I am dang handsome...;)

It comes with the name.


-Sean-

The 997 with the large IMS bearing is very sound, the failure rate is very low. Same goes for the 987. The 986/996 bearing is of slight concern, the 987/997 bearing is of no concern. If that's too much risk go buy a Camry, you have no business owning a Porsche. The 991 isn't the answer either, they have potential DFI coking issues that are expensive to fix.

I will say that the perception, be it positive or negative, of what I drive has zero impact on my choices. I suspect the Mustang forums have some hugely knowledgable and helpful members, and probably a greater DIY focus.

I bought a 2011 GT 6sp. Brembo car last year, sits next to my '99 911. Torque, torque, torque! Who gives a @&%$ what people think of an image or exclusive crap, personally I hate the 911 stigma. The Mustang just plain goes, revs like crazy, sounds fantastic, easy and cheap to mod. The car takes some getting used to on the size and the stock springs and shocks really benefit from aftermarket but it's a very capable car with the new 5.0.

Point taken. The forum for 99-04 Mustangs....wow. Some of the folks over there.....not big thinkers, thats for sure.

Wow... I guess I'll go sell my 3x aircooled porsches, thanks for proving me unworthy of a 997 and pointing me towards a safe Camry. Shall I order it beige ? ;-)

Actually I've bought a cayman S at the same time as a friend (same year, newer style IMS), we both tracked it a bit, and his blew its IMS/engine. Cost him about $20K to replace it (but he made lemonade by replacing it with a 3.8). So that's your "no concern" right there. I stopped tracking it after that.

Flip side of that, my 83SC did 100K miles without upgraded tensioners and was fine. Then another 100K with tensioners. Some Porsches have known issues, some are overblown. But I think in the case of the IMS, given the cost of a motor, it is a fair to consider the model year you are buying. The market prices of 09+cars (no IMS) seems to bear that out (seems to be a bigger gap than simple one extra year depreciation).

And risk getting beat by a "well set up" 944? NEVER!!!! :rolleyes: :eek:

Mexico blue was the color I painted my first car, a 65 bug, back in the flintsone days.

5.0 Coyote engine
 

I have a slightly detuned version of that engine in my F150 4x4. By detuned, I mean 360 horsepower instead of 400+. It is one of my favorite engines, revs well, makes good torque and even gets pretty good fuel mileage when I keep my foot out of the throttle! I drove one of the recent Boss 302 Mustangs when they came out and even with a salesman reminding me that it was a new engine, etc. it was really quick. The "standard" Coyote V8 gives up about 20-30 hp compared to the Boss version but still should be powerful enough.

One example does not an epidemic make. If you think past Porsche products have been 100% reliable you haven't been paying attention. Pulled head studs, snapped head studs, chain tensioners, exploding air boxes, thermal reactors, valve guides, etc etc etc. It's always been a matter of paying to play, and many of the issues with air-cooled motors are equally expensive. If you can't stomach potential expensive issues then you shouldn't own a Porsche.

Thanks again for the education. I've owned at least a P-car from every decade and all had one issue or another mentioned above, that Porsche eventually fixed (actually the 356s were alright ;-) I just don't get off telling people "they shouldn't own a Porsche if they can't stomach potentially expensive issues" :rolleyes: It's condescending internet bravado, and IMO wrong. Just because you enjoy nice cars doesn't mean you should gamble $20K on a badly engineered bearing. If a friend asked you which 997 to buy, wouldn't you recommend an 09 vs say, a non-upgradeable-IMS 06? numbers aren't being revealed, its enough for a class action lawsuit to have been filed, and not everyone will be knowledgeable enough to cut up their filters searching for metal bits. Anyway, never mind, I don't want to hi-jack this thread. Good luck with your IMS if you have one... if you wish to educate me some more please do it in PM (or better yet, not at all).

Ummm, no. Basically you're asking me not to argue with you when you post incorrect facts. The answer to that request is no, and this is totally relevant to the OP being interested in selling his 997S because of IMS concerns.

Porsche didn't "fix" any of those expensive issues. Porsche didn't fix the chain tensioners on my 1970 911T, the previous owner did by installing Carrera chain tensioners. Porsche improved the design for production 14 years later. Same goes for thermal reactors, pulling/snapping head studs, weak valve guides, etc. How many air cooled 911s get past 100k without at least a top end? Not many.

As for having the money in reserve to fix a Porsche before you own one, that's common sense not internet bravado. I suspect every "Looking for a 911" newbie thread in the 911 tech forum contains the advice that you keep a fund to cover potentially expensive repairs. These are expensive cars to own, no matter which variety you have.

As for the IMS concerns, sorry about your friend's crappy luck. The fact that he blew up his motor on the track makes me wonder if there weren't more issues at play. But the newer 987/997 have shown themselves to be very reliable. You can see that fact in the IMS lawsuit, which only covers very early 997s that still had the 996 M96 bearing design. I have personally owned five 996 and two 986, only one had the IMS changed preventatively by a previous owner. It does happen, and if it happens to you it sucks. But it's still a very rare issue, one that can be sorted out for an $800 bearing plus labor. That's far less expensive than replacing head studs or a top end BTW.

