Boxster S Anniversary Questions
- Thread starter TimEwins
- Start date
Hi Tim,
Not sure what you mean here - Boxsters have been in production in Ussikaupunki (Finland) since about 98. They have however still made them at Stuttgart as well all this time*. The last time I was there they were making about 2 per shift (so 4 a day) at Zuffenhausen, with the bulk being made at Valmet in Finland.
Later cars did not necessarily come with an underbonnet label, and this disappeared completely soon after the introduction of the 987.
* Certainly up until the last time I toured the factory about 18 months ago
Hi Mark
I stand corrected on the Finland Issue.
However I was just going by Peter Morgan's Bible .... The chassis number ranges he gives for no-US cars in his book all have Z and none have U in them.
He also suggests that 'nearly all' 987 production would be done in Finland.
GreigM ... was your 550 an 'S' or a 'U' in the chassis code ... are you 'sad' enough to remember such things :0)
So I think we are agreed that not having a VIL label under the bonnet on a Jun 2005+ car is no sign of a malicious cover up ?
So what about fixing small nicks in leather seats then :0)
I stand corrected on the Finland Issue.
However I was just going by Peter Morgan's Bible .... The chassis number ranges he gives for no-US cars in his book all have Z and none have U in them.
He also suggests that 'nearly all' 987 production would be done in Finland.
GreigM ... was your 550 an 'S' or a 'U' in the chassis code ... are you 'sad' enough to remember such things :0)
So I think we are agreed that not having a VIL label under the bonnet on a Jun 2005+ car is no sign of a malicious cover up ?
So what about fixing small nicks in leather seats then :0)
Non US cars have ZZZ in the chassis number - not to be confused with the "U" or "S"
e.g.
WP0CA2997YS653643 in the US
WP0ZZZ997YS653643 for ROW (Rest of World)
You can try Scousers VIN decoder over on Renntech (free registration required)
http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?&autocom=content&code=vin_decoder
Here is how mine comes out (Last 4 digits removed - xxxx!)
WP0ZZZ98Z1S64xxxx
Porsche Boxster 3.2 Litre (RoW) - Model 986 - Manufacture Year 2001
World Manufacturing Code W = West Germany
Manufacturer P = Porsche AG
Model Type 0 = Sports Car
Designation Z = Domestic & Rest of World (RoW)
Filler (ignored) Z = RoW ignored
Filler (ignored) Z = RoW ignored
Vehicle Type Designation 98 = 1st & 2nd digits
Filler (ignored) Z = RoW ignored
Manufacture Year 1 = 2001
Assembly Plant Location S = Stuttgart
Vehicle Type Designation 6 = 3rd digit (986 - Boxster/Boxster S)
Body/Engine code 4 = 3.2 Litre (RoW)
Serial Number xxxx = Sequence/Chassis Number
e.g.
WP0CA2997YS653643 in the US
WP0ZZZ997YS653643 for ROW (Rest of World)
You can try Scousers VIN decoder over on Renntech (free registration required)
http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?&autocom=content&code=vin_decoder
Here is how mine comes out (Last 4 digits removed - xxxx!)
WP0ZZZ98Z1S64xxxx
Porsche Boxster 3.2 Litre (RoW) - Model 986 - Manufacture Year 2001
World Manufacturing Code W = West Germany
Manufacturer P = Porsche AG
Model Type 0 = Sports Car
Designation Z = Domestic & Rest of World (RoW)
Filler (ignored) Z = RoW ignored
Filler (ignored) Z = RoW ignored
Vehicle Type Designation 98 = 1st & 2nd digits
Filler (ignored) Z = RoW ignored
Manufacture Year 1 = 2001
Assembly Plant Location S = Stuttgart
Vehicle Type Designation 6 = 3rd digit (986 - Boxster/Boxster S)
Body/Engine code 4 = 3.2 Litre (RoW)
Serial Number xxxx = Sequence/Chassis Number
Found details of my old car 550 First Reg 15/5/204 WPOZZZ98Z4U6422** and as far as I can remember it had the white sticker under the bonnet but cannot confirm I know my 996 had one all my other cars had them as was always told to look out for it and the current 987 has none which is ok ,have looked back some old photos but none show the top part of the bonnet,but does show the spare in place
I have two dealers and GreigM telling me that the VIL label isn't necessarily there in some 2004 cars, and not at all in 2005 cars (987). I guess I have to show some trust :0) Thanks for looking up the details though. It seems thats three 550's that were assembled in Finland then?
No worries.
