OV9

GG. wrote: Thu Apr 11, 2019 10:56 pm 987 3.2 is the correct choice.

The 2.7s actually sound better (particularly the whine on the overrun) but are simply too slow. The 987 2.7 my father had was always slightly frustrating when you had to navigate around other traffic (i.e. overtake) whereas the 3.2 I owned was significantly torquier and more pleasant to drive. Also has the 6 speed box rather than 5 so worth it also for that (some 2.7s have the six speed box but it was a cost option most didn't bother with).

987 also significantly nicer in appearance both inside and out and in reality is a 986 mk III so fewer niggles as you progress through the revisions. I wouldn't bother with a 986 for how little extra the 987s are in reality. 3.4 987 increased risk of bore scoring so again, not worth it for the extra 15hp and the extra cost.

ETA: I have a 911 now but have nothing bad to say about Boxsters. I toyed with the idea of getting another one to use in summer for top down driving given the current pricing. I expect they'll start to go back the other way (like the 996) soon as the ropier ones get weeded out.

One thing I always look for is whether the exhaust looks to be sagging too low (or a clunking over speed bumps from behind your head) - an indicator of shot transmission and/or engine mounts and a car that's either been thrashed or spent its whole life in traffic around town (in which case budget for a clutch if its over 60k miles.)

As Jobbo will tell you, maintainence can stack up over time but as with all older cars it a bit of a lottery what will need doing. At least depreciation will be effectively zero at this point (sadly not when I owned one).

JLv3.0 wrote: Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:02 am

Explosive Newt wrote: Thu Apr 11, 2019 9:57 pmThere is a careful equation between potential driving fun and rage from my tiny yet incredibly angry significant other. You guys cannot know how furious I will be if I blow money that could go towards a deposit on a house...

I would suggest what car you get next might not be your biggest issue to resolve here

Rich B wrote: Thu Apr 11, 2019 10:16 pm

Explosive Newt wrote: Thu Apr 11, 2019 9:57 pm

Sundayjumper wrote: Thu Apr 11, 2019 9:40 pm I think that was tongue-in-cheek because that was the most expensive of the options you offered

There is a careful equation between potential driving fun and rage from my tiny yet incredibly angry significant other. You guys cannot know how furious I will be if I blow money that could go towards a deposit on a house...

Buy a house. You can dick around with Boxsters later!

drcarlos wrote: Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:50 am

Rich B wrote: Thu Apr 11, 2019 10:16 pm

Explosive Newt wrote: Thu Apr 11, 2019 9:57 pm

There is a careful equation between potential driving fun and rage from my tiny yet incredibly angry significant other. You guys cannot know how furious I will be if I blow money that could go towards a deposit on a house...

Buy a house. You can dick around with Boxsters later!

I did this in 2000, still waiting to dick around with a Griffith 19 years later.

Carl.

GG. wrote: Fri Apr 12, 2019 10:11 am They ride much better on michelins versus the contis or bridgestones they mostly came fitted with from the factory. Compared to a BMW on run flats it rides like a Rolls even on 19s so I wouldn't bother downsizing the wheels. Being mid engined they're quite snappy if you try and get the back end moving about - personally in a car designed to be polished and fast on a twisty B road I'd rather have the grip I think.

Interestingly I always liked the crab claws or lobsters or whatever they're called (particularly the convex front alloys). I still do now but do admit they're of a time and don't perhaps age as well as the Carrera Classics. It shouldn't put you off buying on condition, however.

GG. wrote: Fri Apr 12, 2019 12:54 pm No I wasn't suggesting you would - I was just seeing what they topped out at and noticed that one with ceramics.

The one you posted looks good for a gen II but its still 25hp down on a 987 3.2 which I think is a sufficent gap to make you think twice. Particularly as the DFI engines don't sound as good and I'm not sure if you can get OEM sports exhausts for them (though of course you could go aftermarket).

The 987 2.7 is 240hp and wasn't quick enough for me so I'm not sure an extra 15hp would be quite enough but obviously YMMV.

PaulJ wrote: Fri Apr 12, 2019 2:06 pm I've owned a 986 2.7, a 986 3.2 S and a 987 3.4 S in the past. The first developed an oil leak, the second lunched the engine at 11,000 miles and the 987 S was faultless. (All in new car warranty - I was told that the replacement short engine would have been about 12,500 + VAT + fitting otherwise ). The other thing about earlier cars is the plastic rear windows which need assistance to fold correctly sometimes - very uncool.

PaulJ wrote: Fri Apr 12, 2019 2:06 pm I've owned a 986 2.7, a 986 3.2 S and a 987 3.4 S in the past. The first developed an oil leak, the second lunched the engine at 11,000 miles and the 987 S was faultless. (All in new car warranty - I was told that the replacement short engine would have been about 12,500 + VAT + fitting otherwise ). The other thing about earlier cars is the plastic rear windows which need assistance to fold correctly sometimes - very uncool.

Choose good history over colour and options too of course.

Good luck.

IanF wrote: Fri Apr 12, 2019 3:56 pm Are old Caymans more or less expensive than Boxsters? I can’t remember if it was this generation that swapped over the pricing.