Now, back on topic! I could handle a Boss 302. Or maybe a Roush, my neighbor used to have a Stage 3 Roush and it sounded absolutely wicked.

http://cdn.barrett-jackson.com/stagi...nt_3-4_Web.jpg

http://www.roushperformance.com/i/ve...2-1280x792.jpg

I have the same in my 2012 F150, I chose the 5.0 over the Ecoboost mainly because of the V8 sound. Really great motor. Best upgrade to mine was a 5-Star Tuner that changed the transmission shift points so it doesn't always feel flat-footed, made it a much better driving truck. Bilstein 5100s were a huge upgrade as well. I also added a Craigslist $100 Raptor cat-back exhaust for a little more sound.

Me Like!

Why not get a Mustang? Part of the fun is to have owned a number of cars. Drive it until you want something else. Certainly can't swap human partners as easily and cheaply.

A number of the points people are making about handling, etc., are not wrong....they just don't apply to normal driving. I've met guys who go on and on about high speeds and the great handling of their 911's.....and I know all they do is drive to work. A little zoom on an entrance ramp to the freeway....that's about it.

So....getting beyond the knee-jerk hysteria from people who have to get constant support for their automotive decisions -- if you like how it looks, like how it drives and it meets your transportation needs -- why the heck not? If you want something different later, then change again. Hope you have fun with it.

I got pissed and sold my 2003 996 when (after spending $4700 on an LNE lifetime bearing & new clutch), LNE said that they weren't really standing behind the bearing, that you needed to get their new $1600+ gadget. Screw that. Drove an '87 that rode and drove like crap (probably just that car....but didn't help me think highly of the coveted mid to late 80's air cooled cars). So, after 5 Porsches, I got a supercharged A6. An excellent car. I'll drive that until something else calls to me.

YOU'LL BE BACK. I hope that you have view Randy Probst's videos comparing the Mustang to the well designed Subaru BR Z. It isn't about numbers. It's about seat of the pants feel and sound. It's about a quality feel. The BRZ probably appeals more to those who appreciate Porsche's attributes, but need to economize. Re power: The Mustang has some strong cards, but overall, it just can't compare to less flabby Porsches and these little Japanese sports cars. All the best to you in your quest. We are addicted for some very compelling reasons.

Diverdan

get rid of the porsche yet? ;)

If my choice was BRZ vs Mustang it wouldn't even be close. I've read a lot of feedback from people that tire of the FRS/BRZ and its lack of power. Having had a car that requires a lot of revs to keep moving (RX8), it gets old having to redline your car around town to keep up with traffic.

No decisions made yet, but I did call the local LN retrofit preferred installer to get a quote.

Too bad Randy boy compared a BRZ to a V6 mustang.

I get this but its hard not to just LOL at the comparison as its apparent you've not been in a new Mustang. Im sure theres A LOT more "seat of the pants feel and sound" coming from a Coyote powered stang than a boxer-4 connected to the road with Prius wheels/tires.

The BRZ appeals to drifter and import enthusiasts....hard to compare it to a Porsche with the engine up front. Its comparable to a 944 or a Miata, not a 997.

yea yea...I know Chriss Harris calls it a 10-tenths car ... bla blah:rolleyes:

I haven,t read all the above comments BUT I bought a 2012 Boss 302 Mustang when it came out. I intended to replace my 1995 993 ,which was over 110k mi. and needed a clutch soon.
I kept the Mustang about 6500 mi and then traded it on a 2012 F150.
The Boss engine at 444hp is a jewel. Massive power,7500 rpm redline and sounds great.
The truck version is OK but doesn,t get the gas mileage advertised ,(what does,) or have particularly good torque for a truck (even in a reg cab shortbox with 3.73 gears)

I ended up keeping the 993 and doing the clutch and a few other small items .
My biggest problem with the Mustang is it,s massive feel.
The long hood and high doors make the car awkward to throw around .
I might reconsider the Mustang IF it were built on about a 2/3 scale.
To be fair I haven,t even driven a 997 I have owned 911,s since 1973 (a 1967S) and have had about 10 of them up to the 993.
I,ve also dealt with failed tensioners, rusted front subframes ,weak syncros etc but have never had an engine blowup or other catostropic failure in a 911
I HAVE blown up a couple of small block Chevs, and had at least one major trans failure on an F250

I am still looking to replace the 993 but now it,s because I,ve hurt my left knee and it looks like an automatic is in my future. The F150 has become my daily driver and I,ve given the 993 to my wife to use as her daily.(She hasn,t driven it once in a year now)
What do you guys think about the newer 3 series BMW,s with an auto?

I had a brand new 328i with the "M Power" option package a couple days as a loaner while my E46 airbag was being replaced, it comes with a four cylinder turbo.

First, I'll say the turbo four has gobs of low end torque and was a blast stepping on throttle. I know the six cyl turbo is even faster but I really can't see why you'd need it day in day out. I had plenty of power on tap. It was also very quiet and refined (maybe a little too refined). It had an auto (I'd have preferred a manual), also more complicated than it needed to be. Would sometimes shift up in manual mode without my input.

With those things said... I couldn't wait to get back into my car. The new 328 was a bit aggravating. Way too many nanny safety features as well as the car doing little annoying things that I didn't ask it to do. I understand many people love all the technology crammed into modern cars but I found that it dulled and complicated the driving experience. The wonderful 3 series steering feel was gone as well. It felt like a (very refined) German Olds.

I haven't really liked any of the new BMWs for the last several years and driving one for a couple of days confirmed everything.

I agree. However, for what they're worth, my two cents say both Dodge and Chevy make cars of the genre that are better looking than the Mustang.