I suppose it depends what you have come from, the Z4M was a great car and had bags of power, the 987 Boxster S is 50hp down and really felt underpowered for what is a great chassis and set up for a sports car. When you add up the £550 tax sub 30mpg for a 276hp or 291hp car it is hard to justify but then the 2.7 at 231 and 241hp coming from the Z4M I just found it very sluggish.
The Z4M has that widow maker feel like the 911 which is why I like it. The 911 more so and keeps you on your toes. The Boxster gives you so much confidence than even trying hard doesn't get the back end moving at all and it just isn't fun to me at all. As a sports car its excellent in that regard but I prefer something a little more unpredictable.
I would disagree on spec, most boxsters and caymans were sold with little spec you were lucky to find a 2.7 with a few options. The majority is down to them being serviced correctly. As the above you can quickly spend 5-8k replacing consumer parts on any of that generation. At the age they are the majority will need it doing which is why there are such big price differences. Plus some are good some are not so good.
The M96 and 7 are based on the same engine the problem is the original M96 was originally a 2.5l capacity for the entry level Boxster in 1996 and they bored it out so the walls get thinner with no more support. So they get warped, cylinders score and crack. The M96 was put in the 996 Carrera in 3.4l form then in 3.6l. The M96 was also used in the base 997 Carrera in 3.6 form. Interestingly the IMS is also much harder to replace in the M97... many 997s have been diagnosed with IMS failure when really they have cracked cylinders.
This is why the 997 Carrera S has a bad rep because its a 3.8 over 3.6 on the 996 and so is weaker and more prone to failure. That being said the 997 has had less recorded failure than the 996. Having these engines rebuilt they relay the piston walls with harder material to increase the strength.
The M97 also has a redesigned bearing which is better but still fails.
On the other hand the 3.2 987 Boxster engine is meant to be the best of the bunch. Thats the one I bought thinking it would be a good bet... and had all the above problems and needed a complete engine rebuild which essentially wrote off the car.
It all depends on how well they have been treated and maintained, cars that seem to be used harder more often fair better from non scientific research. MSV who run Oulton Park, Brands Hatch, Donnington, Caldwell, Bedford and Snetterton had a fleet of 996 Carreras that were used for driving days and not one had a IMS failure which is interesting.
These cars are old now and tbh any specialist will put the borescope down to check and ensure there is no wear. If the pistons are warped you can tell pretty quickly because the car makes sure a harsh metallic starting noise its awful... which is what mine did after 1000 miles. Technologies have moved on too, they can swap bearings a lot easier because its a normal fail safe now. They are usually upgraded to better 3rd party options too. If you buy well with all the checks you have to be really unlucky.
I didn't believe all the internet hype and it happened to me.
I had my 996 done and my dad had his 997 done. The 996 is on 78k and has had 3 bearings, the nice thing is you can get them done at the same time as a clutch and flywheel as they tend to go through them between 60-80k. Its also not as expensive as people quote as I said I had the lot done for £1500. Just part of maintenance with them like the bearings in the Z4M.
So basically 997s have the same issues as the 996 and worse in the Carrera S variant and again the price reflects this as they aren't very sort after. In fact 997 Carreras in many cases are commanding higher money currently. In all honesty the M97 has so little differences, including valve timing for higher output, mechanical vacuum pump and electronic oil management thats about it from a headline perspective.
997.2s which is 2009 onward use the 9A1 and is direct injection, they don't have the IMS bearing but still have scoring issues but not to the extent of the older cars.
Regardless and I've had first hand experience its not a deal breaker you have to be super unlucky.
My father had a 997.1 for nearly 10 years and it was an incredible car.... in the OPs favourite colour. Biggest regret is him selling it and not being able to buy it.
We took it all through Europe and man did it sing on the passes!
Porsche 911, Sustens Pass, Switzerland by
Tom Scott, on Flickr
Susten Pass, Switzerland by
Tom Scott, on Flickr
Porsche 911 Carrera S, Malcesine, Lake Garda, Italy by
Tom Scott, on Flickr
IMG_0600 by
Tom Scott, on Flickr
He sold it and bought a 991 which is a different animal entirely.
Z&P Eurotrip UK to Monaco 2017 by
Tom Scott, on Flickr
Furka Pass, Gold Finger Point, Z&P Eurotrip UK to Monaco 2017 by
Tom Scott, on Flickr
The most sort after cars are the Gen 2s which is why they are 10-15-20k more than the 997. That being said the 991 and above has lost some of the feel that makes a 911 a 911 and I personally love the 997 Cs it has a great engine, gearbox and I love the way 911s drive like nothing else you can buy. Some love it some hate it.
Personally I bought a 4S convertible because it was a good price to get into the brand and into a 911. A 981 is my ideal car but they are so sort after that a good spec car low milage car with the exhaust, suspension, chrono etc is easy 35-40k and caymans even more so will have to wait a bit further down the line.
I use the C4S all year round and the 4WD is excellent back where I come from in cumbria has no problem in the snow and the muddy country lanes, I love the top down motoring experience because the exhaust and engine sound incredible. I do a lot of motorway driving between Manchester and Cumbria so it being a heavier car doesn't really bother me too much. The C4S vert is by no means the best 911 but as a comfy GT its excellent and I appreciate it the more I drive it.
Plus... Dat ass... best ass ever on a 911 imo (obviously better on the coupe but still)
Porsche 991, 996 Carrera 4S, Yorkshire Porsche Festival, Lotherton Hall, Leeds by
Tom Scott, on Flickr
Porsche 911's, Yorkshire Porsche Festival, Lotherton Hall, Leeds by
Tom Scott, on Flickr
