986 or a newer 987 but with less grunt

[ge0rge]

So i'm in a bit of a quandry, as ever with my forms of transport. I'm a biker but also a car enthusiast and am in a position to get myself a new to me car for around 12k. It will be used as a daily driver doing 50 miles to Bristol and back.

For this money i could get a pretty decent last of the line 3.2s or a 60~80k 987 2.7. After doing a host of research a number of things have become apparent with the 986 - IMS, and suspension issues. I cant seem to find much on the 987 other than honest john's 5/5 for reliability and a host of contradictory storys, which i'm sure i'll get here but i'm willing to weigh it all up.

Ultimately Id prefer to have more power, can accept the 3.2 will 'only' do around 25 mpg but will have far greater mid range punch than the 2.7 987. Are there people that have owned both a 3.2 986 and 2.7 987 that can give me some of their views on both cars? Ownership experiences, reliability, fuel, power, driving..

Ta

[Don]

I have test driven the 987...and still own a 986S I've had from new. It's ten years old now.

The 987 is a better car. It isn't worth the cost of change to me. But it is better.

In the scheme of things neither car is very quick. This is not the point of these cars IMO. It's smiles per mile - and on that they really deliver.

Enjoy whichever one you choose. You can't really go wrong as either will put a great big smile on your face.

[edc]

I've spent the morning blasting round in my 986S and still love it. I don't need the modernity or comfort of a 987. With regards the suspension - there is no issue with the 986. What you are probably finding is that previous owners aren't maintaining it. IIRC the 987 uses the same wishbones as the 987 and 996 and these simply wear with use. I also would not spend £12k on a 986S unless it was the best 550 Anniversary. 986S are as low as £5k and I only paid around £7.5k last year for what was then a 58k miles car.

[ge0rge]

Any shaft failures in here?

Suitable warrantys agains that?

[edc]

At your budget IMS is an "issue" on whatever 987 or 986 you get. As usual there have been the odd couple of IMS related failures.

[ge0rge]

Your Boxster looks stunning by the way, love those bbs style wheels..

[SilverPorker]

Like edc, I've been spending most of the day hooning around in my 986S - I love this car and in the 18 months that I've owned it I've really bonded with it, which is good as its a keeper.

I also looked at both 986 and 987 when I was buying and there is no doubt the 987 is improved in many ways. However, to my eyes (and I don't mean this as a disrespectful comment to any 987 owners), I feel the early 987 looks a bit derivative rather than fresh and is missing some of the 986's character. I just can't help thinking it looks less Porsche, and more Japanese like a MR2. As I say, just my personal opinion. Whichever you go for, they are both great cars. On the tangible level I'm sure the 987 is an improved car.

If you do go for a 986S, make sure you choose spec carefully because this can really affect the perceived quality of the interior in particular. I went for the 550 Spyder Anniversary model because I really liked the spec with the cocoa brown interior/hood and the 2 tone Carrera wheels. Again, not everyone's cup of tea, but I love it. Good luck with you choice, and enjoy the buying the experience which is fun in its own right.

[edc]

Thanks. They are BBS made wheels and OE Porsche wheels. There aren't that many options bu if you can find one with not tired M030 suspension then that would be great - like a 550 has as standard. personally I prefer the look of the 18s and I wouldn't be fussed about PCM and Nav etc as it is all so rubbish anyway and you can get good double DIN for less than £300. PSE would be nice if you can find it but I have fitted some cheap ish stainless manifolds and silencer for a small dyno proven gain and much better sounds! Unlike the hardback sports seats and full extended leather. I'd also avoid the Bose if possible.

[edc]

For a daily a 987 2.7 might be best.

[ge0rge]

I've heard that the 986's can be modified with the gt3 throttle body, along with a remap can give considerable improvements over standard fora couple of k...?

[edc]

ge0rge said:

I've heard that the 986's can be modified with the gt3 throttle body, along with a remap can give considerable improvements over standard fora couple of k...?

I am in the middle of doing this and expect around 280-300bhp when finished. This has been dyno proven and without sports cats, so even more gains could be possible. This does not cost £2k though. More like <£350 for throttle body and larger diameter piping/hose etc and circa £400 for remap. You might want to do the exhaust too. My whole exhaust system cost <£300 delivered but not fitted. GT3 throttle body is too big though, just the plain vanilla 74mm one from a 996/997 will do.