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quadgirl

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Everything posted by quadgirl

  1. :notworthy: UPDATE: I made the ultimate decision, took a financial hit on the 335i (so what - I didn't want to make big payments on a dull to me car), and am now the grinning ear-to-ear, proud owner of an '07 Cobalt Blue Boxster!!! It is CPO, so I will rest easy with warranty coverage for a bit over 3 more years!!! I drove about 7 hours each way yesterday to get my car and I LOVE IT! The Roar is a bit louder, I think, than my previous '05 and it is so different from the BMW in all ways I love. I look forward to staying tuned in here at Renntech and feel like I've come back home. I have wonderful things to say about Melbourne Porsche in Florida. Class act all the way if you ever wish to purchase from them. Particularly my salesman, Dermot Daley. I've never had such a good buying experience. They stayed late (past 7:30pm) and I was in and out of there with a trade in about 45 minutes! And rather than spend the night, I just had to keep driving that Boxster all the way home to South Carolina. I am thrilled! I do have a question, as always, though: I previously had the Bose system and now have Sound System Plus I believe it is called and, of course, it is pretty hideous (I know you don't buy this car for sound, so please don't chastise me for that). Is this a system that can have any aftermarket upgrades or is it pretty much a done deal like the BOSE was? I can't afford to do anything anytime soon, but thought I'd ask. I'll try to post a pic from the dealer picture so you can see how beautiful it is! Thanks for everything to the enthusiasts here! Laura
  2. Thanks for the info. and direction to Mike Focke's pages! I appreciate the real-world insight and look forward to trying out some other Boxster model years. Hopefully I will find something good and begin the next chapter. I had not thought to ask about glass on the rear window and I believe that might make a difference so that was also very helpful. Also glad to hear that $287 sounded off to someone other than myself. I found a local place here (through this forum as a matter of fact) that works on Porsche's and he'll change the oil for lots less when I do get into my next Boxster. Somehow, I let that oil change be the final straw and now have to deal with it,but at least this time I'll know for sure I'm in the right vehicle! Live and learn! Thanks again! Laura
  3. Hi, all. I'm posting here because this is where I once belonged. However, I got nervous about IMS failure, my oil change costing $267 and so on and so forth. So, I traded in my beloved '05 Boxster for what I thought was a fast and refined car, a 2007 BMW 335i. While this car is quick, it does not have the feel of the Boxster and it looks boring to me. So, now I'm making what are high payments (to me) for a car I do not love. UGH! So, please refer to my story if you ever begin to doubt your most likely fine car. Anyway, I am now probably going to lose lots of money if I can find another Boxster that I would love and am actually inquiring about a 2007 one which is 8 hours away from where I live in South Carolina. But, as I get ready to take this huge hit (which I really can't afford, but don't want to pay for years and years for a car I don't love) I thought maybe I could buy a much older Boxster (like a 1999) and enjoy it as a second car (though in the past I've found 2 cars hard to manage, so maybe I'd end up being able to sell the BMW and coming out way cheap if I found the Boxster could be my main car). My question to you all is this: if I was used to the 2005, its fit and how it drove and just the blast it was, how bad would the 1999 be? Is it that different? Does the top still work electrically? Is it still as fun to drive? If it has fairly low miles, does it seem like it would cost an arm and a leg to maintain? Is it also prone to IMS problems or was that generation free from the particular problem? I guess I need car therapy and am sure hoping to get some opinions here, especially if you've owned an earlier version of the car and can compare it to what I know as the Boxster experience. Oh - and the questions are not for theory - there are actually some 1999 models for sale in my color and not but at most 150 miles away. Please help me work through this. I know I'd love a 2007, but I don't think I can realistically get into one without losing about 5k on my BMW trade in (I was thinking it would be less likely to suffer IMS failure), so now just trying to find new perspective and consider buying the1999 for a fun car. I only work 2 miles from home, so would want it to be able to handle those kind of miles as well as road trips. Alrighty - I guess I've given you enough to go on. Thanks in advance for any help/advice/personal anecdotes you may have about this major dilemma.
  4. Thanks, Joe. It has been some weeks now, but if you have time, please advise about your experience with them. I don't mind the location and always appreciate those who don't look for problems. Thanks again for replying! Laura
  5. Hi, everyone. I would like to know if anyone knows who can service, change oil, etc. my '05 Boxster in or around Columbia, South Carolina. I have had repair work done to replace the string tensioner in the top and alarm problems fixed at my local Porsche dealer, but now find the top making a bad rubbing/cracking sound as it enters the storage area when being put down, so not sure about continuing to use them. Also, the little silver plastic piece on top of tiptronic shifter (to move it into Drive and whatnot) completely fell off after I picked it up from the last service, and they had failed to reinstall something which caused a terrible rattle while the engine was on but the car not moving. It was after the mechanic had left and the sales person had to tighten up something where seatbelts are connected for me to even wish to drive it home. So, again, I just think things like this are sloppy and would prefer to go to a reputable place who can do the work right the first time and give me confidence in them. Please let me know if you know of someone who can help. Thanks. Quadgirl
  6. Thanks for the suggestion, I will try it. I didn't think of trying to see what triggered it, but will have to rely on the shop to do that since I don't have the PIWIS. Still, great food for thought. Thanks again!
