No doubt, 997.1 C2S is the superior performer. Apologies for misunderstanding your post

 

 

 

 

 

If I was in your shoes I would be curious to find out why the mechanic who has serviced this car for almost 6 years "specifically said the IMS wasn't a concern on this car". Why not? Has it been replaced with an upgraded, less prone to failure version or is he just comfortable that it has the newer, larger bearing which Porsche started to install sometime in the mid cycle of the -05 997's?

Seems like a real chore to figure out exactly when they went from the smaller, somewhat fragile bearing to the larger one which is sturdier but still isn't fail proof. Since you've indicated you're on a budget, a blown IMS will turn your $35K 997 into a $7K-$8K roller unless you're ready and willing to pour another $25K or more into a new or rebuilt engine.

So again, since you're concerned about expenses I think it's critical that you find out what the story is on the IMS.

 

 

This. When I was in the market for my first 911, I was also looking at 2005-2006 years. I test drove a 2005 and then a 1999 and I was surprised to find out that I really liked the 1999 a lot. My budget was 40K and I wound up paying $18K for a low mileage well sorted out 1999 911. Not only did I get a great car but I saved a bunch of money too. Furthermore I got the convertible with the hardtop - it's like getting two cars for the price of one.

 

That's really nice. Like the color and wheels.

 

Just to give you an idea of another person that was in your shoes a year ago- I bought a 2006 C2S at exactly the same price as asking with 20,000 more miles, but it was a more expensive build ~$97k. Nicer (IMO) rims, I don't like the lobster forks. My car has full leather, fully clear-bra'd (is that a word?) and carbon fiber trim, probably aftermarket, not sure. I didn't have the nice seats (or even heated seats) though- on the plus side, the previous owner was a smallish person so there are no creases in the seats. Clutch replaced at 60k. As a 2006, I've got the heavier duty IMS but it's not easily replaceable. Given all of this, $33k seems to be in the ballpark to me, but maybe $31k seems more fair. They're not likely to drop a ton off the price as the market for any 911 in the bay area is pretty strong.

I've driven it about 3000 miles this year, and took it in for its first service here in the bay area. Oil service, PPI, headlight adjustment came to about $400 (~140 for headlight adjustment?!?). otherwise car came back with a clean bill of health. I'd say i did it wrong and did my "PPI" after I had already bought it but I did buy it from a mechanic at a respected Porsche repair shop who took me over the car on a lift for more than an hour as well as hooked the car up to diagnostics and talked me through all the stuff in there. Both the previous owner/mechanic and my new/local mechanic and a lot of talk on these forums say don't worry too much about the IMS in these updated 997s. I don't drive it daily so every time I get in the car, it's a special experience.

 

There a $12k 2002 996 here in the bay area- you could technically do all the good clutch, IMS, suspension work etc and still be under $20k...

 

That is a lot of car for the price. If you want green w/black they are not very common.

 

OP, Not a big difference between S and base if not tracking. I would rather wait and stretch budget a bit to get something like this. Super clean and low miles...Offer $35k
https://www.napletonporscherockford....91471c5709.htm

 

That is a nice, low mileage example. I would like to do a bit of tracking with whatever I get next.

In my continuing search I just drove this: https://www.porschesouthbay.com/inve...aa2a82bu760962
2011 Cayman (base) w/ 53K miles and nice options: sport seats, sport chrono, sport exhaust, LSD, and more. This dealer is willing to negotiate, and I think I could get it OTD for under $30K. It drives great, but it's no Carrera S. My guess is it would be cheaper to maintain (newer car, smaller engine), but I don't know if that is enough to make the cost difference worth it.

 

Seems like a decent deal on the Cayman. It could be a good starting point, and likely a cheaper proposition to own if the plan is to keep it for a year or two and then upgrade to a 997.2. 987.2 prices are likely to be stronger than 997.1 prices as far as depreciation. I'd imagine minimal costs and no risk of serious mechanical failure on the 987.2 linked above, different than a 997.1 in that way. I haven't owned a 997.1 so I can't speak to how one feels to drive or daily in comparison to a 997.2 or 987.2.

As to the question of "worth it" thats completely individual, not something someone else can tell you. For me, owning both 987.2 and 997.2 currently, I'd want to wait and get a 911. Which is what I did, figured out I wanted a 911 a 5 years ago and bought a different car completely until I could get a 911, instead of getting a lesser 911 or a Cayman in the meantime. For me a Cayman is far from being good enough to satisfy my driving desire for a 911. Its personal though so you'll have to decide as nobody on the forum can tell ya.