Porsche Boxster, Cayman and IMS failures
 

In 2010 I was about to purchase a pre owned Boxster or 911. I test drove both cars. However, I ended up purchasing a new 370z for $27000.00. It was a base model being deeply discounted by Nissan.

I'm glad I did after coming across all the discussions of porsche IMS failures. Worse then total engine failure was the response by Porsche to the owners and the class action settlement by Porsche.

The engines were redesigned in 2009. I like the Cayman and the 911's. However, even used models are expensive.


I'm not happy with the paint quality ,lack of an oil cooler and the brakes on my Z but I would rather have the above complaints instead of paying $20000.00 for a new porsche engine.

I had the same thing before I got a Nismo. German cars are great, but the reason they get dumped after the warranty is over has a reason. Expensive to maintain even at Indy shops. That being said I would readily have one as a play car for Sunday. But not a DD. At least not a used one out of warranty.

Meh. 986 engines had the issue. 987.1 has a gen 2 iMS that is not known to cause issues and was not part of the class action law suit. The 987.2 does away with it entirely.

Smart shoppers can find good values out there. Sure out of warranty parts are more then Japanese cars. Regular maintenance is not all that different even using dealers as z schedules call for maintenance intervals more often.

Read this forum enough and you will conclude z34s are oil consuming pigs who have notchy transmissions that will strand you with failed CSCs or steering locks any given day. :tiphat:

- b

Not really an issue with the later models. That's more 09-10 problems. The failures that is. Don't know about the oil consuming bit either as I have not experienced that nor seen it brought up much. Notchy transmission is a preference thing. I personally like it and haven't had any issues with it.

Having owned couple of m96 based cars the IMS issue exists but is way overblown. There are aftermarket fixes for IMS on M96 now. I have put over 100k miles on those motors with no issues. Given you can buy nice 986 Boxsters for less than $10k they are screaming deal and much better out of the box track car than a 370z.

I have also bought used low mile M96 motors in great shape for under $3000. So no need to spend $20k on motors? If youre worried about IMS failure just spend money on upgrade kit.

The newer M97 motors are much better as well. Very few Caymans or 987 boxsters have seen same issues as m96 cars. And the new caymans and Boxster have incredible motors.

I also would dispute expensive to maintain statements. For people who know their way around Porsches they are cheaper than many other cars as stuff on p cars lasts so long. They just aren't car for uneducated porsche owner who expects dealer or expensive shops to fix their cars. Smart Porsche owners forge good relationships with salvage yards. Then just need to find reasonable independent porsche mechanic if you don't want to do your own work. But for informed owner Porsche maitence can be quite cheap.

I certainly wouldn't use that as justification to over pay for a newer 370z?