  7. Hi all. In a previous post I described that I had water under passenger seat on the carpet in my 05 Boxster tiptronic. Took it to the shop and they said that I was lucky to bring it in before the alarm got messed up and that there was some sort of hole caused by previous owner which allowed water in. Had to also replace top lining where shoestring thing broke. $1200 later I get the car but now ever 2 or so weeks usually between 10:30pm and 2;30 am, the alarm goes off with no reason. My horn beeps and lights blink. I disarm it by unlocking and locking the door back. It could happen while I'm at work but don't know it, but I have no error codes or anything suggesting there is a problem. All just seem normal until I and the neighbors are awakened by my blaring horn. Could the shop have set something and forgotten to unset it to protect it while there? They had the car for 3 days. They explicitly said my alarm was fine, but could it be some water did get in and cause a problem? If so, does anyone know a remedy or even just a way to disarm it at least while under my carport? I would love to solve this myself as I am tapped out from the last repair. Thanks in advance for any suggestions or help you may provide. Oh - the water getting in was some fluke of a thing where they said they had never seen such a hole - like golfball sized which they found when taking the top apart. The carpet was damp or even wet, but I had sopped up what I could and the Porsche place shopvacced it as well. There is no residue odor or anything, so am sure hoping this is an unrelated and hopefully easy alarm fix. AGain, thanks for hearing me out and offering any help. Laura (quadgirl)
  8. Thanks everyone. You have given me enough information to start the process! I appreciate your help and especially the links. Laura Quad: Consider yourself EXTREMELY lucky that it's the passenger side, not the driver side. If it were the driver side, by this time you'd likely be looking at a totally disabled car, a trip to the dealer and a hit for between $1K and $2K. The central alarm computer is located under the driver's seat and also controls the windows and the ignition. You have got to find the source of the water intrusion. Most of the time, it's either a clogged drain in the convertible top well and/or a tear/rip of the drain tray on that side. The foam drain tray often suffers damage when one of the plastic ball cups that operate on the convertible top frame mechanism through the steel ball at the base of the B-Pillar pops off or shatters and the pushrod is left dangling. If you then continue to operate the top, the pushrod will rip or tear the foam drain tray. Take a look at your foam drain tray on the passenger side after you have examined your drain on that side. Pour a pint or a quart of water into the passenger side drain after you place a catch pan just in front of and halfway into the front of the passenger side rear wheel. If you get a full pint or quart, you can be sure it's not the drain or foam drain tray and must then look elsewhere. A third, more remote, possibility, is that the water came in from behind the door panel cover. This can happen if your door was ever taken apart (to replace a window regulator, for example) and the vinyl liner was not properly re-glued to the inner metal skin of the door. In that case, water can find its way over your door sill and into the passenger compartment. Then, for good measure, double check that everything is okay on the driver's side of the convertible top well. Here is a web site that shows you the various drains to check, and their locations: http://mike.focke.googlepages.com/drainsdiagram In the first diagram, #2 is the drain, and #1 is the foam drain tray. If you need photos, let me know, and I'll dig some up. Regards, Maurice.
  9. Hi, all. I live in SC and we have had rain for about a week, but my car is under a carport when I'm home. Today, dry and clear sunny weather (was yesterday and most of Saturday too), I dropped a pencil that fell on the side of the passenger seat. When I got home and went to retrieve it, I reached down to feel absolutely soaked carpet. Reluctantly, I used the electric seat mover to move the seat forward. Turns out the whole carpet under that seat is soaked! The driver's side is dry. What in the world could be causing this? Better yet, how may I fix this so it doesn't mildew and stink up the car? I have only had this car since last December and never thought to touch the carpeting under the seats, though I have noticed that is smells kind of mildewy when I haven't run the AC in a while. Thanks a bunch for any help. Mine is a tiptronic and not the S model. My top is well cared for and treated with Ragg Top. I wonder if water is coming from the bottom of the car up or somehow seeping???? Anyway, thanks for any and all help. Laura
  10. Hi, everyone. Back with a quick and probably dumb couple of questions. I bought Zaino AIO and Grand Finale and CS spray and am wondering if I can use the AIO product on the headlights of my boxster and the side vent areas. I don't want to mess anything up and do not want pitted or hazy plastic over the headlights so thought I'd ask first. Also, can leather in a bottle (didn't buy yet) be used if my seats might be only partially leather (will it work on all the seat area? Thanks for some solutions if you have them. I also bought Rejex and invisible glass to use when I wash and wax the car this coming weekend. Any suggestions on how long to wait between AIO and Finale spray and should I also use the CS stuff (and if so, before or after Finale stuff and how long a wait in between? I plan to blow dry the car with a yard blower. Thanks much. Oh one final question and off-topic - I just bought my third tank of gas for the car and have only done city driving this whole tank. I am only getting 13 mpg!!! Got like 23 last tank with some highway. Used only Premium. What is the deal with this?? Should I be concerned that something isn't right? The car says I was getting about 20.1 on the readout. Crazy. . . Thanks again for any and all help.