Given the number of people who say "it's got Z as the 9th digit - so it's from Zuffenhausen" it's no wonder it's confusing [
]It sounds like a great car there Tim. Hope it all checks out ok [8D]
GreigM
New member
Its not confusing - porsche said to me it was a policy introduced "sometime in 2004" - mine was a late-numbered 550 which didn't have it - but some will have earier in the production run before the change. What is does mean is that for 2004 cars onwards the lack of a sticker under the bonnet doesn't mean anything untoward. I certainly wouldn't buy or reject a car on the presence of a sticker or not - on my 996 the sticker was barely legible and hanging off - I was almost tempted to rip it off myself. I also believe it is possible to get these stickers re-printed anyway....and if someone was pulling a fast one they weren't the most complicated thing to forge.
The car I am looking at has a 550 Production Number greater than 1500 (out of the 1953 produced) and the chassis serial number is over 2500). So this kind of stacks up with it being a later produced 2004 car, which would tie up with GreigM's conclusion.
I am just worried that the car has had a new bonnet, and then you ask why ? As I said in an earlier mail, the front luggage bay appears to be in the correct 'unfinished' paintwork. The seller also says 'we believe this car to be accident free' ... but they would wouldn't they ?
Going for another look, and a Test Drive tomorrow.
Tim
I am just worried that the car has had a new bonnet, and then you ask why ? As I said in an earlier mail, the front luggage bay appears to be in the correct 'unfinished' paintwork. The seller also says 'we believe this car to be accident free' ... but they would wouldn't they ?
Going for another look, and a Test Drive tomorrow.
Tim
Dapster
New member
Here's one you'd get with a warranty and great spec. Though for that money I'd be tempted with a 3.2 987....
http://www.camtune.com/CarSales.aspx?StockID=535
Porsche Boxster 550 Spyder Cabriolet
GT Silver with Black Leather
18" Carrera Alloys, Ali handbrake & gearlever, Ali Rollbar, Ali/Stainless/Chrome Pack, Bose Sounds, CD Changer, CD Player, Centre Console, Computer, Cruise Control, Full Leather, Headlamp Cleaning System, Heated Seats, PCM(Sat Nav) & Telephone, PSM (Stability Management), Short-shift Gearbox, Sports Seats, Stainless Pipes, Wheel Crests, Wind Deflector, Xenon Lights
24,000 miles
£28,995
http://www.camtune.com/CarSales.aspx?StockID=535
Porsche Boxster 550 Spyder Cabriolet
GT Silver with Black Leather
18" Carrera Alloys, Ali handbrake & gearlever, Ali Rollbar, Ali/Stainless/Chrome Pack, Bose Sounds, CD Changer, CD Player, Centre Console, Computer, Cruise Control, Full Leather, Headlamp Cleaning System, Heated Seats, PCM(Sat Nav) & Telephone, PSM (Stability Management), Short-shift Gearbox, Sports Seats, Stainless Pipes, Wheel Crests, Wind Deflector, Xenon Lights
24,000 miles
£28,995
Its the Camtune Car that I am looking at. We have negotiated a bit down on the asking price.
For £29K you can get a 2.7 987 for sure, but the 3.2S 987's are still £30K+.
At least around here they are anyway.
Not wanting to get flamed ... having never driven a 987 at all, my dealer friend says the 986 3.2S is better than the 987 ?
My intention is to go for a 986 3.2S and the upgrade to 987 3.2S in a couple of years time, when the prices fall a bit.
As for Anniversasry 550 cars, yes there are some cheaper than £29K out there, but most are about that price, and some even more.
Its not a bargin .. I know
For £29K you can get a 2.7 987 for sure, but the 3.2S 987's are still £30K+.
At least around here they are anyway.
Not wanting to get flamed ... having never driven a 987 at all, my dealer friend says the 986 3.2S is better than the 987 ?
My intention is to go for a 986 3.2S and the upgrade to 987 3.2S in a couple of years time, when the prices fall a bit.
As for Anniversasry 550 cars, yes there are some cheaper than £29K out there, but most are about that price, and some even more.
Its not a bargin .. I know
Is the reasoning behind getting the Anniversary 550 Boxster S that it will retain better value when you sell it in a couple of years time than a normal 2004 986 3.2S?
I can't see you getting back the extra price you are paying for the anniversary in short term; I think it might make more sense as a long term purchase IMHO.
Better in what way? I have a MY2003 986 3.2S and you hear this from GT3 Mk1 Vs Mk2, air cool vs water cooled 911 but this is the first time I am hearing this about 986 Vs 987
The reasoning behind the choice of the 550 Anniversary is specification. It has all the bits I want. I've tried looking for a 'standard' 3.2S with all my 'wants' and there aren't that many around. There are some ... but not many.
Plus every car I've owned in the last 20 years has been some sort of special edition.
I can't comment on 986 vs 987 .... I have little experience of either
I have a 924 ..... now that's not a proper Porsche is it ? ..... I know where you are coming from
Plus every car I've owned in the last 20 years has been some sort of special edition.
I can't comment on 986 vs 987 .... I have little experience of either
I have a 924 ..... now that's not a proper Porsche is it ? ..... I know where you are coming from
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