3.4 Boxster or not
3.4 Boxster or not
Author
Discussion

M A C

Original Poster:

56 posts

221 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
quotequote all
I have had a 996 for approximately 14 years which this year had a serious engine problem . I was having it sorted but have an offer for it as it stands and if it goes ahead I’m happy to accept and walk away.
I have look around for my next convertible. I don’t want a 997 ( as I don’t want one because of the reputation for engine bore score etc). I had just about decide on. Mercedes SL400 ( one for sale from dealer John Holland in Sheffield) but I was just looking on autotrader and looked at a Porsche Boxster 3.4 .
My questions are
1., are they any good?
2.Do they suffer from any inherent problems? .
3.Is it a good move to go to a Boxster?.
I know it’s a personal choice but I have looked at that many cars on line this week that I have confused myself . Last night I was certain it would be a Mercedes but today not as sure.
I’m now 62 and now have to think of comfort as well as performance . Thanks

SlowWinter

13 posts

29 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
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Interesting, I actually have a friend who was in similar predicament, loved his 996 but eventually it failed and he sold as was. He has moved to a boxter and absolutely loves it. Wishes he done it years ago. My advice would be go and drive a few. See if you think you could live with it. Think you'll be pleasantly surprised

supersport

4,495 posts

245 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
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The answer entirely depends on which generation you are talking about. 987 first generation has the bore score problems. I think the Cayman 3.4 was slightly worse but Boxster still had the problem. The 3.4 more so.

Second generation solved the problem.

Klippie

3,608 posts

163 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
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Something like this would be nice...apart from the plate.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306058...

Hedgeman

710 posts

249 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
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I owned both a 996.2 Carrera 2 and a 987.1 3.4 - both many years ago. I preferred driving the boxster.

IREvans

1,126 posts

140 months

Wednesday 7th June 2023
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M A C said:
I have had a 996 for approximately 14 years which this year had a serious engine problem . I was having it sorted but have an offer for it as it stands and if it goes ahead I’m happy to accept and walk away.
I have look around for my next convertible. I don’t want a 997 ( as I don’t want one because of the reputation for engine bore score etc). I had just about decide on. Mercedes SL400 ( one for sale from dealer John Holland in Sheffield) but I was just looking on autotrader and looked at a Porsche Boxster 3.4 .
My questions are
1., are they any good?
2.Do they suffer from any inherent problems? .
3.Is it a good move to go to a Boxster?.
I know it’s a personal choice but I have looked at that many cars on line this week that I have confused myself . Last night I was certain it would be a Mercedes but today not as sure.
I’m now 62 and now have to think of comfort as well as performance . Thanks
The 3.4 engine in the 987 Cayman up to late 2007, is the variant of the M96 most likely to suffer from bore score. I’ve no idea why this is the case, but it just seems to be so.

The 2.7 and 2.9 engines at around the same age (2.9 only available for short time around 2010) are far more reliable, and would be my choice.

mr pg

2,019 posts

223 months

Wednesday 7th June 2023
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I've 3 911's and a 981 Cayman S. My favourite was the 981. Don't get hung up on it not being a 911, Boxsters are great to drive.
A 987 gen 2 3.4 would be your safest bet if you can do it.

Geoffcapes

999 posts

182 months

Wednesday 7th June 2023
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On a slightly different note, the SL400 is a lovely car to waft around in. However, (depending on how you drive) you might always wished you'd gone SL 500 instead.

and31

4,330 posts

145 months

Wednesday 7th June 2023
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IREvans said:
The 3.4 engine in the 987 Cayman up to late 2007, is the variant of the M96 most likely to suffer from bore score. I’ve no idea why this is the case, but it just seems to be so.
.
It’s because many more gen 1 Cayman’s were built with the 3.4 engine than Boxsters.

dbroughton

304 posts

232 months

Thursday 8th June 2023
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Starting to read the the Gen 2 3.4's are not immune to bore score either!!! Got a 93k PDK 2011 Boxster and starting to worry about 5 figure repair jobs although very little has gone wrong in 60k miles. Need to stop watching daft YouTube videos about the dreaded tick

Fink-Nottle

389 posts

60 months

Thursday 8th June 2023
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dbroughton said:
Starting to read the the Gen 2 3.4's are not immune to bore score either!!!
What what?? Sez who? Links, please.

I know there can be issues with very early 9A1 engines from 2008, but that's it AFAIK.

RichTT

3,266 posts

189 months

Thursday 8th June 2023
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Had my 981 3.4 boxster for a few years now. I can say yes. For A and B road blasting it's just about perfect on the amount of HP to have fun, sound great, go like stink without worrying too much about your license.