  11. Hi, all. I'm back again and am just wondering if anyone could recommend a dealer/installer for the 3M clear bra. I live in Columbia, South Carolina and just hope I have someone fairly close and reputable to do this. Any suggestions would be great! Thanks. Laura
  12. Thanks everyone! Wonderful ideas and specific recommendations. This is a great community!
  13. Perfect help, Alan - thanks! I like the idea of the Mothers products and the invisible bra. I appreciate your extremely coherent and comprehensive assessment. Makes things easy! :clapping:
  14. Hi, everyone. I hope you can help advise me. I don't know whether I have clearcoat or not, but wish to keep my new (to me) '05 Midnight Blue metallic Boxster looking great. I live in South Carolina where the weather is usually pretty moderate. I am wondering specifically if you could recommend a particular brand/product for waxing the car and for washing it. Also, any advice on caring for other cosmetic things like the wheels, the soft top, the hard top, the interior, that would be wonderful. I have had it for a couple of weeks now and want to keep it looking great. Also, any thoughts on the invisible bra thing and where I might obtain it in Columbia, SC? My dealer, when I was in for some campaign items to be fixed, just showed me a regular vinyl-looking bra like those from the 80s and that was not attractive. Thanks in advance for any help here - the more specific and thorough the better! I like to take care of things and have peace of mind that I've done what I can to keep it nice. I look forward to learning from your experiences - this is an awesome forum! Laura :renntech:
  15. Laura: Be careful when selecting an aftermarket warranty company and do your homework. It's best to select a company that has been around for more than a few months or years, and one whose contracts are guaranteed by an independent insurance company with a good rating from A.M. Best. Also, don't select a policy that allows the warranty company the option of removing your car to a facility of their choice or one that requires YOU to pay for diagnostic services when the company questions a claim. Stay away from warranties that require you to agree to participate in dispute resolution through the Better Business Bureau. The BBB tends to favor the businesses that sponsor them. A more neutral agency, such as the American Arbitration Association gives you a better shot and tends to keep the warranty company a little more honest. If you buy an aftermarket warranty at the same time that you purchase the product (in this instance a car), then the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act allows you to recover attorneys' fees in the event of a dispute. That can make a major difference when you find yourself at war with the warranty company at a time when you can least afford it. Regards, Maurice. Thanks, Maurice - great sound advice! I will do my research, for sure. I appreciate the specifics you gave. Laura
  16. THanks! That is exactly the answer I was looking for. The extension cord will make it so I can quickly disconnect and do just as you do to keep everything in the floorwell after unplugging. Glad to know some good information.
