Pre-purchase walkaround
2018 Porsche 718 Cayman/Boxster (982)
80,000 miles
Budget this to put it right, likely due now
~$3,200
Then about $1,500 a year to keep it on the road. Five-year cost to own: ~$10,700.
A mid-engine sports car that is one of the best-handling cars at any price, with the flat-4 turbo covering most of the range and the 4.0 flat-6 in the top trims. On a 2022 car the money goes into tires, brakes (especially if PCCB), the usual Porsche maintenance premium, and staying on top of the flat-4's oil consumption and any turbo-related quirks.
The roadmap
80k → 140k mi · 12k a yearNowFlat-4 oil consumption · PDK transmission fluid neglect · PCM infotainment and electronics glitches~$3,200
Year 1The catch-up year: everything above, plus the ordinary rhythm.~$5,811
Year 2Brakes and consumables.~$1,377
Yrs 3-5The quiet year. · Brakes and consumables.~$3,560
Five years, all in~$10,700
Seller says some of this is done? Paste the service records and documented work is credited out of the total.
typical parts + government labor rates (national labor rates) · an estimate, not a quote
What to look for on this one
Every used example of this chassis has the same questions. The bands show when each tends to surface; the gold line is this car at 80,000 miles.
PDK transmission fluid neglect$1,050-$2,050 if not done
0typical window 40k-80k · this car: 80k, inside the window150k mi
The PDK dual-clutch needs periodic fluid service; skipped intervals show up as shift quality issues. Harsh or hesitant low-speed shifts on higher-mileage cars.
Ceramic brake (PCCB) wear if equippedpriced only if found
Condition-driven, not mileage-driven, so it is not in the totals and inspection is the only answer. Squealing, grinding, or a warning about pad/disc wear on track-used cars.
windows from 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA and community service data ·
0 recalls →
Hand this to your inspector
A $300 inspection against this list is the best money in the whole deal.
01Check oil level and ask for the consumption history on flat-4 cars; verify service records and correct oil spec
02Confirm whether the car has iron discs or PCCB and inspect disc/pad condition, especially on GT4/Spyder
03Inspect tires for date codes, even wear, and whether they are matched Porsche N-rated (or track-oriented) tires
04Look for signs of track use: brake fluid darkness, glazed pads, heat marks, curb-rashed wheels
Walking into a negotiation?
This roadmap as a PDF, priced for your zip code, with the inspection checklist, a fair price for this example, and the negotiation sheet. Saved to your garage the moment you pay.
This walkaround found ~$3,222 of work the records do not cover. If the sheet wins you even 1% of that at the table, the packet paid for itself 1x over.
$29
saved to your garage
Just keeping tabs? , no account needed.
typical parts + government labor rates · an estimate, not a quoteselling this car? build the record →