeks.

Good work Graham, great car. (y)
We need another road trip organised again for this summer.

Thanks @Wayne D , we really do, hurry up better weather!!
 

KeithRobinson

RMS Regular
Messages
5,526
Location
Northwest
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911Turbo
Looks fantastic. They are such a superb car, hard to believe how little these can be picked up for and yet they are one of the best handling cars around.
 

ashloys

RMS Regular
Messages
1,518
Location
Belfast
Drives
MK4 Supra/Polo
Good to see the amount of work you've actually put into this dude.

Makes a change from slagging you off in work!

Now onto your second one !!
 

DubsterACS

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DubsterACS
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176
Location
Ballymena
Drives
911C2,ZX16v
Looks fantastic. They are such a superb car, hard to believe how little these can be picked up for and yet they are one of the best handling cars around.

Couldn't agree more, they are an absolute bargain at the minute and I think (hope!) they go the same way value wise as other Porsche's once people start realising how good they are. I've noticed even since getting this one last year that its hard to get a good one for below £7k now.

Good to see the amount of work you've actually put into this dude.

Makes a change from slagging you off in work!

Now onto your second one !!

Lol thanks @ashloys , but mind the slagging continuing as I'll def keep slagging you about your jap scrap :p and now you mention it, yes the 1 Boxster has now become 2!! After being in @soupz facelift Boxster S and helping another friend source a facelift Boxster as well, I quite liked the idea of the facelift version as they come with a lot more kit and the quality inside is much better so discovered this one for sale in Wigan at Ron Hodgson Specialist Cars. Myself and a friend flew over just to see it but i ended up doing a deal and driving it home. I'll get another thread started on it soon:

Untitled by Graham Thompson, on Flickr

Untitled by Graham Thompson, on Flickr
 

andy9eleven

RMS Regular
Messages
8,352
Location
Bangor, sort of Ards
Drives
All broken
Brilliant!! That looks so good in the track pics too. Nice to see some proper maintenance happening as well.

If you’re on Facebook I find the Boxster Outlaws group quite good.
 

DubsterACS

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DubsterACS
Messages
176
Location
Ballymena
Drives
911C2,ZX16v
Cobalt Blue? That's lovely!

Yep that's it! Black leather too.

Glad to see you’ve still got the ZX! If you’re ever getting rid of it, let me know.

Oh yes still got the ZX, had a lot of work done to it last year then other plans got in the way, I hope to have it built back up as soon as possible and get driving it again.

Brilliant!! That looks so good in the track pics too. Nice to see some proper maintenance happening as well.

If you’re on Facebook I find the Boxster Outlaws group quite good.

Thanks! It was simply class on the track, hope to do a few more this year. Good call on Boxster Outlaws!!
 

DubsterACS

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DubsterACS
Messages
176
Location
Ballymena
Drives
911C2,ZX16v
So this Boxster took a bit of a back seat this year in the lead up to Dubshed, it was all about getting my new one sorted for Dubshed but I have eventually got round to working on this one although time and pocket constraints have held it up a bit. First was the purchase of a set of 18" Carrera Alloys which I had refurbished by The Wheel Specialist on Boucher Road, turned out really well and I quite like them on this car. Next up....it decided to break down on me one weekend in May, along with the other Boxster the very next day! And I thought Porsche's were reliable! Anyways, this one had the water pump fail so it was quickly replaced along with thermostat as well as full fresh service. Its really pleasing me now, driving very well and looking fresh with its new alloys - I had it out yesterday in the glorious sunshine and took a few photos:

Boxster 986 S final by Graham Thompson, on Flickr

Boxster 986 S final by Graham Thompson, on Flickr

Boxster 986 S final by Graham Thompson, on Flickr

Boxster 986 S final by Graham Thompson, on Flickr

Boxster 986 S final by Graham Thompson, on Flickr

Boxster 986 S final by Graham Thompson, on Flickr

Boxster 986 S final by Graham Thompson, on Flickr

Boxster 986 S final by Graham Thompson, on Flickr

Unfortunately I need to turn my attention to the other Boxster and the ZX (and possibly another project car coming my way!) so this one is for sale. I've done all I wanted to do to it and have thoroughly enjoyed it but time to let it go and let someone else enjoy it.
 

warren

RMS Photographer
Messages
2,286
Thats sitting absolutely awesome now, those new wheels shaves years off the look!

Defo a route I plan to go down after I get married, the whole buy a porsche, take it on track days and adventures sounds mighty appealing.
 

andy9eleven

RMS Regular
Messages
8,352
Location
Bangor, sort of Ards
Drives
All broken
That looks brilliant now. Good luck with the sale.

As said, those wheels are some of the nicest for that generation of Porsche. Wish I'd snapped up a set that were on Gumtree here in NI a while ago.
 

DubsterACS

RMS Regular
OP
DubsterACS
Messages
176
Location
Ballymena
Drives
911C2,ZX16v
I was surprised by the wheels, they weren't in great shape when i got them but the Wheel Specialist did such a good job on them. I thought i always preferred the Turbo Twists i had on it previously but i agree, the combination of the colour, lower ride height and the fresher wheels (these were only available on the facelift 986's) it does take years off the car.

Thanks, I'll be sad to see it go, but it'll mean I can spend more time and money on my other projects and possibly fulfil a new project idea too
 
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