Boxster GTS Inspection

Our 981 Boxster GTS (MT) has been with us since November 2015, and time flies—it’s already been 4 years. So recently, we took it in for its annual inspection. My husband said,

“I just had the Panamera inspected, then the air-cooled Porsche, and now the Boxster… feels like it’s inspection after inspection lately.”

Still, he brought the Boxster to the Porsche Center. I thought the inspection would take a long time, but apparently, they completed it by the evening after dropping it off in the morning. (During that time, he borrowed a Crown Athlete as a loaner and drove it, so maybe he’ll write a test drive review.)

By the way, here’s what the Boxster inspection covered. There were no issues or malfunctions; it was reportedly in excellent health.

・Brake squeal
→ Checked for brake squeal from the front brakes. The front pads still have some life left, but this time they treated it with anti-squeal grease.
・Engine oil change (7.5L)
・Sealing ring
・Oil filter replacement
・Air conditioning filter replacement
・Brake pad remaining thickness F:4.0mm R:7.0mm
→ When the brake pad warning lights up, both pads and rotors need to be replaced simultaneously
・Tire tread remaining F:4.9mm R:5.6mm

At the top of the invoice, it said “Checked for brake squeal,” so I asked my husband, “Were you worried about the brakes squeaking?”

“No, I actually think Porsche brakes sound just right when they squeak a bit. But they asked, ‘Is there anything you’re concerned about? Please don’t hesitate to tell us anything!’ So I said, ‘Well, if I had to say something, the brakes have been squeaking a little lately…’ and they took care of it for me, haha.”

He also mentioned that the front brake pads have only 4mm left, which definitely won’t last until next year’s inspection, so they’ll need to be replaced soon. He said,

“I’m participating in the Porsche Track Experience this month with the Boxster, but they said it’s totally fine for that. However, when it comes to replacement, it’s not just the brake pads this time—they recommend replacing the discs too. The discs have some lip and minor cracks, so they suggested changing them if possible. It’s going to cost quite a bit. Cars really are expensive…”

Porsche Warranty

My husband bought the Boxster in November 2015 and last year enrolled in the one-year Porsche Approved Warranty. This time, he extended the warranty for 2 more years. When I asked why, he said,

“Last year, I thought I might sell the Boxster if the GT3 arrived, but now I’ve decided not to part with the Boxster. We have a GT3 too, but it’s a completely different car from the Boxster GTS, so it can’t replace it. The 981 is truly a classic—I’m realizing that again now. Its value will definitely go up in the future (whisper).”

I’ve only recently started driving the Boxster properly myself, and personally, I hope he never sells it…

By the way, the 2-year Porsche warranty costs 187,000 yen. This covers repair costs for breakdowns during the warranty period, but consumables are excluded, so oil changes and filter replacements must be paid for separately each time.

Including the 187,000 yen warranty fee, the total cost for this inspection was about 280,000 yen.

Wow—cars really are expensive. Buying one is costly, but maintaining it costs even more. That’s the reality I’m feeling these days.