I can't say about the 99-2000 996.
However there were two 2004/5 997's with 3.6 motors at the Brumos U event I attended. We had 3 Boxster S, 2 Cayman S and 1 Base Boxster, all 987s. The base Boxster was the only 987 that was slower on the timed road course runs than the 997s. It was very tight and you barely got out of second gear for about 3 seconds before the final complete stop braking box.
The last thing we did was go do some official timed runs on Gainesville Dragway and the two 997s walked ALL of the Boxsters. I had the fastest Boxster time and I ran both 997's. I jumped both of them off the lights and was passed on both runs before I got third gear!
I befriended one of the 997 owners and he said he had looked long and hard for the 2004 997 because the 996s (first water cooled 911) had way too many engine issues.
This isn't gospel, just what he told me.
So the moral of this run on story is verifying what you thought. If you want the best balanced handling, buy the box. If you want to drag race, buy a 93 Cobra Mustang!!
