Dear Terry,
I am buying a used Porsche Boxster and have three cars in contention:

All are similarly priced (within 10 percent of each other) at various Porsche dealerships. What are your thoughts?
-- Wayne Kiwak

Dear Wayne,
The general rule of buying a used car is go with the lowest mileage, in which case the 2001 with the 5,700 miles would be the best buy. But there are a few issues that you need to resolve.

First, my radar goes off when I see a six-year-old car with so few miles. While some people who own Porsches have multiple vehicles and therefore don't put a lot of miles on any one of them, this car has been driven less than 1,000 miles a year. I'd want to know the car's history and get the dealer to certify that it hasn't been in a wreck. Also, cars need to be driven regularly to make sure that seals and other parts remain lubricated. If this car has been allowed to sit for long periods without proper maintenance, there could be problems.

Then there's the issue of prices. You say these cars are priced within 10 percent of each other, yet there's a four year-difference between the 2001 and the 2005. Admittedly the 2005 had higher than normal mileage -- based on an average of 15,000 miles a year -- but the 2001 should be significantly less expensive than the 2005 Boxster. A check of pricing for used Boxsters at Edmunds.com suggests that the 2001 should be at least $6,000 cheaper than the 2005.

That leaves the 2003 Boxster with six months left on the warranty. I'd want to know if it's a one-owner car and also check Carfax for any accident data. If that information puts your mind at ease, this might be the best choice.

Good luck.

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