Evaluating 1997-2002 986s for Purchase

[98Sixer]

I'm new to the forum and wanted to get some opinions on vehicles that I am currently evaluating to purchase.

Option #1 -1999 with approx. 110,00 miles. New Motor installed in '02 by Porsche at 39,000 miles due to IMS failure. Clean title and Car fax 3 owner car. Recently had AOS replaced, passed smog and with PPI done by the seller from a reputable independent Porsche shop. Approx 70,000 miles on the replacement motor and clutch, but likely IMS is Porsche original and not retrofit. Car is super clean.


Option #2 - 2002 with 96,000 miles on it with a new clutch, IMS from EPS and a motor swap at 80,000 due to IMS failure. The motor is used form another car with similar mileage and installed by reputable independent Porsche specialist. This car is also a super clean two owner car, but presently needs an Oxygen sensor to pass smog that will be replaced tomorrow.

Both cars are priced within $1,000 of each other. The question is whether a used motor swap at 80K miles with new clutch and Ceramic bearing on a 2002 model is preferential to a new Porsche motor and clutch replaced at 39,000 miles on a 1999 model without the proper IMS retrofit,?

What do you think?