  17. Hi, everyone. Looking for some newbie information and haven't seen a specific answer to my probably dumb question, so posting now. I have owned (well, in 5 years I'll really own it) my 987 boxster for a bit over a week now. Since I usually only drive a couple of miles a day to work, I wanted to get a maintainer/charger when my Porsche service people looked the car over last week. I bought the $55 one (model number 98061198100). I live in South Carolina, but being that the battery was just replaced I wish to keep it working despite lower mileage than Porsche wants for it. Anyway, the directions say to plug it in the car cig. lighter first then mains and reverse procedure for unplugging before running car. Since I am running the plug from a room under the house and out to the car and it would be less convenient to unplug from the mains (their word not mine) first before driving, I was wondering if anyone just unplugs from their cig. lighter plug in the car and leaves the other plugged in while away? Is that a fire hazard? Is this a shortcut I can take or should I just follow directions? Thanks - thought I'd ask before I actually use the thing. I'm usually pressed for time in the am and just thought I could save a trip from taking my work stuff out the front door to car, then walking around back and under to unplug and then back through gate to car. But - I don't want a fire. So, again, thanks for any insight. Laura (quadgirl) B)
  18. Thanks to everyone. My 2005 Boxster checked out fine and I really liked the people at McDaniel's Porsche in Columbia. I found out there are 5 things Porsche has sent out info. on (can't remember what the guy called them) like a hood latch thing that need to be fixed and I am having that done this Monday. I am so glad you advised me to get this peace of mind. Also, the people at Carmax had not attached my hard top properly so now the clanking sound is gone. I love this car. Next up, I need to solicit information about warranties. I did search and read much on this site, but am wading through it and trying to make a good decision. My warranty is good until April '09, so I think I have time to research. I am really not wanting one like Carmax where their people would try to work on a Porsche. I'd really prefer the proper tools and service professionals, yet the local dealer didn't try to sell me a warranty, so maybe they don't even sell them? Anyway, step one has been accomplished! Thank you all. I tried to pay to become a contributing member, but I'm at work and it wouldn't let me get to paypal. Will rectify as soon as I get to my computer at home! I look forward to the dialogue and learning so much more so I can enjoy the Boxster while making sure it lasts a long, long time! Laura (quadgirl)
  19. That is a good idea. I don't know what the PIWIS tester is, but assume it checks things out. I'll email the local dealer and explain and see if they'll do this for me. Do you happen to know if there is anything I need to do to register as the owner to whom the warranty has transferred? All I have is a bit of carmax vehicle history showing it showed up on dmv information in May of 05. Thanks for the continued processing of this! Laura (quadgirl)
  20. Hi. No - I didn't mean they are physically preventing me from going to a Porsche dealership for service, but that they won't pay for that. I'm very very cash poor having just purchased the vehicle Friday and didn't plan to suck up any repair costs in the first week of ownership. Also, I didn't mean to imply that the new battery is the cause of the problem, just that the installation of it and subsequent unhooking of it to fix the radio problem may play into this somehow. Bottom line, I believe, is I am trying to figure out if simply disconnecting and connecting a battery is cause for the "Service Now" light coming on as Carmax people are saying. If it is in need of service, then I believe their 30 day warranty should cover it since they are selling the car with not only the remaining factory warranty, but their 30 day warranty. Then the issue becomes, how do they service a vehicle as specialized as a Porsche and shouldn't they just "hire out" for that. They had a hard enough time trying to show me features of the car, so I'm just not overly eager for them to either 1. perform a service they aren't quite capable of doing properly or 2. perform a simple "clearing" of the message if it is indeed in need of service. I hope this is more explanatory than my last post. Thanks for taking time to respond.
  21. Hi, all. This is my first post and my third day of ownership of a beautiful blue 05 Boxster. I bought it at a local Carmax and was surprised to see they had my color, fairly low miles (23,000ish), and tiptronic. Numerous things happened to try to sway me from the purchase (upside down on trade-in by $2500, but this is my dream car!) including that when I went to test drive it, they had let the battery run down and had to jump it (yuk). So, they replaced the battery with a NAPA battery (not a Porsche battery, so not really happy with that). Anyway, bottom line: I went to drive it off the lot to find the radio blaring rap and not otherwise allowing channel changes, volume changes etc. So they disconnected the battery and re-connected and voila - radio worked. BUT - I am about a mile away when I notice "SERVICE NOW" light on near the mph display. I do not want to go back to store, so call from home to explain. I do not recall seeing it during my test drive, but during my test drive I was only aware of the analog MPH and don't remember seeing the digital that is far easier to use in judging speed. I don't think it was working, maybe that was due to them having just quickly jumped it with something that looked like a battery charger. Anyway, now, they want to have the car back and fix it saying it is just on because the battery was disconnected. My question to all of you: Do you think they are right and it is only because of the battery disconnect? Or, does it really need service? I am hesitant to have Carmax employees work on a Porsche any more than they already have. I read the entire manual yesterday and noticed they violated all kinds of things like leaving it on and idling for long periods of time. I really want to take care of this car and enjoy it forever and on a school teacher's salary, I can't afford big fixes. Please advise as to what I should do here. I evidently should have until May of 09 on the Porsche warranty, but don't have the specifics about how to register with them. I wish they'd let me take it to a local Porsche place, but they just disregarded me when I mentioned I'd rather have a Porche place look at it. If this is really just a light thing in relation to the new battery, that would reduce my worries. I drove it for a couple of hours yesterday and it ran wonderfully and no other lights are coming on. I also tried to get the light to go off by using someone's suggestion I found online whereby you turn the key, depress the gas pedal fully for 11 seconds, then release, but this didn't take the light off for me. Tried it 3 times so far at different times throughout the day yesterday. Anyway, that is my main concern, though I would also love to know anything about the radio (mine is the CDR24) if anyone has an idea where a manual can be found. Thanks in advance for trying to help if you can! I am so excited to finally own a wonderful boxster and drive a true sports car!!
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