I am looking to purchase a
987.1
in either 2005-06
Boxster S
form or M97 2007-08 base form. I am limiting myself to these models due to
IMS
and Borescoring issues. The car will see about a track day per month.
I was wondering if anyone can share some opinions on the driving or feel differences between these two engines. That is the
M96
.26 S vs the base M97.
Why would you include the "2005-06
Boxster S
" in your search if you're concerned about bore scoring and
IMS bearing
? AFAIK - it's not immune from either.
The only engine that seems immune to these issues didn't appear until 2009, the 9A1 engine, in 2.9L form in the base cars. Given even a modicum of care these engines seem to last about forever. Even when tracked. The earlier engine is also prone to oil starvation on long curves (I believe left curves, but I could be wrong on that and someone will correct me), and serious track use typically requires an extended sump and extended oil-pump pickup to prevent the G-force caused oil starvation when all the oil stays in the outside valve cover.. The 9A1 engines have 4 oil pumps (for a total of 5), with one in each corner of the valve covers to pump that oil back to the sump, and the sump is effectively a "dry" sump, with a seperating baffle between the moving bits of the engine and the sump itself.
Yeah, while the 9A1 is the only way to go if you don't want
IMS
issues at all, I think the risk of late
M96
.26 S engines used in the 05-06
Boxster S
is also very low as these got the bigger
IMS
bearings and have also not have had any of the bore scoring issues that affect all 987 and
981
S engines. This is the data from
LN Engineering
. The 9A1 S engines seem to suffer from the same bore scoring issues and it's a matter of when not If with their forged pistons carving up the cylinders.
You are correct that the S will have more power and that will be nice on the track. Based on a abbreviated search it appears that with a quality tune and a full
exhaust
you can expect maybe
310hp and 250tq from the 3.2 vs the 2.9 with the same mods at 295hp and 240tq. Power wise its negligible. The
987.2
does have shorter 1-3 gears if you like rowing gears that could be a plus or depending on your uses Autox/track days it could be a negative.
Have you considered a
PDK
if you get a .2? That would be my pick for track work. But to each their own.
One the other hand the
987.2
base has the same brakes as the S, and I'm sure if your planning on tracking your car you'll be doing at least shocks/springs. If not coil overs so you can corner balance it.
Either way your gonna make a great decision and be smiling like a fox in the henhouse. Do you have any examples your eyeballing?
Ah, I didn't know the
987.2
base had the same brakes as the
987.1
S, I'll have to look into that!
In terms of visceral feel, I wonder if there's a difference between engine noise and characteristics.
If you study some parts books you'll find the base
987.2
has the same brakes as the
987.2
/S. On the
987.1
there was a thickness difference in the front
rotor
. I believe that went away with the .2 - meaning the difference is a matter of paint color on the calipers.
