S identification
 

Looking at mostly S's.

Some are de-badged on the trunk, so no "S" identifier.
Door rails have the "S", but they can be added simply.
Dual-exhausts, but they can be retrofitted to a 2.7.
White guages, but I've seen those on base models too.

So, aside from a few insignias, dual-exhausts and white guages,
is there anything else that will definatively indicate S,
that isn't easily modified?

Something like maybe the sixth digit on the VIN is "S" instead of "B".
Can't change that.

The S model has an oil cooler in front of the car:

http://cf-design911-3.datadial.info/...31106G2Xlr.gif

whereas the base model doesn't have that:

http://cf-design911-1.datadial.info/...31105G2Xlr.gif

Also you can check if there is an real oil cooler behind the opening.

Regards, Markus

You're right about the B, but it's the 5th position in the VIN, denoting the 3.2.
Markus has the centre front bumper cutout identified as well, but it's a 3rd radiator, not an oil cooler.

6 speed transmission?
It requires different axles, uprights, clutch slave cylinder and cables.

can't forget the Big Brakes

White gauges with silver trim too

Red Calipers

Wow, oil-cooler ventilation on the front facia (used to be called the 'splashpan' I think). Major nose difference right there in front of my face and I never made the connection. Thanks SmallBlock.

VIN digit 5 is 'B' or 'S' for real? I just made that up as a hopeful.
That's very useful when checking Carfax/Autocheck online. Thanks Steve.

Six-speed on the S only - right.

I know about the brakes, but can you tell big brakes from the outside?
Are they distinctive? They're usually red on the S I think.
If you can tell visually that's useful. Thanks Dubaday.

I'll look for silver trim too - hadn't noticed that.

Redline on tach...

Lies, all lies. I have had S model bumpers on a base. Some people have swapped S front brake calipers onto a base. I have red (base) brakes on one of my '99s and In plan to paint the brakes on my S yellow. It's not hard to replace a gauge face or the whole cluster and trim pieces. There are some base models that have the six speed transmission swapped into them. Oil coolers from 3.2s have been swapped onto 2.5s and 2.7s.

Truth: Correct that an S model VIN will start with WP0CB... and a Base will start with WP0CA... .
S has heavier driveshafts and some suspension parts. Woody posted a great thread outlining some of the underlying hardware differences:
http://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/53067-pictorial-differences-between-base-s-model-boxster.html

I bought an actual S model without realizing that it had a 1997 2.5L engine in it and I had already owned and worked on Boxsters.

Want to be sure of what you are getting? Have a reputable shop do a pre-purchase inspection (PPI).

Its a center radiator, not an oil cooler

Markus, you are usually spot on, Having a bad day?

Wow 78, that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid, something like 2.5 as S!

So your take is VIN is the only guarantee. Yes.
I had hoped VIN would differentiate something as major as an S powertrain.

The other examples are just common - if not foolproof - casual identifiers, and taken all together (emblems, guages, exhaust tips, brake calipers, ...) probably fairly reliable. Enough for a first pass where an inconsistency would lead you to a VIN check. If I don't see center air in the nose for instance, I'll check VIN to make sure.

Exactly.
(& no offense intended in calling all the other posters liars. My humor gets a bit dry at times.)
My experience is that lots of sellers, including used car dealers, have no idea what they are selling. Others know exactly what they are selling and how to make it look like what you want.

Again: If you are spending what to you is serious money, be sure to get a PPI.

Trust the batwing.

Actually that was funny. I just thought you were real adamant because you felt burnt on the 2.5 and didn't want any misinformation.

Out of curiosity, how long did it take before you realized the power probably wasn't a 3.2?
Did you test drive before and thought maybe it was just out of tune?
If it was me, it would probably be weeks or months.

Little things to look for:

Big red brakes with drilled discs behind, the vented front bumper, 6 speed box which when going from 1st to 2nd when cold is always quite stiff, dual tip exhaust, the sill covers, white dials with 175mph speedo on the left dial, those are the normal giveaways but most of them can be retrofitted to base models.

Check the vin and drive a 3.2 back to back with a 2.7 and you will notice the main difference.

Then of course, a Durametric will give you the info you need concerning ecu vin and matching cluster vin and a wealth of other good stuff.

Chrome trim ring around the windshield on the S, not on the base

I am amazed that anyone would make a fake S. Am I missing something or wouldn't it cost more to do the mods on a base than to just buy an S?

$77.00 from Suncoast Porsche. I just made my car an S.

I figured it out the day after I bought it. The car was a rehabilitation project. It was in rough shape: Oil leak, bad AOS, misfire.... As I looked over it, I was concerned with what repairs I was going to make and hadn't even considered that I was looking at a 2.5L. Once I had it home and started working on it, it became obvious.

That's a good one. Not likely to be changed out, yet when I put a new windshield in my S, the shop used a generic black rubber trim. ...so 95% like the 6-speed, but not always.

From what I have seen listed, a front bumper swap, or an S on the trunk is not that uncommon. One of my 99s had a trunk lid replacement from an S due to bad paint and minor dents. It has since been de-badged.

That's the case for me as well. When I had my windshield replaced (big crack from a rock on the highway) the shop replaced it with the base black trim. A little troubled by it, but not enough to raise a stink. I'll know better next time, if there is one

I'm saying to do more than throw an S badge on the car. Reminds me of when I put mongoose stickers on my fake mongoose as a kid and got called on it.
The muffler alone, plus install probably at least $400. S emblem $60. Bumpers and install can't be cheap. Calipers and rotors, ouch. I would have to think buying an S would be cheaper. Am I wrong. Approx 2k difference.

The 986 boxster is the original, it will always have that going for it. Why hide that? Just crazy.

If you see me in a Boxster, its an S (because that's what I have!).

I'm guessing a DuraMetric is some kind of ECU diagnostic test result - which would require a PPI maybe?

No way to tell just from looking at it IMO. Vin must be checked and engine serial number by oil pan must be checked. Anything can be swapped

My 550 Spyder doesn't have dual exhaust tips like regular S's and calipers aren't red they are silver

My '97 base has 2003 s front bumper and S dual tip exhaust. It's also tip tronic. So by looking I guess I could swap the batwing, door sills, carpets and cluster if I wanted and most wouldn't know.

Because the 986's are getting older by the minute, there are a lot of cars with mix and match parts on them that it can be really hard to tell the difference. Not to even mention the model year! Also people like to customize their cars so you get a ton of painted calipers, upgraded suspensions, exhaust etc.

You really do have to take it down to the #'s if you want to be 100% sure.

FIFY, not chrome

Really, titanium -- seems like an odd part to make out of such an expensive material?

Never actually handled mine, a glass shop changed it. Is it actually metal or just plastic with a metallic finish, and might Titanium just be the word Porsche used to describe the color?

Color, not material
the S badge on the back too