981Boxess

11,829 posts

276 months

Thursday 8th June 2023
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RichTT said:
Had my 981 3.4 boxster for a few years now. I can say yes. For A and B road blasting it's just about perfect on the amount of HP to have fun, sound great, go like stink without worrying too much about your license.
I agree with your sum up with the car, but some might disagree about the worrying thing, taken last month angel



LunarOne

6,519 posts

155 months

Thursday 8th June 2023
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I tried various 997s before settling instead on a 981 Boxster S. Yes, I wish it had more power and shorter gearing (I have a manual) but it's a really great car for blasting around in the mountains. I've actually had two - the second has the PTV LSD and it makes all the difference when blasting round switchback bends. I think if you can do without the back seats in a 911, a Boxster or Cayman is a better drive. Biggest problem with the 981 is the numb steering. It isn't terrible, but both the 987 that came before it and the 982 (718) that came after have better steering feel. Neither is more precise though! My ultimate car would be a GTS 4.0 as it has more power and better steering feel, but sadly the song of the six is muffled by the filters. If you have the money and don't care about noise, that's your best bet!

981Boxess

11,829 posts

276 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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LunarOne said:
My ultimate car would be a GTS 4.0 as it has more power and better steering feel, but sadly the song of the six is muffled by the filters. If you have the money and don't care about noise, that's your best bet!
Mine too but to spend twice as much to get less (song as you call it) seems a bit pointless to me.

That said I would love to know where people manage to cane cars with 315+ bhp on public roads without driving like complete tools.

RichTT

3,266 posts

189 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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981Boxess said:
Mine too but to spend twice as much to get less (song as you call it) seems a bit pointless to me.

That said I would love to know where people manage to cane cars with 315+ bhp on public roads without driving like complete tools.
Empty Scottish highlands early mornings during the week of off season is my usual go to.

And spirited driving doesn't always mean 100 mph+

981Boxess

11,829 posts

276 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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RichTT said:
981Boxess said:
Mine too but to spend twice as much to get less (song as you call it) seems a bit pointless to me.

That said I would love to know where people manage to cane cars with 315+ bhp on public roads without driving like complete tools.
Empty Scottish highlands early mornings during the week of off season is my usual go to.

And spirited driving doesn't always mean 100 mph+
Lets face it cars have got too fast for the roads we have and sportscars are generally disliked in most countries today with the possible exception of Germany and Italy.

dbroughton

304 posts

232 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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Fink-Nottle said:
dbroughton said:
Starting to read the the Gen 2 3.4's are not immune to bore score either!!!
What what?? Sez who? Links, please.

I know there can be issues with very early 9A1 engines from 2008, but that's it AFAIK.
I will dig it out but it was across forums on various sites (here, Porsche GB, Rennlist etc).. I am pretty certain Barry from Hartech was one of the posters at some point. Old mans memory but I recall the chat being about poor fuel spray patterns from the oldest DFI cars causing temp differentials in the bore and lubricant wash Not sure how big an issue it is but immunity from bore score is apparently not guaranteed on Get 2 cars. As I said, I am pretty heavily invested in my 2011 Boxster S and would love to believe the my 93K engine is bullet proof but I may being naive

Fiammetta

422 posts

106 months

Saturday 10th June 2023
quotequote all
dbroughton said:
Starting to read the the Gen 2 3.4's are not immune to bore score either!!! Got a 93k PDK 2011 Boxster and starting to worry about 5 figure repair jobs although very little has gone wrong in 60k miles. Need to stop watching daft YouTube videos about the dreaded tick
All the M96/97 engines are susceptible because they are open deck castings for the cooling .

Mezgler and from 09 onwards are trad close deck block castings .Indeed the 9A1 as they designated it has beefier oil pumps as well .

Conclusion avoid ALL pre 09 flat six Porsches unless it’s a Mezgler = turbo + GT 2/3 s .

Appreciate I won’t be mr popular simplifying this .

and31

4,330 posts

145 months

Saturday 10th June 2023
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Fiammetta said:
All the M96/97 engines are susceptible because they are open deck castings for the cooling .

Mezgler and from 09 onwards are trad close deck block castings .Indeed the 9A1 as they designated it has beefier oil pumps as well .

Conclusion avoid ALL pre 09 flat six Porsches unless it’s a Mezgler = turbo + GT 2/3 s .

Appreciate I won’t be mr popular simplifying this .
You certainly have simplified it!
So if considering a pre 09 flat six Porsche it must be a turbo or gt2/3? So that’s where I went wrong-I should have bought a GT3 hahaha
Your qualifications are???
I’m not suggesting your are mr popular or not popular, but that’s a hell of a sweeping statement based on your considerable experience?
I’d go one step further and say avoid all Porsches eh?
laugh

I actually bought a gen 1 cayman S, i Really wish I’d seen your advice and bought a GT3 instead!
In all seriousness I went into it with my eyes wide open,knew the risks and rolled the dice because I really wanted one.-65,000 miles,doesn’t use any oil or smoke at all.it could very well go pop tomorrow, but was almost the cost of an engine rebuild cheaper than an equivalent gen2-so if the time comes I’ll make that decision.
I do as much work on my car as I can -not a difficult car to work on at all.
Lots of people are very happy with their “pre 09” flat six Porsche

Edited by and31 on Saturday 10th June 23:18