Base or S model? Feedback Requested...

[mikefocke]

Yes you have heard someone who owned both say less HP was more fun. Heck my 85HP 914 was more fun that either but then I was much younger then... I could keep my foot down longer and harder without attracting the government's attention (In the '99 201HP and '01S 250HP I never got a ticket in Arctic Silver cars, not saying there weren't times I didn't deserve one.).

Now are there suspension, brakes, engine power improvements in the S? Yes. See here.)

The big difference comes in the '03 and I'd gladly have the 228HP base '03 over my '01S 250HP S. But you can change the entire roof assembly from an '03-'04 onto a earlier '97-;02 chassis. Not so the glove compartment.

The downside of the S is the wear in the driveshaft CV and CV boots due to the different angle the 6 speed imposes. A matter of personal preferences is the ratios of the 5 speed from the base are often preferred to those of the 6 speed of the S.

[PaulE]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

...The downside of the S is the wear in the driveshaft CV and CV boots due to the different angle the 6 speed imposes. A matter of personal preferences is the ratios of the 5 speed from the base are often preferred to those of the 6 speed of the S.

Yeah, I've seen the underside of my car while it was on a lift and those halfshaft angles are something. I didn't know that the base model doesn't share that trait! I did see a 987 Cayman underside once, not sure if it was an S or not, but I noticed the halfshafts were more or less square to the transaxle!

[jrgill]

Thanks Mike Focke, I've read most of the information you've provided on your website and it's great for those us thinking of getting into a 986 and those who already have them. Truly appreciate the work you've gone through to make this available.

Joe