So which bumpers can you put on a 986 Boxster

[boxstter]

I didn't want to hijack the other thread bout the GT2 bumper so I decided to start another one. Sorry for my apparent ignorance but being a total newbie to the world of Porsche I find buper options perplexing. It looks like you can fit practically any recent Porsche bumper from the 911 series (sorry still havent got all the #'s straight -911=993???). Am I correct here? Or can only certain bumpers fit? In my case what bumper options could I put on my 2003 Boxster?

[Richard Truss]

The Model Number is 911 -- which is used for all cars that have that familiar 911 shape for all years. However at some point, they also used Carrera to basically tell us the same thing, from what I can see. The other numbers you are referring to (993, 996, 997, etc) refer to certain years that a certain model of 911 has run. An example would be the 997 (which is also a 911) started in 2005, so there is no such thing as a 2004 997. The 2004 was a 996, as was the 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000 (I think). Anyway, I believe the numbering comes from Porsche as internal model numbers and all Porsche cars (and SUV's) have them. The older Boxsters are 986's and the new Boxster is a 987.

I used to have a 944 Turbo. The 944's internal number was 944, however the turbo version of it was a 951. Its confusing, but its part of what makes porsches special, in my opinion.

anyway, you will need to look for bumpers that fit 996 Carreras. You may want to see when the 996 started (it was @ 2000 or maybe 1999). Before the 996's were the 993, which happen to be the last year of the air-cooled Carreras.... as well as what I believe was the perfect porsche. But those bumpers wont work for you.

hope that helps.