03 "S" vs 05 base
 

What would you chose, an 03 Boxster S, or an 05 base model. Both have about 50k miles, and both are about $20k. The 03 “S” has 18 more HP (258 vs 240). Is that a big deal? Are there other items in the “S” model that would win over the newer 987 boxster?

Classic 986 forum debate!!!
Even though I ended up with an 987 S, I had already decided on a base 987 over an "04 S.
I'm sure I could eek out an extra 1/4 to 1/2 second per lap in the 986 S, but that's 1/100 of the time driving the car and the added sophistication, room and comfort more than makes up for it in the 99% of the time using the car more normally.

Major differences
 

Lets see...

1. 5 vs 6 speed. See which gearing you like. 6-speed is hard on CV joint boots.

2. 2.7 vs 3.2 3.2 more power and better cylinder reliability. Can't keep your foot on the floor as long both legally and for practical reasons.

3. Cockpit room 987 has more...may or may not matter

4. Styling/design ... a matter of choice.

5. 987 includes OBC where 986 it was an option.

6. Late 986 has digital speedo on left which I find awkward to read even after 5 years. '97-'99 it was in center.

Read the 2005 reviews and see the praise for the new design and its list of "improvements".

I own a '01 986S and owned a 99 986 base .. I enjoyed the base as much, only moved because I totaled the '99.

To add to MikeF's observations, the 05 may or may not allow the IMS retrofit. The 03 will for sure.

You will be spending the same amount, you could consider going with your heart, which do you prefer to drive, which is more comfortable, which has the options you want...regardless of hp...though hp could be a factor if that is the one you like driving more. I had an ~amount I wanted to spend and after I drove the the 'S' I knew that was what I wanted...for me it is not a daily driver (I have a 2000 'S'), if I was driving daily I probably would have a got a 2003 base (glass window, softer suspension, automatic) which for me would have been important but maybe not for another.

Whatever you decide welcome to a community of very helpful folks! :cheers:

Talking purely technical here, the S models have the following over the base:

Tech:
6 speed vs 5 speed gearbox.
3.2 l vs 2.7 l engine.
Bigger brake calipers (red painted) made by Brembo.
Bigger (cross drilled) brake rotors.
Three (vs two) coolant radiators @ the front of car.
Larger oil cooler (heat exchanger).

Non Tech.
Silver dials.
twin exhaust outlet.
Several badges and decals.

Not a lot, but what a lot of people miss about the driving with the smaller 2.7 l engine is not so much the power (HP) difference with the 3.2 l, but the torque increase at low to medium revs with the bigger engine.
To me that was the deciding factor......

Could somebody point me to where I can find more info on the 05 engine change that prohibits the IMS retrofit, and when that changed (mid 05 MY, or 06?)

05 was supposed to be the last year the bearing could be retrofitted, i.e. small enough to be pulled out without having to disassemble the engine.

But if you do a search on the subject, you'll find that the bigger bearing has also been found in 05's, and IIRC there's no easy way to determine which one it is.

http://986forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27012

Revised Single row 6305 bearing IMS with larger diameter stud and 22mm nut configuration, shown with the hub flange removed. Although the bearing is accessible via a removable circlip, you cannot remove it from the IMS without disassembling the whole engine because the o.d. of the bearing is larger in diameter than the opening in the back of the case.

According to PET, here are the engine numbers for single or double row bearings* up until late 2005 then 2006 and later engines which received a larger, non-servicable single row bearing. *Courtesy of Scott Slauson http://www.softronic.us.

Boxster: Double Row: up to 651 12851 (M96.22) up to 671 11237 (M96.21)

Single Row: from 651 12852 (M96.22) from 671 11238 (M96.21)

Here is some info that was posted on a PCA newsletter.

From a practical viewpoint, you can't lose! The 986S will have a little more power but the 987 will have some newer features and be a newer car overall.

Bottom line: Pick the one your wife or girlfriend likes best. :D