which Porsche next

[peterzoom]

Honestly my head is beginning to hurt with information overload.
I would like a faster dose of Porsche motoring.
Presently I have a 1996 2.5 and an `03 2.7
Where in the range should I be looking for a definite performance hike, problem seems to be that so many previous owners have horror/scare stories about engine problems or less than sparkling performance differentials between various models.

Or should I bite the bullet and go for a 996??

12 to 14k budget

What are your own experiences regarding the difference in performance v reliability?

[A15X]

14k that's 987 money easy?

the 2.7 987 would be a nice performance increase?

14k for 996 could end up being expensive?

[Boxstercol]

987 S, either the 3.2 or 3.4. Personally I would go with the 3.2 as the 3.4 is notorious for bore score which if you read the forums is more prolific than IMS issues.

I've got a 3.2 987 S & I love it! Plenty of performance & a step up from the 2.5/2.7.

[RickLS7]

I'd be far more wary of bore scoring in the Cayman 3.4 engine and it's even more common on the 911 3.6 & 3.8 engines.  A 987 3.2 will have the single row IMS bearing, failure incidence of these is far higher than bore scoring in the 3.4 Boxster (which is rare).  The 3.4 engine is a beast (in Boxster terms at least), the later one (2009 onwards) with direct injection is the engine to have but cost quite a bit more.

It's still worth checking it doesn't have a sooty exhaust pipe, low engine oil level and engine tapping (louder than the injectors) and good practice to the engine borescoped in the PPI before parting with any cash.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?Category=used-cars&M=512&MaxPrice=15000&MinEngineSize=3300

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/porsche/boxster-987-05-12/porsche-boxster-987-3-4s------------------2006/5837968?v=c

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?Category=used-cars&M=512&MaxPrice=15000&MinEngineSize=3300

For a bit of budget creep:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/porsche/boxster-987-05-12/porsche-boxster-987-24v-s-2007/5866913?v=c

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?Category=used-cars&M=512&MaxPrice=15000&MinEngineSize=3300

[lordlee]

Yes Rick - I agree. Having owned the 986.2 S and now a 987.1 S I totally agree the 3.4 is a cracker of an engine. Once you've let it breathe easier its even better. 14k says 3.4S

[peterzoom]

Thank you all for your input, comparison and advice. Always good to hear from people who have experience rather than the keyboard experts who have probably only driven `Grand Theft Auto`, if  actually driven at all! Much appreciated. I must admit the prospect of the 3.4 is much more appealing.

It is always tricky to know what to believe, so your comment and opinion really helps.

I recently sold (and miss greatly) an XJR which I had progressively modified over a decade into an unreasonably quick point to point vehicle. So while the Boxsters are great handling and don`t run out of brakes quite so early, I miss the blinding rush that makes straights vanish, and want to be able to commit to a Boxster than I can work with over a period of years.

When I was looking for an XJR the conventional wisdom was to avoid them like the plague due to the Nikasil engine liner problems. While it was genuinely a problem for some cars it was never as common an issue that some would have had you believe.

So 3.4 it is, now just to scour the country to find the most suitable colour/trim/history/condition/price combo....... shouldn`t be tricky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again everyone.

[Southy]

I'd go 3.4 - 295bhp out the box with proven increase with mods I think you could get it somewhere near 340?  seems to be the standard figures quoted on other forums.

also this thread got dug up again, worth a read.