I have a confession to make - 986 vs 987 S

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

IMO there's really not that much difference between 986/987, your problem is the PDK !

I had the same feeling when I drove the 987.1 (manual) after it launched almost 10 years ago (time flys eh). I found it to be very similar to the 3.2 986 (also manual). Then I went back and drove a track prepared Miata with the tiny but revvy engine, lowered, sticky tires, etc. Even the 986S felt like a regular cushy, muted road car in comparison.

[DennisAN]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

Then I went back and drove a track prepared Miata with the tiny but revvy engine, lowered, sticky tires, etc. Even the 986S felt like a regular cushy, muted road car in comparison.

Right now I have a 1996 Miata and a 2000 base 986. Both are fun cars but the 986 shows its roughly 600 lb. weight disadvantage (approx. 2300 lbs. vs. 2900 lbs.). The 986 feels "planted" whereas the Miata feels "darty".

In the past I've also owned a 1400 lb. Bugeye Sprite and an 1100 lb. Lotus 7 clone (Westfield). Both of those make the Miata feel like a tank.

[stephen wilson]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

I had the same feeling when I drove the 987.1 (manual) after it launched almost 10 years ago (time flys eh). I found it to be very similar to the 3.2 986 (also manual). Then I went back and drove a track prepared Miata with the tiny but revvy engine, lowered, sticky tires, etc. Even the 986S felt like a regular cushy, muted road car in comparison.

Yeah, that's my point, people talk about the 986 being so "raw", but it's pretty cushy for a sports car.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by DennisAN

Right now I have a 1996 Miata and a 2000 base 986. Both are fun cars but the 986 shows its roughly 600 lb. weight disadvantage (approx. 2300 lbs. vs. 2900 lbs.). The 986 feels "planted" whereas the Miata feels "darty".
In the past I've also owned a 1400 lb. Bugeye Sprite and an 1100 lb. Lotus 7 clone (Westfield). Both of those make the Miata feel like a tank.

The 2.5 is dartier than 2.7 base car. If I were to buy a project Boxster it would be a 2.5
strip down the interior some, slap on lighter wheels, lighter exhaust, race battery, tighter suspension, maybe lighter brakes, and that's a ~2,600 lb. mid-engine dream. Service the IMS, look after the water pump regularly, and its very hard to beat Porsche wise. That engine feels better with the 5 speed too.

Once it gets heavier, IMHO, it needs at least 240-250 HP to feel darty off braking and out of slow corners. The extra power just changes the dynamics in those particular situations. But you can also add too much power (like maybe over 300 HP), where the car is doing more of the work than the driver. It's a fine balance when it comes to roadsters.

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

Yeah, that's my point, people talk about the 986 being so "raw", but it's pretty cushy for a sports car.

Until you drive something newer. But I think all Porsches post 964 feel cushy and insulated to some degree. But at least they don't leave a wet spot in your drive way.

[BIGJake111]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

The 2.5 is dartier than 2.7 base car. If I were to buy a project Boxster it would be a 2.5
strip down the interior some, slap on lighter wheels, lighter exhaust, race battery, tighter suspension, maybe lighter brakes, and that's a ~2,600 lb. mid-engine dream. Service the IMS, look after the water pump regularly, and its very hard to beat Porsche wise. That engine feels better with the 5 speed too.

Once it gets heavier, IMHO, it needs at least 240-250 HP to feel darty off braking and out of slow corners. The extra power just changes the dynamics in those particular situations. But you can also add too much power (like maybe over 300 HP), where the car is doing more of the work than the driver. It's a fine balance when it comes to roadsters.





Until you drive something newer. But I think all Porsches post 964 feel cushy and insulated to some degree. But at least they don't leave a wet spot in your drive way.

My next car will likely be 2000 or newer, but the Porsche that I plan to keep forever is still a 2.5.... Hopefully I will get an S and it will be crazy fun, but I'm always gonna want a 2.5 for just toying around in.

[Chronohunter]

I agree, I think the 986 strikes a great balance between rawness and refinement. On a similer level I have had a 916 ducati since 1995 and bought a new 1998s a couple years ago and never bonded with it even though it is much better on paper, I recently sold the much faster 1198s and doubt I will ever sell the 916.

The problem with refinement is that is can't but reduce feel and from feel comes connection and from connection comes confidence and from confidence comes enjoyment (at least that has been my experience)

[Topless]

Yep, I hear this a lot. I have owned my 986 for 9 years and she has been pretty amazing in terms of both fun and reliability. I have sort of been considering moving to another car lately as I have done everything I wanted to do with this one and more. I drove a 987.2 PDK just to test the waters. She is very nice and mighty quick but honestly all the electronic gyro-wizardry left me pretty cold. I am not sure I can go there and I may end up looking back into the catalog of older 911s. Who knows... So many great cars, so little time.