986 or 987 - what to buy?
Discussion
anonymous said:
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Hmm, sounds like the 987 may be more suited to my age and limited abilities, or will I just be going faster when I run out of talent?Let's put it this way, will a 986 flatter my driving more than my 964 does, and will a 987 be a similar step up again from a 986?
I really struggle with comparing cars on a test drive. It takes me a few days to get used to a new car, to get comfortable with pushing it. Any half-decent car feels good to me at normal pace, it's only when I start pushing hard that I find things I don't like. The only cars that I've instantly hated have all been French.
The Z4 felt like a great car for a while. So did the Cooper S.
The only car that's continued to impress me for a long time is my E61. Traction control is a bit too eager sometimes, but apart from that it's spot on for a big old barge.
Thanks for the input. It's looking like a 987 is what I should be going for.
A 996 certainly has plenty going for it. Currently not that much more to buy, similar running costs, and a lot more potential to increase in value if I keep it long enough. Only problem is, I want a convertible, and I think 996 convertibles are very awkward looking cars.
A 996 certainly has plenty going for it. Currently not that much more to buy, similar running costs, and a lot more potential to increase in value if I keep it long enough. Only problem is, I want a convertible, and I think 996 convertibles are very awkward looking cars.
Id go for a 987.2 Manual S myself.
Much better engine, much better car - everything a bit fresher.
its the pick of the range for me. Hydraulic steering, DFI engine, manual gearbox.
Ive tried the new 981 and it does nothing for me, a 987.2 S manual for 20 grand is the best purchase.
Stretch to it, you wont regret it. a 986 or a 987 with an engine failure is quickly gonna cost you 20 grand all in anyway, why bother?
Much better engine, much better car - everything a bit fresher.
its the pick of the range for me. Hydraulic steering, DFI engine, manual gearbox.
Ive tried the new 981 and it does nothing for me, a 987.2 S manual for 20 grand is the best purchase.
Stretch to it, you wont regret it. a 986 or a 987 with an engine failure is quickly gonna cost you 20 grand all in anyway, why bother?
I to have been hankering for ages about what ragtop to get that's different. I'm not going back to a TVR, BMW zzzzzz's don't excite me and a MX5, NO. Doesn't leave a lot to choose from apart from a porker. So I'm looking for as much as I can get for under 7k. Prefer an S, don't like red interiors at all. Just a well looked after one. Inside must be in good nick as I know a guy who can do some paint work for me and a low cost. Oh and in the west country too!!!
That scottish one looks a belter...if you can live with a red interior
The 986 has less interior room than the 987 - I'm only 5'10" and have the seat pretty much all the way down & back. The sports seats are quite narrow as well (and certainly not much good as "sports" seats as they really don't support you very well. The standard seats might be more comfortable for some people.
I've never driven a 987, and to me they don't look as good as a 986 (ambers are a must!). The 986 is a very capable car and will flatter a driver. It certainly isn't a twitchy/snappy mid engined monster - I've been pleasantly surprised how benign it is. M030 suspension is pretty firm and I wouldn't bother for road use unless you have some very smooth roads around you, or you plan to do some track days.
The 986 has less interior room than the 987 - I'm only 5'10" and have the seat pretty much all the way down & back. The sports seats are quite narrow as well (and certainly not much good as "sports" seats as they really don't support you very well. The standard seats might be more comfortable for some people.
I've never driven a 987, and to me they don't look as good as a 986 (ambers are a must!). The 986 is a very capable car and will flatter a driver. It certainly isn't a twitchy/snappy mid engined monster - I've been pleasantly surprised how benign it is. M030 suspension is pretty firm and I wouldn't bother for road use unless you have some very smooth roads around you, or you plan to do some track days.
