I have a 996 C2 & 986 S in the garage.....I've never even thought about driving the 996 since I got my S. 
Too me the 986 & 996 are too close to each other to warrant 'upgrading' & such.  From a daily drive standpoint the only thing I notice the 996 has on the Boxster is more torque but then that Box has the convertible factor. 

   Granted I haven't tried hauling siblings around in the 996,I'm pretty sure that you can't fit anyone taller than 5 8"(my head hits the roof over bumpers at this height) in the back comfortably.  As for a track/auto-x standpoint,couldn't tell ya,I haven't pushed the C2,I'm pretty sure my Dad would get all  :troll:  if I did that with it. 
 
		
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				-99' Zenith Blue 5-spd...didn't agree with a center divider on the freeway
-01' S Orient Red Metallic 6-spd...money pit...sold to buy a house 
