Hello everyone, first post here. Have been lurking and reading up, though. I'm a 5 yr. Boxster owner smitten ever since the 997 hit the street. Am going to make the plunge this year. Some questions-

1. 05 pretty well sorted? Any advantage to buying 06?
2. Have been seeing a number of "launch" editions in the mid to high 60's- seems to be the going rate (good optons list, sport chrono etc, with or without PCCB and generally around 20k mi). Sound right?
3.Was natural brown leather available in 05? My dream car is black with natural w/ adaptive sport seats. Have found several black over black.
4. Any RMS issues with the new 911?
5. Is the S worth the money? (bet you're sick of that one!) I am looking for more straight line fun. My 986 is a base and a stone gas to drive in the twisties but it's a momentum car and if you miss it going in you sure come out slow with that 2.7L rigged stock.
6. How's PCCB performance? That much better? I like the idea of no stinkin' dust, man, amen.
6. Any other tips you might have are most welcome. If the car I find is pretty stock I plan on wheel, exhaust, software & front clip mods at the least. Have admired many of your cars here for some time and have a definite plan compiled already, thanks to this forum.

Thanks in advance for indulging me. I hope to be an active member of this forum in the months to come. Gotta find mine, first! Any leads as to the best places to look would be greatly appreciated. So far I am using this site, AT, Just Cars, duPont and PCA Mart.

Krockt

 

S is a must IMO.
Your dream color combo will be tough to find but you never know. Don't settle

I had am 05 s. Didn't have a single problem. Loved that car

 

The biggest difference between the 2005 and 2006 cars is the tire pressure monitoring system and MP3 compatibility, neither of which were available on the early 2005 models. As far as reliability, there is no discernible difference between the two.

 

When buying new it is hard to argue that the S is not worth the extra cost over a nicely optioned none S.....once you start adding options to a stock none S the 10K difference to step up to an S now gets smaller..... is the S worth 10K more maybe a tough question for some but after you add options to a none S to step up to the S (that comes with many nice features, xenons and other) your now maybe 5K away... to many 10K is worth the S, so 5K is a no brainer....so when new I think it is an easy choice....go for the S over a highly optioned none S......just my opinion.

Opposite for used cars, I have found now this kinda works in reverse where many nicely optioned none S cars can be found for 10K less then the S.... you can buy a very nice none S with excellant options for low to mid 50K range with low miles and CPO if your a good shopper..... add a few mods yourself and then in a few years add a SC for 12K installed.... and have a car that runs closer with a Turbo then with an S....

I went None S as I like a bargain....nicely optioned for low 50K, low miles CPO, I added 6+K in mods and after my factory warranty is up I will be going SC!

Ceramic brakes are amazing..... but not for the cost unless you plan on tracking your car...stock none S brakes that come on a base 997 are as much as most people ever need; porsche for years has been known for amazing brakes in their cars so even the base brakes and much better then brakes you will ever find on other cars....... the turbo brakes that come with the S a nice as well even a notch up....

Nothing monumental for changes in 05 to 06.......

The best value IMO when shopping used 997 is none S, best value IMO new is S over a nicely eqipped none S...... a used none S car, nicely modded with parts (coil overs, SuperCharged etc...) will be about an extra +7K (depending on how crazy you get) over the purchase of a used S..... for that your none S will walk away from a S quite easily in performance IMO. Assuming you shop for your parts and all installed correctly.... also it will be unique and look better if done right..... this is not for everyone, some people do not like to mod, others are fearful of what a SC might do to their car.... for me, it is the path I am on.

 

1. 05 pretty well sorted? Any advantage to buying 06?
One extra year of warranty . The tire monotoring system .

2. Have been seeing a number of "launch" editions in the mid to high 60's- seems to be the going rate (good optons list, sport chrono etc, with or without PCCB and generally around 20k mi). Sound right?
They ask more with the ceramics but the prices you state sound high . Of course what one asks and what he gets are two different numbers .

3.Was natural brown leather available in 05? My dream car is black with natural w/ adaptive sport seats. Have found several black over black.
I recall seeing it but it probably was a special order color . I had the black /black /ceramic launch car . I loved it . Unfortunately the theives liked it too .