For cars with the m030 suspension -what are the options when it comes to refreshing the suspension - are parts still available for the m030 suspension - I'd want to keep the car as original as possible and hence would want to replace the parts with original Porsche OEM items but fear they would be difficult to obtain.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
My Boxster has brand new m030 - I was amazed how competent it was on the track, coupled with decent tyres (225/45/17 AD08 all round). It was great at Spa, Cadwell, Donington and Oulton - plenty of variety there to show up any shortcomings. Maybe not quite as good as the KWv3 on my 944, which has stiffer springs than stock to make it more track focused, but I'd be quite happy with the Boxster as a track car if I didn't have the 944.Put together with a Sparco seat, it was certainly a bit harsh for bumpy roads though.
I haven't driven a Boxster with fresh standard suspension - but would be really surprised if the dampers weren't up to scratch.
Cotswold Porsche also recently were able to supply an M030 kit.
Having had an early S with new M030 and new arms/bushes all round and now a 112k 550 on M030 but with new bushes/arms both with similar geo I can say with confidence that the M030 degrades quite noticeably over time and miles. It's still a lot more controlled than a relatively low mile standard S. For fast smooth European roads you could probably go a bit firmer still but for use in Europe and also for A and B roads in the UK it strikes a very good balance for me. I keep thinking I will buy a more expensive coilover kit for mine but feel it would be a mistake for my use.
Having had an early S with new M030 and new arms/bushes all round and now a 112k 550 on M030 but with new bushes/arms both with similar geo I can say with confidence that the M030 degrades quite noticeably over time and miles. It's still a lot more controlled than a relatively low mile standard S. For fast smooth European roads you could probably go a bit firmer still but for use in Europe and also for A and B roads in the UK it strikes a very good balance for me. I keep thinking I will buy a more expensive coilover kit for mine but feel it would be a mistake for my use.
I've just spent an hour searching Autotrader for late 986 / early 987 S prices. Quite interesting, should've done that earlier.
I was expecting to see a big jump in dealer prices between 986 and 987, but there isn't. It pretty much just goes on age, mileage and spec. £10 to 12K for a facelift 986S, and £12 to 14K for a 987 3.2, with a private sale 3.4S Tip at £14k too.
For the extra £2K, I'll go for a 987.
Looks like the £16K 987 3.2 that I looked at is over priced. I guess that's the way it is down here, would be up to £2k cheaper up country.
I was expecting to see a big jump in dealer prices between 986 and 987, but there isn't. It pretty much just goes on age, mileage and spec. £10 to 12K for a facelift 986S, and £12 to 14K for a 987 3.2, with a private sale 3.4S Tip at £14k too.
For the extra £2K, I'll go for a 987.
Looks like the £16K 987 3.2 that I looked at is over priced. I guess that's the way it is down here, would be up to £2k cheaper up country.
Yes, I will need to travel, or pay someone else to do it for me.
It's been the same here for as long as I can remember. Most of the people that I know who have bought anything other than a normal family car have had to travel a few hundred miles to get a good car at a fair price. Cornwall has a very strange economy. Plenty of locals who scrape a living, but quite a few incomers with money to spend. House prices are up there with the Home Counties, but wages are pretty much the lowest in the country. Not much absolute poverty though, so it's a good place to live.
I've been here 17 years now, no way I'd move back.
It's been the same here for as long as I can remember. Most of the people that I know who have bought anything other than a normal family car have had to travel a few hundred miles to get a good car at a fair price. Cornwall has a very strange economy. Plenty of locals who scrape a living, but quite a few incomers with money to spend. House prices are up there with the Home Counties, but wages are pretty much the lowest in the country. Not much absolute poverty though, so it's a good place to live.
I've been here 17 years now, no way I'd move back.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I almost agree 
Certainly if I was going to build a full-on Boxster track car then I'd be a bit more ambitious in spring rates..There are only a few cars that are capable of road and track without significant mods, but the Boxster works pretty well. (OK Sump baffles and AOS would probably be on the list if I was going to use it much more in trackdays)I think the harshness of m030 is most apparent at low speeds on rough suburban roads. (how do the kits for 2.5 and 3.2 compare in spring rates?). Btw I paid less than £600 at Porsche Leicester for my m030 kit.
The thing that really makes the Boxster feel like a sports car is fitting some bucket seats - you're much more in touch with the car that way. The standard seats insulate you from so much.
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