I think there's quite a difference. I drove four different 986 before driving the first 987, all within about two months and two of the 986, one standard, one S, I had for full weekends. Because of a long term relationship with my local dealer, I was also able to take my 987 for a full weekend before purchasing it. It did not go back on the lot!
As a non-go-on- forever post, I will have to say sophistication is the main difference. Everything from cabin layout, to pedal placement to shift mechanism to top operation to resposiveness of the engine, and on and on and on, was far superior, in MY OPINION than the 986. In some respects, I can say the 986 may be more of a purists sports car than the 987 and if I were tracking the car, I may have gone a different direction (bought a Lotus!! :D ). The 986 seems to have more steering feedback, but that also gets old on lengthy trips.
But there are considerable differences between the two generations. :cheers:

I've got one of those models and really enjoy it. It really is just a well optioned Boxster S, but since it has just about every option that came on the 986, that's worth some premium if you are an option whore like I am.....especially since Porsche charges so much for each option. If you aren't, I wouldn't even consider a 550 and look at something else. My car has 20k miles on it now and I paid $34k for it about 3 years ago. His asking price of $35k is a bit steep, but perhaps he only wants to sell it if he can get a premium price for it? There's nothing wrong with that, if he can't get it, he keeps it or lowers his price. In the mean time a little time searching and you'll find other 550's available.

If you want to pay $22k for one, good luck you'll probably need to look at a much higher mileage example to get in that range, or find someone really desperate to sell as I haven't seen any go that low before. You never know. However, regardless of how high the asking price is, anytime you offer someone almost 40% under their asking price and get told to go pound sand......you should expect that response.....and probably deserve it.

Look at the pics of the two cars below - I prefer the 986 rounder shape. If I was going to buy a 987 it would have to be a 2009 or 2010 with PDK and launch control.

So would you say the 987 is more refined and dare I say, softer, than the 986?

I own a 2.7L 986, but have driven a 2.5L 986, 3.2 986S, 3.4 converted 986, 3.2L 987S and 3.4 987S, and my experience is that the 986 model cars do ride rougher and feel less refined overall, but also lean more in corners than the 987. The 987 feels more refined and stable when pushed, but it is true that they offer a bit more numb steering feel than the 986. That didn't bother me, as the more stable feel in transitions made up for the slight lack of steering feel for me. The 986 feels a bit more tossable and light.

I was not impressed much by the power of the 3.2 986S or 3.2 987S, but the 3.4L 987S was really quick feeling, and pretty much a perfect package. The 3.4L coverted 986 was nice in the pickup department, but still didn't feel as fast and refined as the 3.4L 987S. Overall, I would say the 987 both inside and out, is an improved version of the 986, although styling is a personal preference. I really like the curves of the 986, but the newest 987 facelift is mighty nice too.

That's QUIET a premium alright. It sounds to me like he shouldn't be surprised that informed buyers are giving him a bit of a reality check as well. It works both ways I guess.

"you offer someone almost 40% under their asking price and get told to go pound sand......you should expect that response.....and probably deserve it."

There's NOTHING wrong with being told to go pound sand...the best answer to that is "fine, keep your car" hahaha

There is EVERYTHING wrong with paying a dime more than you think you should...no cure for buyers remorse.

I pounded sand 5 or 6 times before I got my over 10K discount on my new 987 :D

The SE 550 will always be worth more than other 986's - even kbb say so :)

on kbb without knowing all the options it rates out at $25 private party.....which means it's a 40% mark up at 35K...

I'd say if nothing else, the seller at least got a dose of reality....anyone paying 35K just bought fools gold...is it worth more than a normal 986 sure, but not by much

Agreed, but when you are looking for a car and wanting to pay $22k do you really bother with cars having asking prices of $35k? Seems kind of silly to me and most likely to result in some irritation for the buyer/seller or both regardless of which person is closer to the real market value for the car. If I wanted to spend in the $22k range, I wouldn't even bother with anything with a starting price north of $30k.

Besides, establishing "market values" with Porsches is more difficult than with most cars and the older they get, the more difficult it is. First, they have much lower volume than most (which makes KBB and the like less accurate) and second, many buyers will pay massive spreads in prices on two similar cars with different levels of care and maintenance history.

I've been helping a friend look for a 1970 911 recently and the pricing right now is between $13k and $99k......no kidding. Both are virtually identical cars (even same color), but one is a concours level car and the other needs work. This is an extreme example, but it never surprises me, even with Boxsters when two similar age cars sell for pretty vastly different prices....lots of variables there.

i would pay 26K for that car but any more and your in 987 territory . I would be happy with a 986 S low miles for a reasonable price . people think they are worth a lot more than they are . They are just down right old at this point. My girls 128i 6 speed would probably beat up on my old 01 2.7 .

Fixed that for you. :cheers:

call me crazy but with a more or less industry valuation of $25K, I think the bidder at $22K is dealing in the territory of realistic pricing more than the seller at $35K.

That's sorta like a guy who bought a house during the bubble for $700K, its now worth $400K, there are now way more houses than buyers, but he's still asking $560K and along comes a buyer offering $360K. I wouldn't call the bidder crazy for a second. I'd say he's setting a good starting point for a negotiation. Do you know anyone paying a premium for real estate or any other market that is inundated with inventory?
So you got granite counters, spanish tile and sub zeros, sorry you spent the money don't expect much for it now...

Except of course cars are DEPRECIATING investments...

The price for a 2005 987S with the same mileage is about 1000 more dollars more (26k). Not much difference.

If I'm buying a first Boxster unless I get a screaming deal I either go with a 986S or a 3.4 987S. It's either get a car that you can't beat for the money (986S) or a roadster that hauls ass. I chased a brand spankin new 3.4 in red with tan leather that litteraly just rolled off the lot and this guy wasn't waiting for now stinkin' break in period and he was no amateur. Which makes me think the Boxster RS must be a killer. I'll be looking for one of those in a few years when the deval kicks in.

Here are the 1st three 550's I pull up on Autotrader. Asking prices range $33k-$39k:

http://tinyurl.com/ye92b7h

http://tinyurl.com/yjrahyz

http://tinyurl.com/y8nswje


I'm in no way trying to justify that this is the proper market value, but the guy the OP is dealing with isn't terribly out of line with what these sellers are asking for. I bet if the OP keeps looking though he/she can find one in the $22-$26k range too.

I just plugged my car with 20k miles and it's options in at www.kbb.com and got private party "excellent" and $29k and private party "good" at $28k. Retail is at $32k. Mine has navigation and Bose, but most of the other stuff is standard on the 550. What did you use to get that $25k number?

The OP should email that one for $32K with only 7K miles to the guy who told him to pound sand. That's barely enough miles to warrant an oil change :)

if you're going to bump it up to $39K for plush options you could also get this well optioned drop top

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-911-C4S-Cabrio-2004-Porsche-911-Carrera-4S-Cabriolet-Loaded-NICE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3a58309f83QQitemZ2 50587684739QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks

this what i am looking at . what do you guys think of this color?

I'm not a big fan of maroon (which is what that looks like to me), but still a nice car, and matched well with the interior color.