4. Any RMS issues with the new 911?
RMS exists but is less commonly observed than with 996 cars .

5. Is the S worth the money? (bet you're sick of that one!) I am looking for more straight line fun. My 986 is a base and a stone gas to drive in the twisties but it's a momentum car and if you miss it going in you sure come out slow with that 2.7L rigged stock.
Yes -- I have driven both and the "S" makes enough of adifference to pay the extra money. On the used market it won't be the full 10K as with new cars .

6. How's PCCB performance? That much better? I like the idea of no stinkin' dust, man, amen.
I liked the ceramics a lot . They stopped on a dime, had to be cleaned but not as with the non ceramic. They are not however worth the 8K and if you need any sertvice on them it will be expensive if your car is out of warranty . You have to go with your own feeling on it. I did not get them on my Turbo .

6. Any other tips you might have are most welcome. If the car I find is pretty stock I plan on wheel, exhaust, software & front clip mods at the least. Have admired many of your cars here for some time and have a definite plan compiled already, thanks to this forum.
I had this setup on my "S" and loved it . I did not do the aerokit though. It sounded identical and I loved the rasp sound of the Tubi . I also thought the intake was a work of art. I also recommend the sport shifter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMWLpdVrhWU

 

I don't believe all 06 cars have TPMS, whereas I believe it was standard on all 2007 cars. So if you want it on an 06, you'll need to check to see if a specific car has it.

 

Thanks for the great feedback so far.

How difficult is installing some of the tuner front clip/bumpers? My body shop guy has very little Porsche experience but is a master at paint. I am pretty taken with RUF, Rinsport or the GT3 front. All are equal as far as install quirks go?? Any pics of 997 front end mods would be great.

Is 997 stock shifter tighter than 996/993? My 03 Boxster is ropey, as was 996, so B&H or Schnell SS kits have been very popular. Big improvement even on the 997?

 

+ 1 on above comment. I was told that the TPMS was added to later 06 models. Mine was born in March of 06 and had TPMS.

 

TPMS was an option on my 06 car .. an option I wish I hadn't gone with.

 

I found my p-car in the auto trader online. Cars.com, 6speed classifieds and other boards are other places I looked. I will be listing a 07 997S Midnight Blue/Sand Beige Aerokit soon, if your interested shoot me a PM.

 

Couple of other difference 05 vs 06. The 06 has a seat sensor that deactivates the passenger front airbag if there is no passenger. It also has an automatic sensor for the Porsche child seats so you don't need to install the stupid harness. Not a big deal to most.

Someone already mentioned the differences in PCM units between 05 and 06+ where the 06+ will play MP3s while the pre 06 will not. Another big difference is that the 06+ is upgradable via DVD to the real time traffic info system, it will re-route you and stuff. The DVDs were just released from what I read and it's a feature that has been available in Europe for quite some time.

 

I just went from a 06 Boxster S and I have no regrets, the Boxster is a great car but the 997S is "in real world terms" a super car.

As for the S vs. base, in pure $ terms it does not make sense to buy a P-Car! but as others have said the S has options the base 997 does not have, I analyzed it as follows for my car (after I bought the S!):

Engine Cost In a 911S
Base Cab $83,800.00
S Cab $94,100.00
Difference $10,300.00


Included in S
19" Carrera Wheels $1,550.00
Bi-Xenon $1,090.00
PASM $1,990.00
Sport Steering $250.00
Gear Lever in Aluminium $290.00
Switch Panel Aluminim $520.00 - Estimate
Bigger Brakes $1,200.00 - Estimate
Total $6,890.00

Extra 30HP and 22 lb-ft $3,410.00

For the options I could not price I estimated a Porsche Price so YMMV. For me these options (Bigger Wheels, Bi-Xenon, PASM - a must!, Sport Steering, Bigger Brakes) were ones I would have added anyway so a base 997 made no sense to me.

Having said all that if a base car has the options you want and it is a year younger and you are counting the $ the base 997 is a great car as well. The rules for these cars are the same as any P-Car - Buy the newest car (that you like) that you car afford.

I seriously think you should drive both, if you drive spiritedly on the road but are care about speed limits etc. you may find the base enough. I must admit that I am at a point in my life where I can say what the hell and (within reason) buy what I like - no logic just emotion, BTW 3 years ago I would have sworn I would never drop $100K for a car - but that is life.